Indoor Air Quality Solutions, IAQS

Water is the key. Without it, mold growth cannot start, much less multiply and spread. The easiest way to prevent the mold from gaining a foothold is to control dampness. Keep your home clean and dry. When water stands for even 24 hours, common molds can take hold. Keeping humidity levels below 60% and venting moisture from showering and cooking to the outside are several ways to prevent the conditions that can lead to mold growth. Other ways include:

•Clean and dry up spills within 24 hours
•Dry out wet building materials and carpets within 24 hours
•Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier to reduce the indoor humidity levels below 60%. If you have a central air conditioning system and need a dehumidifier to reduce relative humidity below 60%, you should have the air conditioning system examined for problems
•Do not carpet bathrooms or basements

Note: While most experts suggest a relative humidity of less than 60%, below 50% is best for controlling both mold growth and dust mites. Dust mites are microscopic animals related to spiders, ticks and other mites. Dust mites eat mold and dead human or animal skin scales (flakes) and leave allergenic proteins. Dust mites reduce allergen production at these lower humidity levels.

Teachers have a significant role maintaining good air quality in classrooms. Below are a few tips for teachers that if followed can assist in maintaining or improving the air quality of classrooms.

Tip #10 – BLOCKING HVAC SUPPLY OR RETURN AIR DUCTS REDUCES AIR QUALITY

Classroom air supply systems are critical to the classroom environment. It is important that air systems are not manually turned on or off and are not blocked. Classroom air systems will not work properly when the system is even partially blocked. If there are issues with your air supply system, ask the front office to enter a work request for Building Services to address the issue on your behalf. If you are storing materials like the ones shown below finding alternate storage space will allow the system to better perform.

Tip #9 – MINIMIZE UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE AND STUFFED TOYS

Cloth furniture, stuffed animals, pillows and other such articles are reservoirs for allergens and asthma triggers. It is important to wash these types of materials out of the classroom or cleaned regularly to keep allergens to a minimum.

Tip #8 – PREVENT DUST ACCUMULATIONS

Dust can be a serious problem for asthmatics or others with upper respiratory sensitivity. Keeping clutter to a minimum will allow your custodian to take better care of your room. For instance, keeping stored materials in plastic boxes with lids allows them to be dusted. Your custodian takes good care of your room. However, the hygiene of personal items, media carts, computers and stored materials is the responsibility of the teacher(s) using or storing these items.

Tip #7 – ANIMAL DANDER IS AN ALLERGEN

Furry animals produce dander which can be both an allergen and asthma trigger. It is best not to have furry animals in the classroom. If animals are required for curriculum the cages should be cleaned on a daily basis and more sensitive children should sit on the opposite side of the room from the animals. Animal food should be stored in sealable vessels. You should never be able to smell the presence of the animals in your classroom.

Tip #6 – MASKING AGENTS PUT CHEMICALS IN THE AIR

Masking agents introduce substances into the air that may smell nice to some, but may be offensive or upper respiratory irritants to others. It is best not to use masking agents in classrooms. If there is a building related problem causing odors, the masking agent makes it harder to find the problem. There have been a number of response actions conducted by district personnel where simply removing the masking agents out of the building resolved staff and student upper respiratory irritation.

Tip #5 – USE THE WORK ORDER SYSTEM TO ADJUST HVAC SYSTEMS

It is important that classroom air systems are allowed to run as designed. Tampering with the air system not only impacts your room, but may start a domino effect that impacts other classrooms too. If your classroom is not within the accepted temperature range contact the front office to request support.

Tip #4 – USE BREAK ROOMS AND OR CAFETERIA TO PREPARE FOOD AND BEVERAGES

Do not store or prepare food in classrooms unless there is a specific medical or curriculum need to do so. Food spoils, attracts pests and should be prepared in appropriate spaces. Home appliances are not intended for use in school buildings and generally do not have the appropriate ASTM rating.

Tip #3 – PERFUME AND COLOGNE ARE UPPER RESPIRATORY IRRITANTS TO SOME

Perfumes, aftershave and colognes may be serious upper respiratory irritants. Reduce use to a minimum while at school to avoid triggering asthma attacks or causing upper respiratory system irritation.

Tip #2 – REPORT WATER EVENTS PROMPTLY

Report floods, water leaks, or water spots to the front office promptly. By reporting these issues early the initial problem can be addressed by Building Services before the moisture becomes a more serious event.

Tip #1 – EDUCATE YOURSELF WITH FREE MATERIALS DESIGNED FOR YOUR BENEFIT

Empower yourself to improve the indoor environment by reading up on IAQ at the USEPA Tools for Schools IAQ Website.

Representatives from leading government agencies addressing indoor environmental quality, including CDC, EPA and HUD, will help kick-off the IAQA 14th Annual Meeting by participating in a series of workshops and panel discussions. The meeting takes place February 15-17, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas and is being called “The Summit for Healthy Home and Healthy Building Professionals.”

Government officials joining the convention program include Peter J. Ashley, DrPH, Director, Policy and Standards Division, HUD Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control; Kathy Seikel, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Administrator, Office of Children’s Health Protection; and, Deborah Millette, Deputy Director/Senior Advisor to the Director, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Our 14th Annual Meeting will be truly remarkable, in that it is the first of several 2011 conferences that bring government, industry and academia together to discuss healthy homes and healthy buildings. The meeting program, coupled with hundreds of booths at the Indoor Air Expo, makes IAQA’s event the most sensation conference for IAQ professionals taking place next year,” said Carl Grimes, IAQA President.

Florida Releases Energy Star Residential HVAC Rebate Form Encourages Florida residents to upgrade to energy-efficient air conditioning system.

Governor Charlie Crist today encouraged Floridians to learn how to receive a Florida ENERGY STAR® Residential HVAC rebate by visiting http://www.rebates.com/floridahvac.

Beginning Monday, August 30, 2010, Florida homeowners who upgrade their air conditioning systems can qualify to receive a $1,500 rebate.

The program will end on Friday, December 31, 2010, or when the $15 million in rebate funds are depleted.

These purchases are expected to increase employment in the air conditioning industry and to create new green jobs for home energy efficiency raters.

“I encourage Floridians to learn about the state and federal financial rebate incentives and consider upgrading their residential air conditioning system beginning August 30,” Governor Crist said. “This investment will benefit consumers, businesses and our entire state economy, as well as increase energy savings and improve the value of many Florida homes.”

Due to the limited amount of rebate funds, rebates will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Governor Crist encourages Florida residents to visit the Web site to learn details that will increase consumers’ likelihood of receiving a rebate.

Beginning on Monday, August 30, consumers who purchase and install a new central air conditioner, air source heat pump or geothermal heat pump that meets Federal Energy Tax Credits standards can begin taking the first steps towards qualifying for a rebate.

Consumers can receive rebates of up to $1,500 per household on central air conditioners, air source heat pumps or geothermal heat pumps when, concurrently with installation, they also have their home duct systems tested, and the test results indicate no more than 15 percent leakage to the outside.

Participants must meet all the requirements of the Florida ENERGY STAR® Residential HVAC Rebate Program.

Rebates will be given in the form of an American Express Prepaid Card, which has no fees for monthly servicing or card replacement, and the funds on the card never expire.

The prepaid card can be exchanged for a check or an electronic funds transfer. The rebate program is for Florida household residents only.

Administered by the Florida Energy and Climate Commission and the Governor’s Energy Office, the rebate program is made possible by a grant from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Florida legislation signed by Governor Crist in 2009.

•John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
•Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
•Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
•www.Microshield-ES.com www.CFL-IAQ.com

The 2011 National Healthy Homes Conference is a federally-sponsored event bringing together a wide range of sectors to better coordinate efforts in making housing healthy, safe, and environmentally sustainable.

This Conference is hosted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Together the agencies are working to help America create and sustain healthy homes and communities for everyone. The event takes place June 20-23, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. IAQA is one of 18 prestigious organizations chosen to serve on the Conference Advisory Committee.

•John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
•Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
•Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
•www.Microshield-ES.com www.CFL-IAQ.com

Chapter 468, Part XVI, Florida Statutes, provides for licensure and regulation of mold remediators. The law became effective July 1, 2010, and provides that the mold related services licensing program will be administered by Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

The Florida DBPR has chosen ACAC to provide the license examinations required by Chapter 468, and has approved 2 ACAC Mold Remediation certification exams for this purpose:

ACAC Mold Remediator Exams

All of the following tests are approved by DBPR for the Florida mold remediator license. License applicants may register for the exam of their choosing:

Council-certified Microbial Remediator (CMR)
100 question exam on proper techniques for microbial remediation in the indoor environment.

Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor (CMRS)
120 question exam on proper techniques for microbial remediation in the indoor environment.

•John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
•Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
•Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
•www.Microshield-ES.com www.CFL-IAQ.com