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1 INTRODUCTION ASSESSING THE HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE HOME /INTERACTIONS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT Jed Harrison U.S. EPA

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2 Course Approach Assumes you have a good understanding of IAQ basics Sources Health Effects Actions to Improve IAQ Assumes you understand how homes interact with the environment Environmental: Climate, Weather, Siting Structural: Design & Construction Human: Operation & Maintenance

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3 A New Approach (2) Focuses on taking the next step, solution oriented Looking at overall health of the home Providing tools Developing hands on diagnostic skills Recommends Holistic approach to Connect with Expertise Resources We Need Your Feedback. Lots of Information what do you need more / less of?

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4 What is Holistic? Viewing house as living, breathing, system that reacts dynamically to occupant behaviors and environment To identify root causes of problems, and to identify sustainable solutions, Home Assessments should adopt a Holistic Perspective Viewing House, Occupants and Environment not as separate factors and components, but as Comprehensive & Interrelated Structure Environment Occupants

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5 What is Healthy?

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6 Looking beyond Healthy; Seeking Home Wellness Homes as an important contributor to Resident wellness and Quality of Life Healthy Safe Comfortable Affordable Durable Sustainable

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7 What is Sustainable? The Three Pillars of Sustainability Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

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8 What is Sustainable? Holistic and sustainable assessment will try to identify opportunities to Minimize environmental footprint of home Make home more affordable and simpler to operate and maintain Help ensure home will meet needs of residents for the future

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9 Diagnostics with Assessment Tools Course is designed to enhance and develop your detective and diagnostic skills using a, comprehensive set of Assessment Tools Eyes, Ears, Nose Forms & Software tools Measurement Tools & Instruments Assessment is intended to Diagnose Problems (current and potential) Identify Causes Identify potential Solutions and Improvements

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10 Diagnosing a Home - What is an Assessment? Collecting information, making a record Observations (Qualitative) Homeowner input insights, needs Measurements Photographs Interpretation Following Good Health & Safety Practices Demonstrating Courtesy, Respect, Cleanliness, Correcting Immediate threats Sharing Initial observations & Recommendations (Exit Interview)

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11 Diagnosing a Home What does the Assessment consider? Examines 3 factors that determine a homes Healthy and Sustainable status Building/Structural Environmental Occupant-related

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12 Building / Structural

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13 Environmental How the house interacts with the environment Temperature Wind Precipitation Ambient Air Quality Soil Moisture Soil Gas Solar Gain

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14 Occupant-Related

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15 Diagnosing / Improving an IAQ Problem The Four Ps People Pollutant Pathway Pressure Identifying Root Cause of problem Leverage for improving or eliminating problem and exposure

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16 The Structure: How Home and Environment Interact This session looks at structural and environmental factors of a Holistic Approach. Includes short building-science review, then dives in to types and purposes of the many assessment measurements that will be made Built Around the Measurements part of the Assessment Tools: Assessment forms, Tape measures, flashlights, camera, Blower Door, Duct Tester, moisture Meter, Thermal Imaging, Combustion tester, pressure gauge, Temp & RH monitor

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17 The Structure Environmental Interactions with the Environment Building Science Review Building Assessment What We will Measure and Why What Element s of the House Well Focus on Diagnostic Tools The tools that we will use Measurements & testing How The tools are used to make the measurement

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18 Building Science Review Interactions with the Environment

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19 IAQ Refresher Severity of problem dependent on Strength of source(s) Dilution Removal (Filtration, absorption, deposition) Duration Prioritization of Solutions? Control sources Ventilation Air cleaning

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20 Source Control Moisture Control Eliminate / reduce indoor sources Substitute for cleaner/healthier alternatives Eliminate pathways Reduce driving forces for transport Prevent condensation Isolate sources separate from living area Awareness & Education

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21 Quantity of Moisture From Household Activities Natural Resources Canada http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/new-home-improvement/choosing/insulation-sealing/air-leakage/khi-moisture.cfm?attr=4

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22 Indoor Humidity

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23 Occupant Perception of IAQ and Risk We can observe We can increase awareness and educate We can make recommendations And... In some cases unique needs of occupants (e.g. asthmatics), require more emphasis on certain concerns we identify but.... Each family will make their own decisions and take actions based upon comfort level, perceptions, economics, abilities, and culture

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24 Building an Assessment Team Reality is that most tribes have limited expertise and funding to address healthy homes as wed all like to Building a team does several things Can raise the visibility and priority of healthy housing as a tribal focus Brings together expertise from many relevant disciplines May bring resources from other departments or programs Creates shared ownership; increasing commitment and quality of likely actions

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25 The Assessment Team Assembling the team to perform the assessment Environmental Housing Health Energy Water Cultural Other? Not a part of the team, but a critical part of the Assessment and ultimate mitigation approach Occupants

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26 The Assessment Form/Software Guides the Assessment process Creates a record of the assessment observations, measurements, photos and initial recommendations May perform calculations and quality checks Difficult to find One Perfect Tool. Course uses hard copy forms to guide the process and eliminate learning a specific software

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27 TAMS Assessment Forms Based upon several sources NEAT Audit Software (DOE) Home IAQ Checklist (OSU Extension) Energy Star EPA Retrofit Protocols BPI NCHH LBL Designed to include essentials covered in course

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28 Focus is on Diagnostic Skills and Tools We wont get to answer all questions during house visits but you have a comprehensive list As a team, youll work together to perform the assessment and interpret your observations and measurements In practice session and home visits, try to spend some time with all aspects of the assessment, using all of the tools

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29 Building Assessment Comprehensive Physical Exam the house as the patient

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30 Building Assessment Comprehensive Physical Exam the house as the patient Basic Physical Information Construction Layout/Plan Age Dimensions / Volume Equipment Occupant Reported /Related How the house is used Indoor Activities Indoor Sources Housekeeping History Previous and Current Maintenance Renovations Major Changes Core Tests / Vital Signs Blower Door /Leakage Duct testing Temperature Relative Humidity CO 2 Testing Particles Combustion Radon Moisture Imaging Thermal Imaging Signs & Symptoms Begin assessing root causes

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31 What measurements well makeand why Envelope (Size, Volume, Foundation, Attic, Materials, etc) Insulation gaps/voids, Thermal Bridges, water damage, Leakage - Infiltration / Exfiltration Interior Living Space Health, Safety, Comfort, Efficiency Interior pathways, leaks, HVAC, heating/cooling, Ducts etc, Energy & Resources (base loads) Safety (Fire, combustion, radon) Codes, standards, guidance

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32 Envelope & Leakage Inspections & Tests Visual Inspection Thermal Imaging Smoke test Blower Door Testing To Assess Water leakage Air gaps/leakage Insulation continuity Moisture Control Structural integrity Ventilation Sealing Windows & Doors Opportunities for performance improvement

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33 Interior Living Space Indoor Measurements Temperature Ambient Surface Humidity CO 2 Levels Particles Combustion by products Moisture Flows Pressure Differences Radon To Assess Comfort Adequacy of HVAC Effectiveness of HVAC Adequacy of Ventilation Moisture / Moisture Problems Operation of Combustion Devices Indoor Sources Housekeeping Radon risk

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34 HVAC Efficiency / Effectiveness / Safety HVAC Measurements Combustion Pressures In system In zones Venting & Draft Ducts Tightness Supply / Return Distribution To Assess Proper combustion under all conditions Proper exhaust Leaks in ductwork Location of leaks Distribution System Balance Safety

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35 Energy & Resources Session 5 Measurements Fuel Usage / Base Loads Water heating Appliances Lighting Other Water Consumption Materials Selection To Assess Performance Efficiency Opportunities for reductions in Energy use Opportunities for reductions in Water use Selection of more sustainable items and materials

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36 Safety & Health Inspections Combustion Electrical Fire Lead paint Asbestos Other To Assess Safety of combustion devices Identification of Hazards Code Compliance

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37 Building Assessment Tools Cognitive Ability Questions Identifying Clues Sensory Eyes Ears Nose touch Forms / Software Flashlight Tape measure Smoke tube Camera Digital (Spot) Thermometer Thermal imaging Thermometer RH Meter CO2 CO Moisture meter Anemometer Digital pressure gauge Particle Counter Blower Door Duct Tester

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38 TAMS Assessment Forms Part 1 - Occupant Related Occupants Activities HVAC Use Indoor Sources Housekeeping Allergen Control Health & Safety Part 2 Structural Construction Details Dimensions and Volume Thermal Performance Moisture Control HVAC & Ducting Operation Combustion Energy Use

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39 Measurements and Testing For each type of test, determine Why were making the measurement Where in the home it is made How the Tool works How it is used What the results tell us

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40 Temperature / Humidity / CO 2 Thermometers / Hygrometers/ CO 2 Monitors Temperature (Ambient) Temperature (Surface) Relative Humidity (RH) Carbon Dioxide CO 2

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41 Thermal Imaging Infrared Camera Identify Cold / Hot Spots Moisture Presence Leaks & gaps Pathways Electrical Assess Insulation Gaps Voids Thermal Bridging Energy waste

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42 Particulates Particle Counter Results should generally correlate with furnishings physical activity occupant activities (e.g. cooking, candles, vacuuming) air movement Maintenance outside PM sources May show temporal variations based upon physical activity and Living and bedrooms

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43 Pressure Differentials Smoke Tube Manometer / Smoke Tube Simple way to test for Pressure imbalances Indoor/Outdoor Zone/Zone Room/Room Simple way to identify Direction of flow Leaks and pathways Presence & quality of seals

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44 Pressure Differentials Micromanometer Simple way to test for Pressure imbalances Indoor/Outdoor Zone/Zone Room/Room Simple way to identify leaks and pathways Presence & quality of seals

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45 Moisture Testing Pin Type Moisture meter Contact Moisture meter

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46 Air Flow Testing Tested Devices Heat Exchanger Intakes Exhausts Exhaust fans Bathrooms Laundry Rooms Kitchen Supplemental Ventilation Other Instruments Anemometer Pressure pan Pitot tube Flow Hood

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47 Ventilation Testing CO 2 Monitors Determine minimum ventilation requirement for occupants Measure mechanical ventilation Determine leakage rate

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48 Blower Door Test Used for testing the air tightness of the structure Air tightness of a building impacts energy consumption, comfort, and ventilation A blower door consists of Calibrated fan to measure air flow rate Micromanometer to measure the pressure created by the fan flow Airflow directly Proportional to Surface Area of Bldg Leakage

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49 Blower Door Test

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50 Blower Door Test Natural Driving Forces- Air leakage not measurable because pressure differences are small and variable Blower Door Air leakage is measurable because the pressure difference is Larger and Steady. Blower door equivalent to a steady 20 mph wind on all surfaces of building

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51 Blower Door Test ELA: Estimated total air leakage of all little holes in the building. Pre and Post Weatherization Blower Door readings to determine effectiveness of actions Can also compare to other houses of same building type. The blower door is your ultimate quality control device

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52 Blower Door Test Air Changes per Hour (ACH) Fresh air ventilation rate based on size of home and number of occupants Building Tightness Limit (BTL) / Minimum Ventilation Level (MVL) To ensure adequate fresh air through leakage if no mechanical ventilation CFM 50 (standard for blower door) Blower Door measures air flow rate in CFM at House pressure of -50 pascals

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53 Blower Door Test Typical Sources of Depressurization Temperature Differential (Stack Effect) Combustion Appliances Air Handlers Duct Leakage Exhaust fans Clothes Dryer Door Closures

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54 Zonal Pressure Tests Blower Door Configured for Whole House Tests relative leakiness of different zones Outside Zones Not Conditioned Attics Garage Porches Crawlspace Basement Inside Zones Conditioned Interior Walls Floors Between Stories Crawlspace Basement Surface exposed to interior and to outdoors Can be separated from rest of house Zone =

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55 Duct Testing Determines the leakiness of supply and return ducting Identifies loss of conditioned air to outside (supply) Identifies unconditioned air entry to interior (return) Identifies the need for sealing of ducts Calibrated Duct testing fan attached to main air handler or return Registers temporarily sealed

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56 Duct Leakage

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57 Duct Testing Variations Duct Leakage Duct Leakage to Outside While simultaneously pressurizing house Blower Door Subtraction With and without registers sealed Pressure Pan Test While house is depressurized, measured at each register.

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58 Pressure Pan Test Measures Pressure in duct (at register) relative to house pressure Ducts should be 0 WRT House pressure Indicates relative leakiness of duct in proximity to that register Higher the P, Leakier in that area of duct Identifies loss of conditioned air to outside

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59 Air Flow Testing Heat Exchanger System Temperature Difference Exhaust fans Anemometer Pitot tube Calibrated Pan

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60 Combustion Testing & Inspection Carbon Monoxide (CO) Combustion Flue Gases Venting System Combustion Appliance Zone Outdoor (reference) Gas/Oil Leakage Inspection Unvented Combustion Appliances Combustion Appliance Zone Combustion appliance vent inspection Oven Range

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61 Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) Any zone that contains combustion appliances. including Furnaces Boilers Water heaters Fireplaces, gas logs or solid fuel appliances Cooking ranges and ovens Vented and unvented space heaters

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62 Worst Case Draft Test Assures Combustion Appliances will operate in a safe draft condition during periods of depressurization created by occupants and environmental drivers Test performed with house in a condition that will put the Combustion Air Zone (CAZ) in the highest negative pressure Identifies need for appropriate actions to ensure proper drafting Must be done after modifications that tighten envelope or mechanical exhaust systems

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63 Worst Case Draft Test Turn all combustion devices off Measure baseline pressure relative to outdoors Tighten House Replace or clean filters Activate all Exhaust Appliances Activate air handler Position CAZ and Interior doors to maximize P in CAZ Fire Appliance check for spillage after 2 minutes Measure Draft in flue

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64 Water Heater Draft Test Thermostat setting Signs of leakage Insulation of pipes Pressure relief valve

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65 Radon Testing Recommended even if house previously tested (and mitigated) Identifies potential for elevated Radon levels requiring mitigation Conducted in Living Area in worst case conditions Can be affected by weatherization actions test after weatherization retrofits

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66 Quality Assurance QA Plan (QAP/QAPP) Recommended to assure that data supports good decisions May be required by Tribe or funding source If supported by EPA Grant funds, QAP is needed (check with Project Officer) Level of rigor should match type of measurements and intended use: graded approach

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67 Quality Assurance Standardized assessment procedure Standard procedures for instruments Calibration is current and documented Good recordkeeping for data and associated information (e.g. photos) Training records for staff Ensure procedures are followed and deviations noted