D. Hartwig, ARAMARK, Madison, WI.
Mold growth in buildings continues to be an increasing problem. Much emphasis has been placed on investigation and remediation with too little emphasis on prevention.
This presentation takes a different approach to the subject of mold in buildings. While many presentations have addressed the inspection and testing procedures, this case study exposes the causes of mold during the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings, thus providing solutions that will prevent the problem. Through extensive use of pictures, the presenter will show how design defects, construction blunders, and poor maintenance causes mold growth. The intent of the presentation is to show building owners, designers, and contractors how to prevent mold growth, thus preventing law suits, high remediation costs, building damage, and deleterious health effects.
B. Epstien, M. Andrew, M. Knipfer, M. Black, Air Quality Sciences Inc., Marietta, GA.
The health and financial impact of poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) can be staggering. Poor IEQ can lead to elevated levels of pollutants including formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), respirable particles, and atypical molds, all of which can adversely impact occupant health and comfort. As a result, proactive programs have been developed to ensure that buildings are designed, built, and furnished to achieve and maintain acceptable IEQ. Special design specifications and the selection of low emitting materials are primary components of these proactive programs. Clearance testing specifications have also been developed to permit qualification of a building prior to occupancy. These criteria require that the finished building not have greater than 0.2 mg/m3 of total VOCs, 0.02 mg/m3 of formaldehyde, 0.02 mg/m3 of particles, 0.003 mg/m3 of 4-phenycyclohexene, and no unusual molds. Further, no pollutants can exceed any existing outdoor ambient air quality standards; and no chemical with levels greater than 5% of the occupational threshold limit value. Results of clearance testing of two large office buildings, located in NC and CA, will be presented, describing analytical methods and demonstrating that these clearance levels can be met in most cases. In one case, data showed that the installation of furniture can cause an increase in the level of formaldehyde and other VOCs, suggesting the need for continued flush-out of the building prior to occupancy. In another example, cleaning activities being performed in the sampling zone contributed to elevated VOCs. In another case, sampling for fungal spores showed normal and typical rank order of indoor fungi as compared to the outdoor air. Other similar examples will be illustrated as well.
T. Havel, Kaiser Permanente Hospitals, Pasadena, CA.
Remodeling and construction activities can have a significant impact on indoor environmental quality (IEQ), which can adversely affect the occupants. The nature of the construction, methods, and the choice of building materials creates different IEQ issues in the health care setting that can affect a sensitive population. Measures taken throughout construction projects can minimize emerging indoor environmental impacts that otherwise may result in indoor air quality complaints and burden a project. The presentation will focus on practical preventative measures, communications, response mechanisms, project contingencies, and corrective actions that can be used to minimize IEQ issues during these types of activities in a health care setting. The presentation will also emphasize the use of the interim life and safety measures, infection control risk assessment, and implementation of dust control policies and procedures. Case examples will be reviewed that show comparison of how certain prevention measures resulted in overall project improvement and protection of building occupants.
J. Keeling, MSES Consultants Inc., Clarksburg, WV.
Situation: As a result of media coverage of “Sick Building Syndrome” and “Toxic Mold,” most adults in the United States have some familiarity with indoor air quality (IAQ) issues. Requests for IAQ assessments are driven by a variety of motives, from employers, employees, residential occupants, or building owners. Specific experiences with IAQ issues in commercial buildings, homes, and office buildings are discussed in this case study.
Problem: Requests for IAQ surveys can range from businesses/individuals taking a proactive position to establish current baseline IAQ conditions to significant adverse health complaints from building occupants. The industrial hygienist must be prepared to assess the obvious issues, as well as the not so obvious issues/objectives. Depending on the objective of the person/entity making the request, additional data collection may be required.
Resolution: Communication between the client, the concerned occupants (if not the client), and the industrial hygienist must be accomplished prior to the field visit in order to be fully prepared to perform the project. This communication must include the objective of the project, as well as the identification of all known concerns. Other concerns may be identified during the site visit.
Benefit: This case study discusses preparation strategy for IAQ projects. This strategy, which involves a detailed understanding of not only the preceived concern but also any not so obvious objectives, will prepare the industrial hygienist to provide a single report which addresses the issues. Not following such a strategy can result in after the fact requests for additional information and opinions, which extend beyond the initial general request for an IAQ study.
C. DePasquale, W. Ewing, T. Dawson, Compass Environmental Inc., Kennesaw, GA.
Situation: A document storage facility had roof leaks throughout the building. These leaks resulted in documents/boxes with visible mold growth. The identification and removal of documents/boxes with visible mold growth would take months. In the interim, an administrative control was implemented instructing employees not to disturb documents/boxes with visible mold growth.
Problem: The challenge was to assess if administrative controls were sufficient in controlling worker exposures to mold during work activities with documents/boxes that did not have visible mold growth. Did work activities with visually “clean” boxes pose a mold exposure threat above background levels?
Resolution: Air sampling was conducted throughout the facility on two separate days to assess if employees were exposed to elevated airborne levels of mold compared to outdoor concentrations. Work activities were evaluated by collecting airborne mold spore samples at breathing zone height, in the vicinity of a mock worker, and performing routine job activities. This was done at five locations with visually “clean” boxes and at five locations with boxes that had visible mold growth. Background samples were collected for comparison purposes.
Air sampling throughout the building indicated workers were not being exposed to elevated levels of airborne mold spores. Work activities involving boxes/documents with no visible mold growth indicated the activity did not significantly increase airborne concentrations of mold spores in the employee’s breathing zone. However, disturbing boxes/documents with visible mold growth significantly increased airborne levels of mold spores in the employee’s breathing zone. The employer was reassured that administrative controls in place were effective in reducing worker exposures to elevated levels of airborne mold spores.
Benefit: In light of recent worker concerns about mold, and the lack of regulations or guidance from OSHA and NIOSH, industrial hygienists must consider new ways to evaluate worker exposures to mold spores. This presentation suggests one possible approach.
B. Fraser, Jacques Whitford Environment Limited, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
During an application of an epoxy membrane containing toluene diisocyanates for an indoor parking garage in a federal office building, odour complaints were noted and the contractor’s operation was shut down. This case study documents the control measures and confirmatory sampling program that were put in place to minimize the migration of contaminants into occupied spaces and mitigate concerns of building occupants, unions, and health officials. Mitigation measures consisted of sealing air leakage points and creating negative ventilation in the work area. Monitoring consisted of direct measurement for volatile organic compounds and sampling and analysis for isocyanates. Direct monitoring was useful in discovering leakage points. Sampling confirmed the success of mitigation measures and addressed stakeholder concerns. As a result of the measures, work was able to continue while the building was occupied.
T. Blank, M. Anderson, H. Trout, L. Robert Kimball & Associates, Coraopolis, PA.
Situation: An elementary school was closed after mold contamination was discovered in the ceiling in a number of classrooms. School administrators, parents, and the local media had been provided with misinformation about the potential hazards of exposure to mold.
Problems: The school district closed the school after discovering limited mold contamination after hearing the concerns of parents and a review of information provided by a local consultant about the potential health risk.
The first challenge was to defuse tension created by the misinformation provided to the parents and school administrators, and adverse media attention. Secondly, an evaluation and management plan had to be devised to characterize the extent of mold growth, implement remedial action, and develop a “re-occupancy” plan that would allow the school to return to use without any lingering perception of hazard.
Resolution: Our approach from our initial meeting with the school board and parents was to gain confidence by providing them with factual and sound information about microbial growth in buildings, based on technical guidance and recommendations from the AIHA, CDC, ACGIH, and EPA. We developed a management and “re-occupancy” plan based primarily on the use of spore trap sampling. Since the school was not air-conditioned, airborne mold concentrations were influenced primarily by outdoor, ambient mold levels.
Benefit: We provided our client with sound, factual information in a manner that was not overly technical, and a practical approach to solving their particular problem. The most significant challenge was the misinformation and negative publicity surrounding this project.
Mold problems are becoming an everyday occurrence. We demonstrated that providing sound information and maintaining a common sense approach to solving the problem is successful in these highly publicized projects.
B. Kasher, PCM Analytics Inc., Riverdale, MD.
An asbestos fiber release took place in the mechanical room of a large nationwide headquarters (HQ). Facilities requested TEM sampling in the cafeteria serviced by HVAC units in the mechanical room. TEM results indicated elevated asbestos in the cafeteria.
The first problem involved decision making: for management to understand that a potential problem existed and for management to take action regarding occupants and ongoing operations. The next problem was to decide what methodologies would determine the extent of contamination. The third problem was to determine conclusively the source of the elevated fiber. The fourth problem was to respond to the cause of the elevated fiber without significant loss to HQ operations.
Officials met on site and through national teleconference to determine the ramifications of building contamination. Debate ensued on potential health effects; political, union, press ramifications; and the logistics of shutting down HQ. HQ was evacuated with critical operations moved to a remote location. Debate continued off-site on assessment protocols. A PCM survey was ordered with 200+ samples to assess each HVAC zone. A random subset of PCM samples was upgraded to TEM. Concurrent to the PCM air survey, a site-specific investigation into the cafeteria was conducted.
It was determined by air monitoring that contamination was limited to the cafeteria. A previous renovation damaged existing asbestos and introduced new asbestos to the cafeteria. The cafeteria was cleaned and encapsulated by an asbestos abatement contractor. TEM testing conducted after the encapsulation showed no contamination of the HVAC and the area was reopened for public occupancy.
Attendees will benefit by a review of the management and political ramifications to indoor emergencies and response, considerations of emergency response plans put to action, development of a large-scale emergency air sample assessment, and working within a multidisciplinary work group with divergent goals and motivational factors.
Posted May 30, 2004