IEQ CASE STUDY

Project:  State Jail

Project Consultant: Pure Air Control Services

 
Project Background:

A national insurance company was faced with a dilemma concerning mold conditions as a result of water intrusion due to unnamed storms.  A visible white powdery substance was evidenced on both sides of the building peripheral walls.  The facility was designed with block construction, housed approximately 1200 inmates and 300 employees, was approximately 367,000 square feet and was 10 years old.  The water intrusion concerns have existed for several years.  Due to torrential rains the powdery substance became more evident and it is believed that the walls fostered microbial growth.  These problems raised concerns for the building occupants and for the Government.

Faced with the environmental mold dilemma, the insurance company contracted Pure Air Control Services to establish a baseline environmental parameters, develop environmental project specifications, manage dehumidification efforts, and to provide recommendations to remediate any deficiencies that may adversely affect the quality of indoor air. 

 
The Pure Air Control Services Solution:

Based on the recommendations provided by Pure Air Control Services and other consultants, dehumidification equipment was deployed, remediation work was performed on the air handling units, peripheral walls where leaks had occurred were corrected and the interior walls facing the exterior environment were topically treated.  At the beginning, during and at the end of remediation work samples were taken to analyze the effectiveness of the remediation work where regimented industry specifications were employed. During the entire process of remediation, monitoring for relative humidity, temperature and particulate counts were performed so as to maintain an optimum working environment.  Negative air machines HEPA fitted were used to maintain a negative air pressure in the mechanical room to contain possible spread of contaminants outside the containment area.

Each air-handling unit was environmentally cleaned and treated for possible contaminants.  The ductwork was environmentally cleaned and treated up to firewall penetration.  All the fibrous surfaces inside the ductwork exposed to the airstream were sealed using an encapsulant.

Cooling coils were cleaned employing high-pressure low volume, and low-pressure high volume protocols designed by Pure Air Control Services.  Chemicals used for cleaning the coils were selected specifically for this application and, it was ensured that the chemicals were safe for the occupants, and the environment.  The coils were rinsed thoroughly after each application. The fiberglass insulation inside the air-handling units was removed and replaced with a fiberglass free material.  The closed cell insulation material utilized has a zero porosity where it will not absorb moisture, provides minimal opportunity for dust deposition, and complies with the National Fire Protection Association Requirements for fire spread and smoke development rates.

All the interior walls facing the exterior environment were HEPA vacuum cleaned, and decontaminated using Microbe Shield Antimicrobial, a bound Antimicrobial solution.

All remediation and cleaning was performed under strict containment and personal protection protocols.

The three (3) month project was successfully diagnosed, QA/QC’d and environmentally remediated by Pure Air Control Services environmental staff creating a healthy jail environment.

For more information, contact:  Vik Ahuja, CIAQP of Pure Air Control Services – 800-422-7873 ext. 804