IAQ


AIHA Publishes Body of Knowledge on IAQ, Respiratory Protection, and Direct Read Instruments

aiha

AIHA has begun publishing technical documents that represent the “body of knowledge” that a competent and skillful practitioner should possess.  The documents are available for free on AIHA’s website and currently consists of the following:

More BoK documents are in development.

Source: AIHA BoK


(Almost) Free Webinar: The Changing Face of Indoor Air Quality

The University of North Carolina, Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Center, is offering an almost free (only $6) webinar on “The Changing Face of Indoor Air Quality.”  The webinar will be conducted Wednesday, February 3, 2010 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm ET.  Guest speaker will be Dr. Wayne Thomann, Director Occupational and Environmental Safety at Duke Univesity/Medical Center in Duraham, North Carolina.

Click HERE to access the seminar (2/3/2010 @ 13:00 ET).  Log in as a guest. Type in your first and last name and click the “Enter” button. The OSHERC meeting space will open. There will be an interactive question and answer session.

CE & CM Credits are available.  Cost is only $6.00.  Contact Susan Randolph for information on where to send the check and CE/CM credits.

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Free Webinar: Indoor Air Quality – Separating Fact From Fiction

webinar

Indoor Air Quality: Separating Fact from Fiction”, presented by Scott Lawson, covers issues relating to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) including common complaints, contaminants and sources, the anatomy of an effective IAQ assessment, and IAQ standards.

The presentation begins with the overall comparison of IAQ issues and their origins. Many IAQ complaints emanate from either real or perceived symptoms and often have little to do with the quality of the indoor environment, never mind air quality. Many companies deal poorly with the investigation of these complaints that, in many cases, only exacerbate the situation, leading to “ghost chasing” scenarios that are very expensive and do little to help evaluate the real problems so that real solutions can be recommended.

The core of the discussion will be regarding a meaningful evaluation of the indoor environment, based largely on occupant input, which has a much greater chance of a successful investigation with satisfying outcomes for both building managers and occupants alike.

Other issues that will be discussed include ways IAQ issues surface; the types of IAQ contaminants, such as mold; mold recognition and sampling styles; how to control IAQ problems; the components of an effective IAQ survey; and more.

Learning Outcomes for this Webinar:

* An understanding of IAQ contaminants and the sources of these contaminants
* Using occupant driven perceptions about the occupied space to determine sampling strategies
* An understanding of how to control/prevent IAQ problems from occurring.
* A comprehension of the systematic approach to identifying and addressing IAQ problems once they occur.
* Exposure to real-life examples that tie all the above learning objectives together

This presentation will begin on October 29, 2009 at 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.


“Made in China” Drywall Off-Gasing?

made-in-chinaHere are some of the information that has been put together based upon the claims of off-gasing from chinese made drywall.

  • Homeowners have begun to complain about Chinese made drywall that gives off a egg-like stench
  • Between 2004-2008, approximately 540,000,000 (540 million) pounds of plasterboard (which includes drywall and ceiling tiles) was imported into the US from China
  • A majority of the imported drywall entered the US following the 2005 hurricane season that caused a domestic drywall shortage
  • Chinese drywall was less expensive
  • The drywall was made with fly ash which may not have been refined (i.e. cleaned) as well as some domestically made drywall.
  • The Florida Department of Health found the drywall to emit “volatile sulfur compounds” and contained strontium sulfide, which can release hydrogen sulfide in moist air (i.e. rotten egg smell)
  • A University of New Orleans toxicologist has identified hydrogen sulfide, sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide and carbon disulfide in the drywall
  • Agencies of the Chinese government did not respond to repeated Associated Press’ requests for comment

A copy of the AP article can be found HERE