New EPA Mold Remediation Guide Released

IAQ Equipment Solutions For Sale Or Rent

UV, Antimicrobials, Ozone? What Works, What Doesn't

New EPA Mold Remediation Guide Released
By Glenn Fellman

A new guideline on the remediation of fungi from schools and commercials buildings was published on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website last month. While designed for personnel responsible for facility maintenance such as custodians and building managers, Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings is likely to be used as a best practices outline by professional remediators as well.

The EPA guide assimilates recommendations and information from a variety of sources. Three documents clearly had a strong influence: Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control by ACGIH; the New York City Department of Health's Guidelines on the Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments; and, IICRC S500, Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration.

The guidelines present strategies for both preventing and cleaning mold problems. A heavy emphasis is placed on worker and occupant safety. The guide is intended for use by individuals who will perform the actual remediation work in many cases. EPA recommends the use of professionals in more complex contamination projects, and claims that by using the guide "individuals with little or no experience with mold remediation should be able to make a reasonable judgment as to whether the situation can be handled in-house." Due to the complex nature of mold contamination and the potential hazards it poses, that statement is sure to be refuted by guideline users and the IAQ industry.

In fact, early critics of the guide point out that those who lack experience and knowledge of mold remediation could easily get into trouble by following it. For example, the statement, "removal of wallpaper can lead to a massive release of spores from mold growing on the underside of the paper" is followed immediately by the advice, "if you believe that you may have a hidden mold problem, you may want to consider hiring an experienced professional." It's not hard to foresee situations where custodians or others using the guide might expose themselves or others to hazardous contamination before they realized they were in over their heads.

Throughout the guide, EPA hammers home the prevention message. "The key to mold control is moisture control," is EPA's mantra in this document. Brief but succinct mold prevention tips help guide users identify potential moisture sources and solutions for eliminating them.

EPA puts emphasis on planning the remediation work well. The size of the contamination area, the types of materials within it, and the source of moisture are primary factors to consider when planning the work. In addition, EPA warns, "the remediation manager's highest priority must be to protect the health and safety of the building occupants and remediators."

HVAC Systems

Perhaps the weakest section of the guide is that dealing with HVAC systems. "Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold," advises EPA. That statement is good news to the HVAC air duct cleaning industry, where mold contamination is seen in nearly every home or building inspected. Unfortunately, however, no further guidance is offered directly through the new guide. Rather, EPA refers readers to their guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? Some industry insiders argue that this is insufficient, given that the new mold guide was written for schools and commercial buildings and the aforementioned duct-cleaning guide is for single-family homes - and is thin on the subject of microbial contamination.

Using a table, EPA provides a clean-up and mold prevention guide for various materials that have been water-damaged for 48 hours or less. While the information is useful, a more complete description of categories of water in water-damage situations is needed. The dangers associated with contamination by "gray" or "black" water are not explained. A few paragraphs from IICRC S500 could have easily filled this gap.

A second table provides mold remediation guidelines for contaminated materials. Along side of each material listed are cleaning methods to be used, personal protective equipment to wear, and containment strategies to employ. The chart is divided into sections corresponding to the surface area of the affected space.

Small areas, those less than 10 square feet, require only minimum personal protective gear (gloves, N-95 respirator, eye protection) and require no containment. This may present problems for users who follow the guide to the letter in cases where thick microbial growth is concentrated in a small area.

In medium contamination areas, those between 10 and 100 square feet, the PPE requirements may be the same as for smaller areas or more strict. This determination is to be made by the remediator. Containment in such areas is limited: "polyethylene sheeting ceiling to floor around affected area with a slit entry and covering flap, maintain area under negative pressure with HEPA filtered fan unit. Block supply and return vents within contaminated area."

Large contamination zones require full PPE and containment. While these safety strategies are sound, more detail about how to implement them is needed for the guide to be used effectively.

EPA defines four cleaning methods in the guide. Method 1 is wet vacuuming using a standard wet-vac. Method 2 is to damp-wipe the surface "with plain water or with water and detergent solution."

Method 3 is to HEPA vacuum materials. The guide does not say that HEPA vacuuming should be conducted following wet vacuuming or damp-wiping. A person experienced in mold remediation would read that assumption into the guideline. A custodian or building manager might not.

Method 4 is to safely discard contaminated materials.

None of the cleaning methods involve the use of a biocide. In fact, EPA advises against the use of biocides, including chlorine bleach. The guide does recognize that biocides may be used in some instances, although the only specific example given is in cases involving immune-compromised individuals. Despite the conservative biocide recommendation, the EPA guide does provide some guidelines for safely using biocides during mold remediation, such as ventilating the area and using PPE.

On the subject of sampling, EPA carries forward the common school of thought on the subject - that sampling is only valuable when there are medical issues, or as a tool for evaluating the effectiveness of cleaning procedures.

Rick Bisca of IAQ Depot in Smithtown, N.Y., believes in selling solutions to IAQ problems, not just selling supplies and equipment.

"We create value for the end-user by evaluating a problem, designing a system to alleviate the problem, and then guaranteeing the solution," he told IE Connections.

Indeed, many of the IAQ equipment and rental companies that IE Connections recently spoke to are going beyond the simple sale and getting more into offering the tools necessary to solve the problem-and good or bad, they're offering guarantees.

"We will guarantee the solution to your problem when done within our design regulations," Bisca said, adding that his firm is a vertically integrated, "soup to nuts" operation. He cited his soon-to-be completed website (www.IAQDepot.com) as an educational, as well as a commercial tool that will educate visitors and help those industry professionals or building owners facing IAQ projects they are not presently equipped to deal with. Currently, his operation does not offer rental services.

While there are many small to medium-sized IAQ equipment and supply houses in the marketplace today, Bisca predicts the IAQ equipment sector will be "dominated by a couple of really big guys"- not unlike the banking industry, where mergers and acquisitions constrict consumer choice. He points to product manufacturers, including Carrier and Lennox, as players with deep pockets that can acquire franchises, supply houses and contracting firms as they seek to expand their market share.

David Naylor of Aramsco Inc. in Thorofare, N.J., believes "publicity will be the driving force behind" the sales growth of IAQ supplies and equipment. The more general media stories out there, the more consumers will become aware of IAQ problems.

Aramsco is primarily manufacturing and sales oriented, but they also have a rental fleet of portable IAQ machinery and a chemical division that manufactures and markets biocides. Intersept^® and Micro-Fen^® are among the biocide products that are shipped by Aramsco ready-to-use, as opposed to those products that require mixing and have limited shelf lives. Naylor also believes air filtration machines using ultra-violet light to control microbial and bacterial growth, are the products to watch as the mold remediation industry matures.

Naylor told IE Connections that he also sees personal protective equipment and clothing as hot commodities in the marketplace. Aramsco has developed a three-layer suit with a barrier in the middle for mold abatement workers. Naylor noted that while full body protection for lead and asbestos abatement workers was not necessary, "toxic mold's ability to enter the body through places other than the breathing zone" necessitates the use of coveralls. The company has also produced a new mold abatement products catalog.

Equipment Rental

Tom Nocera of CIH Equipment Company (CIHequip.com, CIHcalibration.com, CIHrental.com, and CIHrepair.com) in Florida told IE Connections that his firm's "true one-day rental" policy sets his company apart. Renting equipment allows prospective buyers the time to try different types of equipment and "become more comfortable with a brand name or to form opinions on similar products prior to purchase," Nocera said. Although CIH Equipment Company's primary business is equipment sales, they rent equipment to industrial hygienists and small business owners who may not have long-term uses for expensive equipment. The lessee pays only for the days the equipment is in use, and is not billed for its time in transit (via overnight shipping).

Company founder David Silver, the in-house Certified Industrial Hygienist, points to the excellent technical support that keeps clients coming back for more. In addition to Silver, there are engineers on staff manning state of the art calibration, airflow, acoustic and optical particle laboratories. The company also offers instrument and equipment calibration services as part of its core mission.

As for emerging trends, Greg Chester of IE Monitoring of Columbus, Ohio, sees IAQ instrumentation that is, "more reliable and user friendly."

"Taking the work out of taking samples - whether it's a data-logging device or a sound level meter - by making the product more 'intuitive,' is a good thing for the end-user," Chester told IE Connections. So what are his hottest selling products? Chester cites TSI instruments and monitors, SKC air sampling pumps and Aerotech Laboratories single stage impactors, used for "grabbing mold to petri dish samples," as the products he can't keep on the shelves.

In October 2000, Ashtead Technology, a subsidiary of Ashtead Group PLC, acquired Response Rentals Inc. The Rochester, N.Y., based rental specialists "provide the newest technology in IAQ instrumentation and fulfillment of auxiliary or sporadic-use equipment needs," according to Doug Allen, the operations manager. Additional distribution facilities in Texas, California and Canada give Ashtead a huge geographical "footprint." Because the rental business is demand driven, Ashtead logs every product inquiry they receive. They "beef up on inventory regularly" to meet this demand, according to Allen. Once they have product in stock, they can fulfill orders in one day thanks to overnight shipping. "As consumers become more aware of guidelines and standards related to indoor air health issues, the need for the correct equipment to accomplish these goals will rise." Allen, like David Silver, told IE Connections that his technical support team is a vital part of his company's success. "Our customer service representatives are applications professionals," according to Allen.

Harris Rothenberg, principal of Airwayssupply.com, sees many advantages in his business-to-business internet presence. The "hardware store for the IAQ industry" is able to offer, "diverse products to an almost unlimited audience." Rothenberg noted that now is a prudent time to purchase Scandinavian manufactured equipment because of the relative strength of the dollar in those countries (the prices have dropped fully 10 percent since the NADCA show), when asked about purchasing big-ticket IAQ products.

Devin Schreiber of Airwayssupply.com added that the company has "innovative ceiling cleaning products and processes" available on their website as their hot product this month. For an investment of roughly $500, a professional cleaner may expand the services offered to commercial clients by purchasing a Universal Ceiling Cleaning Starter Kit. This "ergonomically correct" kit allows the indoor environment professional a "new profit center" by giving the ability of cleaning acoustical tile as well as fire resistant panels in commercial applications, especially kitchens.

UV, Antimicrobials, Ozone? What Works, What Doesn't
By Susan Valenti

When you're talking about air cleaning, there's a lot of conflicting studies about what works and what doesn't. Dr. Richard Shaughnessy, program manager for The University of Tulsa Indoor Air Program, cut to the heart of the matter based upon current available research on the subject at last month's Healthy Indoor Environments Conference in Philadelphia.

"A lot of people say, 'If you researchers can't get it right, then how are we ever going to get it right,'" Shaughnessy told attendees. "Well, we can get it right. We can measure, we can identify, we can look at particulate levels, we can look at gas levels. We can look and see what a certain unit can do with respect to microbials, we can look at biological particulate, normal dust particulate, we can look at gases. But can we relate this to people's health. That's what it's all about."

He told attendees that it makes little difference if researchers make an objective, marked reduction in a contaminant because it has little effect on someone's health. He said that many of the studies are conflicting.

"When I say conflicting, what they're indicating right now is that in many cases you get a HEPA, you put an air cleaner in, you're increasing the efficiency, you're reducing the particulate level, but the health effects are not seen," he said. "Is that because we're not reducing the gaseous contaminant levels? Is it because we're not doing a good enough reduction in particulate levels? Is it because adult airways are not as responsive to these type of interventions?"

Shaughnessy told attendees that there is some good current research that suggests that airways of asthmatic children are more receptive to intervention measures-such as medication and allergen avoidance- that adult patients. He suggests that some of the conflict that exists in the studies could be due to researchers not taking a close enough look at symptoms related to the actual contaminant reduction, as well as dealing with different populations which have different responses.

Another problem in the marketplace regarding air cleaning, according to Shaughnessy, is misleading advertising. While the Federal Trade Commission is responsible for oversight of this issue, they are understaffed and taking companies to court often results in another three to four years before any issues are settled.

"For once I'd like somebody to approach me and sell me an air filter that tells the truth," he told attendees. "I'd to hear a line that's honest, forthcoming, straight forward with respect to what an air filtration device can and cannot do."

Portable Air Cleaners

Shaughnessy bypassed much of his material on filters so that Barney Burroughs of the Building Wellness Group could present this in another technical session. He moved onto the issue of air cleaner effectiveness.

"Is this air cleaner going to be effective at this particulate size? Let's look at dust mites. Well, it has to be in the air long enough for the air cleaner to have an effect. Cat and pet dander? Yes, we have a good chance with air cleaning, as well as typical dust in the home's indoor air. Air cleaning does not have an effect on cockroach allergen, but there is an impact on common fungal spores. And it's very difficult to remove environmental tobacco smoke," he told attendees.

"When you're increasing efficiency, you're increasing resistance to air flow, cost and other considerations," he continued. "Often without thinking about it, allergists and medical doctors tell patients suffering from allergies to go out and buy a HEPA filter for their home. About 99.99 percent of all the systems we have could not handle HEPA filter in a residential unit without major modifications that could cost $2,000 to $3,000. There are other options which are as low as $500. You have to work with what type of unit you have in the home, will it handle the pressure drop related to that filter, and you have to work with someone who understands those two issues."

There are two basic installations of particle air cleaning: in-duct air cleaning and portable air cleaning. Shaughnessy told attendees that he has done a lot of research on portable air cleaners and showed a chart on cleaning efficiency.

"Some people disqualify electrostatic precipitators because they produce ozone," he said. "That's one of those general, sweeping statements. Do electronic air cleaners produce ozone? Maybe, it depends, yes, sometimes. Those are the answers."

The questions, according to Shaughnessy, are what type of unit you have? how well do you maintain it? is it well designed? how much arching occurs?

IE Connections will have more from Dr. Richard Shaughnessy's presentation in next month's issue.