How to Improve your Indoor Air Quality

RADEC AIR AND WATER RADEC AIR AND WATER SOLUTIONS INC.SOLUTIONS INC.

Improving quality of life in the places we work, live and

play

Creating Healthy Creating Healthy Indoor EnvironmentsIndoor Environments

Did you know?Did you know? Canadians spend 90% of their time indoors

15-20% of children have asthma

50% of Canadians have some type of allergy

It takes a new home approximately 15 years to fully off-gas pollutants in common building materials

IAQ and Green Rating SystemsIAQ and Green Rating SystemsLEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is run by the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC)

LEED offers points for Indoor Environmental Quality

GoGreen

GoGreen is run by the Building Operators and Managers Association (BOMA)

BOMA considers IAQ in their ratings

What Contributes to What Contributes to Poor IAQ?Poor IAQ?

A Few Causes of Poor IAQA Few Causes of Poor IAQ Hairspray Perfume Deodorizers Air Fresheners Bug Spray Office Equipment Scented Laundry

Detergent Candles Incense Pets Dust

Mold Cleaning Products Glues Wood stoves Paint Varnishes Plastics Particle board Particulates from cooking Radon

VOCsVOCs

Volatile Organic Compounds

VOCs are chemical compounds that are in a vapour state. In this state we can easily breathe them in.

VOC Related Health VOC Related Health ProblemsProblems

Asthma triggers Allergy triggers Eye, nose and throat

irritation Headaches Nausea Vomiting Fatigue Dizziness Nosebleeds

Increases sensitivity to chemicals or allergens

Shortness of breath Allergic skin reactions Visual disorders Memory impairment Lung damage Liver, kidney and

central nervous system damage

Cancer

Reducing VOCsReducing VOCs

Avoid using products that off-gas VOCs

Increase fresh air Increase ventilation Portable air filtration

What to look for in an What to look for in an Air Filtration UnitAir Filtration Unit

Carbon filter for adsorption of VOCs/odors

Particulate filter: medical grade HEPA filter

Housing material: does it off-gas? Is it painted? If so what kind of paint

is used? DOES IT PRODUCE OZONE?

OzoneOzone The natural ozone

layer up in the stratosphere is good for the environment and for us. It filters out harmful sun rays.

At ground level, ozone is dangerous.

Ozone is an irritant gas that can cause respiratory problems.

Why some argue Ozone is a Why some argue Ozone is a good choice for Air Cleaninggood choice for Air Cleaning

Ozone is very volatile and can react with some chemicals and VOCs. This reaction will neutralize some substances, reducing odors.

HOWEVER the same chemical reactions that neutralize odours and chemicals can produce other harmful chemical by-products.

Canadian RegulationsCanadian Regulations Health Canada has issued warnings against

using ozone generators

Ozone generating devices for home use are NOT approved by the CSA (Canadian Standards Association).

Most ozone generating devices for home use are sold door to door or online where they can avoid meeting regulatory standards.

Some Examples of Ozone Some Examples of Ozone Producing Air CleanersProducing Air Cleaners

MoldMold

Mold is Detrimental in Two Mold is Detrimental in Two WaysWays

Health of Occupant Runny nose Headaches Respiratory problems Dizziness Difficulty breathing Memory & hearing loss Flu-like symptoms Bleeding in lungs

Health of Building Decrease the life of

building materials Damages paint/surfaces Damages drywall Damages carpets Damages household

items (books, furniture) Structural damage

Signs of a Mold ProblemSigns of a Mold Problem Water Spots on ceilings, walls, around

windows, around bathtubs and sinks

Previous leak

Bubbles in paint or wallpaper

Bulging drywall

Musty odors

Visible signs of mold

When to Clean Mold When to Clean Mold YourselfYourself

3 patches or fewer less than 1 square metre each

OR The size of a garbage bag folded in

half

As recommended by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

How to Clean Mold YourselfHow to Clean Mold Yourself

Make sure to wear Safety Glasses or Goggles A Disposable Dust Mask Household Rubber Gloves

Scrub the patch with an unscented detergent. Then sponge with clean water and dry quickly.The CMHC does not recommend using bleach

When to call in a Mold When to call in a Mold ExpertExpert

When the mold area is very large

When you clean mold and it repeatedly and quickly returns

When mold has caused obvious damage to building materials, or household items

When the home is very moist or damp

When someone in your family has asthma or respiratory problems that appear to be aggravated inside the home

Causes of Large-scale Mold Causes of Large-scale Mold ProblemsProblems Improperly ventilated dryer,

stove and bathroom fans.

Leaky roof

Piping that is poorly maintained or not maintained at all

Lack of natural building ventilation

Dryer Duct ComparisonDryer Duct Comparison

Roof of Condo BuildingRoof of Condo Building

Poorly Maintained PipingPoorly Maintained Piping

InsuranceInsurance Home insurance will normally cover a leak

or flood, provided steps are taken immediately to resolve the problem

HOWEVER most home insurance does not cover mold which can develop later, or as a result of improper flood repairs

Check your policy to find out what is and is not covered

Solutions Solutions & &

PreventionPrevention

Find the Root of the Find the Root of the ProblemProblem

If you discover a mold problem in your home, bring in an expert to find the root cause and repair it at the source.

Reduce HumidityReduce Humidity

Get a dehumidifier

Remember to use bathroom fans when showering and for 30 minutes afterwards

Remember to use stove fans when cooking, especially when boiling food

Improve Air Improve Air MovementMovement

If you don’t have a bathroom or stove fan, install one. If for some reason you can’t install one, open a window when showering or cooking

When possible, keep doors inside the house open to allow air movement throughout. This is especially important for rooms that lack windows or ventilation.

Consider air movement when organizing furniture, and try to avoid placing items where they could block air flow

Clean Water Leaks Right Clean Water Leaks Right AwayAway

If you have a water spill or leak, address it immediately

A larger water leak requires expert help, industrial drying equipment, and may require pulling out wet building materials (carpets, and very wet drywall) to ensure that other building materials can be saved

After a water leak,mold will grow within 24-48 hours Never delay water clean up!

Anti-Microbial TreatmentsAnti-Microbial Treatments

A mold expert will usually recommend treatment with an anti-microbial spray for a large problem

Cleaned areas can then be treated with an anti-microbial sealer to prevent future growth

Anti-microbial sealer can also be used as a preventative measure in areas where mold could eventually be a problem such as basements and crawlspaces

Where to find more Where to find more informationinformation

www.radecgroup.comhttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/air/in/index-eng.phphttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/house-domes/electron/cleaners-air-purificateurs-

eng.php http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile65a.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VOCs http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/ http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ http://www.cagbc.org/leed/initiative/index.htm http://www.bomagogreen.com/ http://www.bc.lung.ca/ http://www.iaqa.org/ http://www.ccohs.ca/oshlinks/subject/indoorairquality.html http://www2.worksafebc.com/Topics/IndoorAir/Home.asp http://www.sustainablebuildingcentre.com/