IAQ

Forum Post: Spotlight Article in HVACR Distribution Business highlights Permatron quality and fast, flexible manufacturing

Tova Osofsky — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:11:00 GMT

Permatron: Fresh Ideas in Air Filters, a spotlight article in the August 2012 issue of HVACR Distribution Business, highlights Permatron’s creativity and its fresh, innovative, customer-centric approach to designing, manufacturing and marketing commercial and residential HVAC filters. Read more—and try your hand at the appealing (and addictive) Marty’s Mega Mitt cottonseed-catching game.

Forum Post: Re: IAQ Questions? Post them here.

Naomi Millán — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:11:00 GMT

Thank you Vikas! Your questions will be submitted to Dr. Persily for answer. Look for the answers on the BOM homepage in the Ask An Expert segment the first week of August.

Everyone else, please continue to submit your questions here.

Thanks!

Naomi Millan, associate editor, Building Operating Management

Forum Post: Measuring client's indoor air quality

Bob Croft — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 23:06:00 GMT

We've used a hand held airborne particle counter to monitor our client indoor air quality since 2003, long before the current generation of HEPA filters became available. We purchased the particle counter with the thought of mostly using it to quantify for our clients the difference in air quality, including airborne allergens, between our methodology and the industry standard. Early on, we chanced into a demonstration of how useful the device could be in monitoring our crew's performance month to month (we provide janitorial service in Phoenix AZ).

In our first round of client visits taking air quality readings, we found two buildings, both serviced by the same crew, that had readings, in the one micron and larger range (the size of most allergens), three to four times what we'd expected. Pulled the crew in for a conversation and an equipment check; found the one micron filter in place, but ruptured. Cleaned out the vacuum, replaced the filter, had a somewhat more intense conversation with the crew, and, within three weeks, we had the readings down to the expected range.

Now that we have 0.3 micron HEPA filters available, we do even better.

It's awfully useful, being able to quantify one's results.

A bit about us:

My firm, CBN Building Maintenance, provides commercial cleaning services in Phoenix AZ and the wider metro area. We've been in business since 1974; hold the BBB's A-plus rating; and have long been in the forefront of the industry in environmentally sensitive cleaning for health, safety and security. Our program can generally improve Indoor Air Quality, in the size range of most allergens, by a factor of 50%, as reflected in our ongoing IAQ sampling.

Forum: IAQ Discussions

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:38:00 GMT

This forum is designed to create dialogue among facility, maintenance, and engineering managers — not sales and marketing professionals. Managers can share their experiences related to IAQ with their colleagues.

Forum: IAQ Products & Services Marketing

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:38:00 GMT

This forum is designed for managers seeking out promotional materials related to cutting-edge IAQ products and technology. This is the only forum in which manufacturers and service providers should participate.

Files: IAQ Media

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:37:00 GMT

Forum: IAQ

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:39:00 GMT

Forum Post: Permanent Modular Construction Exceeds New Federal IAQ Standards

Keith Hobbs — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:02:00 GMT

Results from recently conducted tests on modular buildings provided by Warrior Group, one of the largest minority- and woman-owned construction services companies in the U.S., prove that the company’s product has exceeded some of the most stringent requirements for indoor air infiltration in existence – those of the United States government.

For all new Army construction projects in or after Fiscal Year 2010, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) design criteria and specifications require air tightness performance tests. The building envelopes of office buildings, office areas of mixed office and open space, dining, barracks and instructional/training facilities must be designed and built with a continuous air barrier to control air leakage into or out of the space.

At Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, the USACE developed the project scope for an Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing (UEPH) Complex. Warrior Group served as the primary subcontractor to deliver two-story buildings using a new, “hybrid” construction method: permanent modular construction combined with site-built components.

Through the air infiltration tests, Warrior demonstrated it is meeting newly strengthened air infiltration standards without compromising the benefits of permanent modular construction. These benefits include a shorter construction timeline, a reduction of onsite site labor resources and contribute to a LEED-certifiable building (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

Indoor environmental air quality is recognized as a vitally important factor in making buildings habitable. Poor air quality can affect health, morale and productivity and can also result in higher energy costs. Air flowing in or out of the building through unintentional openings such as cracks around window frames and wall-floor joints provides a path for moisture and outdoor pollutants to enter the building or to become trapped in the exterior wall, creating poor air quality inside the structure.

The Fort Bliss buildings also were designed to meet the strict requirements of the military “Uniform Facilities Code (UFC),” which is the guideline for all military base construction. The UFC demonstrates the joint services’ concern that airborne contaminants will not easily penetrate buildings before they are detected and the building’s occupants can be evacuated.

Both buildings were tested by Professional Investigative Engineers (PIE) using infrared thermograph testing, smoke generation and smoke trackers in accordance with ASTM E 1186. PIE used three, high-capacity fan systems each with three 8300-cfm fans, two DM-2 digital controllers, three variable speed drives, two exterior pressure monitoring stations and five interior pressure monitoring stations. Multiple digital readings were taken of pressure differential and airflow at ten-second intervals from two locations for an air tightness analysis.

No excess air leakage came from the modular units, and PIE test results prove that both buildings had an average air tightness level that is much lower than the new, specified USACE requirements that are all much more stringent than historical construction standards.

In addition to Fort Bliss, Warrior has also built substantial projects including troop residences and U.S. Army headquarters buildings at Fort Belvoir, Fort Carson and Fort Sam Houston as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC). The company is also leading the adoption of hybrid and permanent modular construction for other applications, including school buildings, dormitories, laboratories, hospitals, administrative offices and clinics in more than 30 states.

To view the complete white paper surrounding the project at Fort Bliss and the results of the indoor air quality tests, please visit http://www.warrior-group.net/modular/white-papers/.

Warrior Group, based in DeSoto, Texas, is a multi-million dollar provider of premier construction services focusing on construction management for conventional and permanent modular construction. The 13-year old company is one of the largest minority- and woman-owned construction services companies in the U.S. with more than 1,000 successfully completed projects to its credit an impressive roster of private and public sector clients across the United States. Warrior is dedicated to building long-term customer relationships by continually surpassing expectations and providing superior customer service, effective construction management and turnkey solutions in the modular and general construction industry. Warrior has offices in DeSoto, and San Antonio, Texas. www.warrior-group.net.

Forum Post: Re: Indoor air quality

Tom Moriarty, PE, CMRP — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:15:00 GMT

I've attached a pdf with some info I put together for some other folks.

.(Please visit the site to view this file)

Forum Post: Hydroponics

vikmak — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:29:00 GMT

Hi,

Does any one has an experience in Hydroponics culture here? Actually this is technique of growing plants without soil. My company has been doing a lot in the field of Indoor air quality. Lots of idea that we are open to share.

For details please visit our website, it also has a reference to the TED presentation that our CEO has given on ' How to grow your own fresh air'

http://greenspaces.in/blog/ted09/

Mak

Forum Post: Commercial Duct Cleaning Company Earns Safety Award

CleanDuctwork — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:32:00 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 3, 2009) – Hughes Environmental, a commercial duct cleaning company based in Louisville, Kentucky, was awarded the “Outstanding Safety Award” by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). This award is reserved for companies like Hughes Environmental who have had an outstanding safety record for more than three consecutive years.

The requirements for NADCA’s Safety Award are based on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards. Companies who apply for the award must have completed OSHA #300A Log in accordance with requirements under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and have met safety guidelines as stipulated by NADCA to receive the honor.

Chuck Cooper, Business Development Manager for Hughes Environmental said, “This award is quite an accomplishment and showcases the work we’ve put into our safety program.” Rebecca Yost, the company’s Operational Manager added that, “Safety is a top priority on our job sites. We take OSHA Standards very seriously and having earned this award for the fourth consecutive year proves that our employees are paying attention to details and keeping their workplace safe.”

In early 2005 Gail Walkiewicz and Craig Rutledge started Hughes Environmental, Inc. to service the commercial duct cleaning and rafter and ceiling cleaning needs of clients in the eastern half of the United States. Hughes Environmental has seen strong growth since its inception as a result of superior customer service and a staff comprised of multiple NADCA Certified “Air System Cleaning Specialist”, American Indoor Air Quality “Certified Mold Remediators”, and “Certified Indoor Environmentalist”. For more information visit: www.hughesenv.com

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Forum Post: Commercial Duct Cleaning Company Launches New Website

CleanDuctwork — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:26:00 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 3, 2009) – Hughes Environmental, a commercial duct cleaning company based in Louisville, Kentucky, launched their new website today. The new site features expanded content, updated photos and graphics to create an entirely new online presence.

The new website provides visitors with easy-to-navigate access to Hughes Environmental’s services and access to two different studies on Indoor Air Quality. “We think it’s important to reiterate to our clients that we are experts in HVAC Systems Cleaning, Commercial Duct Cleaning, Ceiling and Rafter Cleaning and other Industrial Cleaning Services”, said Chuck Cooper, Business Development Manager for Hughes Environmental. “We’ve worked very hard to become the regional leader in these services and we wanted to make sure that our new website showcases that we’ve done our homework and are experts in the field. We want our new website to not only draw new business but also serve as a resource for our existing clients,” said Cooper.

Improvements to the website include:

New Look
Ease-of-Navigation
Improved Site Features
Case Studies
Blog

Hughes Environmental recruited another Kentucky based company to display their new website. The website design team at Blackstone Media, including designer Ty Goss, created a website that truly enhances the services that Hughes Environmental has to offer to the Commercial Facilities Industry. The design and layout of the new site was created to set the company apart from its competitors and to reinforce the company’s goal of being a regional leader in HVAC Systems Cleaning Services.

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Forum Post: Re: Interested In Controlling Your Indoor Air Quality?

John Cockerill — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:06:00 GMT

If you would like to control your methods better, let me know.