VENTILATION SYSTEMS CLEANED For Professional Cleaning and Maintenance of all Your Ventilation Systems call 08443 940025 / 07901 592546  to discuss your precise requirements. OR complete a QUOTE FORM and we will get right back to you   THE SERVICE:  The Cleaning Services Group can offer a National Service for this specialised clean. Are you running a Commercial Kitchen? Works Canteen? School Kitchens? University Canteens? Restaurant? Are your INSURERS requesting that you have your extraction system certified? Then you have arrived at the right place; we can deal with all forms of kitchens, clean your extraction system and give you a certificate which will be accepted by all insurers. Your kitchen could be deep cleaned at the same time if you would like to get it back to a pristene condition. All our cleaning practices comply with HVCA TR17/TR19 Standards and we provide a Certificate of Completion which is acceptable to Environmental Health Inspections, Fire Regulations and Insurance Companies. We offer a very professional service in keeping your ventilation systems clean including; Ductwork Air handling units Kitchen canopies/hoods Fans Filters Natural Ventilation Systems We can also provide the following services; Filter and ductwork replacement Ventilation hygiene assessments Condition Surveys Microbiological sampling Installation and refurbishment of Access panels Leak and fault detection Airflow and volume performance Fan maintenance Are you a Factory which requires fume or dust extraction? Is your ducting regularly cleaned and serviced? Contact us to obtain a quote for this service by talking to one of our representatives on 08443 940025 / 07901 592546 complete a 'Request a Quote ' form, or email us with your requirements   Unless you have had your system cleaned recently it is unlikely to be in a clean state. Tiny particles which are everywhere get drawn into the ventilation system. These particles will include, pollen grains, dust, fungal spores, dead skin, hair, tobacco smoke, car exhaust fumes and bacteria and viral particles. In kitchens you can add grease to this list. By and large ventilation ducts and systems tend to be hidden from view so you do not see this build up of particles which stick to the sides of the systems creating layer after layer over the months and years. If not periodically cleaned then this build up will eventually cause an extreme HEALTH HAZARD to the occupants of the building. These health hazards can be very minor but also very serious. From respiratory problems, allergies and minor infections to major bacterial and viral infections. If the ducts are covered in grease then this just adds to the problem and the speedier build up of potentially deadly organisms much quicker. The ventilation system may be installed in a factory, kitchen, warehouses,  schools, colleges or hospitals, or office complexes. We can deal with them all. Our cleaning programme can be scheduled for any time during the 24 hours so as to cause minimum disruption to your normal operation. By having your ventilation system cleaned you will immediately reap the rewards by having better air quality reducing the risk of fire reducing the health risks be meeting Health and Safety Regulations getting a reduction in your Insurance premiums possibly. Get your system booked in for a clean; call 08443 940025 today to arrange a site visit and quote or e-mail us with your location and requirements and a representative will get back to you promptly. Ventilation Systems Cleaned Throughout the UK All of the facilities below have ventilation and extraction systems and we can install, service and clean these to maintain good air quality. Hospital/Healthcare Facilities Laboratories Schools and Universities Manufacturing and Warehouse Facilities Chemical Plants and Industrial Facilities Retail Shops and Shopping Centres Hotels, Restaurants, and Supermarkets   RETURN TO HOME PAGE RETURN TO COMMERCIAL SERVICES RETURN TO KITCHEN CLEANING RETURN TO ONE-STOP-SHOP RETURN TO UK-WIDE SERVICES   Cleaning Ducts And Ventilation Systems Hardly a week goes by without hearing or seeing something concerning "Indoor Air Quality" (IAQ) or "Sick Building Syndrome" (SBS). What was once thought to be imagined maladies are now known to be attributed to the air we breath indoors. 28% of all humans suffer from allergies, 1 in 6 of whom do so as a direct result of dirty duct systems. In fact, as many as half of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by indoor air pollution. According to the EPA, indoor air can be up to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air. What causes IAQ problems? Almost 80% of IAQ problems are caused by either inadequate ventilation, a source of pollution or both. Inadequate ventilation is usually pretty straightforward to fix. A pollution source can be external to the building or within the building itself (including the ventilation system duct work). Building operations personnel have little or no control over external pollution sources and usually must resort to special filters or other solutions. Internal pollution is a little easier to deal with, especially a contaminated duct system. Building operations personnel have three choices when a contaminated duct system is discovered: 1.       Ignore the problem. 2.       Hire a duct cleaning contractor at considerable expense. 3.       Acquire the necessary equipment and training to perform duct cleaning in-house. Ignoring the problem is foolish given the litigious nature of the times in which we live. No educational or health care facility wants a lawsuit over a situation that could have been addressed and corrected. Hiring a duct cleaning contractor may or may not be the most cost effective solution. Factors to consider are the size of the ventilation system, the expected frequency that the system will need repeat cleanings, staffing size and capabilities, etc. If the decision is made to hire a contractor, a careful selection process must be followed to ensure that the work is done by a well qualified, experienced and professional contractor. Unfortunately, there are still some contractors out there that utilize outdated or shoddy methods that often can leave a worse problem than that which existed before they "cleaned" the system. There are many cases where in-house duct cleaning is the most cost effective choice. In addition to cost savings, in-house cleaning keeps control of the quality of the work with the operations personnel. One area where this is easily justified is in health care facilities—hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and so on. Protection of the patient is top priority here and maintaining clean indoor air can be a major contributing factor toward this goal. Another area for in-house ventilation system maintenance is educational facilities—colleges, universities and school districts. America's students are her future and every precaution should be taken to contribute to a healthy learning environment. In all cases, outdoor air quality has to be taken into consideration when planning ventilation system maintenance. Remember, the dirtier the air is outside, the faster the duct system can become contaminated and require cleaning. Duct Cleaning in the Health Care and Educational Institutions In addition to normal contaminants such as dust, lint, mold spores and fungi, health care facilities have the added problem of viral and bacterial contamination. Areas of particular concern are operating rooms, intensive care units, pediatric wards and geriatric wards. Elderly people often suffer with breathing problems and polluted indoor air only intensifies their problems. The same holds true for asthmatics. Children are particularly affected by indoor air pollution because they breathe more air than adults. The average adult breathes 16,000 quarts of air a day. Because children breathe faster, they breathe more air after taking body weight into account. Where is there a higher concentration of children than in our nation's schools? In addition to health concerns, poor indoor air quality can contribute to fatigue or restlessness that can effect student productivity in class. Duct Cleaning Equipment Vacuums Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to own a giant truck mounted vacuum to perform professional quality duct cleaning. In fact, in larger buildings it is imperative to use portable equipment in order to gain access to all cleaning locations. Truck mounted vacuums are more suitable to residential work. Two types of vacuums are required for successful duct cleaning. First is a large HEPA filter equipped negative air machine (duct vacuum) generating at least 4,000 CFM. This unit is connected directly to the duct and maintains the section being cleaned under negative pressure to prevent contamination of the occupied space. It also collects all debris loosened in the cleaning process. A portable HEPA vacuum should also be on hand for contact vacuuming of turning vanes, plenums, coils, drip pans, registers and other surfaces. Agitation Devices There are three basic accepted agitation devices available for disturbing contaminants and sending them into the air-stream created by the negative air machine. First, there is manual agitation by means of contact vacuuming. This method requires physical access to all surfaces either by reaching through access openings or physically entering the duct system. Next, there are a variety of air nozzles used to blow the contaminants off the duct surfaces. They require the purchase of a portable air compressor in addition to other equipment. Because they do not make contact with 100% of the inner surfaces, there can be doubts as to whether all surfaces were cleaned. The third agitation device in use is the rotary brush device. These consist of a brush or other cleaning device spinning on the end of a motor driven shaft. In most cases, a flexible shaft is used for ease of operation and to accommodate turns in the ducts themselves. Many duct cleaning jobs require the use of more than one technique. Pressure Washers It is helpful to have a small portable pressure washer that generates 500 PSI on hand. This unit is used to clean the coils and drip pans in the system. Access and Patching Tools Access openings are made using tin snips, hole cutters or other devices. When finished, access openings can be patched using reusable doors or with sheet metal, screws, duct tape and sealants. Safety Equipment Safety equipment includes scaffolds and work platforms (working from ladders can be dangerous), lockout/tagout equipment, eye protection, breathing protection and cut resistant gloves. Planning The Job The first thing needed to plan a duct cleaning job is accurate mechanical drawings of the duct system. This is used as both a planning tool and a road map during the actual job. They make it possible to identify coils, turning vanes, access points and other important information. Duct cleaning is generally performed in sections of about 25 feet or less. These "cleaning zones" should be identified on the drawings when planning the job. Uncleanable types of duct should also be identified at this time and plans for removal and replacement made. Most flexible duct and certain lined ductwork cannot be cleaned without damaging the ducting. A cleaning schedule must also be established to ensure that all cleaning is performed in unoccupied areas. System Inspection Before cleaning is performed, the duct system must be inspected to identify any access problems or any damaged or contaminated porous materials which will require replacement. General structural condition of the system can also be assessed at this time. All inspection activities should be performed when the inspection area is unoccupied and the HVAC system is shut off. Use drop cloths to protect furnishings in the occupied space. Doing the Job Before beginning any duct cleaning job, the HVAC system must be shut off and locked out using approved lockout/tagout procedures. Drop cloths should again be used to protect the occupied space. The return side of the system is always cleaned first. The return side can typically be 5 to 10 times as dirty as the supply side. Starting at the return air and outdoor air intakes, sections of duct are cleaned moving toward the main air handler. Sections of ductwork can be isolated for cleaning by inserting inflatable bladders in the duct and inflating them to block the duct off. Cleaned sections can be isolated in this way to prevent recontamination. An access opening should be made in the duct if one does not currently exist. Another opening is needed further downstream for connection to the HEPA filter equipped negative air machine. Typically, the distance between openings is 25 feet or less. With the negative air unit running, the cleaning tool is inserted into the duct and fed in the direction of the air-stream. Some of the rotary brush type cleaners available can be fitted with a fan-like brushing tool that actually blows the debris toward the vacuum source. Care must be exercised when using a rotary brush in lined duct not to allow the brush to remain in one spot for too long. Close attention should be paid to cleaning fire dampers and turning vanes as greater deposits are often found in these areas. Once the return side has been completed, the supply side of the system is cleaned using the same techniques. Access openings should be closed with reusable doors or air tight patches as the work moves along. Any disturbed insulation must be repaired as well. Grills and registers can be removed and pressure washed or vacuumed with the portable HEPA vacuum. Particular attention should also be given to heating and cooling coils and drip pans. These are prime breeding grounds for microbial contamination and, if left uncleaned, will recontaminate the newly cleaned ducts. Coils and drip pans are best cleaned using the portable pressure washer and portable HEPA vacuum. At this time, drip pans should be checked for proper drainage and drainage systems freed of any obstruction. Once the cleaning is completed and all access points resealed, a final inspection should be performed. Once the system is started up, it should be allowed to run until 8 complete air changes have occurred before the area is reoccupied. Also, consideration should be given to the installation of more efficient filters on the HVAC system to reduce future contamination. Other Benefits of Clean Ducts Besides the obvious health benefits derived from cleaning HVAC systems, here are some other benefits: 1.       Increased Employee Productivity - healthier people make better workers and lose less time to sickness. 2.       Reduced Housekeeping Costs - the HVAC system is not pumping dirty air into the occupied space. 3.       Increased Airflow - because air moves unobstructed by debris build up, blowers and fans do not need to cycle as long or as often. 4.       Energy Savings - because motors and drives do not work as hard, less energy is consumed by the system. Some Other Areas to Consider Duct Cleaning In addition to ventilation system cleaning, here are some other areas to consider for regular inspections and cleaning: Dryer vents in laundry areas. Cleaning dryer vents reduces fire risk. Ventilation vents of all kinds. Steve Spielmann is quality assurance/technical manager of Goodway Technologies Corporation, Stamford, Connecticut. Goodway Technologies is a manufacturer of duct cleaners, tube cleaners, vacuums and hi-pressure washers.   Indoor Air Quality Concerns All of us face a variety of risks to our health as we go about our day-to-day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes, engaging in recreational activities, and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable. Some we choose to accept because to do otherwise would restrict our ability to lead our lives the way we want. And some are risks we might decide to avoid if we had the opportunity to make informed choices. Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about. In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within both residential dwellings and commercial facilities can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors. In addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods of time are often those most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease. Significant air pollution in educational and health care facilities can arise from a variety of sources. For example, some of these buildings may be inadequately ventilated or mechanical ventilation systems may not be designed or operated to provide adequate amounts of outdoor air. Health Effects A number of well-identified illnesses, such as Legionnaire's disease, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever, have been directly traced to specific building problems. These are called building-related illnesses. Most of these diseases can be treated—nevertheless, some pose serious risks. Sometimes, however, building occupants experience symptoms that do not fit the pattern of any particular illness and are difficult to trace to any specific source. This phenomenon has been labeled sick building syndrome. People may complain of one or more of the following symptoms: dry or burning mucous membranes in the nose, eyes, and throat; sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, fatigue or lethargy, headache, dizziness, nausea, irritability and forgetfulness. Poor lighting, noise, vibration, thermal discomfort, and psychological stress may also cause, or contribute to these symptoms. There is no single manner in which these health problems appear. In some cases, problems begin as people enter the building and diminish as they leave; other times, symptoms continue until the illness is treated. Sometimes there are outbreaks of illness among many of the occupants in the facility; in other cases, health symptoms show up only in individuals. In the opinion of some World Health Organization experts, up to 30 percent of new or remodeled commercial buildings may have unusually high rates of health and comfort complaints from occupants that may potentially be related to indoor air quality. What Causes Problems? Three major reasons for poor indoor air quality in office buildings are the presence of indoor air pollution sources, poorly designed, maintained, or operated ventilation systems, and uses of the building that were unanticipated or poorly planned for when the building was designed or renovated. Sources of Indoor Air Pollution The most important factor influencing indoor air quality is the presence of pollutant sources. Commonly found building pollutants and their sources include environmental tobacco smoke, asbestos from insulating and fire-retardant building supplies, formaldehyde from pressed wood products, other organics from building materials, carpet, and other furnishings, cleaning materials and activities, restroom air fresheners, paints, adhesives, copying machines, biological contaminants from dirty ventilation systems or water-damaged walls, ceilings, and carpets, and pesticides. Ventilation Systems Mechanical ventilation systems in large buildings are designed and operated not only to heat and cool the air but also to draw in and circulate outdoor air. If they are poorly designed, operated or maintained, however, ventilation systems can contribute to indoor air problems in several ways. For example, problems arise when, in an effort to save energy, ventilation systems are not used to bring in adequate amounts of outdoor air. Inadequate ventilation also occurs if the air supply and return vents within each room are blocked or placed in such a way that outdoor air does not actually reach the breathing zone of building occupants. Improperly located outdoor air intake vents can also bring in air contaminated with automobile and truck exhaust, boiler emissions, fumes from dumpsters, or air vented from restrooms. Finally, ventilation systems can be a source of indoor pollution themselves by spreading biological contaminants that have multiplied in cooling towers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, or the inside surfaces of ventilation duct work. Use Of The Building Indoor air pollutants can be circulated from portions of the building used for specialized purposes. Carbon monoxide and other components of automobile exhaust can be drawn from underground parking garages through stairwells and elevator shafts. In addition, buildings or sections of a building originally designed for one purpose may end up being converted for other uses. If not properly modified during building renovations, the room partitions and ventilation system can contribute to indoor air quality problems by restricting air recirculation or by providing an inadequate supply of air. Conduct A Building Investigation Frequently, indoor air quality problems in large commercial buildings cannot be effectively identified or remedied without a comprehensive building investigation. These investigations may start with written questionnaires and telephone consultations in which building investigators assess the history of occupant symptoms and building operation procedures. In some cases, these inquiries may quickly uncover the problem and on-site visits are unnecessary. More often, however, investigators will need to come to the facility to conduct personal interviews with occupants, to look for possible sources of the problems, and to inspect the design and operation of the ventilation system and other building features. Because taking measurements of pollutants at the very low levels often found in commercial buildings is expensive and may not yield information readily useful in identifying problem sources, investigators may not take many measurements. The process of solving indoor air quality problems that result in health and comfort complaints can be a slow one, involving several trial solutions before successful remedial actions are identified. Lastly, if a professional company is hired to conduct a building investigation, select a company on the basis of its experience in identifying and solving indoor air quality problems in nonindustrial buildings. IAQ Glossary ·         Acid Aerosol: Acidic liquid or solid particles that are small enough to become airborne. High concentrations of acid aerosols can be irritating to the lungs and have been associated with some respiratory diseases such as asthma. ·         Building-Related Illness: A discrete, identifiable disease or illness that can be traced to a specific pollutant or source within a building. ·         Chemical Sensitization: Evidence suggests that some people may develop health problems characterized by effects such as dizziness, eye and throat irritation, chest tightness and nasal congestion that appear whenever they are exposed to certain chemicals. People may react to even trace amounts of chemicals to which they have become "sensitized". ·         Sick Building Syndrome: Term that refers to a set of symptoms that effect some number of building occupants during the time they spend in the building and diminish during periods when they leave the building. Cannot be traced to specific pollutants or sources within the building. ·         Ventilation Rate: The rate at which indoor air enters and leaves a building. Expressed in one of two ways: the number of changes of outdoor air per unit of time (air changes per hour, or "ach") or the rate at which a volume of outdoor air enters per unit of time (cubic feet per minute or "cfm"). Portions of this article were taken from EPA's: A Guide To Indoor Air Quality Indoor Air Quality: Filtering Out The Facts Indoor air quality (IAQ) - we have all heard the phrase. It seems that ideas for improving IAQ tend to float about in equal abundance to the dust particles we wish to eradicate. Which ideas are sound, and which should we filter out and discard? STRINGENT GOAL SETTING It is wise to start by determining goals. While indoor air quality may seem nebulous, measuring and defining objectives is achievable. For a good example, let's look at industries where indoor air quality is carefully controlled-such as in high-tech manufacturing or computer data centers and note how IAQ objectives are achieved. In a Class 10 cleanroom (e.g., used in manufacturing microchips) the goal is to maintain airborne particulate at no more than (10) .5 micron particles per cubic foot of air (Federal Standard 209-E). By contrast, a typical office space averages 30,000-50,000 .5 micron particles per cubic foot of air. Knowing how to measure "success" is the first step. In the cited example, the objective is specific and measurable. Ideally, readings are regularly taken using a particle counter, a hand-held device which counts the number of airborne particles. Particle counts are compared with established safe norms, and corrective steps are taken as needed. STATE-OF-THE-ART REMEDIAL MEASURES Remedial measures in data centers and peripheral areas take two forms: source-capture versus room cleaning systems. Source capture, simply put, is capturing particulate at its source before it can enter the room air. For example, in data print centers using large high-speed laser printers for data output, this often means capturing dust directly within the printer cavity using a filter and fan unit at the juncture where paper passes through the laser printer at high speed creating paper dust. By stopping particulate at its source, it does not enter the airstream. Room cleaning is attempting to remove or filter out contaminant after it has passed into the ambient environment. This method is less effective than source-capture because it focuses on cure rather than prevention. CONTAMINANT DISPERSION PATTERNS Studies indicate that the way contaminants disperse into ambient air makes airborne particulate very difficult to effectively remove. According to Larry Mainers, an expert in cleanroom and data center cleaning, "ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers) estimates that even in typical office areas outside data centers, released particulate completely mixes with ambient air in three minutes in normal air circulation." In a sense, released dust behaves much like an oil spill. In the ocean, an oil spill-driven by tides and currents-often disperses into and permeates the surrounding environment. Cleanup efforts are often ineffective, since the oil tends to fan out rapidly preventing easy containment and removal. Since released dust particles spread out rapidly into the ambient environment on currents of air, much of the "damage" is already done before remedial methods can have an impact. People inhale particles in the 10 micron and smaller range (the size often passing through vacuum cleaners and into the air), and equipment and building furnishings are covered with settling particulate which must later be removed-to the extent possible-by cleaning personnel. HVAC systems are sometimes ineffective at timely removal of released airborne dust because the volume of air processed is often relatively low. By the time air is passed through the HVAC system, building occupants and furnishings have often already been exposed to dust particles similar to the way the natural environment is exposed to oil droplets after a spill. Also, though air handling units can dilute airborne particulate by introducing varying amounts of outside air, this raises costs for heating and cooling, without addressing the source of the problem. GOAL SETTING IN CONVENTIONAL FACILITIES But let's get back to goal-setting. While it is not necessary (or possible) to keep your facility air as clean as a cleanroom's, establishing benchmarks allows you to make and measure improvements. This process can be as scientific as counting airborne particles with an electronic device, or as simple as passing a "white glove" over a surface to check for settled dust, then saving the collected dust in a vial to compare with the next "test". Benchmarking may also be done empirically, by surveying cleaning workers and building occupants for their assessment of before and after dust levels on furnishings. By checking and recording dust levels consistently, you have the basis for determining how well your IAQ program is working. PRACTICAL SOURCE CAPTURE Since source-capture, or prevention, is the best method for improving indoor air quality in stringent applications like cleanrooms and data centers, how does it apply to less-demanding facilities? Source-capture in connection with vacuum cleaners is a vital strategy for keeping indoor air clean. This means ensuring good vacuum filtration. Without adequate filtration, vacuum cleaners are often a source of enormous airborne particulate-acting as "dust pumps". The finest particles suctioned from the floor and other areas are blown through ineffective filters into ambient air. THREE ISSUES There are three important issues related to vacuum cleaner filtration: filter efficiency, filter access, and filter maintenance. Since most respirable airborne dust falls into the 1 to 10 micron range, choose a multi-stage filter system that removes at least 96% of dust down to one micron (in contrast, older cloth bag filters are only 30% efficient at removing one micron particles). Secondly, choose a vacuum that permits simple filter maintenance (if filters are difficult to change or clean, operators will tend to allow them to clog reducing suction and cleaning ability). Third, train operators to clean vacuum filters regularly (after every few hours of vacuuming or as needed to maintain optimum airflow and suction). SOURCE-CAPTURE: COUNTING THE COST While newer high-efficiency vacuum filters are very good at trapping fine dust particles at the source, efficiency comes at a price-more filter maintenance. This is because fine-mesh filters often clog more rapidly, reducing airflow and suction, and require more attention to maintain peak efficiency. The partial exception to this rule is micro filters now popular in commercial vacuuming applications. These filters, though very efficient, resist clogging, and sustain airflow longer. Like other efficient filters, however, filter cleaning and maintenance is still essential. Incidentally, inefficient old style paper bag filters, clog rapidly due to the nature of the filter medium, and are replaced rather than cleaned. Choose high-filtration vacuums with two design elements: 1) Sealed body construction to prevent dust leaks, and 2) Easy-to-access filters that permit convenient cleaning and emptying. Punctured vacuum filters also allow dust to pass freely into the air. To prevent this, attach a magnetized strip to the floor tool that will pick up paper clips, staples and other sharp metal objects that could otherwise enter the vacuum and penetrate vacuum filters. Whichever systems you choose to improve indoor air quality, keep in mind that prevention rather than cure-capturing dust at its source as opposed to it being airborne is the key to improved IAQ. Preventing airborne dust will make your environment healthier and more attractive, while providing a model for other facilities to follow. Larry Shideler is president of Pro-Team, Inc., manufacturer of four-stage filtration backpack vacuums in Boise, ID. He can be reached at 1-800-541-1456. Indoor Air Quality In Existing Facilities Over the past two decades, facility managers have been faced with a number of challenges. Asbestos, PCBs, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and CFCs are all issues that have caused facility managers to evaluate and reassess their facility from operational and financial perspectives. And, all of these issues continue to have an impact on the day-to-day operation of the building. Today, a new challenge facing facility managers is indoor air quality (IAQ). Like many of the issues mentioned above, indoor air quality has wide-ranging impact upon the occupants of a building, the systems and equipment within a building, and the building itself. Further, IAQ is as much of a concern in our homes and other enclosed spaces in which we spend time as it is in our work and school environment. What we are exposed to and breathe in these enclosed spaces is extremely important since Americans typically spend about 90% of their time indoors. Facility managers now understand that the quality of indoor air can have significant health, comfort, productivity and financial impacts upon occupants and building operations. Areas affected by IAQ include absenteeism, productivity, morale, compensation claims, medical costs, grievances and legal expenses. Occupant complaints and litigation have elevated the visibility of IAQ concerns. A number of widely publicized cases have involved large-scale remediation activities. Through these actions, all parties involved with the design, construction, maintenance and management of facilities have discovered they may share in the liability resulting from poor IAQ. Managing Older Buildings As more information is gathered concerning IAQ and its relationship to a building's structure, its systems, space usage and occupants, it becomes possible to construct new buildings in such a way to minimize the potential for poor IAQ. But what about the existing building that is 5, 10, 20, or more years old? How do we manage an existing building in a way to achieve the best IAQ possible? This is the task at hand for many facility managers. To begin looking at this dilemma, one must first understand the design standards and assumptions under which the building was originally constructed. For example, in the 1970's, the oil embargo caused much emphasis to be placed upon the tightening of building envelopes in an effort to reduce the energy required to heat and cool the building. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Guidelines at that time required levels of outdoor air per person to be three-to-four times below previously recommended levels. As such, many buildings were designed and built based upon this much lower requirement in an effort to reduce energy consumption and minimize the capacity of heating and cooling equipment installed. Another important set of assumptions to explore is the actual structure and usage of the building space at the time of design. Inevitably, over time buildings undergo renovation and remodeling to the interior spaces. In many cases, mechanical systems are not modified to compensate for the physical changes in the occupied space. Hence, it is possible airflow patterns will be inadvertently altered, creating pockets of thermal discomfort and/or indoor air quality problems. Also, as schools and businesses have evolved over the last few decades, the philosophy of space usage has changed. Many organizations now utilize open floor plan designs as opposed to the private spaces more prevalent in the past. This has caused a higher occupancy density within a given space than the original design intent of the building. In addition, today's typical school and office use several types of equipment that emit pollutants and generate heat. Formulate A Plan So, where does a facility manager start? We recommend that you address indoor air quality in a proactive fashion and not wait until complaints arise to begin to consider the issue. In order to address this area in a comprehensive and cost effective fashion, an IAQ Management Plan should be formulated. This plan will help a facility manager to better understand a building and the activities within it, with a specific focus on IAQ. The development and implementation of an IAQ Management Plan does not imply increased cost to operate and maintain the building, but simply a better way to perform these functions with the added consideration of IAQ. The IAQ Management Plan follows the same three basic steps of any strategic plan: Analyze, Organize & Plan, and Execute. Analysis At the Analysis stage, the first step is to identify an individual who will assume the responsibility for the quality of the air within the facility. This individual must have the authority to approve the strategies and allocate the resources required to achieve and maintain acceptable air quality. Since this task cuts across a variety of disciplines, such as facilities management, engineering, purchasing, industrial hygiene and maintenance to mention a few, this IAQ Manager should assemble a team whose members possess these capabilities. In addition, resources in unrepresented disciplines should be identified to facilitate rapid response to a situation when their expertise is required. Once the team has been assembled, the process of developing an IAQ profile of the building can begin followed by identification of existing and potential IAQ problems. The following list encompasses some of the major elements that should be addressed. The list should, however, be modified to reflect the specific needs of the building: • Building Envelope - An inspection and understanding of the building envelope is an essential starting point. Special attention should be given to the design intent and physical condition of the structure. Infiltration of water into the building can be particularly damaging, so all standing water or water damage should be noted. Pathways for water or other contaminant infiltration should be identified. Common pathways may include cracks or broken seals around doors, windows, the foundation, or leaks in the roof. • Outdoor Pollutant Sources - Areas outside a building can be a source of contaminants. Outdoor air intakes are frequently located in hidden areas for aesthetic reasons. A careful examination of conditions around intakes should be conducted. Some of the more problematic outdoor pollutant sources that can be drawn into a building include: Unsanitary conditions, such as garbage dumpsters Motor vehicle exhaust, especially near loading/shipping docks Contaminants, including odours, from other buildings Sanitary vents or exhaust vents that may be under negative pressure when not in use. Bird droppings and nests Cooling towers • HVAC System - A well-designed heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system provides thermal comfort, ventilation, filtration and contaminant control throughout a building by means of the control of temperature, pressure and other parameters. Yet the HVAC system can be a source of contaminants as well as a conduit for their distribution. An analysis of the HVAC system should begin with overall operational issues such as airflow, control functions, operator training and capacity in relation to current building load. The second phase of HVAC system investigation is critical, and examines each system component in detail. A thorough check of the HVAC system, from supply air to exhaust air, should be made. • Human Activities - The activities of building occupants will affect IAQ. An inventory of these activities should be conducted. Typical areas to review include: Smoking behaviour Occupancy densities Food consumption/disposal Presence of fans, space heaters, humidifiers or air cleaners Do people wear heavy clothing in one area and light clothing in another? • Housekeeping - Air quality can be greatly affected by housekeeping that fails to support an IAQ plan. Most cleaning occurs after hours, during periods of low occupancy, and when the HVAC system is off or operating at low load conditions. This may result in cleaning agent doors that linger and become contaminants during occupied periods. The housekeeping and janitorial staff should be educated to IAQ initiatives and directed to use chemicals that support these initiatives. The IAQ Manager should have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on file for all chemicals used. A few recommendations for air quality-sensitive housekeeping include: The use of high efficiency vacuums and vacuum bags Dusting and cleaning of vertical surfaces as well as horizontal surfaces Prompt removal of trash Proper storage of chemicals within the building • Pest Control - The need exists to control and eliminate pests, but at the same time traditional pesticides cannot be allowed to affect the human occupants of the building. The favoured approach to pest control is Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which is a low-cost approach to pest control based upon the biology and behaviour of pests. IPM can eliminate the need for many of the chemicals used in the past. Where it remains necessary to use chemicals, they should be applied during unoccupied periods with good ventilation. Again, the IAQ Manager should have MSDS's on file for all chemicals used. • Existing Complaints, Practices and Related Activities - Existing and past complaints should be reviewed with an eye toward IAQ implications. Chances are, IAQ was not considered at the time of the initial complaint. The process with which these complaints were handled should also be reviewed. This includes response time, communication between management and complainant, content of the occupant interview, symptoms described, severity/duration and affected locations. Once again, the activities of occupants should be noted. When faced with an uncomfortable environment, most people will attempt to correct the condition themselves before voicing a complaint. Desktop fans, heaters, humidifiers taped-off vents and "modified" thermostats are some of the more common attempts of occupants to fix a problem. • Gathering of Appropriate Standards - A reference library should be started. A vast amount of information exists on IAQ, but the standards and guidelines that should be part of your basic library include: ASHRAE 62-1989: Ventilation for Acceptable Air Quality ASHRAE 55-1992: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy and Addendum 55a-1995 ASHRAE 52.1-1992: Gravimetric and Dust-Spot Procedures for Testing Air Cleaning Devices Used in General Ventilation for Removing Particulate Matter ASHRAE Guideline 1-1989: Guideline for the Commissioning of HVAC Systems EPA: Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers EPA: Indoor Air Fact Series OSHA: Proposed Rule on Indoor Air Quality and Environmental Tobacco Smoke • Baseline Data Collection - Compiling an accurate record of current conditioned air parameters is an essential first step in assessing your situation. Conditioned air is a blend of outdoor air and recirculated air that has been filtered, heated or cooled, and humidified or dehumidified. Depending upon the age of your building, the proportion of outdoor air to recirculated air may not be at optimum levels for providing acceptable air quality. Using ASHRAE 62-1989 as a guide, the ventilation rates in your building should be determined. Additionally, temperature, relative humidity, airflow, relative pressurization and carbon dioxide measurements should be accomplished. The above items comprise the analysis portion of your IAQ Management Plan. If this analysis reveals multiple air quality issues, do not despair! It is estimated that one-third of the existing 4.5 million buildings in the United States have known or suspected IAQ problems. At this point, consider yourself at a significant advantage: you are about to organize and plan a strategy to correct IAQ deficiencies, providing building occupants with a better indoor environment and minimizing future liability. Organization Organizing data into a manageable profile is best accomplished with an IAQ Priority Profile (IPP). This profile will classify IAQ concerns by severity of condition, past activities, building zones, risk levels and resolution areas. IAQ Priority Profile During the process of building a profile, the facility manager should compile and update the description of the building (i.e. floor plans, as-built drawings, current layouts etc.), as well as the HVAC design layouts. This task should include a comparison of design conditions versus current conditions and control strategies. You may discover that accurate, written documentation does not exist for some of these. It may be possible to obtain some of this information through the original architect, engineer or general contractor for the building. At this point in the process, facility managers need to employ the full expertise of their team, as well as any outside personnel required (i.e. medical, legal) to properly classify existing conditions. These existing conditions will be classified as "Critical", "Must Correct" and "Nice to Correct" in order to establish a prioritization. "Critical" conditions are those that have already created, or will create, a health hazard for building occupants, or are in clear violation of existing codes. Conditions that are likely to be hazardous or lead to poor indoor air quality if left unattended should be classified as "Must Correct". "Nice to Correct" conditions are those that are not mandated by codes or standards but, if attended to, will enhance occupant well being or improve the overall indoor environment. Attention to these conditions will demonstrate a desire to exceed minimum requirements for protecting the welfare of building occupants. Once classified, all conditions should be assigned probable causes. Affected building areas, pollutants and pathways should be noted. Then, each condition should be categorized according to level of risk involved if corrective action is delayed. The final step is to explore solutions, classifying all action items as maintenance, equipment, training or policies/practices. Once the team has the IAQ Priority Profile completed and key action areas defined, it is ready for the execution portion of the strategic plan. Each area should be addressed with the following IAQ tactical guidelines in mind and these guidelines should be used as a code of practice when addressing IAQ issues: Be proactive in the management of IAQ issues Exceed the minimum standards where possible Respond promptly to IAQ complaints Communicate Execution Key areas of resolution can now be addressed in an Execution Plan with a timetable based on priority. Start with the "Critical" items. The plan should address each resolution area, although some areas, such as equipment and maintenance, may overlap. Each strategy in the plan will include what, when, where and who will be responsible for completion and reporting. Obviously, the specific actions will depend upon your particular problems and situation. Throughout the execution of the IAQ Management Plan, the complaint resolution process and documentation of activities are critical. IAQ complaints should be taken seriously and handled expeditiously. Resolutions should be communicated to all parties, demonstrating that air quality issues are taken seriously. The team should ensure that everyone involved understands that there is a system and methodology that must be followed for handling IAQ concerns. These processes can be communicated through training, signs, newsletters and other forums. Maintaining complete and accurate documentation in a timely fashion is a must. Record keeping is a core element in the execution of an IAQ plan. IAQ forms should be created and a database established. Critical forms include: IAQ Priority Profile Zone and Room Record Ventilation Worksheet IAQ Compliance Form Occupant or Incident Log Log of Maintenance Activities HVAC Equipment/Maintenance checklist Chemical Inventory IAQ Strategic Plan Document One source for many of these forms is the EPA's Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers. Strategic Indoor Air Quality Planning Process This three-step process - Analyze the situation, Organize & Plan, and Execute - may appear to be basic on the surface. However, it requires focused management, a solid team and input from qualified IAQ experts. Even when problems are resolved, the plan must be maintained. Management and the IAQ team must provide leadership for IAQ. The management of IAQ issues does not need to be difficult or expensive. However, it does require an organized, proactive approach to allow for the most cost-effective resolution of existing or potential problems. In an existing building, the most difficult step can be that first one. Determining how a building is functioning today, and comparing this to the original design intent will require much investigation. In many cases, the documentation to assist in this effort will be incomplete and inaccurate, if available at all. A facility manager must not let this initial hurdle slow down the effort to achieve the best indoor air quality for building occupants. Jeff Coleman is senior product manager for service marketing in Carrier's Commercial Systems and Services Division. Cleaning Ducts And Ventilation Systems Hardly a week goes by without hearing or seeing something concerning "Indoor Air Quality" (IAQ) or "Sick Building Syndrome" (SBS). What was once thought to be imagined maladies are now known to be attributed to the air we breath indoors. 28% of all humans suffer from allergies, 1 in 6 of whom do so as a direct result of dirty duct systems. In fact, as many as half of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by indoor air pollution. According to the EPA, indoor air can be up to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air. What causes IAQ problems? Almost 80% of IAQ problems are caused by either inadequate ventilation, a source of pollution or both. Inadequate ventilation is usually pretty straightforward to fix. A pollution source can be external to the building or within the building itself (including the ventilation system duct work). Building operations personnel have little or no control over external pollution sources and usually must resort to special filters or other solutions. Internal pollution is a little easier to deal with, especially a contaminated duct system. Building operations personnel have three choices when a contaminated duct system is discovered: 1.       Ignore the problem. 2.       Hire a duct cleaning contractor at considerable expense. 3.       Acquire the necessary equipment and training to perform duct cleaning in-house. Ignoring the problem is foolish given the litigious nature of the times in which we live. No educational or health care facility wants a lawsuit over a situation that could have been addressed and corrected. Hiring a duct cleaning contractor may or may not be the most cost effective solution. Factors to consider are the size of the ventilation system, the expected frequency that the system will need repeat cleanings, staffing size and capabilities, etc. If the decision is made to hire a contractor, a careful selection process must be followed to ensure that the work is done by a well qualified, experienced and professional contractor. Unfortunately, there are still some contractors out there that utilize outdated or shoddy methods that often can leave a worse problem than that which existed before they "cleaned" the system. There are many cases where in-house duct cleaning is the most cost effective choice. In addition to cost savings, in-house cleaning keeps control of the quality of the work with the operations personnel. One area where this is easily justified is in health care facilities—hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and so on. Protection of the patient is top priority here and maintaining clean indoor air can be a major contributing factor toward this goal. Another area for in-house ventilation system maintenance is educational facilities—colleges, universities and school districts. America's students are her future and every precaution should be taken to contribute to a healthy learning environment. In all cases, outdoor air quality has to be taken into consideration when planning ventilation system maintenance. Remember, the dirtier the air is outside, the faster the duct system can become contaminated and require cleaning. Duct Cleaning in the Health Care and Educational Institutions In addition to normal contaminants such as dust, lint, mold spores and fungi, health care facilities have the added problem of viral and bacterial contamination. Areas of particular concern are operating rooms, intensive care units, pediatric wards and geriatric wards. Elderly people often suffer with breathing problems and polluted indoor air only intensifies their problems. The same holds true for asthmatics. Children are particularly affected by indoor air pollution because they breathe more air than adults. The average adult breathes 16,000 quarts of air a day. Because children breathe faster, they breathe more air after taking body weight into account. Where is there a higher concentration of children than in our nation's schools? In addition to health concerns, poor indoor air quality can contribute to fatigue or restlessness that can effect student productivity in class. Duct Cleaning Equipment Vacuums Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to own a giant truck mounted vacuum to perform professional quality duct cleaning. In fact, in larger buildings it is imperative to use portable equipment in order to gain access to all cleaning locations. Truck mounted vacuums are more suitable to residential work. Two types of vacuums are required for successful duct cleaning. First is a large HEPA filter equipped negative air machine (duct vacuum) generating at least 4,000 CFM. This unit is connected directly to the duct and maintains the section being cleaned under negative pressure to prevent contamination of the occupied space. It also collects all debris loosened in the cleaning process. A portable HEPA vacuum should also be on hand for contact vacuuming of turning vanes, plenums, coils, drip pans, registers and other surfaces. Agitation Devices There are three basic accepted agitation devices available for disturbing contaminants and sending them into the air-stream created by the negative air machine. First, there is manual agitation by means of contact vacuuming. This method requires physical access to all surfaces either by reaching through access openings or physically entering the duct system. Next, there are a variety of air nozzles used to blow the contaminants off the duct surfaces. They require the purchase of a portable air compressor in addition to other equipment. Because they do not make contact with 100% of the inner surfaces, there can be doubts as to whether all surfaces were cleaned. The third agitation device in use is the rotary brush device. These consist of a brush or other cleaning device spinning on the end of a motor driven shaft. In most cases, a flexible shaft is used for ease of operation and to accommodate turns in the ducts themselves. Many duct cleaning jobs require the use of more than one technique. Pressure Washers It is helpful to have a small portable pressure washer that generates 500 PSI on hand. This unit is used to clean the coils and drip pans in the system. Access and Patching Tools Access openings are made using tin snips, hole cutters or other devices. When finished, access openings can be patched using reusable doors or with sheet metal, screws, duct tape and sealants. Safety Equipment Safety equipment includes scaffolds and work platforms (working from ladders can be dangerous), lockout/tagout equipment, eye protection, breathing protection and cut resistant gloves. Planning The Job The first thing needed to plan a duct cleaning job is accurate mechanical drawings of the duct system. This is used as both a planning tool and a road map during the actual job. They make it possible to identify coils, turning vanes, access points and other important information. Duct cleaning is generally performed in sections of about 25 feet or less. These "cleaning zones" should be identified on the drawings when planning the job. Uncleanable types of duct should also be identified at this time and plans for removal and replacement made. Most flexible duct and certain lined ductwork cannot be cleaned without damaging the ducting. A cleaning schedule must also be established to ensure that all cleaning is performed in unoccupied areas. System Inspection Before cleaning is performed, the duct system must be inspected to identify any access problems or any damaged or contaminated porous materials which will require replacement. General structural condition of the system can also be assessed at this time. All inspection activities should be performed when the inspection area is unoccupied and the HVAC system is shut off. Use drop cloths to protect furnishings in the occupied space. Doing the Job Before beginning any duct cleaning job, the HVAC system must be shut off and locked out using approved lockout/tagout procedures. Drop cloths should again be used to protect the occupied space. The return side of the system is always cleaned first. The return side can typically be 5 to 10 times as dirty as the supply side. Starting at the return air and outdoor air intakes, sections of duct are cleaned moving toward the main air handler. Sections of ductwork can be isolated for cleaning by inserting inflatable bladders in the duct and inflating them to block the duct off. Cleaned sections can be isolated in this way to prevent recontamination. An access opening should be made in the duct if one does not currently exist. Another opening