Ignoring a problem will not make it go away!

2005-05-02T15:54:00.000-05:00

My wife works for a company called Hewitt Associates here in The Woodlands. Hewitt provides outsourcing of company benefits for many of the world’s top companies. They’re known as the best in the US, and maybe the World – for the services they provide. And, they really treat their employees great! Until today that is.

New building designs

2005-04-28T09:47:00.000-05:00

Buildings.com has published an article discussing the structure for the new #7 World Trade Center building in New York. The 52-story building will have super-reinforced walls, air filters to guard against bio-terror attacks, and space-age buttonless elevators. In addition, the core of the building will be encased in 2-foot thick concrete that would protect elevators, stairs, and power systems

Environmentally friendly hotel rooms

2005-04-18T10:53:00.000-05:00

The Hilton Hotel at O’Hare Airport is attempting to accommodate travelers with asthma and other respiratory illnesses.The project was started by literally gutting several rooms in the hotel. Then the rooms were rebuilt using special wood flooring, wall coverings, fabrics, furniture, paints, adhesives and cleaning products. They are even incorporating a monitoring

Fuzzy photos

2005-04-18T09:04:00.000-05:00

I took a trip to Corpus Christi last week. Since I was consulting on Friday afternoon, I decided to stay over through Saturday. On Saturday morning, I drove to Port Aransas to see the Sandcastle competition. Took lots of photos too!In looking at my photos, one unfortunate issue stands out. Every one of them is blurred. It turns out that

The story of a great boat anchor!

2005-04-08T08:37:00.000-05:00

Someone (Consumer Reports) finally jumped on the Sharper Image folks who have been advertising the heck out of their Ionic Breeze air filters. Sure they've sold 2 million around the world, but that doesn't mean they are safe or effective ... and Consumer Reports has been echoing those comments for a long time.Consumer Reports recently restated their comments, and were sued by Sharper Image. The

Will the madness ever end?

2005-04-02T16:38:00.000-06:00

I spent 10 days in the panhandle of Florida in February. That section of the state is still dealing with the confusion caused by Hurricane Ivan ... and honestly what I saw during that time really worries me. Specifically, I'm talking about consultants, mold remdediators, and insurance companies that are applying new "space age" products to homes with mold ... without fully considering the

The magic smoke machine

2004-02-27T08:44:00.000-06:00

How does the building owner or manager respond to complaints about poor air circulation knowing that the HVAC system was carefully designed and that all the equipment is calibrated and clean? How can the skeptic be convinced that the best possible air extraction rate is being maintained? What is the airflow pattern in a large indoor space like a restaurant, conference center or shopping mall? Is

Do it yourself mold tests give quick answers

2004-01-17T14:11:00.000-06:00

A relatively new and affordable test has been developed that allows building owners and managers, consultants, and remediation contractors to test and rapidly identify Stachybotrys spores and Mycotoxins in “Sick” Buildings. Although not the first mold to grow when water leaks, Stachybotrys is the mold getting the most public attention ...More

IEQ considers a broader range of criteria

2004-01-09T17:38:00.000-06:00

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) goes beyond the standard issues that indoor air quality considers. IEQ includes thermal comfort, ventilation and indoor air quality, lighting quality, acoustics, interior spatial layout and furnishings, and cleanliness and maintenance. Indices and survey scales have been defined for each factor in order to quantify their effects on building occupants ...More

Consider punching holes in your vinyl walls

2003-10-30T15:40:00.000-06:00

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 5 years, you have probably heard about the problems associated with mold growths beneath vinyl wallpaper. This usually occurs when the paper is installed on the inside surface of the exterior walls of schools, hotels, hospitals and office buildings.The problem – commonly seen in southern climates – is attributed to exterior moisture in the form

How effective are UV lamps?

2003-10-17T15:38:00.000-05:00

Recent research to define the effectiveness of UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) lamps installed in air ductwork has culminated in a report by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Institute. The original research was done to identify the key factors and define the impact of these factors on the effectiveness of UV-C light in circulating air ductwork. More

Those seldom seen ultrafine particles

2003-09-08T09:35:00.000-05:00

As IAQ consultants, we’ve been asked to “chase odors” many times over the last 14 years. At times, the odors would come-and-go throughout the day. [Usually, they come when we’re off site, and go away when we arrive.] It’s frustrating trying to find the source of many odors, because our noses become sensitized to the odor shortly after beginning the search. One recent addition to our arsenal

Cheap insurance for air handler units

2003-07-08T18:45:00.000-05:00

You’ve probably seen the conditioner in use on the inside of an air handler unit. One example, called the Condensate Drainpan Conditioner (CDC) contains a biocide tablet enclosed in a red plastic housing for easy and safe handling. Sealed to the plastic housing is a white filter material to help control the release of the biocide. Condensate water is absorbed ...More

Myths about building enclosures. Newer doesn't mean tighter!

2003-06-30T12:15:00.000-05:00

It is often assumed that modern commercial and institutional buildings are fairly airtight and that envelope air leakage does not impact energy consumption or indoor air quality in these buildings. Furthermore, it is assumed that more recently constructed buildings are tighter than older buildings. According to Dr. Andy Persily with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, there is .

Air ducts that won't grow mold

2003-05-31T13:06:00.000-05:00

Antimicrobial-coated steel brings an added measure of cleanliness to commercial buildings ... More

Mold-resistant panels for commercial buildings.

2003-05-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

Mold development can be the result of any source of water -- from leaky pipes or air conditioners to moisture that becomes trapped in wall cavities because of non-breathable material on the walls. With so many different scenarios as to why mold can be found in building interiors, you might think mold growth exists everywhere. However, that is just not the case ...More

Cleaning for productivity

2003-05-18T08:37:00.000-05:00

The issue of employee productivity in a commercial office building is an important one. While studies on the subject are often done by corporations for their own facilities, third-party managers don’t often hear about the benefits ...More

What building occupants can do

2003-03-05T15:26:00.000-06:00

While most buildings do not have severe indoor air quality problems, even well-run buildings can sometimes experience episodes of poor IAQ. Some of the factors may originate from inadequate HVAC design. Some may be solely in the control of building management, such as maintenance of the HVAC system and the amount of outside air being mechanically brought into the building. Others are largely

MSDS help online

2003-02-05T16:59:00.000-06:00

As last month's issue was being delivered, we relaxed a bit and decided to surf the web. As we did, we came across a site that we just had to share with our subscribers. It's an accumulation of material safety data sheets (MSDS) located at: http://www.msdssolutions.com/ .So far, we have found MSDS copies for every chemical on our premises, and that only touches the surface of the thousands they

Was that last leak clean, gray, or black water?

2003-01-28T07:26:00.000-06:00

Assessing water damage claims, occupant health complaints, and the effectiveness of remediation efforts always starts with identifying the source of the water. Often however, it’s hard to tell if the water causing the damage was clean water to begin with. Effectively identifying the “category of water” causing a water spill is the first step toward resolving the problem ...More

Potted plants aren't the answer

2003-01-08T14:00:00.000-06:00

If you want to improve the quality of the air in your home or office, forget about buying a few indoor plants. You'd have to make the place look like the Palm House at Kew Gardens to have even the slightest impact, claims an Australian researcher ...More

Antimicrobial products for IAQ applications

2003-01-05T16:05:00.000-06:00

The presence of microorganisms in the indoor air environment and the adverse health effects they can cause are well known and documented. The scientific literature is extensive on this subject ...More

IAQ and efflorescence. Ever wonder what that white stuff is?

2002-11-16T19:29:00.000-06:00

One of the indicators of possible moisture intrusion is a white, powdery or crystalline substance sometimes found on the surface of concrete, plaster and masonry. Known as efflorescence, bloom, or sometimes effervescence, it occurs as water containing soluble salts evaporates from the surface of an object. On exterior surfaces it is usually only an aesthetic concern. When found indoors, however,

Avoiding serious water issues

2002-11-08T15:43:00.000-06:00

One of the most common problems facing building owners and property managers is the proper way to take care of a leak. Leaks in apartments, either contained in one unit or a leak from one unit down to the unit below, are a lot more common than many people think, and if not treated correctly, they can become expensive problems ...More

Shedding light on candles at work

2002-10-14T07:18:00.000-05:00

With the growing popularity of candles in the home, it is not surprising that candles have also found their way into the workplace ...More

Moisture meters for property managers

2002-10-11T09:42:00.000-05:00

The detection and location of excess moisture in building construction materials is one of the first steps to preventing mold related problems. Because of this, moisture meters are rapidly becoming an essential tool for building engineers and property managers ...More

Should you run your home's HVAC 24/7?

2002-10-08T07:04:00.000-05:00

Is operating a home’s air handler for the purpose of cleaning the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week, something air quality professionals should recommend? Some may say, “No, because it causes re-humidification or increased humidification of the environment, and it is unhealthy.” Others may say, “Yes, because ..."More

Ceiling panels are guaranteed against microbial growth

2002-07-13T14:11:00.000-05:00

ClimaPlus™ Ceiling Panels, from USG Corporation in Chicago, Illinois, are the first ceiling panels to come with a lifetime guarantee against bacteria, fungi, and algae growth ...More

The trouble with cleaning coils

2002-06-10T18:19:00.000-05:00

From an Inspection Report: “The interior of the air-handler had mold growth on the walls and other surfaces. The fan and fan housing were contaminated with layers of built up soil and accumulated growth. The buildup of soil and microbial growth on the cooling coil was so heavy that airflow through the coil was severely restricted ..."More

Out with that old fiber duct liner

2002-05-14T12:46:00.000-05:00

Cleaning or replacing fibrous glass duct insulation or duct liner has been simultaneously promoted and denigrated over the years ...More

Tenant modifications to your HVAC systems

2002-05-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

When air conditioning vents are located above the head of employees, it creates a draft that causes discomfort and complaints ...More

Wnen IAQ complaints have you chasing the wrong things

2002-03-02T18:01:00.000-06:00

We get a lot of calls from troubled clients. Often, they ask about the The American Society for Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guidance documents on indoor air quality. That standard, known as 62-1999, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, provides help for designers and HVAC engineers on outside air quantities, outside air treatment, ventilation

Indoor Air Currents