Indoor Air Quality & HVAC SYSTEMS
Transcript of Indoor Air Quality & HVAC SYSTEMS
IAQ and HVACa
CorrelationBy: Jack Rutledge, ASCS, CMRS President Rutledge Environmental
Outline of Program
1. History2. Define IAQ / SBS / BRI3. HVAC Systems Design4. Effects of Maintenance on HVAC
System
The Year is: 1976
• Jimmy Carter is elected President• Israeli Assault Team rescues hijacked
hostages on an Air France Plane in Entebbe, Uganda
and• A Legionnaires’ Convention was held at the
Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia, PA
• 221 Legionnaires became ill• 34 Died• Later Discovered an “Unknown Bacterium”
had infected a Cooling Tower which supplied a RTU that conditioned the rooms of the Legionnaires who became ill
• The bacterium was later named Legionella
1977
• OPEC Oil Embargo• Rationing of Gasoline• President Carter issues edict that new
Building Construction will be designed to reduce Energy Consumption by making them “Tight Buildings”
Tight Building Syndrome
• Key Factor in Development of “IAQ”
1984• NO “Indoor Air Quality Associates”• NO “National Air Duct Cleaners
Association”But:
For 1st timeWorld Health Organization uses term:
“Sick Building Syndrome”Described as:
“A cluster of symptoms occurring with increased frequency in Buildings with
Indoor Climate Problems.”
2007
• 30th Anniversary of President Carter’s edict to “tighten up buildings
• We now have:– IAQA– NADCA– ACR2006– SBS– BRI
and– LITIGATION
One of the 1st Major Lawsuits on IAQ - SBS
• EPA Headquarters – Washington, D.C. 1990
• 19 EPA Employees Filed Suit• The Verdict Against EPA was
Approximately $3 Million• Later Overturned by D.C. Superior Court
AndSettled Out of Court
And More Litigation or
Threatened Litigation
• Brevard Community College in Florida-Professor Sues – Mold in Classroom made her sick
• Eastern Wyoming College-Closes Student Apartment Building due to Mold
• University of KentuckySAE Fraternity Building-Closes Temporarily while Mold Remediation Performed
Correlation of:Indoor Air Quality
andHVAC Systems
• 1st Major IAQ Case-Legionnaires Disease resulted from Contaminated HVAC System
• HVAC Systemseither:1. The Problem
or2. A Conduit
HVAC Maintenanceor
Lack of MaintenanceNot Only Problem
• Poor Design is Major FactorDesign depends on several Variables:-Age of Design-Building Codes in Effect at the time of Design-Budget that was available for the Project-Original Planned use of Building-Owner’s and Designer’s individual preferences-Subsequent Modification
Typical Single Zone HVAC
Dirty Reheat Coil
Restricted Air Flow
Dirty Coils
Restricted Air Flow AndReduced Capacity to Condition Air
Dirty Return Grill
Restricts Air Flow And Breeding Ground for:
-Mold -Bacteria
Dirty Air Duct
Restricts Air Flow And Breeding Ground for:
-Mold -Bacteria
Lack of Regular Filter Change
Results of Dirty HVAC System
• Air Flow Reduced• More OA Required• Increased Energy Cost• Less reduction of Moisture from air passing through
Cooling Coils• Increased Humidity• Greater probability of Mold Growth both in:
HVAC System and
Conditioned Space of Building
Visual Effect of Dirty HVAC System
More Complaints FromBuilding Occupants
More Complaints FromBuilding Occupants
More Complaints FromBuilding Occupants
Solutions
• Regular Filter Changes• Check Filters for “Blow By”• Regular Coil Cleaning
Both Primary Coilsand Reheat Coils
• Entire HVAC System Cleaning When Needed
EPA’sHVAC Checklist – Short Form
andIAQ Management Checklist
See Inserts in Handout
Reheat Coils Before/After
Cooling CoilsBefore/After
Return Air GrillBefore/After
Duct WorkBefore/After
HVAC System
Results of Good Maintenance
• Less Humidity Problems• Less Musty Smells• Less Hotspots/Coldspots
Happy Building Occupants
Happy Maintenance Staff
QUESTIONS?
Jack Rutledge, ASCS, CMRS
Rutledge Environmental
800.493.1117