Indoor Air Quality and HVAC . . . a Correlation

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• 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