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& M O I S T U R E M A N A G E M E N T M A G A Z I N EThe Magazine for Moisture Prevention and RemediationThe Magazine for Moisture Prevention and Remediation& M O I S T U R E M A N A G E M E N T M A G A Z I N E

Architects On AlertHow Better Blueprints Can Address Water IntrusionALSO INSIDE:8 WAYS TO GROW MOLD IN YOUR HOTELTHE PROS AND CONS OF DRY ICE BLASTING

Architects On AlertHow Better Blueprints Can Address Water Intrusion

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May-July 2006Volume 3 | Issue 3

ALSO INSIDE:8 WAYS TO GROW MOLD IN YOUR HOTELTHE PROS AND CONS OF DRY ICE BLASTING

1. Most walls inside buildings are made of paper-faced drywall.

2. Mold eats paper.

3. If you eliminate the paper you reduce the chances for mold.

4. Georgia-Pacific introducesDensArmor® Plus paperless drywall.

For office buildings, our revolutionary paperless drywall provides moisture and mold resistance. For free literature on DensArmor Plus,

call 1-800-BUILD GP. For technical information,call 1-800-225-6119 or go to www.densarmorplus.com.

©2006 G-P Gypsum Corporation. All rights reserved. DENSARMOR is a registered trademark of G-P Gypsum Corporation.

For more information, visit www.moldmag.com/infocenter

& M O I S T U R E M A N A G E M E N T

Mold & Moisture Management ©2006 by Key Communications Inc. All rights reserved. KeyCommunications Inc., 385 Garrisonville Road, Suite 116, Stafford, VA 22554; 540/720-5584;fax 540/720-5687. Unsolicited manuscripts and other materials will not be returned unlessaccompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. All contents are ©2006 by KeyCommunications Inc. Neither publisher nor its representatives nor its subcontractors assumeliability for errors in text, charts, advertisements, etc. and suggest appropriate companies becontacted before specifications or use of products advertised or included in editorial materi-als. Views and opinions expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Forpermission to reprint, contact editorial office. Printed in the U.S. No reproduction permittedwithout expressed written permission of the of the publisher. Questions? Call 540/720-5584.

departments

™On the cover

An in-depth section just for remediators,featured in every issue.

News ..........................................18

Products .....................................20

remediation

C ontents

Spot on the Wall............................4

Consultants Corner........................6

Industry Interface..........................8

Mold Litigation ............................10

columns

Experts say thatarchitects shareresponsibility withbuilders andcontractors forkeeping moisturefrom damaging abuilding. Proactivedesigns are the first step to preventingmold growth.

News ..........................................12Product Parade............................14Insurance Watch..........................16Regulation Review.......................17Classifieds...................................19Wet Science ................................38Advertiser Index ..........................42Dry Eye .......................................44

May-July 2006 | Volume 3 | Issue 3

features

Detailing Mold-Free DesignsWithout the architects, therewould be no blueprints tofollow—but would there be fewermold problems? Learn what awarearchitects are doing to preventwater intrusion, and whatproducts help them with their job.

Unwanted GuestWhat makes some hotels moresusceptible to mold growth thanothers? This simple question hassome complex answers. Learn howto control some factors.

Breaking the IceIt’s not soap and water, but dry icehas proven to be an effective moldremediation tool. Althoughtechnology offers speed andefficiency, it demands a bigcommitment from remediators.

2 | May-July 06 Mold & Moisture Managementm

[30

[22

[28

[19


Why use heat?

• Kills Mold in inaccessible areas without chemicals.• Kills Bacteria quickly without chemicals.• Kills the Insects that can spread mold in buildings.• Helps dry out the affected area.• Reduces annoying and irritating VOCs and odors.• Kills all stages of bedbug growth.

To license this technology or to arrange for a proposal, please call or visit our website.

UU nlike most of my friends and coworkers, the travel that is requiredwith this job has not yet gotten old for me. I enjoy hitting the roadfor work. Half of the appeal, of course, is getting the opportunity to

explore some fun cities on the job. But when I’m too tired to make it outof the hotel at the end of the day, the unique hotels sometimes offer theirown appeal. Whether it’s as exciting as a particularly beautiful pool or ajazz band playing beneath dim lounge lights—or as silly as the rubberducky sitting on the edge of the tub—I’m always on the lookout for that lit-tle something that reminds me of why it’s fun to be on the road.

However, my enthusiasm was brought in check somewhat by a forum onmold at AIHce 2005 that has stuck with me. A member of the audienceasked the forum members whether they felt that hotels have improved onmold prevention. Harriet Burge, director of aerobiology at EMLab, offeredher opinion that nothing has changed in how hotels handle mold—and theshake of her head suggested that was not positive. Another forum member,building scientist Terry Brennan of Camroden Associates, joked that healways takes apart the air handlers to inspect when he checks in. Theaudience laughed and nodded around me. And although Brennan encour-agingly stated that he sees some movement in the industry toward betterdesigns, my suspicions were set. Later in that same conference, I had thepleasure of hearing Roger Morse, president and technical director of MorseZehnter Associates, give a presentation on why hotels are particularly sus-ceptible to mold growth (See Morse’s article on the topic on page 28), evenless encouraging to a frequent traveler.

I frequently think about that conference and how it tempered my reac-tion to check in time at the hotel du jour. Just recently I found myselfmore captivated by the black spots upon the wallpaper in my hotel bath-room than with the view outside the balcony.

However, some hotels seem to be addressing mold. A company calledPure Solutions is marketing a process by which it overhauls a hotel roomto remove all traces of mold and other allergens. The process involvescleaning and disinfecting the air handling unit, installing an electronic airpurifier, replacing the beddings with mold-proof and waterproof bed linensand even using an ozone shock treatment to kill any mold or bacteria inthe room. Similarly, the Chicago Hilton O’Hare last year completed reno-vations to several rooms to make them “allergen-free,” according to thehotel’s web site.

Still—is it too much to expect that every hotel room be freeof mold? Or are the fun perks, like a great view and a rubberducky, supposed to hide the black spots on the shower ceiling?

Megan HeadleyEditor, MMoollddmmaagg

AAfftteerr CChheecckk--IInn,, CChheecckk OOuutt tthhee MMoolldd

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Mold & Moisture Management4 | May-July 06 Mold & Moisture Managementm


Consultants Corner

➧By Colin Murphy and Lonnie Haughton.Murphy is a founder and managing partner ofExterior Research & Design LLC in Seattle.Haughton is a construction consultant forRichard Avelar & Associates in Oakland, Calif.

Who is responsible forensuring a successfulwaterproofing design—the

architect or the contractor?Obviously, this is a broad questionthat ignores the wide range ofdesign, specification and/or man-agement responsibilities carried outby architects throughout NorthAmerica. Yet, this simplistic queryhighlights a theme that recurs con-stantly during the constructiondefects litigation resulting fromineffective weatherproofing:• The contractor blames the archi-

tect’s minimal detailing. • The architect argues that the con-

tractor is the construction expertresponsible for implementing theproject’s ‘design intent.’

• The contractor responds thathe/she bid the project per thearchitect’s minimal details andspecifications and that the pro-ject’s funding limits preventedany upgrades to this design.

• The architect then asserts thatno matter how tight the fundinghe/she certainly would haveapproved a written changeorder for improved flashing orwaterproofing if the expert con-tractor had only emphasized itsimportance.At this point, both parties may

storm out of the meeting.In many cases, both the architect

and contractor must share a vary-ing degree of responsibility forfailed waterproofing. The contrac-tor should have sufficient under-standing of flashing and waterproof-ing methodology to be able to eval-

uate the adequacy of the architect’sdetails and specifications. In verygeneral terms, his failure to providewritten notice of an inadequatedesign and his continuation of thework constitutes an acceptance ofresponsibility for ensuring satisfac-tory performance of the buildingenvelope. Yet Section 106.3 of theInternational Building Code (IBC)burdens the architect with the pri-

mary level of design responsibility:“The construction documents shallprovide details of the exterior wallenvelope as required, includingflashings, intersections of dissimilarmaterials, corners, end details, con-trol joints, intersections and roof,eaves or parapets, means ofdrainage, water-resistive membraneand details around opening.”

The IBC tasks the designer toproduce a comprehensive set ofproject-specific details for success-ful weatherproofing of the buildingenvelope. For most projects, thismandate cannot be fulfilled simplyby copying a generic set of detailsand/or providing guide specifica-tions published by a manufactureror trade association. Even the com-prehensive standards and detailspublished by the nation’s mostrespected industry organizationscannot be blindly substituted forthe project-specific design reviewprescribed by the IBC.

A Few Practice Examples Consider, for example, the com-

prehensive Stucco Resource Guidepublished in Seattle by theNorthwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau.It is not uncommon for PacificNorthwest architects to simply spec-

ify that the stucco application mustcomply with NWCB standards anddetails; however, this action begs thequestion of who is responsible forproject-specific detailing of unusualbuilding transitions not addressedwithin the Stucco Resource Guide.The architect? The contractor?Should we just leave such decisionsto the whims of the stucco applica-tors up on the scaffolding?

In 2005, for multi-unit residentialbuildings only, the Washington Statelegislature answered these questionsof overall responsibility for the weath-erproofing design. Consistent withthe intent of Section 106.3 of the IBC,House Bill 1848 requires that the con-struction drawings submitted to thelocal building official must include acomplete packet of waterproofingdetails “that have been stamped by alicensed engineer or architect.”Further, the project architect or engi-neer must submit a written statementconfirming that in his/her “profes-sional judgment” these submitteddetails and specifications are appro-priate to fully “waterproof, weather-proof and otherwise protect the build-ing or its components from water ormoisture intrusion …”

In addition, HB 1848 requires that,during construction of multi-unit res-idential buildings, there must be“independent periodic review of thebuilding enclosure” by a “qualifiedbuilding enclosure inspector” who“may not be an employee, officer ordirector, nor have any pecuniaryinterest in the declarant, developer,association or any party providingservices or materials for the project,or any of their respective affiliates,except that the qualified inspector

The Architect or the Contractor—Who Is Responsible for Successful Waterproofing?


“In many cases, both the architect and contractor must share a varying degree of responsibility for failed waterproofing.”

May-July 06 | 7www.moldmag.com m

may be the architect or engineer whoapproved the building enclose designdocuments or the architect or engi-neer of record.”

In essence, the Washington Statelegislature has decreed that thebuilding contractor who consistent-ly complies with the project’s water-proofing and flashing details (asstamped by a licensed architect orengineer) and any supplementalcourse-of-construction guidanceprovided by the required independ-ent inspector will not be the primetarget if leakage and mold problemslater occur.

In our experience, there are manyarchitects and engineers who arewell qualified to evaluate, detail andspecify even the most complex flash-ing, cladding and roof covering sys-tems. Similarly, there are many con-tractors whose roofing and water-proofing skills and dedication toquality construction are exemplary.Nonetheless, most architects, engi-neers and contractors are not roof-ing or waterproofing experts. Forbuilding professionals in those manystates and jurisdictions where thereis not a strong delineation of who isresponsible for the building envelopedesign, we offer the following guid-ance that can greatly reduce theirrisks of becoming fully embroiled inleakage and mold litigation:

Defining Weatherproofing Protection

The first step for all parties is toidentify who is the ‘responsible pro-fessional in charge’ of the building’sweatherproofing design. For mostprojects, the sensible course ofaction for the owner and architectis to hire an independent water-proofing design professional toreview (and often supplement) thearchitect’s original details and to

carry out representative inspec-tions of the construction. If thebuilding envelope later fails, it is thewaterproofing design professionalwho has the huge target on his/herback—not the architect.

For contractors, there are two crit-ical steps they can take to protectthemselves. First, fully implementthe building envelope design that hasbeen specified and detailed by thearchitect. If such weatherproofingspecifications and details are foundto be incomplete, always requestwritten guidance from the designer.Time after time, we see projectswhere a well-intentioned contractor,worried about keeping the project onschedule, decided to simply “fix” aninsufficient waterproofing design. Bythis simple action, he not only is tak-ing responsibility for the long-termeffectiveness of that “fix,” but is alsoinforming future attorneys that he isa skilled waterproofing professionalwilling to accept a great deal ofresponsibility for the effectiveness ofthe entire waterproofing design.

Secondly, keep a written daily log.In particular, summarize all discus-sions and verbal directives from theowner, architect and other design

professionals. Often, it is simply thecontractor’s poor recordkeeping thatallows the opposing parties to makehim the scapegoat for bad decisionsmade by others. This daily log neednot be lengthy; it simply needs todocument the day-to-day actions byothers that affect the project’s weath-erproofing design and its course ofconstruction. In addition, the con-tractor must save these records, evenif they are nothing more than raggedslips of paper stored in shoeboxes atthe back of a closet. Far too often,project records are thrown awayprior to the end of the period when aconstruction defects claim can beinitiated. This hastiness can prove tobe a very costly error.

In summary, when a buildingleaks, typically everyone involvedwith its design and construction getssued. Eventually, the biggest losersare those who keep the worstrecords and those who by theiractions or inaction became responsi-ble for the performance of the as-built weatherproofing design. Thebest interests of all parties are servedby hiring a waterproofing profession-al to accept the mantle of responsi-bility imposed by the IBC. m

To ensure a successful waterproofing design, it is important to identify the professionalin charge of that aspect—the architect, the builder or waterproofing consultant.

➧Larry Livermore is the technical standardsmanager of the American ArchitecturalManufacturers Association.

Fenestration products and thewalls into which they areinstalled are designed to

resist water penetration to certainlevels, depending on their perform-ance class. In the real world, how-ever, there can be problems withthe fenestration product itself, theinstallation techniques used, theperimeter seal or the various com-ponents used in the wall system—any or all of which can lead towater penetration.

When properly applied, field test-ing can be a useful way to verify theactual installed performance of fen-estration products.

Test methods for different circum-stances are spelled out in ASTM andAAMA standards and specifications,including AAMA 502-02 VoluntarySpecification for Field Testing ofWindows and Sliding Glass Doors.

Testing Before Installation The recognized field test method

for verifying air infiltration andwater penetration resistance ofnewly installed operable windowsand doors is AAMA 502-02. AAMA502-02 describes two test methods,both of which require the use of asealed test chamber, which is typi-cally applied to the interior side ofthe door or window.

The chamber’s interior is evacu-ated to establish a specified pres-sure differential across the productthat simulates wind pressure.Water is then applied against theoutside surface of the window froma calibrated spray rack. In MethodA, only the product itself is tested,while method B tests the completeassembly, including the installa-

tion, by using a larger test chamberattached to the rough openingmembers (for more on this test, seeJanuary-February 2006 MMoollddmmaagg,page 8).

Performing the tests as soon aspractical on the job site can be ben-eficial in determining if manufactur-ing, installation and/or perimetersealing problems are present beforethe project is completed. Dependingon the test method chosen, accessto the windows for proper testingmust be provided before the open-ings are finished with drywall, etc.

When applying AAMA 502-02, orrelying on the results of such test-ing, manufacturers, contractors andinspectors should especially takenote of the following:• AAMA 502-02 is intended for use

with newly-installed operablewindows and doors. AAMA 501.2-03, which uses a simple hose noz-zle test, does not yield validresults in these applications.

• AAMA 502-02 requires that alltesting must be performed by anAAMA-accredited testing labora-tory. This ensures that the labo-ratory has the staff, training,experience and calibrated instru-ments and equipment to properlyperform field testing. To ensurethe lab is accredited, ask to seetheir certificate of accreditation.

Older Installations Need Testing Too

Note that AAMA 502-02 originallywas not intended for testing old,existing window installations.However, a recognized forensic testmethod has become increasinglydesirable for use in identifying thesource of water penetration thathas already occurred in an occu-pied building. Work is proceedingunder AAMA’s newly appointed

forensic field testing task group torevise AAMA 502-02. The objectiveis to clarify the standard’s use inverifying the water penetrationresistance of newly installed prod-ucts, and to better define theprocess for a proper forensic inves-tigation of a building to determinethe cause of water penetration.

“The test pressures used for fieldtesting often do not correlate within-service site environmental con-ditions,” noted task group chairper-son Scott Warner of ArchitecturalTesting Inc. in York, Pa. “It is erro-neous to assume that the door orwindow is the cause of the leakagebecause it does not satisfy a prod-uct certification which is based on alaboratory test environment.”

The revised test method isexpected to reference ASTM E 2128Standard Guide for EvaluatingWater Leakage of Building Walls.This latter test method is of partic-ular importance in cases wherewater penetration is evident andthe source is unknown.

The test method will be similar tothat already prescribed for newlyinstalled products, but will includespecific differences in preparationand data interpretation. It will alsotake into consideration the actualweather conditions of the project siteprior to testing, as they may havecontributed to the instance of waterpenetration. The intent of the newtest method will be to consider thewall to be a system, encompassing itsexterior and interior finishes, fenes-tration, structural components andcomponents for maintaining thebuilding interior environment. m

I ndustry Interface

Acing the TestHow the Right Field Test Can Prevent Water Penetration


ResourcesAAMA documents may be obtained online atwww.aamanet.org.

TM

®


➧Article written by J. Nick Badgerow and KellyA. Campbell. Both practice law at SpencerFane Britt & Browne LLP in Kansas City.

DDespite the publicity sur-rounding an increase in thenumber of claims asserting

damage and injury from mold infes-tation, those claims can be defeatedat trial. Our previous columns havedocumented the publicity comingfrom a few high-profile cases, andthe manner in which that publicityhas fueled an increase in the numberof claims filed. However, that public-ity does not make mold claims anyeasier for the plaintiff, once theyreach trial—if they do reach trial.Indeed, much of the publicity aboutmold cases relates to cases filed, orsettlements paid, rather than toactual jury verdicts awarded.

The message in this column isthat mold trials can be won by thedefendant, if proper preparation anda proper presentation are made.

PreparationTrials in court, and particularly

jury trials, are all about prepara-tion. A lot of hard work and latenights go into the preparation of atrial presentation, in order to makeit appear calm and effortless. Asnoted in prior articles, many factorstaken care of early in a mold casecan have a significant impact on thetrial. These include the following:

11.. GGeett iinnvvoollvveedd eeaarrllyy.. Do a thor-ough investigation of the facts, doc-umenting what is there, photo-graphing and testing the evidence,and talking to witnesses while theirmemories are fresh and before theirallegiances change. Retain a rep-utable mold testing expert to takesamples and to make tests, beforethings change and deteriorate.

22.. PPrreesseerrvvee tthhee eevviiddeennccee.. Locate

and retain any rele-vant components,such as doors, win-dows and frames.Keep that evidence ina clean, dry, securelocation.

33.. BBee pprrooaaccttiivvee.. Donot wait for thehomeowner or otherclaimant to requestinformation or de-mand a settlement.Once you learn of apotential claim, getout in the field andtalk to people.

44.. BBee ffrriieennddllyy..Sometimes, a littleearly public relations can go a longway towards discouraging a lawsuit.At the least, the jury will likely seesuch efforts in a positive light,assuming you make it clear that anyproposal is not based on any per-ception of liability or fault, but is acharitable reaction to a person orfamily who claims to be in distress.If there are damaged components—or even if there are not—consideroffering to replace your compo-nents with new ones. Then, if theleaks continue, the problem wasnot with your components.

PresentationAt the trial, the defendant should:11.. HHaavvee aann eexxppllaannaattiioonn.. Like the

general public community fromwhich they are drawn, juries likecertainty. They would rather decidebetween two explanations than tohear one party make a claim and theother merely to deny it. Even if yourcomponents did not cause the leakwhich led to the (alleged) mold, findand present evidence of how themoisture did get into the house.

22.. BBee ccoonnssiiddeerraattee.. In spite of

your skepticism about plaintiffs’claims, both as to liability anddamages, it is better not to beharsh, cruel or critical. Again,jurors as people do not like that.And the fact that you replaced thewindows for free, even in theabsence of a defect, will show youto be considerate, and therebyentitled to the benefit of the doubt.

33.. BBee tthhoorroouugghh.. Rather than ignor-ing or dismissing plaintiffs’ experts,be detailed and incisive in yourcross-examination. Demonstrate theabsence of any real science to sup-port the expert’s opinion. Challengethe testing, and the assumptions onwhich the conclusions are based.Present your own mold expert toshow the lack of credibility in theplaintiffs’ presentation.

44.. BBee sscciieennttiiffiicc.. Present medicaltestimony which dissects the plain-tiffs’ medical history. Show howgenetics and/or a history of smok-ing, asthma, working with andaround dust, chemicals, pets orother animals, and other sources oflung irritants are more likely thecause of plaintiffs’ complaints. m

M o l d L i t i g a t i o n

Verdict for the DefendantBeating the Mold Claim at Trial


Mold trials can bewon by the defendant,if proper preparationand a properpresentation aremade.


BOMACome visit us at Booth #1046

ConventionJune 24-27, 2006

at the Dallas Convention CenterDallas, Texas

ASSOCIATIONS

Responsible Solutions to Mold Coalition Launched

The Responsible Solutions toMold Coalition (RSMC) has beenformed as an industry-wide coali-tion to communicate accurateinformation to both the construc-tion industry and homeownersabout how to control moistureand thereby control mold in com-mercial and residential construc-tion. The coalition has beenformed through a grant from USGCorp., a Fortune 500 companythat manufactures a variety ofbuilding products.

RSMC will undertake the follow-ing activities:• Maintain a web site that will

serve as a clearinghouse forinformation on how to preventmold—www.responsiblemoldso-lutions.org;

• Publish a brochure with accurateinformation on the systemsapproach to mold control;

• Host industry forums in whichRSMC will bring together expertsto talk about effective new solu-tions to fighting mold;

• Participate in demonstrationprojects in which these solutionsare applied to fighting mold in avariety of settings;

• Publish articleson this impor-tant subject;and

• Participate inindustry tradeshows tobroaden the awareness ofRSMC and recruit additionalmembers.“While five years ago there was a

dearth of information on moistureand mold control, just the oppo-site is true today,” said FrankNunes of the InternationalInstitute for Lath and Plaster. “Ifanything, the industry suffersfrom too much information thatneeds to be evaluated.”

“Everyone connected with thebuilding industry has a stake in mak-ing sure effective solutions areembraced in solving this importantproblem,” said Robert Daniels,director Emeritus of the Tile Councilof North America. “First and fore-most, consumers and business own-ers will be more satisfied with theirhomes and buildings, builders canavoid expensive callbacks, warrantyclaims and even litigation, and thefinancial community can be assuredof the long-term security of theinvestment it underwrites.”

“The only way to control mois-ture and therefore mold is throughgood building design and construc-tion practices combined withongoing maintenance,” saidDonald Mueller, vice president ofresearch and development forUSG Corp.

➟ www.moldmag.com/infocenter m

N e w s


Crystal Clear Window Works(CCWW) of Nashville has announcedthat Braco Window Cleaning ServiceInc. of Nashville has concluded theacquisition of Fog B Gone, a CCWWauthorized franchise. This move willallow Braco to offer customers aunique moisture-removing servicefor windows.

Launched in January of 2005 byMarie and Frank Kopich, Fog BGone was the first American com-pany to sign a contract withCCWW. The process they use to purge moisture from between thermalpane windows restores a sealed unit’s clarity, protects against damageand permanently recovers insulating R-value, according to informationfrom CCWW.

“At Braco, we’ve become the largest window cleaning company in theTri-State by offering dependable service to customers,” said AndrewKreidenweis, Braco president. “Now, we can clean between thermalpane glass, while eliminating the most common moisture problems inwindows. We are very excited that we are the only company in theregion that will provide a ‘green’ solution to fixing foggy windows.”

Braco will be providing the service under the Fog B Gone brand. All tech-nicians are receiving extensive training at Crystal Clear Window Worksnew Nashville headquarters, and will be accredited with patented tech-niques needed to offer the service.

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Braco Window Cleaning Acquires Fog B Gone

Braco Window Cleaning Service will nowbe removing moisture from insulatingwindow units under the Fog B Gone brand.

RSMC aims to become a clearinghouse for

reliable information onmold for consumers

and constructionprofessionals.


COATINGS

Siamons International IntroducesConcrobium to the U.S. Market

Siamons International of Torontohas announced the U.S. availabilityof a new product tohelp combat moldproblems through-out homes, schools,offices and institu-tions. Concrobium MoldControl™ is a new EPA-registered productdesigned to offerprofessionals asafe and effectiveway to stop mold.Concrobium drieson surfaces to cre-ate an invisiblea n t i m i c r o b i a lshield that inhibitsand prevents mold and eliminatesmusty odors. Comprised entirely ofFDA-approved food additives,Concrobium Mold Control containsno bleach, ammonia, alcohol orother dangerous chemicals.

Concrobium is odorless, colorlessand is safe for use on almost any sur-face. It can even be fogged to treat anentire room or an inaccessiblespace. The company says the prod-uct can be used during constructionor renovation projects to makebuilding materials mold-resistant.

➟ www.moldmag.com/infocenter

SEALANTS

Kor-Chem Features Disinfectants in New Catalog

Klean Shield™, an EPA-registereddisinfectant and antimicrobial coat-ing from Atlanta-based Kor-ChemInc., is a ready-to-use,water-borne coating thatinhibits the growth ofbacteria, fungi, mold,mildew and algae byusing the latest tech-nology in antimicro-bial science.

The semi-perma-nent coating leavesan invisible micro-biostatic layer that

prevents deterioration, odor andstaining caused by microorgan-isms. According to company infor-mation, the product is effective atdisinfecting and preventing thegrowth of odor-producing organismsin HVAC systems. The coatingencapsulates and neutralizes micro-organisms already present on sub-strates and prevents the growth ofnew organisms. The non-toxic andsolvent-free formulation makes itenvironmentally safe. Klean Shieldis approved for use on air filters andair conditioners, carpets, roofingmaterials, stone and more.


Moistop Sealant Compatible with Most Materials

To prevent water leaks, windowsmust be installed with a sealant thatis compatible withthe entire windowsystem. MoistopSealant, from theFortifiber BuildingSystems Group™of Reno, Nev., is ap o l y u r e t h a n esealant that wasdesigned to meetthat goal. It iscompatible withvirtually all build-ing materials. Itdelivers strong adhesion, compatibil-ity, durability and moisture resist-ance to prevent water leaks andexpensive callbacks, according tothe company.

The company says the sealant istough enough to repair torn vaporbarriers, but smooth enough totake paint in visible applicationareas. In addition, it exceedsASTM C-920 and AAMA 808.3-92(Exterior Perimeter SealingCompounds) standards.


P r o d u c t P a r a d e

14 | May-July 06 Mold & Moisture Management

The Water Protection System (WPS) sill patentedbaffle system, from Pemko Manufacturing Inc. ofVentura, Calif., efficiently channels water awayfrom entryways. The sill surpassesADA/WDMA/CSA Standards and is war-rantied to remain leak-proof, rot-proofand maintenance-free, accordingto the company.

The sill’s patent-pending pressureequalization technology uses the wind’snatural pressure to redirect water before it cancollect and cause costly damage. As rainwater accumulates near the dooropening, it collects the water on the underside of the door. The wind’s nat-ural air pressure forces the water collected in the pan system under the sill,where specially designed redirection chambers route the water back out tothe front side of the sill and away from the doorway.


Pemko Protects Entryways from Water SILLS AND FLASHING

m

For more information, visit www.moldmag.com/infocenter For more information, visit www.moldmag.com/infocenter

TThe Chubb Group of InsuranceCompanies, based in Warren.N.J., has introduced a Personal

Flood Insurance plan to help home-owners protect their homes and pos-sessions. The policy provides broad-er coverage than what is currentlyavailable through the National FloodInsurance Program (NFIP), accord-ing to information from Chubb. Thenew policy is initially available inArizona, Colorado and Illinois, withintroduction in additional statesplanned throughout 2006.

The Chubb policy can provide upto $15 million in property coverage,including home and possessions,compared to a maximum of$250,000 for homes and $100,000for contents through the NFIP. Thepolicy also pays replacement costs torepair or rebuild a home and replaceits contents and $7,500 of automaticcoverage for additional living expens-es for displaced policyholders. Foradded protection, the policy offers anoption to purchase an additional

$100,000 of this coverage. Chubb has partnered with South

Pasadena, Calif.-based WNC FirstInsurance Services to manage itsnew flood insurance product.

In addition, Chubb has announcedthat it has established a preferredvendor network of restoration spe-cialists to help homeowners mitigateand repair damage to their homescaused by water. Paul DavisRestoration, headquartered inJacksonville, Fla., and DisasterKleenup International, based inBensenville, Ill., have been added tothe insurance provider’s vendor net-work. Upon request, Chubb mayrefer policyholders to either firm formitigation and restoration services.The firms, which have more than 70years of combined experience in mit-igation, restoration and reconstruc-tion services, warranty their work.

The mitigation firms can respondwithin hours after a water-damageclaim is filed. Certified technicianswork to stabilize the water damage

and immediately begin the dryingprocess to help reduce the severityof the loss. The goal is to minimizedisruption and quickly return thehome to its pre-loss condition.

IAQA Announces New InsuranceProgram for Mold Industry

The unified Indoor Air QualityAssociation (IAQA), AmericanIndoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQ)and Indoor Environmental StandardsOrganization (IESO) haveannounced a new insurance programfor their members. Partnered withLegends Environmental InsuranceServices and other insurance indus-try brokerages, the new insuranceprogram is now available to both con-sultants and contractors who meetassociation membership, trainingand certification prerequisites.

The program opens up access toinsurance for those members whoperform 100 percent mold work,according to information from IAQA.It includes general liability, pollutionliability (when applicable) and errorsand omissions insurance for consult-ants, remediators, restorers andinspectors. Insurance is availablefrom several different top A-ratedinsurance companies depending onthe kind of work the company per-forms and the type of coverage it isseeking. Certification through theAmIAQ is required for program eligi-bility, although current members ofIAQA and IESO may also be eligiblefor this program.

“Since having insurance is often aprerequisite to being able to get larg-er contracts, this new program shouldhelp open many business opportuni-ties for IAQA members that perhapshad previously struggled with obtain-ing appropriate and affordable insur-ance,” said Glenn Fellman, executivedirector of IAQA.


I n s u r a n c e W a t c h

MoistureFree Warranty Introduced Moisture Warranty

Corp. (MWC) of Charlotte,N.C., a moisture warrantycompany geared towardprotecting residentialproperties from moistureintrusion, has announceda new MoistureFreeWarranty for commercialproperties.

The commercial war-ranty, available for termsup to five years and $1million of coverage, isoffered nationwide for most exterior cladding systems, both new and existingconstruction. Backed by Western Pacific Mutual Insurance Company, a com-pany rated A+ by A.M. Best, the coverage is both renewable and transfer-able. According to information from MWC, warranty pricing varies based onthe associated risk of the property.


Chubb Introduces Personal FloodInsurance, Restorer Network


R e g u l a t i o n R e v i e w


IICRC S500 Standard Receives ANSI Approval

The Institute for Inspection,Cleaning and RestorationCertification (IICRC) has announcedthat the IICRC S500 Standard andReference Guide for ProfessionalWater Damage Restoration has beenaccredited by the American NationalStandards Institute (ANSI).According to the IICRC, the accept-ance of the S500 marks the firstANSI-accredited standard in thecleaning and restoration industry.

“We are pleased to complete thispart of the process. It wasn’t alwayseasy, but the benefit of increasing

the credibility and integrity of thecleaning and restoration industrymakes it well worth it in the end,”said Carey Vermeulen, president ofthe IICRC.

The IICRC S500 was written toprovide practical standards for waterdamage restoration and to provide afoundation for basic principles ofproper restoration practices, accord-ing to information from IICRC.According to information from theinstitute, additional sections havebeen added to the updated 2006 edi-tion of the S500 that have not beenincluded previously. These areasinclude: building and material sci-

ence, psychrometry by definition,psychrometry and the science of dry-ing, limitations complexities compli-cations and conflicts, structuralrestoration, HVAC, contents evalua-tion restoration and remediation,and large or catastrophic restoration.

According to Howard Wolf, S520chairperson, more than 200 volun-teers from the industry spent nearlythree years contributing to these newchapters and updating the documentin its entirety. Approximately 200people were involved in a peer reviewthat generated more than 1,600 com-ments, which were reviewed one-by-one by the document committee.Input was given by doctors of publichealth, medical doctors, PhDs, certi-fied industrial hygienists and manyothers, but primarily by water dam-age restoration professionals.

“The majority of people who usethis are going to be restorers, sowe thought the majority of peoplewho wrote it should be restorers,”said Wolf.

The IICRC S520 Standard andReference Guide for ProfessionalMold Remediation is now undergo-ing edits. Wolf expects that it will besubmitted to ANSI in November.

“It’s just now starting the gaunt-let of what S500 went through,”said Wolf. m

IICRC’s guidance for mold remediation iscurrently undergoing preparation for itssubmission to ANSI later this year.

Changes to ASHRAE Standard 62.1 Ventilation Rates Proposed

Ventilation requirements for high-rise residential buildings are among thethree changes being proposed to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004,Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality from the American Society ofHeating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

Addendum 62.1h would add requirements for high-rise residential buildingsto the standard’s ventilation rate table. These ventilation rates are somewhathigher than the residential rates included in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2,Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise ResidentialBuildings, according to Dennis Stanke, chair of the Standard 62.1 committee.

“Standard 62.2 bases its rates on the assumption that infiltration alwaysprovides some ventilation and on the requirement that each dwelling unitincludes operable windows for supplemental ventilation,” he said. “TheStandard 62.1 rates, on the other hand, assume that ventilation requirementsare independent of infiltration and operable windows.”

For example, the required mechanical ventilation rate for a two-bedroomapartment or condo could double compared to Standard 62.1-2001. Stankenoted that increased outside air rates can mean more outside air conditioningtons, especially in humid climates.

Addendum 62.1e would add an informative appendix that summarizes therequirements for documentation found throughout the standard.

“Reducing communication failures reduces building ventilation and indoorair quality problems,” Stanke said.

Addendum 62.1f would change the purpose and scope of the standard tomake them more consistent with its body. The standard retains its dual goalsof providing indoor air quality acceptable to human occupants that minimizesthe potential for adverse health effects.

Single-family houses or multiple-family buildings with three or fewer sto-ries, are now covered by Standard 62.2.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Mold Web Course Now Available from EPA

The U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) has devel-oped a new mold web course, avail-able at www.epa.gov/mold, whichcontains information on mold pre-vention and remediation. Thiscourse was designed primarily forenvironmental and public healthprofessionals, although it is also rec-ommended for building managers,custodians, remediators, contractorsand other professionals who respondto mold problems.

The course is based on EPA’s vol-untary guidance document Mold

Remediation in Schools andCommercial Buildings. It coversbasic issues related to moisture andmold control, and is illustrated withphotos showing moisture and moldsituations in the field. The knowledgetests are designed to highlight andreinforce important points in thecourse. It also includes an imagelibrary with photos and text availablefor educational purposes.

This course is free and available toeveryone. EPA will not provide a cer-tificate, certification, or any othercredential for viewing the course—itis for informational purposes only.However, other organizations maychoose to offer continuing educationcredits for completion of the course.

KUDOS

Atmospheric Glow Technologies Attacks Mold in Schools

Atmospheric Glow TechnologiesInc. of Knoxville, Tenn., donatedthe use of its PlasmaAire™ TriCleanMax to an East Tennessee schoolsystem that had been experiencingmold contamination.

PlasmaAire patented technology isdesigned to remove and destroy air-borne contaminants such as mold,bacteria and odor-causing volatileorganic compounds (VOCs).According to information from thecompany, the TriClean Max operateswithout releasing harmful levels ofozone into the room.

News

m18 | May-July 06 Mold & Moisture Management

Growth Opportunities Strong for Antimicrobial Coatings Markets Research by market consultant Frost and Sullivan has found that the U.S.

antimicrobial coatings markets earned revenues of $175.4 million in 2005,and is expected to reach $558.7 million by 2012. The company predictsthat the market will grow due to the increasing need to address microbialgrowth in healthcare facilities, as well as other end application markets such

as HVAC equipment markets and mold remediation markets.The need to arrest microbe growth in applications such as hospitals, day care cen-

ters and indoor environments positively impacts the growth of the antimicrobialcoatings market for the United States. The increasing knowledge and familiarityabout the advantages of antimicrobial coatings protection is also favoring thegrowth of the market, according to a news release from Frost and Sullivan.

“An increasing pressure to resist the hospital-acquired infection rates is expected toplay a crucial role in the growth of this market in the medical domain with its usagein wound dressings and catheters,” said research analyst Rajesh Varadarajan.“Antimicrobial coatings are increasingly seen to ensure good indoor air quality withtheir presence in HVAC equipments and in mold remediation.”

The report says that false claims made by some companies and reluctance to adoptnew technology by others could impede the growth of the antimicrobial coatings mar-ket. The market for antimicrobials also suffers from lack of awareness among end usersof benefits associated with antimicrobial coatings.

The consultant suggests that antimicrobial coatings suppliers undertake initiatives toeducate and spread awareness about the product as well its benefits. Companies will haveto focus on research and development activities to create competitive products which

would, in turn, boost market growth and eliminate product differentiation. The study suggests antimicrobial coating sup-pliers should offer extended product lines that provide a broad-spectrum application reach in healthcare facilities.

A brochure on the subject is available from Frost and Sullivan.


INDUSTRY NEWSAntimicrobial CoatingsMarkets Revenues Forecast2005 2012 $175.4 million $558.7 million Source: Frost and Sullivan

The need for antimicrobialcoatings in healthcare facilitiesis expected to lead to a strongmarket for the product.

Once the surface mold wasremoved, “we simply rolled theTriClean into the room and turnedit on,” said Ron Domitrovic, anAGT engineer. AGT is having the airquality independently tested beforeand after the use of its PlasmaAireproduct.

COMPANY NEWS

PDG Environmental Awarded $8.6 Million in New Contracts

PDG Environmental Inc., head-quartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., aprovider of environmental remedia-tion and specialty contracting serv-ices, has announced that it hasbeen awarded a number of con-tracts worth, in aggregate, $8.6 mil-lion for mold remediation, recon-struction, asbestos abatement andrelated services in its Pittsburgh,Los Angeles, Dallas and Tampaoffices. The largest of the projects,for $1.8 million, is for restoration ofa federal government facility in NewOrleans damaged by HurricaneKatrina. The projects, includingindustrial sites, apartment com-plexes, government facilities andinstitutions of higher learning areexpected to be completed duringthe second and third quarters of fis-cal 2006. m

m May-July 06 | 19www.moldmag.com

The PlasmaAire TriClean Max was used tolower mold levels in this classroom atValley View Elementary.

Cleaner Air for aHealthier

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“For years we had problems with mold, mildew and musty smellsin our church. Once the EZ Breathe was installed, the mold andmildew was gone, the air smelled fresh. Several of our memberswith allergies were no longer bothered with symptoms. EZ Breathehas definitely improved the air quality in our church...thank you!”

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DRY ICE SYSTEMS

New Dry Ice Equipment Introduced Chicago-based Triventek has introduced the new

Triblast-2 dry ice blaster for mold remediation. The Triblast-2 allows users to vary the dry ice power

from 65 to 265 pounds per hour with its exchangeableairlock plates.According toinformation fromthe company, theunit’s single hosedesign concen-trates cleaningpower. It is sup-plemented by anew range of noz-zles designed tocater to the facto-ry engineer whohas limited com-pressed air vol-ume available. A

choice of blast hoses is offered in addition to the stan-dard silicone.

The dry ice blasting equipment features a fully-enclosed, robust stainless steel case. A large, insulatedhopper helps to minimize refill time. It also features asimplified control panel and conveniently small sizeand weight.

The blaster can use a range of pellets from 0.07 to0.16 inches, including the industry-standard 0.12-inchcleaning pellet.

Larger users of dry ice can make their own dry iceon site using the company’s Pelletizer, which is capa-ble of producing 100 pounds per hour when andwhere it’s wanted.


THERMAL CAMERAS

IR Camera Has Mold in its Sights Plymouth, Minn.-

based Infrared Solutions’IR-InSight® XS and XST(Extra Sensitive) ruggedand affordable portablethermal imagers detectthe smallest tempera-ture variations andinstantly locate leaksources in walls, roofsand flashing, withoutcutting. According to thecompany, they are thefirst infrared camerasbuilt specifically for thebuilding sciences industry.

These one-button “point and shoot” cameras storeup to 150 images, feature a 30-bit color display andhave the highest thermal sensitivity of any IR camerasin its class, according to the company. The XST modelalso offers on-screen center point radiometry. Bothmodels include SightView™ Pro software for analyzingimages and generating professional reports.


Products

m20 | May-July 06 Mold & Moisture Management

SOFTWARE

New Software Tool Available from Onset Onset Computer Corp. of Bourne, Mass., a suppli-

er of battery-powered data loggers, has introduced anew software tool designed to make it quick andeasy for water damage, restoration and mold profes-sionals to calculate Grains Per Pound or the mass ofmoisture contained within the air.

The new Grains Per Pound Assistant, which is aplug-in software module to Onset’s HOBOware®software, makes it easy for users to document build-ing dry-down and restoration projects by convertingtemperature and relative humidity data collectedwith HOBO® data loggers into Grains Per Pound data.According to information from the company, the

converted data can then be submitted to insurancecompanies to validate the dry-down process.


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TEST EQUIPMENT

New Psychrometer Series Available from ExtechExtech Instruments, a supplier of test and measure-

ment equipment for the industrial market-place, has announced the availability of its

new series of psychrometers for dif-ferential measurements. The series

includes 3 models: RH300, RH350 and RH401. Designed for HVAC/R, mold prevention/remediation

and plant maintenance applications, the psychrometersfeature simultaneous viewing of wet bulb, dew point, rel-ative humidity and air temperature. Model RH401 incor-porates a non-contact infrared thermometer to calculatethe surface temperature-dew point differential.

Each psychrometer features a large backlit LCD toprovide an easily readable display of switchable temper-ature units (Fahrenheit or Centigrade) with 0.1-degreeresolution. In addition, minimum, maximum and aver-age readings—with date and time—can be easilyrecalled on the LCD. Each psychrometer includes pro-tected sensors and built-in memory that can store up to99 data points. All meters can also be field-calibratedusing kit-supplied calibration bottles. A built-in RS-232interface utilizing Windows® Hyperterminal softwareallows downloading data to a PC for subsequent analysis.


Predator 1200 Unleashed by Abatement Technologies Suwanee, Ga.-based Abatement Technologies has

introduced its newest PAS technology, the Predator 1200.The new, portable air scrubber features 4-speed oper-

ation with 1,000 CFM peak airflow and alow amperage draw. According toinformation from the company, thelightweight machine’s rotationalmolded cabinet is virtually inde-structible and comes with a life-time warranty. In addition, the cab-inet material is impregnated withan EPA-registered microbialgrowth inhibitor. Up to 3 unitscan be daisy-chained on one115-volt/15-amp circuit, and itcan be used for vertical or hori-zontal operation.


m May-July 06 | 21www.moldmag.com

CASSETTES

Allegro Industries Offers Multi-Mold™ CassetteThe M2 Multi-Mold cassette

from Allegro Industries of GardenGrove, Calif., is a patent-pending,two-sided disposable air samplingcassette for indoor air quality sam-pling and analysis. The cassetteprovides three sampling optionsfor field personnel: each cassettecan be used to collect two differ-ent samples, two identical samplesconcurrently or one sample whileusing the other side as a control.

The M2 cassette is also the veryfirst of its kind for laboratory per-

sonnel. It provides one-time prepa-ration for two samples, pre-printedtraverse marks on the collectionside for standardized counting, andside-by-side comparison of thesamples under the microscope.

Operating in accordance withfluid/air dynamic principals, theM2 utilizes standard pump andcalibration equipment. The cas-sette can be used for home orcommercial inspection andrestoration and remediation.


Remediation


INSULATED CONCRETE FORMSLAB CONFIRMS OWENSCORNING ICF RESISTS MOLD

Owens Corning, headquarteredin Toledo, Ohio, has introduced itsmold-resistant Fold-Form® insulat-ing concrete form (ICF).

The Fold-Form ICF sys-tem is made of interlockingform blocks featuring high-grade expanded polystyreneinsulation. Theblocks are pre-assembled withFold-Form’s fold-ing spacer ties.Universal cornerkits provide forquick assembly ofcorners. Forms areavailable to buildconcrete walls from4 inches to 16 inch-

FLOORINGDURA-MED™ FLOORINGPROVIDES BARRIER TO MOLD

American Biltrite, a manufac-turer of commercial and residen-tial flooring, has introduced itsDura-MED flooring product for thehealthcare industry as a mold-resistant barrier.

According to information fromthe company Dura-MED is heat-and pressure-cured with sulfur tocreate a dense, even surface. Thistreatment allows the product torepel dirt and stains, and builds animpermeable barrier to mold andmildew, liquid contaminates andbacteria.

The product’s rubber compo-nent absorbs noise to removeunwanted distractions; Dura-

Deta i l ing Mold -F ree Des ignsDeta i l ing Mold -F ree Des igns

➧Megan Headley is the editor of Mold andMoisture Management. Samantha Carpenteris a contributing editor.

Architects carry a lot ofresponsibility for creatinga building, but not alldesign professionals are

convinced they carry the responsi-bility for keeping moisture out oftheir structures.

Steve Norwood, AIA, chief archi-tect for the Colorado office of IanMackinlay Architecture, does a lotof consulting about building enve-lope and, as a consequence, sees alot of mold problems that perhapscould have been prevented. He’snot convinced that most architectsknow that mold problems often canoccur as a result of a design flaw.

“I would say most architects per-ceive it as a construction defectproblem,” he says.

Sometimes, he adds, the buildingowner isn’t aware of the potentialfor moisture intrusion problems, so

he or she won’t retain an architectto provide the full services that willhelp prevent a moisture problem ata later date.

“A lot of times … certain designelements of the building are notaddressed,” Norwood says.

Larry Black, an architect, devel-oper and builder with Black,Corley & Owens of Benton, Ark.,adds that builders and architectsboth carry responsibility for keep-ing buildings dry.

“There can be problems with thedesign that can contribute to moldand there can be problems on theconstruction site that can con-tribute to it,” says Black.

Part of the problem, accordingto William B. Rose, a researcharchitect at the Building ResearchCouncil-School of Architecture,University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is that students ofarchitecture are not taught specif-

continued on page 24

ARCHITECTS ON ALERT

“They kind of learn everythingabout a building except for the water stuff and that’s just the way it’s taught.”

—William B. Rose


SPECIAL PRODUCTS SECTION FOR ARCHITECTSA dry design is critical, but specifying moisture- and mold-resistant products

can also help keep the rain on the outside of a building where it belongs. Beloware just some of the products that may help keep your designs dry.

es thick, and each full block is 1-foot high and 4 feet wide.

The smooth concrete wallinsures maximum structuralstrength and can accommodate allcodes for steel reinforcing. Uniquehardware package

allow installers to assemble a widevariety of shapes including curvedwalls, brick ledges and offsets.

According to information fromthe company, a national laborato-ry has confirmed that the expand-ed polystyrene insulation in itsFold-Form insulating concreteform (ICF) does not support thegrowth of Aspergillus versicolor,Aspergillus niger and Stachybotryschartarum, common strains ofhousehold mold.


DEHUMIDIFIERE-Z BREATH CIRCULATESHEALTHY INDOOR AIR

EZ Breathe of Macedonia, Ohio, isoffering a new hybrid ventilationtechnology, the E-Z Breathe™ ven-tilation system.

The E-Z Breathe unit functionsas a high-end dehumidifier and air

purifier. According to the compa-ny, it expels stale, polluted air andprovides a whole-house airexchange six to 10 times each day.Unlike most dehumidifiers that re-circulate the same air, the E-ZBreathe unit replenishes the homewith dry, clean air on a continuousbasis. According to the company,the product features maintenance-free convenience and a low operat-ing cost.

Three installation options areavailable for a custom fit: in slabsand crawlspaces, in unfinishedbasement walls or even under dry-wall. The unit is said to be quiet,efficient and suitable for indoorspaces ranging from a small crawl-space to a 7,000-square-foot homeor building.



MED’s pattern imitates carpet tocreate a familiar comforting set-ting; its homogenous surfaceallows rehabilitating patients tosafely move their feet while it alsoprovides grip for stability; and itscolor palette features soothingorganic tones to stimulate relax-ation. The product also features aclay filler that suppresses smokeand flame development.

The compound forms a sensitivefloor base for healthcare personnelto stand comfortably for extendedperiods of time as well as creates aquiet work environment by eliminat-ing excess noise.



ically how to prevent moistureintrusion.

“They kind of learn everythingabout a building except for thewater stuff and that’s just the wayit’s taught,” says Rose.

He adds, “For one thing, archi-tects understand what they candraw. Water is perfectly white in itsstate as snow, it’s perfectly trans-parent as water and it’s perfectlyinvisible in its vapor state. So theydon’t know how to draw it.”

And according to Rose, it’s unlike-ly that students of architecture willbegin focusing on water intrusion aspart of their curriculum.

“A [potential] court case will rideon whether what the architects did atthe design stage is what other archi-tects in their area do,” says Rose.“Then the contractor is obliged to dolegally what the architect describesin the construction documents. Ifthey deviate from that … they’re atrisk themselves. If a leak occurs inthe building the question will beasked of the builder ‘did you complywith the drawings?’”

TTrroouubbllee AArreeaass Whether they design to protect

against moisture or not, there aresome areas where architects canexpect to see moisture problemsand should take care.

One critical design detail whereNorwood sees numerous problemsis at the confined rake edge, wherethe roof meets the building andslopes down toward the eaves.Norwood explains that the kick-outflashing is supposed to direct wateraway from the wall. Another majorproblem area he sees is at the sealsaround windows.

“In terms of the design, it’s reallywhere all the joints are,” he says.

The biggest problem area for Roseis a house’s crawlspace.

“Almost all the excessive wet-ness I’ve seen in houses has been

on crawlspaces,” says Rose.Black agrees. “Crawlspaces have problems due

to too much moisture getting intothem and not enough ventilationbeing provided. That is an area thathas been debated for a while.”

He says that the studies he hasread have indicated that in theSouth, it’s better to seal the crawl-space, insulate the perimeter andoffer some conditioning in the space.

“I have one concern about that,”Black says. “Over the years, we’veencountered when a crawlspace is inthe side of the hill, you can get a lotof moisture coming up from theground. I have some reservationsabout whether it’s a good idea to sealthe crawlspace in those situations.”

PPrroodduucctt PPrrootteeccttiioonnCan moisture-resistant products

help architects keep the water out? “I think they can be helpful,”

Norwood admits. He adds, “Thereal key is controlling water in itsvarious forms.”

“In my opinion, moisture man-agement isn’t a product selectionproblem,” says Rose.

But he is quick to add that if an

architect is thinking about prevent-ing moisture intrusion at the productselection stage, there’s trouble ahead.

“You’re really managing mois-ture,” says Rose. “If you’re sayinghere’s where the water is and here’swhere I want it to go and now I’mgoing to put it there, the word ‘bar-rier’ doesn’t come in. We’re not[providing a] defense.”

Maybe water-resistant productsshouldn’t be relied upon to correct awater intrusion problem, but thereare products that some architectssee as potential problems. For bothNorwood and Black, exterior insula-tion and finish systems (EIFS) areamong the troublemakers.

“I would say the most severe situ-ations we come across are withEIFS,” says Norwood.

He says the problems start whenEIFS is put on wood frame buildings.

“The water gets behind the EIFSand the building can’t dry outbecause it’s not as permeable.”

“There have been some problemsnationwide with that, and they arebeing addressed by the manufactur-ers,” Black says. “The problem has


AIA PreviewThe Architects Institute of America (AIA) will be holding its 2006

National Convention and Design Exposition June 8-10 in Los Angeles.The convention will offer attendees a chance to learn about productsand designs available to make more mold-resistant buildings. Morethan 750 companies are participating in this year’s expo, with morethan 195,000 square feet of new products, technology and services forthe entire building community.

Attendees should also make plans to attend the seminars, particular-ly Friday afternoon’s (4:00-5:30 p.m.) session “Preventing Moisture inBuilding Envelopes,” presented by Joseph J. Godfryt, AIA, and RichardA. Weber, SE, of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. Several ses-sions on all three days will discuss potential risks that architects willface and how to be prepared to meet them.

Show HoursThursday, June 8 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.Friday, June 9 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.Saturday, June 10 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

ARCHITECTS ON ALERT continued


DOORS AND WINDOWSEGP TURNS ON THE HEAT

Engineered Glass Products (EGP)of Chicago has introduced itsThermique™ Hot Glass Technology™to architectural windows, which thecompany sayscould help preventcondensation.

Heated glasstowel warmers andheated shelves forfood service indus-tries were amongthe first commer-cial products totake advantage ofThermique tech-nology, but thecompany is nowadapting the tech-nology for archi-tectural windows.According to EGPchief executiveofficer Mike Hobbs,the comfort factorprovided by the heated windows isits biggest advantage right now, butthe company is researching addi-tional benefits—including the

potential for energy savings and theprevention of condensation andmold growth.

The heat in the glass is generatedby a transparent metal oxide coatingput onto the glass during fabrication.

The coating isconnected tospec i f i ca l l ydesigned bussbars withinthe laminatedor insulatingunit, whichare in turnwired to thewall-mountedT h e r m i q u ec o n t r o l l e r .When the con-troller pro-vides electrici-ty, the coatingheats up uni-formly acrossthe entireglass surface.

At full power, the heated windowsreach a uniform temperature of 105°Fahrenheit.


LIBERTY TWINTILT DOUBLE-HUNGFEATURES DESIGN ENHANCEMENTS

Pollard Windows Inc. ofBurlington, Ontario, has released tothe U.S. market its enhanced

second-generation

Liberty Twintiltdouble-hung window with improve-ments designed to elevate perform-ance, reliability, functionality andbeauty.

Suitable for both new constructionand renovation projects, the LibertyTwintilt double-hung window workson traditional and contemporaryhomes. Features of the designinclude a new watershed sill that aidsin repelling moisture away from theframe; a split-finish jamb liner thatcomplements exterior color and inte-rior finish; a color-matched screenbar; upgraded durable color-matchedmetal tilt latches and locks; and alow-profile, quiet sash lock. A triple-seal pile weather-strip replaces therubber strips for an ultra-smooth


PRODUCTS FOR ARCHITECTS continued

HVAC LENNOX INTRODUCES WHOLE-HOUSE DEHUMIDIFICATION SYSTEM

Responding to increasing consumerdemand for whole-house solutions to com-mon challenges such as mold, mildew, dustmites and bacteria, Lennox Industries ofRichardson, Texas, has introducedHumiditrol®, a fully integrated whole-housedehumidification system.

The Humiditrol whole-home dehumidifiersystem installs in the home’s existing duct system, eliminating the need forsubstantial space. Designed to operate with the company’s SignatureStat™thermostat, and easily integrated with new Lennox®-brand cooling prod-ucts using environmentally friendly R410A refrigerant and any variable-speed Lennox furnace or air handler, Humiditrol effectively and efficientlycontrols humidity levels throughout the home. It is capable of removing asmuch as three times more moisture than conventional dehumidifiers, whileconsuming less energy and without negatively impacting temperature,according to information from the company.


ARCHITECTS ON ALERT continued


gliding operation that makes thewindow easy to lift and tilt for venti-lation or cleaning. The glazing cavitywas increased in depth to furtherreduce condensation and offer ener-gy efficiency.


TECTON INTRODUCESFIBERGLASS ENTRY DOOR

Tecton Products LLC introducedwhat it says is the first residentialfiberglass entry door framing sys-tem. Tecton has designed a mold-resistant, maintenance-free, cleanline doorframe that it says comple-

ments a wide array of door slabs. “Thanks to our patented Durion

acrylic finish and our structuralfiberglass core, these doorframeswill retain the crisp look of freshlypainted wood for years to come,”says president John Jambois.

According to information from thecompany, the frame is resistant tomold and insects, and it won’t warpsince fiberglass is temperature stable.


been when there is not a system forremoving moisture that gets behindthe system.”

“There were some problemswith residential construction,”says Kent Stumpe, director ofcommunications for EIFS manu-facturer Degussa Wall SystemsInc. “Our company requires mois-ture drainage and management inthe systems that we use.”

Stumpe added, “There werenever that many problems withcommercial construction becausethere’s a lot more jobsite manage-ment, and an architect involved.”

According to Stumpe, before EIFSwater intrusion problems were noted,the company had offered a watermanagement system but hadn’tfound much interest. They now offerten “water management EIFS” aswell as the traditional “barrier EIFS.”

Black adds, “All of the manufac-turers have developed systems thatprovide a drainage mechanism.”

Rose sees challenges comingfrom the use of vapor barriers.

“We’re learning that the wateractually comes from the outsideand the vapor barrier is a terriblething,” he says.

“If I’ve got polyethylene on theinside of the building and I pour abucket of water into the cavity,then it can’t dry to the inside, itcan only dry to the outside,” Roseexplains. “You say, ‘well we’re notsloshing buckets of water into ourbuilding cavities,’ but that begs thequestion, what is the design quan-tity of water from the outside thatgets into our building cavities?”

He gives two answers to thatquestion: “either zero or non-zero.”

“If you assume that all exteriorrainwater management is perfect …then you can continue to believethat the moisture load comes fromthe inside of the building. But weknow that the water that causes theproblem comes from the outside of

the building so maybe we need to beyanking this polyethylene so thebuildings can dry out,” says Rose.

“Moisture from the outside getsinto a wall cavity and the vaporretarder traps it, leading to prob-lems,” says Tom Newton ofCertainTeed.

This is a problem the manufac-turer has heard before, leading tonew designs from manufacturers,allowing moisture to escape.

“That’s why we introducedMemBrain, to reduce the problemscaused by using polyethylene as avapor retarder,” says Newton.“MemBrain changes its perm ratingallowing the moisture to escape tothe inside where the home’s heatingand cooling system can handle it.”

Black feels that more manufac-turers are responding to moisture-intrusion problems with attentionto installation.

“They [manufacturers] havetightened up on their requirementsin the field. They are making surethat windows and doors have prop-er sealants and flashings areinstalled properly,” says Black.

FFiinnddiinngg AA WWaayy OOuutt ffoorr WWaatteerrFor architects, the way to pre-

vent moisture intrusion may be tomanage the water by directing itwhere it is wanted—away from theinterior of the building.

“The issue is really keeping thewater out and managing watervapor,” says Norwood.

“What I encourage architects todo is to 1) decide where the water issupposed to go and 2) put it there.And architects, they don’t do thatand they won’t do that; nobodywants to say here’s where the watershould go and that’s too bad. Wereally need to be making somedesign decisions about water,” saysRose. “Up till now water has beenthought of as a nuisance and thathas to change.”


PANELSNICHIHA “FINISHES” ITS FIBER CEMENT PANELS

Nichiha, based in the U.S. inNorcross, Ga., is now offering a 15-year limited warranty on the facto-

ry applied finish on itsfiber cement panels.

With the addition ofthe new finish the

moisture-, rot- andtermite-resistant

and low-mainte-nance fiber

cement sid-ing panels

are nowguaran-

teed tonot peel,bl isteror wrin-

kle, andnot lose a sig-

nificant amountof the product’s

original color, pat-tern or appearance.Users can choose from a

variety of textures withseven stone, three brick and two lappanel options in more than 25 colors.The panels can be installed over anynumber of substrates, including stan-dard wood framing, brick, mason and

concrete, insulated panels or metalframing. Panels are ship lapped onfour sides so no sealant or caulk isnecessary, and installed using thecompany’s clip installation system.The system creates a pocket of air

between the panels and the sub-strate, reducing the potential formoisture build-up. No exposed fas-teners means a clean, attractive lookfor any application.


PRODUCTS FOR ARCHITECTS continued

GYPSUMHUMITEK KEEPS INTERIORS DRY

Chicago-based United States Gypsum Co.’s SHEETROCK® BrandHUMITEK® gypsum panels utilize a proprietary technology that its manu-facturer says keeps them moisture- and mold-resistant from front to back.The HUMITEK prod-uct line is designedspecifically for use ininterior areas. Thepanels featuretapered edges foreasy finishing, theyscore and snap quick-ly, and they requireno special handling orinstallation proce-dures. In addition,they are UL classifiedfor fire resistance(Type X), surfaceburning characteris-tics and non-com-bustibility. They areavailable in ½- and5/8-inch thicknessesand in 8-, 10- and 12-foot lengths.


CEILINGPARKLAND PLASTICS INTRODUCES SPECTRATILE™

Parkland Plastics of Middlebury, Ind., has introducedSpectraTile as a completely waterproof lay-in ceiling tileguaranteed to never be stained by water. Extruded fromfoam PVC, these plastic panels eliminatethe problems traditionalfiber-based ceilingtiles have withwater absorption,mold, crumblingand replacementissues, accordingto a company newsrelease. The compa-ny boasts that the

tiles will never discolor, swell, bow or rot and the non-porous surface will not harbor bacteria. In addition it canbe easily washed or wiped clean.

In addition to being Class A flame spread, the compa-ny asserts that SpectraTile meets the requirements of the

National Fire Protection Agency’s Life Safety Code. The white waterproofceiling panels areavailable in threeembossed designs or asimple, smooth sur-face. The 2-by-2-footor 2-by-4-foot tiles fitinto most grid systems.



hat makes somehotels susceptible tomold growth? Themethod and qualityof construction, the

choice of building envelope mate-rials and HVAC system, mainte-nance practices and the hotel’slocation or climatic region—can allplay a roll. Keep in mind that moldgrowth is the result of a waterproblem. The mold problem can-not be solved until the water prob-lem is identified and corrected.

The mold question may be bestanswered by describing the analyti-cal process of identifying thesources of moisture and moldgrowth in hotels.

Check-in Investigation Mold growth in hotels generally

can be analyzed by collecting datafrom three sources: a history ofcomplaints and water problems; avisual inspection of the hotel prem-ises; and measurements of the

moisture levels of building surfacesas well as relative humidity.

Guest complaints and mainte-nance history can provide valuableinsight into past moisture problems,such as flooding, leaking or othermoisture intrusion. Interview hotelassociates or ask to review the hotelrecords for this information.

Next, conduct a walk-aroundphysical inspection of the premises,looking for visible mold growth,active leaks, damp surfaces, stainingor other evidence of water damage.Musty odors or the odor of decaywill also signal the presence of mold.

Take moisture measurements oninterior surfaces using a moisturemeter. This usually is done in a“seek and measure” procedure. Amoisture meter will provide relativemeasurements that can be used tomap out the wet areas on surfacesthroughout the hotel.

Also, measure the relative humid-ity. High relative humidity can sup-port mold growth and may be indica-tive of a hidden moisture problem.Note the pressure differentials to seeif humid outside air is being driveninto the exterior wall cavities.

When taking moisture measure-ments, be aware that seasonalitycan affect moisture readings.Measurement problems can occur insummer in moderate or northern cli-mates when temperatures andhumidity are high. If hot, humid out-side air can enter wall cavities, it cancause mold growth. If your investiga-tion must be done during the winter,conditions may be milder and drieroutside than when the problem firstbegan, causing the wet area to dry

and the mold to become dormant.This would indicate that humidityand air filtration are the causes ofthe moisture problems.

If moisture measurements arenot helpful, you must rely on visiblesigns of mold and water damage todetermine the problem areas.

Typical Problem AreasBuilding envelope construction

varies in the different climaticregions, so there are many differenttypes of wall construction. For pur-poses of this article, a wall will typ-ically be considered to be made upof several components, including aweather barrier (or rain screen),drainage space, drainage plane, airbarrier and vapor retarder. Each ofthese can become a trouble area.

The following checklist of itemsreflects the process of identifyingthe sources of moisture and moldgrowth in hotels. This type of inves-tigation would be typical for anyhotel in any climatic region.

PPrroobblleemm 11:: DDeeffeeccttiivvee rraaiinn ssccrreeeenn..The rain screen needs to stop thebulk of water impacting the build-ing wall during rain storms. Lookfor failed caulking, holes or cracksin the rain screen. Water problemscan result when architects rely onhigh performance caulking com-pound to keep buildings dry, ratherthan on proper detailing. Correctinstallation of caulk is frequently aproblem in new construction andmaintenance work. Also check forwindow leaks and improper flashingaround doors and windows.

PPrroobblleemm 22:: NNoo ddrraaiinnaaggee ppllaannee.. Awall should have a drainage plane to

What Makes Some HotelsSusceptible to Mold Growth?

➧Roger Morse, AIA, is the president andtechnical director of Morse ZehnterAssociates, an architectural engineering andenvironmental consulting firm. GordonBrandon is senior project manager of MorseZehnter Associates.

Unwanted GuestUnwanted Guest

W


intercept water that gets throughthe rain screen and a drainage spaceto allow the water to run down tothe flashing. The flashing, in turn,carries the water back to the exteri-or of the wall. If there is no water-resistant layer for the drainageplane, water will be able to enter thewall assembly. If the water cannotdrain out—such as through weepholes in brick construction—it maypool inside the wall and cause a wetcondition at the base of the wall.Visible efflorescence on brickworkis one sign of this problem.

PPrroobblleemm 33:: NNoo aaiirr bbaarrrriieerr.. Hot,humid air must be kept out of thewall assembly. This is accomplishedwith an air barrier. There should bean air barrier on both the insideand outside of an exterior wall.Discontinuities in the air barrier,such as gaps between sheets of gyp-sum sheathing, will also allow mois-ture-laden air into the wall assembly.

PPrroobblleemm 44:: UUnniinntteennddeedd vveennttiillaattiioonn..Pathways through the building enve-lope that allow unconditioned out-side air into the building or intobuilding assemblies are referred toas unintended ventilation. An exam-ple of this is air passage through holesin an air barrier being drawn into awall around a bathroom. The bath-room may be at a negative pressuredue to its exhaust fan. The hot,humid air admitted through thisunintended ventilation path impactsthe inside surfaces of the wall cavi-ty that have been cooled by the airconditioning. This results in con-densation and moisture inside thewall cavity and, eventually, moldgrowth. Holes for wiring or the open

tops of stud walls, combined withinadequate air barriers, can be thecause of unintended ventilation.

PPrroobblleemm 55:: MMiissppllaacceedd vvaappoorrrreettaarrddeerr.. Materials that retard thefree flow of water vapor through awall can lead to problems. The rule ofthumb is that a vapor retarder shouldbe located onthe warmside of thewall. Thisputs it on theinside of thewall in Nor-thern areasand on theoutside of thewall in Southern areas of the coun-try. The problem is that, for muchof the country, the warm and coolsides of the wall change from sum-mer to winter. A typical problemencountered in the South is theuse of vinyl wall covering, whichtraps water vapor in the mold foodof the wallpaper paste and thepaper face on drywall.

PPrroobblleemm 66:: AAiirr ccoonnddiittiioonniinngg uunniitt.. Ifthe air conditioning unit chills wallsurfaces below the dew point, mois-ture will develop, typically inside thewall cavity.

PPrroobblleemm 77:: EExxhhaauusstt ffaannss.. Manytimes exhaust fans in hotels run allthe time, while air conditioning isoperating only when the room isoccupied. This draws hot humid airinto the room during unoccupiedperiods. The result is that all surfacesand finishes become moisture satu-rated. When the air conditioningcomes on, the humid air is chilledand condensation forms, further wet-

ting these surfaces. PPrroobblleemm 88:: VVeennttiillaattiioonn ooff hhaallll--

wwaayyss.. Hallways in hotels are fre-quently ventilated with outside air.This air is drawn into the guestrooms by the operating bathroomexhaust fans. This can result invery moist conditions and subjects

the corridorwalls to thesame air flowand vapordrive prob-lems experi-enced by exte-rior walls. Thedifference isthat these

interior walls typically are con-structed simply of drywall and arevery susceptible to moisture dam-age and mold growth. This situationcan only be corrected by condition-ing the air that is used to ventilatethe hallway.

ConclusionIdentifying the causes of mold

growth in hotels can be a challengingtask. Having conducted the inspec-tion and analysis, the investigatorwill be able to determine the rootcauses of the moisture problems thatcaused the mold to flourish and rec-ommend corrective actions.

If the hotel has experienced sig-nificant mold growth, its continuedoperation (not to mention its repu-tation) may have already beenjeopardized. Addressing the rootcauses of mold growth can preventmold from reoccurring and allowthe hotel to re-achieve healthyoccupancy levels. m

Without a vapor barrier on the exterior of the wall, the area behindvinyl wallcoverings can become a favorite hiding place for mold.

A moisture meter can be used to map out wet wall areas; a firststep toward mapping out a hotel’s solution to moisture problems.

“When taking moisturemeasurements, be aware

that seasonality can affectmoisture readings.”


SSome people might say thatthe use of dry ice as acleaning tool is a work inprogress. It has beenevolving since the 1970s

when Lockheed Martin coatings engi-neer Calvin Fong discovered thatpropelling pellets of frozen carbondioxide—which warms up from -109° to about -78° Fahrenheit as itstrikes a surface—at aircraft could bean efficient way to strip primer.

Today dry ice blasting hasbecome another tool for theremoval of mold. While its advan-tages—notably its speed, thor-oughness and ability to reach diffi-cult-to-access areas—are persua-sive, the technology requires a bigcommitment from interestedremediators.

Remediation on Ice For remediators already familiar

with sandblasting or soda blasting,dry ice blasting isn’t much different.

“I’ve looked into sponge blasting,dry ice, soda and lots of differentmethods, and have always beenintrigued by dry ice,” says GaryGilman, chief executive officer ofSteamMaster Carpet Cleaning andRestoration Inc. of Minturn, Colo.“We started thinking about adaptingthe dry ice to mold remediation towork in these confined areas whereit was difficult to work with mediaresidue [from soda blasting].”

So how exactly does it work? According to information from

equipment manufacturer RSGTechnologies of Dover, N.H., thereare three basic steps that make iceeffective in cleaning mold. The firstis energy transfer, which describeshow the dry ice pellets are propelled

out of a blasting gun against the con-taminated surface, knocking off themold. It’s the impact that does mostof the work, according to RSG.

Next comes what RSG calls themicro-thermal shock. According tothe company, the temperature ofthe pellets is so low when they hitthe surface, the contaminants crackand explode away from the surface.

“The temperature between thecontaminate and the substrate issuch that the contaminant becomescolder more quickly than the sub-strate underneath it, so once thedry ice cracks through the top ofthe contaminant it expands ... andpulls the contaminant off with it,”explains Tina Moore, marketingassistant for Cold Jet.

The third step that RSG describesis gas pressure. Once the pellet hitsthe surface, it immediately explodes.As the pellet warms it converts to acarbon dioxide gas, which expandsrapidly underneath the contaminantsurface, forcing the contaminant offfrom behind, according to RSG.

“It cleans the surface withoutdamaging the wood,” says MortenLarsen, vice president of sales andmarketing for Triventek, a blastingequipment manufacturer headquar-tered in the U.S. in Chicago.

The Big InvestmentAccording to long-time blasters,

there’s been a lot to learn about dryice blasting and a lot of room forerror. They agree that just gettingstarted is a major investment.

The basic necessary componentis the dry ice blasting assembly, butit’s just the beginning of what’srequired to do the job.

“It’s very expensive getting

geared up ... the different nozzlescan cost $1,500 to $2,000 alone,”says Gilman.

“It really is a major investment,”agrees Matthew Sanders, presidentand founder of Ecostar Inc. ofNorthridge, Calif.

There are two basic blastingassemblies available: the singlehose and dual hose systems.According to Moore, the single hosesystem is most suitable for the moldremediation market because itallows the ice to travel longer dis-tances than the dual hose system.Contractors can work more than100 feet away from the machine.

Sanders, who uses machinery fromRSG, points out there are differenttypes of hoses available. The firsthose provided by RSG wasmetal—and heavy. Sanders says thatthe company has since switched to alightweight silicone hose.

In addition, there are countlessnozzle types for the hose.

Larsen says that using the rightkind of nozzle is one key to cleaningthe surface effectively. Some noz-zles put out a large fan and some ofthem are more concentrated,according to Gilman. Nozzle exten-sions also come in handy in difficultto access areas.

Of course, as Sanders points out,“different manufacturers have dif-ferent types of tools that come withthe system,” and different featuresas well. But with their blastingassembly in tow, remediators mayfind that they have a great deal ofadditional equipment to gather ontheir own.

“To find out you need that [otherequipment] after the fact is kind ofa letdown,” says Sanders.

Breaking the IceRemediators Consider the Pros and Cons of Dry Ice Blasting

Hot&Cold


Gathering the GearTo power the blasting assembly

an air compressor is needed.Gilman and Sanders both use adiesel 185 CFM air compressorthat’s towed behind their vehicle.

Sanders says that after investingin the blasting assembly, manycompanies may be reluctant toimmediately purchase an air com-pressor to run it. That means find-ing a unit to rent prior to every job.

Depending upon what blastingassembly the remediator is using,the heat put out by the compressormay be another problem.

“They supply really hot, wet airand that can also alter the integrityof your ice. Especially in a very hot,humid climate it’s valuable to havean after cooler with your machine[between the compressor and theblasting assembly],” says Moore.

Mike Riggs, owner of Aqua-Dry inFt. Walton Beach, Fla., can vouchfor that. The moisture in the humid,Florida air would freeze in his blast-ing assembly, clogging the machine.

“Down here the temperature canbe in the 90s, and you’ll have a 90percent relative humidity. The aircompressor we use, it compressesthe moisture in the air ... it took mea while to come up with an air drierand that way we didn’t have to stopevery 10 minutes,” says Riggs.

There’s also some additional per-sonal protective equipment (PPE)required.

“It’s a little different from the nor-mal stuff you might use,” saysGilman.

The main item that stands out isthe need for supplied air, or at leastwell ventilated air.

Although carbon dioxide is notpoisonous, it can deplete the oxy-gen level in the work area. Whenblasting in a small area without pro-tection, technicians primarilybreathe in the sublimated gas com-ing off of the treated surface.

Sanders recalls that on his first jobwith the equipment, all of his work-ers experienced fatigue and exhaus-

tion, “because there was no air.”Riggs says that he had an “I

should have known better” momentwhen he first used the equipment inan enclosed area and becamequickly fatigued.

“We had to engineer some controlsto make sure we’re getting plenty ofair circulation,” says Riggs.

Monitoring oxygen levels isimportant, unless supplied air isbeing used.

Because remediators are workingwith a material that’s at a chilling -109° Fahrenheit when it goes intothe blasting assembly, gloves are amust.

“You definitely need to weargloves in dealing with dry ice,” says

Larsen. “If you stick your hand intodry ice it’s like sticking your handsinto fire.”

“Guys need to be trained what itcan do,” Sanders adds.

He knows from his first experi-ence with dry ice that if a pelletslips into a glove and you can feel it,you’ve already suffered a third-degree burn.

Sanders has also learned that earprotection is necessary. Sanderssays that by the gun it’s about aconstant 80 decibels.

Then there’s the dry ice itself. “That’s a whole nightmare in

itself,” says Sanders.


Blasting technicians seem to agree that for all of its difficulties, dry ice blasting is aneffective mold remediation tool due to its speed, thoroughness and ability to reach tightareas.


Searching for Ice Equipment manufacturers and

dry ice distributors are working toimprove the availability of ice, amajor issue for some remediators.

“We’ve had a hell of a time gettinggood quality dry ice,” says Sanders.

Being the most essential part ofthe system, if the ice is not avail-able—or not fresh when it arrives—there’s no work.

“Make sure that you talk to yourice distributor about getting good icebecause that will affect the perform-ance of your machine,” says Moore.

Riggs says that he has no troubleobtaining the ice when he needs it.His secret is a reliable distributor.

“He comes from 400 miles away,but his price is hard to beat,” saysRiggs.

According to Larsen, it’s gradual-ly getting easier to obtain dry ice.

“The logistics of dry ice is gettingbetter,” says Larsen. “It’s becomingmore and more available.”

Moore notes that Cold Jet cus-tomers are put in contact with reli-able ice distributors. However, if thedistributors are not close enoughthere may still be issues with thefreshness of the ice.

The problem is that dry ice has avery short shelf life.

“It has to be immediately put intoinsulated containers and sealedreally well,” says Gilman. “It needsto be used really quickly because itwill go bad very quickly.”

According to Sanders, as the pel-lets age, they get fissures and cracks.After the pellets are a day old, Sandersays, they go from clear and solid towhite and cracked. At that point,they begin to break apart.

Larsen offers an effective comparison.

“If it’s two or three days old it’skind of like using used sandpaper;you don’t really get the same effectout of it,” he says.

Sanders says that representativesat RSG are talking to regional dryice manufacturers, working to getthem in tune with the needs of the

users. In addition, some companiesare offering pelletizers, so thatremediators can actually createtheir own dry ice pellets.

Getting the Hang of Dry Ice Finding the necessary equipment

might be more of a challenge thanusing it.

“Training’s really not that big ofan issue,” says Moore.

She says that the units are really“kind of plug-and-play,” and thatthe only area where training mightbe needed is when it comes to get-

ting a handle on the aggression lev-els of the system.

“Cold Jet factory representativescame out and assisted us on ourfirst job,” says Gilman.

He says the representatives werehelpful in showing them how to setup the equipment, but it was up toGilman and his technicians to adaptthe equipment to the task at hand.

Riggs had a similar experiencewith the Cold Jet representatives,who quickly showed him how to setup the equipment.

“It’s pretty straightforward,” says

One of the benefits of dry ice blasting is said to be its ability to quickly clean difficult-to-access areas, such as attics and crawlspaces.

Hot&Cold continued


Riggs. “I had to figure some of it out.”RSG provides a similar service for

its customers. “They [RSG] did go out of their

way to try to teach us things that wewould need, but even we discoveredthat there were things that werenecessary that they didn’t evenknow about,” says Sanders.

Part of Larsen’s job is traveling tovisit potential customers to offer freedemos on how to use the equipment.

“It’s very important that the peoplewho are using the machine knowhow to use it,” says Larsen.

For the most part, using the dryice system doesn’t mean drasticchanges to the job—remediatorssay that it just means the job willtake less time.

“The only thing that’s different, itmakes us much more efficient,”says Riggs.

Or since every remediation job isdifferent—each with unique chal-lenges—the same can be expectedfor jobs using blasting.

“Every blasting job is different.You can’t just plug it and go,” saysSanders.

Prior to purchasing his dry ice

blasting system in 2003, Sandersused hand sanding, wire brushesand angle grinders to remove moldfrom building surfaces. Although hestill uses the angle grinder on occa-sion for small jobs—or on dayswhen the blasting assembly or iceisn’t cooperating—Sanders is satis-fied with his new technique.

“There is some talk that dry iceblasting is gentler to some itemsthat we encounter during structuralremediation,” says Sanders.

He says that the grinders can martile, shred vapor barrier and ripthrough just about anything. He saysthe dry ice blasting is gentler on thestructure, although it can still per-forate building paper.

Set-up is only slightly different,these remediators report. With dryice, it’s the set-up that can be thetime-intensive part of the job.

“With the grinders it’s just plugthem in and go; with the dry ice ittakes 30 to 45 minutes to get it setup,” says Sanders.

Containment as UsualAside from getting the blasting

assembly in place, it’s contain-

ment as usual. “With mold specifically, the con-

tainment, the PPE that [remedia-tors] have to wear and set up for isthe exactly same,” says Moore.

“We have to contain the workarea, put up critical areas and ourwork area has to be under negativepressure. That keeps everythingwe’re doing in that containment.We don’t want to disperse outsidethat work area,” says Riggs.

“[We put] protection throughoutthe house in traffic areas, and thenset up containment,” says Gilman.“We use rigid ducts to suck the airout and exhaust it out.”

Sanders adds a list of cautions toput in place for homeowners whomay be present while work occurs.

“You need to talk to the client, andinform them that there’s going to bedry ice around, you’ve got to put upsigns that say hearing protectionrequired in this area, etc,” he says.

Then it’s down to business. “If there’s contamination ... we

remove those materials, typicallyblasting the embedded mold that’simpregnated into the wood,” saysGilman. “Where there’s dark stain-ing in plywood or OSB or floor joistswe typically will use the dry ice toclean the service of the sheathing inthe attics or sub floor sheathings.”

According to information fromSteamMaster, the system is particu-larly effective where engineeredroof or floor joists and decking arecontaminated with mold. In a singlepass, remediators can remove moldfrom multiple right-angled surfaces.The dry ice blasting system alsoprovides access to areas that mayotherwise be unreachable.

“There’s a lot of places that whenyou’re doing remediation that way[with wire brushes] the human handsimply can’t reach,” says Riggs.

“We can clean gaps of less than1/2-inch,” says Sanders.

Sanders notes that because the icecomes out at such high velocities, it’s

continued on page 34Remediators recommend using supplied—or well-ventilated—air in tight work areas. Asthe dry ice pellets evaporate, carbon dioxide depletes the oxygen in the work area.


important not to aim through gaps inthe studs where the ice might perfo-rate the building paper and actuallyshoot into the next room.

“When you use 3 mil pellets,they’re sometimes too aggressive …because they can make holes or littledents in the wood,” says Larsen.

Triventek offers a “crusher,”which is installed near the gun andbreaks the pellets down into a finepowder.

For these technicians, cleaningup after dry ice blasting has someadvantages over other blastingmethods.

“Dry ice evaporates, so you haveno secondary clean-up to do,” saysLarsen.

“You clean up whatever you blastoff the surface,” adds Gilman.

“You have a lot of dust when youhave soda blasting and you avoid thatwith dry ice blasting,” says Larsen.

Sanders recalls that on a previous

job his crew used 7,000 pounds ofdry ice.

“You can imagine how long itwould take to clean up 7,000pounds of sand,” he says.

Why Use Ice? Despite its many challenges, once

the system is up and running, reme-diators say the benefits are numer-ous when compared to how theyused to remove mold growth.

For Sanders, the blasting equip-ment isn’t as demanding as using agrinder all day.

“No one has ever put much con-sideration into ergonomic issueswhen it comes to handling a grinderfor a whole day,” he says.“Handling a grinder is like holdingfive roman candles at once ...there’s a lot of fatigue involved.”

He switched to the dry ice afterlearning about it through trade pub-lications and networking.

“We wanted to be able to providea high level of cleaning to the clientwhile keeping the cost down,” saysSanders. “By moving to a faster sys-tem, we’re able to fill recommenda-tions put forth in IICRC S520 andkeep the costs down.”

“It’s certainly more thorough,much more thorough; also muchmore efficient. It can access other-wise inaccessible areas, and there’sno media residue,” says Gilman.

“The best thing about it is thequality of the clean that you get ...you’re not going to get behind everynook and cranny with any othermethod like this,” says Moore. “Youdon’t miss anything with blasting.”

“It’s clean, it’s efficient, it’s easyto use,” says Larsen.

Each of them agrees that speed isa big benefit of the system.

“What used to take us four or five

Moisture occurs naturally in the unseencavities behind residential brick walls.

As a result, brick wall-cavities used tobe breeding-grounds for mold.

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days now takes us two days,” saysSanders.

“We’re able to do square feet perminute instead of square inches perminute,” says Riggs.

In addition to speed, Moore says, is“all of the great things that go alongwith that ... reducing labor costs,reducing displacement costs.”

These are benefit for insurance

companies as well as remediators. “Tell the adjustor what it used to

take us 10 days to do now takes usthree, they’re going to love you forit,” says Sanders.

Larsen has also noticed a trend inthe cost of the equipment.

“Just five years ago a blasterwould cost about $25,000,” he says.“Now you can get one for under

$11,000.” It’s still a major investment, but

advancing technology means costsare going down.

The non-toxicity of the product isanother plus.

“Out here in California peopledon’t like chemicals ... they don’twant them in their homes ...” saysSanders.

For these remediators, the resultsadd to these benefits. SinceSteamMaster purchased its dry iceblasting system, the firm has passedevery post remediation verificationtest, according to information fromthe company.

Ecostar has had similar success. “We haven’t failed a surface sam-

ple yet,” Sander says.

Dry Ice AgeEquipment manufacturers feel

that more mold remediators arelearning about dry ice blasting.

Moore says that nearly 40 per-cent of Cold Jet’s customers areusing the equipment they purchasepurely for mold remediation.

“It is definitely becoming a bigmold remediation tool,” says Larsen.

Sanders agrees that awareness isgrowing.

“I think almost everybody’s heardabout it,” he says. And yet, he adds,“Eighty percent of the people thatknow about, they’re never going toget it.”

He feels that dry ice blasting isnot for every remediator because ofthe commitment it requires to per-forming an efficient cleaning, andexploring the equipment throughtrial and error.

“Most people who buy this systemare going to be greatly disappointedat first,” he says. “There is a learn-ing curve involved, there is someadditional equipment involved thatno one talks about. But if contrac-tors give it a chance they’ll start tosee the benefits. They won’t see itright away.”

The equipment is a huge invest-ment with the potential for numerous


Hot&Cold continued


May-July 06 | 37www.moldmag.com

unexpected problems. Equipmentmanufacturers and dry ice distribu-tors are still discovering areas forimprovement. The initial set-up canbe intensive and remediators areoften dependent upon the delivery ofdry ice. But the contractors who useit praise its advantages.

“If used correctly it can save a lotof time and money,” says Sanders.

“Generally what happens is thatour customers are switching to dryice from whatever they were usingbefore ... unless it’s a very smallproject,” says Moore.

“It’s not going to be right forevery remediation contractor, andit’s not going to be right for everyproject,” says Sanders. “It’s goingto have its little niche but I don’tthink it’s going to be prevalent.”

It may not be for everyone, butfor remediators dedicated to a thor-ough cleaning system, it might beworth a look. m



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Paper Reviews Evidence ofIllness from Mold Exposure

An article in the February issueof the Journal of Allergy andClinical Immunology set out toreview information on scientifical-ly documented mold-related dis-ease, as well as the many other ill-nesses that have been hypothe-sized as health effects of mold.Researchers Robert K. Bush, MD,FAAAAI; Jay M. Portnoy, MD,FAAAAI; Andrew Saxon, MD,FAAAAI; Abba I. Terr, MD, FAAAAI;and Robert A. Wood, MD, reviewedinformation available on mold andits potential health effects andoffered their interpretations of the

continued on page 40A recent study refuted associations between mold and many illnesses, as well as“nonspecific complaints” for which inhaled mycotoxins are frequently said to be a cause.




association between mold andattributed illness.

The researchers write that moldscan cause illness through three spe-cific mechanisms: the generation ofa harmful immune response (aller-gies or hypersensitivity pneumoni-tis), direct infection by the organ-ism and toxic-irritant effects frommold byproducts (or mycotoxins).For each mechanism, there is a spe-cific illness that is the reaction.

However, the researchers note intheir paper, in addition to acceptedmold-related illnesses, new illnesses“characterized by the absence ofobjective evidence of disease” arebeing attributed to mold withincreasing frequency.

As the paper says, when a toxicdose of mold is ingested there is aspecific pattern of illness, dependingon the type of mold. Therefore, theargument that the inhalation ofmold mycotoxins will give rise to awide array of “nonspecific com-

plaints” isn’t consistent with what isknown to happen. The researchersconclude that the occurrence ofmold-related toxicity from inhaledmycotoxins in nonoccupational set-tings is highly unlikely.

The paper also reviewed claimsthat that exposure to mold and itsbyproducts induces a state ofimmunodeficiency or autoimmunity,decreasing the body’s ability to fightinfection and disease. According tothe researchers, at this time there isno good research available that canreally support this claim. They con-cluded that exposure to mold doesnot result in a state of immunodefi-ciency, citing examples of individualswho have had intense occupationalmold exposure and do not manifestfindings of immunodeficiency.

The authors also concluded thatexposure to mold that only occursindoors is an “extremely unlikely”cause of hypersensitivity pneumoni-tis, an allergic disease frequently

attributed to mold. However theyadd, mold exposure in occupationssuch as farming is a known cause ofthe uncommon disease.

The paper also reviews informa-tion on testing for mold-related dis-eases, as well as testing for mold inthe environment. It concludes thatsampling of both indoor and out-door air for mold spores provides ameasure of potential exposures andcan be useful in certain clinicalconditions, but it has many short-comings. Bulk sampling of moldcan’t be used to assess exposure,the paper states, although it couldbe useful for other purposes. Inaddition, the researchers say thattesting for airborne mycotoxinsindoors can’t be used to diagnosemold exposure.

While the authors concluded thatissues regarding mold remediationwas beyond the article’s scope, theyagreed that it must be addressed.


W e t S c i e n c ec o n t i n u e d

MSU Researchers Show Stachybotrys Could Affect Sense of Smell Michigan State University

researchers have found that certaintoxins produced by Stachybotryschartarum are capable of killingnerve cells, essential for the sense ofsmell, in the nasal passages of mice.

The scientific study was present-ed at the Society of Toxicologyannual meeting in March and pub-lished in Environmental HealthPerspectives.

“This is the first animal study toreally show that a toxin derivedfrom the spores of black mold maycause significant damage in thenose and the frontal part of the brain involved in olfac-tion,” said Jack Harkema, a University DistinguishedProfessor of pathobiology and diagnostic investigationand one of the MSU researchers.

According to the MSU researchers, these toxins foundin Stachybotrys chartarum specifically killed olfactorysensory neurons in the nasal airways of exposed mice.These nasal neuronal cells are known to detect odors

and send electrical signals to the partsof the brain that are necessary for thesense of smell, or olfaction.

In addition, they found that the micethat inhaled these fungal toxins devel-oped, inflammation of the nasal pas-sages. Mild inflammation also wasdetected in the part of the brain direct-ly connected to the olfactory nerves.

“Are our noses more or less sensitiveto this toxin, and other similar fungaltoxins? This is really a crucial questionyet to be answered. We also need todevelop better ways of detecting thesetoxins in the contaminated air of water-

damaged buildings, so that we can protect the publicfrom toxic exposure,” Harkema said.

He continued, “Also, it has been reported that thereare neurological conditions in people who have inhab-ited mold-contaminated buildings or homes. They’veclaimed to suffer from memory loss or other neurolog-ical symptoms. As we all know, memory can be trig-gered by what we smell.” m

A study on mice has shown thatstachybotrys may damage the ability tosmell—perhaps linking mycotoxins tomemory loss.



Page Company Phone Fax Web Address38 Abatement Technology Inc. 888/709-1681 678/889-4201 www.predator-pas.com 15 Advanced Building Products 800/252-2306 207/490-2998 www.advancedflashing.com 37 Advanced Mold Diagnostics 800/642-8305 610/642-3528 www.advancedmolddog.com6a Anabec Inc. 800/369-8463 716/759-7829 www.anabec.com36 Carlisle Coatings 800/527-7092 972/442-0076 www.carlisle-ccw.com

& Waterproofing Inc.39 Environmental 877/349-6653 480/659-9456 www.enviro-ed.org

Education Foundation19 EZ Breathe 866/822-7328 330/468-3231 www.ezbreathe.com5 Fiberlock Technologies 800/342-3755 978/475-6205 www.fiberlock.com 1 G-P Gypsum Corp. 800/284-5347 404/230-5624 www.gp.com

41 Humidex Atlantic 800/293-9577 516/204-8118 www.humidexatlantic.com46 Infared Solutions 800/760-4523 763/551-0038 www.infaredsolutions.com37 Microban Systems Inc. 800/332-6037 412/262-7150 www.microbansystems.com 34 Mortar Net 800/664-6638 219/939-3877 www.mortarnet.com35 National Gypsum Co. 800/628-4662 800/329-6421 www.nationalgypsum.com13 Pemko 800/283-9988 800/283-4050 www.pemko.com45 Protective Coatings Group 877/729-6653 904/378-8697 www.4pcg.com 11 Pureair Control Services Inc. 800/422-7873 727-572-5859 www.pureaircontrols.com43 RSG - Technologies Inc. 800/441-3452 603/299-0364 www.rsg-technologies.com9 Sostram Corp. 770/587-9807 770/587-4437 www.mold-ram.com3 ThermaPureHeat® 888/432-8665 805/649-1314 www.thermapure.com

C2 Valeron Strength Films 800/825-3766 713/254-2338 www.valeronvortec.com

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Advertiser Index

ICESONICDRY ICEBLASTINGThe Perfect Cleaning Solution for Mold Remediation & Fire Restoration

A t Ductbusters we had been interested in purchasing adry ice blasting machine for quite some time. We chose

the ICEsonic E after careful consideration of other dry icemachines on the market. There were several reasons we pur-chased the ICEsonic E over the other brands. One was the ini-tial investment was nearly $6,000 less for similar features.We particularly liked the fact that the ICEsonic E does notrequire electricity to operate it. Another feature that sold us onyour product was the moisture separation unit.

We recently were called to a home with mold in the base-ment. Before we purchased the ICEsonic E the cleaning tech-niques that we would have used on this type of job would oftaken 2 men approximately two eight hour days. With the

ICEsonic E it took two men 4 hours to clean theentire area. Not only did we save time, thearea was much cleaner than we would haveever been able to get it using our original tech-niques. I can tell you that using the ICEsonic Ehas increased our ability to perform a deeperand more thorough cleaning. In turn, we arelowering labor costs and providing a state ofthe art solution for our customers cleaningneeds. Thank You!

Mike Lanius, CIE, CMR, CMIDUCTBUSTERS #27, LLC

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Call toll free 800-441-3452; ask for a free CD explaining how ICEsonic DryIce Blasting can boost your profits in fire restoration & mold remediation!

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Three Features to Demand from the Dry Ice Blasting SystemYou Want to Purchase


The Hurricane Season Blues As Colorful Mold Still Covers the Coast

TThe 2006 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1, and experts are predictinganother active season. However, news about Gulf Coast residents still dealing with theaftereffects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita still occupies a big piece of the consumer

press. Through the hurricane-related news about health, litigation and construction, informa-tion on mold creates a common theme.

Dry

Ey

e

Mold & Moisture Managementm

Homes from a Mold More Resistant to Mold?An article in the March 2006 Greater

Baton Rouge Business Report says thatthe number of homes in need of rebuild-

ing in Louisiana as a result ofhurricane damage has providedan opportunity to experi-ment with building meth-ods others than the tradi-

tional on-site, stick built

method. Two dozen companies have approached

Louisiana Economic Development with ideas for

technologies that they believe will lead to quickly

built, cost-effective—and perhaps mold-resist-

ant—homes. Many of the suggestions fall under the blan-

ket term of “systems building,” where parts of

the home are mass-produced in a factory.

Because many of these homes use framing

materials such as fiberglass, steel or concrete,

they prove to be more resistant to mold,

wind, termites and fire, according to thearticle. m

Study Debunks Katrina Cough

A new study from the Louisiana Department of

Health and Hospitals says that “Katrina Cough” may

not be the threat

New Orleans res-

idents and visi-

tors have feared.

News reports

have circulated

about the gener-

al respiratory

irritation preva-

lent in New

Orleans where

there is an increased presence of mold, dust and

other particulates in the air. Alleged symptoms are

similar to a cold, but with a persistent dry cough.

Using emergency room surveillance and popula-

tion studies, researchers found no obvious trends

that supported the existence of the syndrome.

The study states that “contrary to some percep-

tions, there is no increased proportion of respirato-

ry conditions severe enough to cause consultations

at emergency rooms. The proportions observed in

New Orleans are similar to the national data.”

44 | May-July 06

Judge Joins the Fray of Katrina Lawsuits U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola has joined the fray of Gulf

Coast residents suing insurers for coverage of Katrina damage.According to the Associated Press, attorney Richard Scruggs isrepresenting Guirola in his suit against Nationwide MutualInsurance Co. for refusing to cover damage to his home in LongBeach, Miss.

In the suit, Guirola alleges that an adjuster who inspected his prop-erty attributed the damage to wind. However, Guirola alleged, Nationwideignored the adjuster and blamed the damage on water, which it does not cover.

The judge decided several weeks ago to recuse himself from hearing Katrina-related insurance cases to avoid a conflict of interest, according to the article.


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