Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality can promote good occupant health, comfort, and workplace productivity. This concept is one of the primary motivators for building owners, business owners and building mechanics alike to maintain acceptable indoor air quality within the inhabited spaces of their buildings.

Indoor air quality can be summarized as a healthy, acceptable environment for all employees, occupants, visitors, or residents. This environment shall be free from disease, allergenic properties, and esthetical discomfort. Problems that occur due to improper or contaminated indoor air quality have been referred to as either “Sick Building Syndrome” or “Building Related Illnesses.”

Additionally, problems with indoor air quality can be created through renovation activities that change a building’s layout. Damage to building systems, improper chemical use patterns, or changes in employee operations also affect the static indoor air quality environment.  Symptoms resulting from allergenic impacts include cough, irritation, allergic reactions, exacerbation of previous conditions, headache, dizziness, fatigue or in some cases serious disease formation.

DeLisle routinely conducts indoor air quality investigations in both residential and commercial environments. Depending upon client needs and issues, these investigations vary and can or may also be affected individual susceptibilities.

Investigations can involve sampling for chemical, particulate, and environmental stressors like noise, electromagnetic field, and ventilation efficiencies. Reports are generated with conclusions drawn from data collected and, in most cases, recommendations are made to either reduce the impact of the stressor quantified or mitigate it altogether.

Mold & Bacteria

An indoor biological contamination event may include molds, mildew, other sources of fungi, bacteria, yeasts, animal dander, insect, bird or rodent scat, and pollen or dust. The most common form of microbial investigation involves mold and/or bacteria. These contaminants often originate from water intrusion events. Typically, these events include roof leaks, sanitary over-flows, pipe breaks, foundation leaks, and catastrophic floods.

Fungal and bacterial investigations often involve sampling. The different forms of sampling used to help with investigations are; air sampling, surface testing and bulk material sampling.

Analytical services should be analyzed by a laboratory, accredited by a nationally recognized, microbiological proficiency program. Investigative reports depend upon the amount of work done and range from letter of understanding to full reports complete with data, maps, etc.

Ventilation

Ventilation surveys assess the present air movement and cubic feet per minute (cfm) ratings for the air handling units presently servicing the subject building. Proper air exchange in a given volume would be a minimum of four (4) exchanges of the entire volume of air in a space per hour, or once every fifteen minutes. Ventilation surveys can also encompass investigations into the construction of ventilation systems, the development of other potential sources of contamination, including asbestos, molds, yeast, bacteria, and fungi.

Ventilation surveys rely on the expertise of the technician as well as readings obtained from real-time sampling equipment and analytical data (where applicable).

Radon Testing

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas which accumulates through natural decomposition of radium and uranium. Radon can enter buildings through imperfections in the foundations or basements including sewer leaks, sump pumps, drains, floor cracks and bare soil. Radon can accumulate in concentrations that could create hazardous conditions for the lungs including forms of lung cancer. Radon testing kits can be purchased from any home improvement store. DeLisle can assist you in sampling and abating this issue.

Noise Assessments

Excessive noise exposure over time can cause hearing loss.

Excessive noise exposure over time can cause hearing loss.

As a result, the need for noise assessments and the determination for the need of sound reduction protection is ever present. OSHA has outlined a process to determine the need for hearing conservation programs. This includes dosimetry on potentially affected employees, the establishment of engineering controls or point source noise reduction on equipment. These are all ways to “harness” rogue noise levels and prevent temporary or permanent hearing loss. DeLisle can assess, administer and engineer your hearing conservation programs.

Emission Surveys

DeLisle has extensive experience in the permitting of process equipment, stacks, waste streams, and non-contact cooling water systems. Contact DeLisle for questions on these surveys, or on Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act (SARA) Form R Reporting, EPCRA planning, secondary containment programs, SDWPP, PIPP, or affiliated plan generation.

Particulate / Chemical Monitoring

DeLisle has performed various types of monitoring required by EPA, OSHA, NIOSH, FDA, ISO, and other nationally recognized agencies and organizations for commercial, industrial, school, and residential clientele. DeLisle can monitor for all measurable chemical contaminants, silica, welding fumes, nuisance particulate, cotton dust, ceramics, fine particulate counting, and many other items. Contact DeLisle for sampling recommendations on site-specific conditions or if you have questions on a potential contaminant that employees or occupants are being exposed to.

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DeLisle Associates LTD

Phone:
269-373-4500

Fax:
269-373-1044