The cost of
investigating, identifying, and resolving indoor air quality
(sick building) problems is probably less than you think.
In fact, many problems are addressed with simple adjustments to
the heating & ventilation system, and appropriate regular
maintenance.
Some common problems
include:
-
insufficient outside air supply
-
poor indoor air distribution
-
inappropriate thermostat settings /
configuration
-
poor filtration
-
lack of regular
& preventative maintenance
Issues that are more
difficult to identify and solve include:
-
presence of contaminants from interior
furnishings and finishes (paint, carpet, adhesives, etc.)
-
Contaminants from occupant activities and
equipment (solvents, cleaning products, copiers, etc.)
-
Microbial
contamination (mold, mildew, etc.) from water leakage into
the building envelope.
Here are some examples of client experiences in
the past:
Example
1
| Building: |
Bank |
| Problem: |
Staff reporting excessive
dust and vehicle odours in part of branch. |
| IAQ Measurement: |
Dust and CO levels were 5
times higher in the area compared to elsewhere. |
| Identified Cause: |
Negative pressure due to
inadequate outside air supply from HVAC system, and
continuous operation of washroom fans caused
infiltration of unfiltered air from street level, and
flowed right through area of concern. |
| Solution: |
Increased minimum outside
air damper position (increased outdoor air flow). |
| Outcome: |
Slight positive
pressurization of indoor space, eliminating
infiltration of street air. Airborne dust and CO
levels were reduced. |
| Mitigation Costs: |
Low cost adjustment of HVAC
system, and slight increase in energy consumption with
increased air flow. |
Example 2
| Building: |
Suburban Office |
| Problem: |
Occupants reported
inconsistent temperatures (primarily cold) and
occasional stuffiness in one area. |
| IAQ Measurement: |
Wide variations in space
temperatures on a daily basis, and periodically
elevated CO2 levels. |
| Identified Cause: |
Inappropriate location and
configuration of thermostat. The thermostat was
located right above a large copier. Consequently, the
thermostat was sensing much warmer conditions than
elsewhere in the area. The thermostat was also
configured for intermittent operation of the fans,
resulting in the periodically elevated CO2 readings. |
| Solution: |
Relocated the copier away
from the thermostat, and configured the thermostat for
continuous fan operation. |
| Outcome: |
Reduced temperature
variations and CO2 levels, which eliminated occupant
complaints. |
| Mitigation Costs: |
Minimal. |
Example 3
| Building: |
School |
| Problem: |
Musty odours in a classroom |
| IAQ Measurement: |
Elevated airborne fungal
concentrations in the room. |
| Identified Cause: |
Swab samples showed
elevated surface fungal levels on the carpets. Review
of cleaning practices showed that moisture was
probably left in carpets post cleaning during summer
recess. |
| Solution: |
Remedial cleaning using a
dry vacuum (HEPA) did not remove the contamination, so
they replaced the carpet with a linoleum surface. |
| Outcome: |
Elimination of the odour
problem (although the teacher reported increased noise
with the hard floor surface!) |
| Mitigation Costs: |
Costs associated with
the carpet replacement. The district revised its
carpet cleaning program to stress the importance of
moisture removal to minimize the potential for
microbial growth.
|
Contact Christopher
Collett & Associates Ltd. for more information
about identifying and resolving air quality problems in your
workplace. It costs less than you think, and results in
increased productivity and more satisfied employees.
|
