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Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) – Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
As time goes by SBS and IAQ will become a bigger and bigger problem for schools, offices, etc.
As with asbestos and lead in paint, the problem will eventually become a problem mandatorily regulated by the government.
What most do not understand is that air tight rooms, offices, etc, are still relatively new. Up until as late as the 60’s schools, offices, homes, etc were not essentially sealed-up as they are today. Windows were opened on a regular basis for fresh air circulation since most did not have a/c or just used fans.
By the 70’s the windows in homes, schools, offices, etc started to be closed-up and the air-conditioning or heating 24/7 operated year round. By 1980 (only 27 years) ago the problems really got started.
What problems you may ask?
1. Poor/Unhealthy IAQ (Indoor Air Quality)
2. SBS (Sick Building Syndrome)
What causes SBS is poor indoor air quality, and poor indoor air quality is caused by:
1. Air Conditioner Coils growing mold & bacteria, which get re-circulated throughout the enclosed environments.
2. Carpeting that can harbor bacteria, dust, allergens, etc.
3. Traditional ceiling tiles can grow bacteria, mold, mildew and more.
4. Walls, floors, etc that are made of wood and other materials that can grow mold, mildew, bacteria.
5. Furniture, draperies, & clothing can even contribute to IAQ.
IAQ deteriorates as the above conditions are in play. Most problems grow due to poorly maintained systems or systems needing replacement.
What most do not do is properly clean the air ducts, coils, ceiling tiles, carpet, etc.
In most cases proper cleaning that is done frequently can handle the problem, but in some cases only replacing the problem causing items will help.
Carpet can be cleaned as long as it has not gotten soaking wet. When wet the padding under the carpet can (and in most cases does) grow moldy. In some cases carpet and padding need to be replaced.
Traditional ceiling tiles can be cleaned on the visible surface, but in a lot of cases they have problems on the topside, which is only seen when removed. This is where mold, bacteria, and mildew will grow. When the stain shows through on the bottom (visible) side it means the top (unseen) side is much worse considering that is where the problem starts. So even if the water has not soaked through to stain the visible side you could still have a huge problem festering and never realize it.
Water from condensation due to humid air conditions, pipe & roof leaks, etc will damage most traditional ceiling tiles.
Just because your ceiling tiles and carpet appear to be clean does not mean they are. Carpet problems, for the most part, can be detected easily since most water problems start on the visible side then soak toward the lining or padding, but ceiling tile problems are the opposite. The moisture usually enters where it can’t be seen and eventually makes itself known after the problem has advanced sufficiently.
1. Air Conditioner parts such asthe coil must be checked and cleaned at least annually
2. Ducts cleaned annually
3. Carpet vacuumed daily and cleaned frequently (as often as monthly) with a dry solution Vs heavy steam or a wet solution.
4. Ceiling tiles cleaned quarterly and checked on the top-side to see if damage is present.
You can also replace the offenders - carpet and padding with different flooring, traditional ceiling tile with a PVC or Plastic-ceiling tile. This reduces your problems to just the A/C System and ducts which can be cleaned regularly and reduce costs in all aspects.
1. Cost of having traditional ceiling tiles cleaned quarterly
2. Cost of replacement ceiling tiles
3. Cost of manpower or having tiles replaced professionally
4. Cost of special carpet cleaning materials, equipment, and services
5. Cost of replacing padding below carpet
6. Cost of replacing carpet
7. Cost of A/C check and cleaning
8. Cost of duct cleaning
Cost of Health issues:
1. Poor indoor air quality will increase sick days
2. Poor IAQ will increase cost of health insurance costs
3. Poor IAQ will increase cost in maintenance of environment
4. Poor IAQ will increase cost due to lost man-hours due to illness caused by SBS, which is due to IAQ.
5. Poor IAQ can cost you business and customers, which in turn loses you sales.
6. Poor IAQ, over time, can lead to other health conditions that can decrease quality of life especially in homes and where employees spend many hours a day working.
7. Poor IAQ can cost you due to down time for correcting problems
All of this is still relatively new and is due to the airtight environments that we have come to live in and work in over the past 3-4 decades.
Enclosed: look at your office, doctors office (especially patients rooms), hospitals, etc. You essentially have four enclosed walls, floor, and ceiling and the air is re-circulated through air conditioner ducts, which start at an air conditioner return. All air is sucked in the return and then re-circulated throughout the ducts to all rooms with vents. So if the coil is dirty or growing mold or bacteria then you are re-circulating the contaminants to all rooms with vents. Ceiling tiles that are growing bacteria, mold, etc are contributing to the problem especially those located by the a/c returns. The more closed in the area the worse the problem. Think about places with more people in them especially sick people (hospital rooms and waiting areas). Their problems get re-circulated and more problems grow from there.
Any buildings (that are not open-air buildings or homes) that have central air and heat and especially with drop ceilings need, at the very least, to have their a/c, and ducts checked and cleaned often as well as their ceiling tiles (on both sides or have the ceiling tiles replaced with plastic /PVC tiles).
Locations that produce or collect dust or fibers
· textured surfaces such as carpeting, curtains, and other textiles porous ceiling tiles
· open shelving
· old or deteriorated furnishings
· materials containing damaged asbestos
· microbiological growth on or in soiled or water-damaged furnishings
· microbiological growth in areas of surface condensation
· standing water from clogged or poorly designed drains
Accidental events
· spills of water or other liquids
· microbiological growth due to flooding or to leaks from roofs, piping
· fire damage (soot, PCBs from electrical equipment, odors)
Thermal Comfort
Humidity is a factor in thermal comfort. Raising relative humidity reduces the ability to lose heat through perspiration and evaporation, so that the effect is similar to raising the temperature. Humidity extremes can also create other IAQ problems. Excessively high or low relative humidity can produce discomfort, while high relative humidity can promote the growth of mold and mildew.
The HVAC system is generally the predominant pathway and driving force for air movement in buildings. However, all of a building’s components (walls, ceilings, floors, penetrations, HVAC equipment, and occupants) interact to affect the distribution of contaminants.
Chases, crawlspaces, plenum, and other hidden spaces can be both sources and pathways for pollutants.
Groups that may be particularly susceptible to effects of indoor air contaminants include, but are not limited to:
v allergic or asthmatic individuals
v people with respiratory disease
v people whose immune systems are suppressed due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, disease, or other causes
v contact lens wearers
Because of varying sensitivity among people, one individual may react to a
particular IAQ problem while surrounding occupants have no ill effects.
(Symptoms that are limited to a single person can also occur when only one workstation
receives the bulk of the pollutant dose.) In other cases, complaints may be
widespread. A single indoor air pollutant or problem can trigger different
reactions in different people. Some may not be affected at all. Information
about the types of symptoms can sometimes lead directly to solutions.
The effects of IAQ problems are often nonspecific symptoms rather than clearly defined illnesses. Symptoms commonly attributed to IAQ problems include:
· headache
· fatigue
· shortness of breath
· sinus congestion
· cough
· sneezing
· eye, nose, and throat irritation
· skin irritation
· dizziness
· nausea
All of these symptoms, however, may also be caused by other factors, and are not necessarily due to air quality deficiencies.
Quotes from the EPA website @ http://www.epa.gov/mold on MOLD
Mold is not usually a problem indoors -- unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. As molds grow they digest whatever they are growing on. Unchecked mold growth can damage buildings and furnishings; molds can rot wood, damage drywall, and eventually cause structural damage to buildings. Mold can cause cosmetic damage, such as stains. The potential human health effects of mold are also a concern. It is important, therefore, to prevent mold from growing indoors.
In some cases, indoor mold growth may not be obvious. Mold does not need light to grow: it can grow in dark areas and on hidden surfaces, such as the backside of drywall, wallpaper, and paneling; the top side of ceiling tiles; and the underside of carpets and pads. Possible locations of hidden mold also include damp areas behind walls and in crawlspaces, inside pipe chases and utility tunnels (areas in walls where water and other pipes are run), on acoustic liners in ventilation ducts, and on roof materials above ceiling tiles.
Investigating hidden mold can be difficult and may require a professional with experience investigating water- and mold-damaged buildings. Specialized equipment such as borescopes and moisture meters, and in some cases special sampling techniques, may be helpful in locating and identifying hidden mold areas. Investigating hidden mold requires caution since disturbing moldy areas may spread mold throughout the building. Opening and closing air handlers, for example, can send high levels of dust and mold into the air. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is not always needed when looking for mold, but it should always be available. If mold might be released into the air, investigators should use PPE to reduce exposure.
Commercial Buildings, Large Buildings, and Schools
A key step when looking for mold in a building is to determine whether there has been a water leak. Maintenance personnel are frequently among the first to know when moisture problems have occurred. In some cases, management or health and safety personnel will have been notified. Either way, touring the building with maintenance or other personnel involved with the water problem may be helpful.
During the building survey, any moldy or damp odors should be noted because damp or musty odors suggest that water is or was present and mold growth is likely. Occupant complaints of odors and health problems also should be investigated.
Hidden Areas
Special attention should be given to areas that are hidden, but that might have gotten wet. Areas behind walls and in ceilings, crawl spaces, and attics are frequently overlooked and not dried carefully. In general, all wet areas should be completely dried within 48 hours to prevent mold from growing.
Prevention
Buildings should be located, landscaped, built, and renovated with consideration for the climate. A building that is not suited to the climate can have moisture problems. Buildings inevitably will get wet, both inside and out, and they must be allowed to dry or mold will grow in them. Selection and location of building materials and furnishings can also be made with mold prevention in mind. In frequently damp or wet areas, more mold-resistant materials can be used; for example, some woods are more resistant to mold than particleboard or pressed board. PVC Ceiling Tiles don’t provide a breeding ground for mold.
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