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What A Mess:
HUD has finally released Title X’s 1012-13
regulations for lead-based paint. However, the
regulation doesn’t require clearance testing
of lead paint and dust in single family housing;
instead only focuses on federally-owned
multi-family housing. This is only a small
fraction of the housing in U.S.— about 10
percent— that HUD had proposed to cover.
According to sources, the campaign is now on to embarrass the agency into a revision of 1012 to
include single family housing. Such notable
groups as the Alliance to End Childhood Lead
Poisoning and National Center for Lead-Safe
Housing are participating in the outcry, stating
that the new regulations don’t go far enough
to prevent lead poisoning in the large
single-family market. On the other hand,
contractors in the business of lead abatement now
have a definitive sign that they should consolidate their services into more profitable
industries.
Standard News:
ASHRAE 52.2, the new filtration standard for
method of testing, has been approved for
publication and will bear a 1999 date.
Underwriters Laboratories is expected to release
the first part of their IAQ draft proposal for
public comment this month.
New Task Force:
The American Industrial Hygiene Association
has a brand new task force that will tackle the
whole subject of how to mitigate a building that
has microbial infestation.
Cleaning Study:
There’s new research currently being
conducted to answer the burning question,
“How clean is clean?” in a building.
Barney Burroughs of IAQ/Building Well Consultancy
is a member of the study team. Results are
expected to be out this spring.
Residential
Contracting:
Several families were temporarily relocated from
their homes recently due to a mold outbreak in a
78-unit tract of houses.
Shapell industries, the builder of the houses,
said the mold problem was a serious, but
temporary concern due to quick discovery and
response to the problem. The mold was also found
in the raised subfloor foundations of some 38
homes still under construction.
Experts found traces of Stachybotrys atra in 12
of the 38 occupied sites. Shapell contracted with
Pacific Gold Coast Construction (PGCC) of Santa
Monica, Calif., to solve the microbial problems
affecting the houses.
“The project is proceeding as planned and on
schedule,” said John Lausevic, vice
president of operations for PGCC. “The
effectiveness of the technologies we employ will
provide long-lasting protection of the structures
from microbial recurrence.”
Something
To Think About It:
IAQA’s new President Holly Bailey says
everything in our marketplace is designed for
“healthy people,” but our business
deals with “unhealthy” individuals and
facilities. “IAQ professionals get involved
with people who are chemically sensitive,
allergic, asthmatic, etc,” she says.
“[But] the guidelines and standards we use
are designed for healthy people.”
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