Mold Forum Concludes With Pledge Of Cooperation

Senior representatives of major trade organizations who participated in the first national forum on mold remediation in April pledged to urge their organizations to cooperate in a joint effort to produce a best practices manual for remediation specialists. More than 200 professionals attended the forum which took place at the Healthy Indoor Environment Conference in Philadelphia. The two-hour public discussion was organized and moderated by Indoor Environment Communications of Kensington, Md.

Along with the association representatives, forum panelists included several practitioners and manufacturers in the mold remediation field. Their comments helped set the agenda for a cooperative project that could potentially evolve into an organization dedicated to mold remediation and indoor environmental concerns.

In the first half of the forum, participants learned that the American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQ), the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), and the Institute for Inspection, Certification and Restoration Certification (IICRC) are either currently offering training and certification in mold remediation, or intend to do so by the end of 2001. Meanwhile, the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR) is attempting to organize a consortium of charitable organizations to work on public health issues like indoor mold contamination.

Members and representatives of ASHRAE, AEE, ACGIH said their organizations were planning educational programs and guidance materials on mold remediation. Having heard from the organizations, the forum next turned to individual practitioners on the panel to learn their perspectives on mold remediation and IAQ.
David Krause, president of Indoor Air Solutions in Tampa, Fla., talked about his experience helping to build an education program for the Florida Department of Health. He said there is a great desire within the public for accurate information about cleaning mold. He characterized the public as being "confused" about mold because of the wide variety of information presented from different sources. Krause expressed the opinion that too many remediation specialists are passing along inferior information.

Krause advocated an industry training effort whereby the core disciplines of mold remediation would be established, followed by standardized training programs within such disciplines. Under such a system, certification might be granted to persons who successfully completed a predetermined set of classes related to the core disciplines, and who demonstrated their knowledge of these subject areas through a testing procedure. Such a system, Krause, said, would enable several different organizations to train and certify side-by-side with continuity.

Spencer Hess, president of Commercial Drying Technologies, spoke from his perspective as a service provider. He said the biggest problem seen among mold remediators is a poor understanding of moisture in the building envelope coupled with a failure to know how to control humidity. He suggested that if these two problems could be overcome through an education process, the quality of work in the mold remediation field would improve dramatically. Hess recommended that the first core discipline to be taught should be moisture control. He also said major project difficulties could be overcome if practitioners had a better understanding of the responsibilities of others in the IAQ field.

Bob Baker, CEO of BBJ Environmental Solutions in Tampa, Fla., spoke about the efforts of the Consumer Specialties Product Association (CSPA). The trade association consists of manufacturers of chemicals and products used to clean and sanitize, including Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and several other large companies. Baker said CSPA has a strong regulatory affairs and government affairs department. He noted that CSPA set voluntary efficacy standards for antimicrobial products sold for indoor use, which has helped to ensure a minimum level of safety and effectiveness. More recently created programs are working to ensure fair and consistent advertising standards for chemical manufacturers.

The biggest news to come out of the National Lead-Safe Housing and Indoor Air Health Conference last month was The Blast, The Blitz and The Bulge.

Yes, those are indeed pet names for wars, but there's another battle going on in the lead hazard control industry- finding enough properly trained lead workers to fulfill demand.

Dubbed "The Bulge," the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control is sponsoring 600 new courses in more than 150 locations starting this month through August 10, 2001. This is their final current effort to train workers/ Working with QuanTech of Rosslyn, Va., is offering free accredited lead training to increase the number of lead workers, supervisors and risk assessors available to conduct work in federally-assisted housing in compliance with the new HUD regulations (24 CFR PART 35). The goal is to train and qualify 30,000 new lead workers by Sept. 15, 2001.

Nominations are currently being taken to identify qualified candidates to be trained. Companies and/or public health authorities that perform lead assessment or abatement work must now how qualified workers on staff to be in compliance with the new regulations.

Any individual who intends to perform lead abatement, inspection, or risk assessment in federally assisted housing and who has not previously been trained in an accredited Lead Worker, Supervisor, or Risk Assessor course is eligible for nomination. Nominations may be submitted for as many individuals as are necessary to create adequate capacity of certified lead professionals in your area.

Nominations from jurisdictions who submitted Statements of Inadequate Capacity (SIC) as well as individuals seeking training will be accepted. A total of 2,500 students (1,500 workers, 500 supervisors, and 500 risk assessors) will be selected from those individuals nominated to receive free training. Selected students and those who nominated them will be notified of acceptance. Students will be matched to an accredited training course offered in their state. QuanTech and the accredited training provider will determine course dates. Accredited training providers will contact students with course information.

All courses will be conducted in compliance with EPA, state, and local training requirements. Worker training will be a minimum two-day (16 hour) course that teaches how to conduct lead abatement work. Nominees for worker courses must be 18 years old. Supervisor training will be a minimum four-day (32 hour) course that teaches how to supervise lead abatement work. Nominees for supervisor courses must have one year of experience as a lead worker or two years of experience in a related field. Risk assessor training will be a minimum five-day (40 hour) course that teaches how to identify and control lead hazards. Nominees for risk assessor courses must have a bachelor's degree and one year of experience in a related field; or an associate's degree and two years of experience in a related field; or a high school diploma and three years of experience in a related field. All students will be required to take and pass the end of course test in order to become eligible to take the EPA or State certification examination required to become a certified and licensed lead worker, supervisor or risk assessor.

Other Training

"The Blast" is a continuing training effort with HUD and the National Center for Lead-Safe Housing (NCLSH). Jackson Anderson of the Center told attendees that they are currently soliciting proposals for companies and organizations to host their training courses in Lead Safe Work Practices. As a subgrantee to the program, the company would become a training provider to the Center and would incur all costs. However, the Center will reimburse on a per student basis, provided they successfully pass the certification exam at the end of the course. The reimbursement does not include the cost for purchasing the EPA exam.

"The Blitz" training effort ended late last month with a 100-city tour of training of about 7,000 workers. Gary Dewalt of QuanTech said 13 different trainers were used on the tour that have been certified through EPA's Train the Trainers program. They taught a hands-on course for workers, and no more than 10 percent of each class was made up of administrators or managers.

"The goal is to train the worker," he said. "The manager probably won't be the one in the field doing performing the work."

You may wish to consult with in-house maintenance staff, abatement contractors and construction contractors concerning worker or supervisor nominations; or consult with engineering staff, inspection staff, environmental staff, or lead consultants for risk assessor nominations.

For more information on the training, dates and locations or to nominate a worker to be trained, call (866) HUD-1012 immediately or go to www. leadlisting.org to register online.

Mobile PCs Changing The Way We Test Indoor Air
By Rick Stonier

While many have hoped for a simplistic test instrument that provides an unambiguous GO/NO GO (ACCEPTABLE/UNACCEPTABLE) result for indoor air quality (IAQ) surveys, professionals have long realized that the IAQ application is far too complex for a "silver bullet" device to be realistic. The most important tools utilized in IAQ studies remain the experience and reasoning of those who are reviewing data from the survey site. Recent advances in test equipment have improved the quality and detail of information that is collected in the field.

Sensor technology has gradually moved along to provide accurate, field reliable and cost effective sensors for key IAQ parameters such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, relative humidity, particulates and air velocity. Other measurements, such as low detection limit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), still await affordable sensor technology (although there are some promising developments on this front that may be fruitful within the next few years). In fact, the major advances in IAQ test instrumentation over the last couple of years have not been at the sensor end, but rather at the instrument end.

More specifically, what has begun is an evolutionary process to replace application dedicated readout devices and data-loggers, with mobile computers. The mobile PCs that are now being utilized include Windows "Pocket PC™" operating system (OS) based palm held PCs, Windows "Handheld 2000™" OS (formerly "Windows CE™") handheld PCs and Windows™ 95/98/2000/NT OS mini-notebook PCs. Why does directly interfacing sensors into PCs for use in the field apply so well to IAQ applications? Because, mobile PCs allow for detailed documentation of the test site, enhanced organizational capability, as well as software, help files and wizards to assist the operator on site. These are features that result in greater operator efficiency, and more thorough and believable documentation from an IAQ survey.
Our company, GrayWolf Sensing Solutions, introduced the first such product early in 1999. At least three other companies will be putting similar products on the market in 2001. And others are certain to follow. It only makes sense. The power of mobile computing is extremely well suited for IAQ testing.

Harnessing The Power

Hewlett Packard, Compaq, NEC, Fujitsu and other companies have developed high-powered mobile PC devices that can be harnessed for demanding IAQ measurement needs. Some of the features that IAQ test meter manufacturers have quite easily implemented:

• Enhanced Display. The sharp, color screens that today's mobile computers incorporate accommodate a simultaneous display of multiple measurements. Readings can be displayed large and simple or with a screen full of statistics, logged history and other pertinent information.
• Templates. Microsoft Word™ documents are easily loaded onto mobile PCs in "Pocket Word™" format. Pre-established report formats and operator instructions help make the user more efficient while collecting information in-situ, and can reduce the time required for operator training.
• Associated typed notes, audio notes, graphic notes. Mobile PCs further enable information to be recorded in varied formats. By utilizing Windows "folders" this information is easily linked to the measurement data that is recorded at any given location. The mobile PC organizes data and these different types of notes to reduce operator time and increase reliability.
• IAQ measurement tips. Here's one of the really strong features that mobile PCs open up: beyond help files (also useful), a wizard that answers typical IAQ measurement questions can assist anyone (no matter the experience level) to improve their data collection technique. This is easily expanded to include lists of standard operation procedures and detailed background on individual measurement methods, which can be invaluable to have access to out on the job.
• Data logging/Data storage options. Numerous options for how data is recorded may be established with mobile PCs, and abundant available memory means there are few limitations to how much data may be recorded. Instantaneous data capture (at the tap of the tactile screen, or push of a key or button), readings recorded over time, data logging of averaged values, automatic start/stop times, and power saving between log intervals are all examples of data logging options that test instrument manufacturers can facilitate.
• Internet-ready applications. The modems that come with mobile PCs can be used to e-mail data from the field, a function that can be automated for units that are wired to an internet connection during semi-permanent monitoring. In fact, it is possible to update a web page continuously to easily access data being recorded remotely.
• Data analysis/Reporting software. While it is fairly trivial to directly download data to a printer from most mobile devices, Microsoft ActiveSync™ software facilitates downloading files to a desktop PC, where a report may easily be generated. Look for software from the test instrument manufacturer that enhances this process, as this step can greatly improve the appearance of the information that is reported, as well as the ease to generate a polished report.
• Future expansion. It is generally quite simple for manufacturers to meet changing legislative requirements and other market demands through software modifications for these mobile PC based systems. Meanwhile, the mobile devices themselves progress rapidly, and the relatively low cost of the computers means that they can affordably be replaced when new features justify the added investment in the system.

Things To Look For

In order to truly take advantage of this important new technology, here are some other practical things to look for:

• An intuitive user interface. The system should be able to be put into the hands of anyone familiar with a Windows Operating System, and they ought be comfortable using it without relying on a manual or a tech support line (although those facilities should be available, just in case). Offering a lot of features shouldn't result in a complicated instrument; and it won't if the user interface is well designed.
• Accurate and fast response sensors. There's no point even attempting an IAQ survey if the sensors are only appropriate for industrial applications (OSHA TWAs), rather than for the higher resolution requirements of IAQ applications. It is important to be sure that the accuracy of the sensors employed is suitable for IAQ work. Slow sensor response leads to extra field time during walk-throughs if operators need to wait around for stabilization.
• Easy user calibration and automatic calibration history logs. To optimize sensor performance and assure accurate results, the ability to easily calibrate the sensors is important. And in keeping with establishing a credible documentation trail, it is quite valuable to have the computer software designed to track all calibration changes and make this calibration history easily available for display and printout.
• Data integrity. While palm held and handheld computers have a really nice instant on/instant off feature that results from not having a hard drive to power up, perhaps the biggest drawback to these mobile PCs is that, sans hard drive, they are prone to data loss when batteries run low. It is important that the IAQ test instrument manufacturer's software automatically provides supplementary data storage to a non-volatile compact flash card to prevent loss of logged data. In fact, the compact flash card can also be used to store a copy of any programs that are not burned onto the mobile PC's ROM chip, and may be used for auxiliary data storage for audio, photo or other memory hungry files.
• Adequate battery life. A function of the specific mobile device that is used; this varies quite a bit between different models. Evaluate if the battery life from the computer is sufficient to meet survey requirements. For long-term data collection, be sure mobile PC and probe can be AC powered. A power save function that turns the equipment off between log cycles is desirable, especially if AC power may not be counted on.
• Accessories. Walk-through surveys or long term monitoring will be frustrated if the right accessories are not available to accommodate the study. Functional computer and probe pouches, security cases for semi-permanent logging (to protect the computer from theft when it is left unattended), calibration kits and even basic mobile PC connectors will be important to satisfy specific needs.

IAQ Software

The broad mobile PC market also offers handwriting recognition software, dashboard-mounting hardware, wireless communications and a host of other apparatus that allows for a mobile PC-based IAQ measurement system to be expanded further. A wide range of software programs for these devices is available off-the-shelf. Software specific to advanced IAQ analysis also exists on the market that may be loaded onto the mobile PCs. For example, tracer decay technique software to calculate outdoor air ventilation rates per occupant is obtainable, walking the user through test set-up, monitoring and calculation. And a great deal of additional functionality for IAQ applications can be initiated by computer savvy end-users. In addition, the mobile computers may also be employed for a variety of other uses in the field, such as quoting/estimating, contact management, calendar reminders and much more.

It has been inevitable that test instrument manufacturers would take advantage of the innovations in mobile PC technology to meet sophisticated measurement needs. Other environmental measurement applications, including groundwater quality, lead based paint, soil contamination and toxic gas monitoring are also moving in this direction. But the importance of documentation for IAQ surveys explains why IAQ has lead the implementation of these powerful tools for test and measurement applications.

Richard Stonier is director of sales and marketing for GrayWolf Sensing Solutions of Trumbull, Conn. (with manufacturing in Tuamgraney, Ireland). GrayWolf produces a range of instrumentation for measuring indoor environmental air and industrial air parameters including carbon dioxide concentration. He has held general management and international sales and marketing management positions with environmental air quality instrumentation companies for more than 15 years. Stonier has published several papers on carbon dioxide and ventilation measurement and has spoken on this topic at numerous technical conferences relevant to the indoor air quality market. He is a member of ASHRAE and is an active member of ASHRAE's Technical Committee 1.2 (Measurements & Instruments). He has previously been active on the American Society of Testing Materials Technical Committee D.22.5 (Air Sampling for Indoor Environments).