Dealing With and Responding to IEQ Issues

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Dealing With and Responding to IEQ Issues

• Risk Management and
• Safety Conference
• J. Michael Taylor, MSPH, CIH
• Manager Health and Environmental Issues
• LDS Church, Risk Management Division
• 801-240-1576
• August 10, 2006

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Mold Risks Recognized Anciently

• Leviticus 1433-48
• Homeowners with mold contamination on their walls
  were instructed to scrape it off, then have the
  area checked by a priest.
• If successive scraping or cleaning did not keep
  the mold from returning, the house was to be
  destroyed with the debris dumped in an unclean
  place

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Hurricanes Charlie, Francis, Ivan, Jeanne
Florida
Church Unit VariousFlorida USA Date
August-September 2004 Impact
Wind and water damage to 27 meetinghouses
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Name Hurricane Katrina, Monday, August
29, 2005 Description Over eight million dollars
damage to over 40 buildings. Four
buildings over one million.
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Name Waveland, MS Description
Beachfront house
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Name Waveland, MS Description Bathtub
near beachfront
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Name Waveland, MS Description Damage
from twenty foot tidal surge
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Name Waveland, MS Description Remains
of chapel (not LDS)
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Name New Orleans 1, 2
Meetinghouse Description Exterior
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Name New Orleans 1,2
Meetinghouse Description Water line on
meetinghouse fence
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Name New Orleans 1,2
Meetinghouse Description Hallway
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Name New Orleans 1,2
Meetinghouse Description Clerks desk on
rostrum
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Name New Orleans 1,2
Meetinghouse Description Rostrum
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Name New Orleans 1,2
Meetinghouse Description Chapel
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Name New Orleans 1,2
Meetinghouse Description Sacrament preparation
room
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Name New Orleans 1,2
Meetinghouse Description Sisal
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Name Pascagoula Meetinghouse Descriptio
n Exterior
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Name Pascagoula Meetinghouse Descriptio
n South hallway
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Name Pascagoula Meetinghouse Descriptio
n Cultural Hall
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Name Pascagoula Meetinghouse Descriptio
n Moisture meter measurement, mens restroom
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Name Pascagoula Meetinghouse Descriptio
n Hex Screws not tightened on automated OA
damper, manual OA damper open
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Name Pascagoula Meetinghouse Descriptio
n Condensation on coil housing, water on
mechanical room floor
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Name Pascagoula Meetinghouse Descriptio
n Water leaking from rusted out drain pan
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Name Pascagoula Meetinghouse Descriptio
n Make up air from chapel air handler coming
from attic. Manual
damper closed.
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Name Waveland Meetinghouse Description
Building Exterior
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Name Waveland Meetinghouse Description
Manual damper shut. Automated damper not
functional.
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Name Waveland Meetinghouse Description
Building remediation and air sampling
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Name Waveland Meetinghouse Description
Moisture-saturated plywood
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Name Waveland Meetinghouse Description
Condensation on chapel ceiling
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Name Waveland Meetinghouse Description
Visible mold growth on base of rostrum
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Name Slidell LA Meetinghouse
Description Building exterior
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Name Slidell LA Meetinghouse Descriptio
n Automated OA damper disconnected
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Name Slidell LA Meetinghouse Descriptio
n Humidification system
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Name Slidell LA Meetinghouse Descriptio
n Carpet water stains in cultural hall
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Name Slidell LA Meetinghouse Descriptio
n Relief society room diffuser with mold growth
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Name Jacksonville Beach FL
Meetinghouse Description Building exterior
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Name Jacksonville Beach FL
Meetinghouse Description Automated OA damper for
cultural hall open and disconnected
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Name Jacksonville Beach FL
Meetinghouse Description Aspergillus mold growth
on organ
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Name Pocatello Welfare Family Services
Office Description Building exterior
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Name Pocatello Welfare Family Services
Office Description Sampling for trace VOCs
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Name Pocatello Welfare Family Services
Office Description Sampling for mold
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Lessons Learned

• Water-damaged buildings have a higher risk of
  mold problems likely related to residual moisture
• Most meetinghouses have HVAC problems
• HVAC fans should run continuously in occupied
  mode
• HVAC systems not designed to reduce elevated
  moisture loads
• Outdoor air damper management is critical in hot,
  humid climates

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Lessons Learned

• Control of structural moisture and airborne
  humidity prevents mold growth and reoccurrence of
  mold growth
• Best practices should be followed for water
  damage restoration and mold remediation

Continued
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HVAC Systems in Older Buildings

• Each building is unique
• Most buildings were designed with a ventilation
  rate of 5 cfm of outdoor air per occupant
• OA dampers are often open bringing hot, humid air
  into buildings.

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Outdoor Air Dampers

• In hot, humid climates, OA dampers should be
  closed in unoccupied mode
• Automated dampers should open in occupied mode
• Manual OA should be balanced
• Manual OA dampers may be closed temporarily after
  water damage
• OA dampers should be regularly inspected and
  maintained

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IAQ Assessment Guideline

• IAQ Assessment Guideline is core process
• Log complaints
• Conduct a background assessment
• Conduct a building walk-through
• Assess HVAC system performance
• Determine possible sources of mold problems
• Develop an action plan
• Get professional help if needed
• Communicate with occupants and management

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Log Complaints
Log Complaints using Indoor Air Quality Report
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Log Complaints

• Review forms for the following
• IEQ discomforts
• Signs or symptoms of health problems
• When did the discomforts or symptoms begin and
  how often did they occur?
• Did the discomforts and symptoms continue outside
  the building?
• Dates and nature of IEQ episodes
• Comments that may help identify sources of IEQ
  problems

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Conduct Background Assessment

• Gather the following historical information
• Age of the building
• Type of construction
• Types of finishing materials
• Age and type of HVAC system
• Recent renovations
• Previously reported air quality problems
• Quality and frequency of maintenance and
  custodial service

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Conduct Walk-Trough

• Look at the building and record all your
  findings
• Layout and potential air-flow problems
• HVAC equipment for potential chemical or
  microbiological problems.
• Storage places for chemicals and supplies
• Outside air-intake locations
• Outside air dampers to see if they are open and
  operating
• Temperature levels outside and inside
• Check humidity and carbon dioxide levels if
  monitoring equipment is available

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Carbon Dioxide

• Ambient levels 390-500 ppm
• Exhale about 4.5 or 40,000 ppm
• Occupational limit 5,000 ppm
• IDLH level 50,000 ppm
• ASHRAE 62-2004 no greater than about 700 ppm
  above outdoor levels will satisfy most peoples
  perception of body odor
• Levels greater than 1000 ppm does not necessarily
  indicate poor IEQ

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Human Occupancy Factors

• Use oxygen
• Produce carbon dioxide
• Produce heat
• Produce moisture
• Produce odors
• Body odor
• Fragrances
• Chemicals (e.g., perchloroethylene)

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Assess HVAC System Performance

• Look closely at HVAC equipment to see if it is
  working properly
• Look for drain pans, heating and cooling coils,
  heat exchangers, and other potential contaminant
  sources
• Review maintenance schedules for filter changes
  and cleaning
• Record all findings

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Determine Possible Causes

• 1. Inadequate Ventilation
• Closed dampers
• Blocked or clogged intake and exhaust vents
• Not enough outdoor air
• Poor air distribution
• Draftiness
• Temperature and humidity differences
• Incorrect air filtration
• Dirty filters, coils, ductwork, etc.

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Determine Possible Causes

• 2. Inside Contamination
• Air fresheners
• Copy machine toner
• Stored cleaners and maintenance chemicals
• Stored paints and adhesives
• Stored lawn and garden chemicals
• Incorrectly diluted cleaning agents
• Insecticides, pesticides and other chemicals
• Leaking heat exchangers
• Loose and disconnected flues
• Dry traps in floor drains
• Broken sewer lines

Continued
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Determine Possible Causes
Continued

• When reviewing finishing materials, look for-
• Recently installed carpets and wall covering
• Recently installed excessive uncured adhesives
• Recently installed material that is fibrous, odd
  smelling, or unfamiliar
• Recently installed paints, varnishes, and other
  finishes
• Ask about plans, specifications, and labels that
  might indicate the actual products installed

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Determine Possible Causes
Continued

• 3. Outside Contamination
• Airborne pollutants from on-site and off-site
  sources
• Exhaust stacks too close to air intake ducts
• Air intake ducts close to sources of automobile
  exhaust
• Pollen and allergy-causing plaints near air
  intakes
• Blocked and broken flues
• Blocked air intake grilles

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Determine Possible Causes
Continued

• 4. Microbiological Contamination
• Standing water in the HVAC system or signs that
  it has occurred
• Water damage to carpets and other furnishings
• Accumulation of dust and dirt

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Sources of Building Moisture

• Airborne humidity from OA
• Storm water (gray)
• Flood water (brown)
• Sewage water (black)
• Plumbing leaks
• Frozen plumbing or sprinklers
• Irrigation water infiltration
• Groundwater infiltration
• Condensation
• Vapor barrier failure

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Dehumidification Systems

• HVAC systems should be properly maintained and
  operated to control indoor humidity to less that
  60 relative humidity
• In hot, humid climates, dehumidification systems
  should be installed
• - Low level priority, Ave. summer dew point lt 60F
  (135 gr/lb)
• Medium, lt 65F (140 gr/lb)
• High, lt 70F (145 gr/ lb)

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APPROVED AREAS FOR DEHUMIDIFICATION

• ?140 Grains, Authorized forDehumidification
  Options II III

135 to 139 Grains, Authorized forDehumidificatio
n Option II
lt135 Grains, Not Authorized forDehumidification
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Develop an Action Plan

• Once you have identified potential sources of
  indoor air contaminants, develop an action plan
  to contain or eliminate them, then carry out the
  plan.
• If the steps taken in your plan do not eliminate
  the sources of the contaminants and eliminate the
  air quality complaints, get an industrial
  hygienist with expertise in indoor environmental
  quality to conduct a professional investigation
  which may include air sampling.

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Keep Building Occupants Informed

• Keep management informed about complaints
  received and actions taken
• Provide building occupants information on the
  assessment findings and action plan

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Types of IEQ Complaints

• Determine if you are dealing with a problem
  building or if you are dealing with sensitive
  building occupants
• Building-associated symptoms formerly known as
  sick building syndrome may or may not be
  associated with building deficiencies
• Building-related illness are rare situations
  which can include infectious, allergic, or toxic
  diseases

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The Human Side

• Characteristics of situations that are not
  resolved
• by improving the environment
• Initial response inadequate
• Investigation inadequate (or perceived to be
  inadequate)
• Anger
• Group is formed
• Distrust and fear
• Goals change

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Indoor Air Quality Progression

• If Psycho-social factors are not considered
• Stage One Trigger Directs attention towards
  the environment. Sets things in motion
• Stage Two Promotion Reinforcement with the
  idea that there is a problem with the environment
  
• Stage Three Reaction Perceived inadequate
  response. Anger and polarization
• Stage Four Spread Escalation of the conflict.
  Anxiety, panic, and fear
• Stage Five Undesirable Resolution Loss of
  control. Third party involvement

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Additional Resources

• IAQ Assessment Guideline, Section 5, Safety,
  Health, and Environmental Manual
• Construction Guidelines for IEQ Fact Sheet
• Ozone Generator Fact Sheet
• Water Damage Restoration Fact Sheet
• Portable Air Cleaner Fact Sheet
• Humidity Monitoring Fact Sheet