The First Facility Management Blog

As parents start getting school supplies and back-to-school outfits together for their children, and administrators get their schools ready for the new year to come, NADCA (The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association) reminds parents and educators of the importance of indoor air quality to student and employee performance in schools.

Government research suggests that as many as half of America’s schools have issues with poor indoor air quality (IAQ). Poor IAQ in schools, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, can lead to short- and long-term health problems such as asthma, absenteeism, reduced productivity for students and staff, higher HVAC costs, and even legal liability.

NADCA supports the EPA’s “IAQ Tools for Schools” initiative that provides educators and parents with comprehensive tools for assessing and addressing IAQ issues. As part of a proactive school IAQ program, NADCA recommends periodic HVAC system inspections by certified experts to identify and address contaminated ductwork and HVAC units as needed.

When performed to NADCA’s ACR 2006 standard, an HVAC inspection and cleaning can improve airflow, reduce energy costs and remove contaminants such as mold, dust, and other airborne particulates from HVAC components and ductwork.

“Our children and the professionals who educate them need and deserve the same kind of air quality that we would expect in our offices or homes,” said Buck Sheppard, president of NADCA and operations manager for AAA Heating and Cooling in Portland, Ore. “Our students should be breathing easy, at least until the first pop quiz of the semester.”

While particle and gaseous contamination resulting from dust and dirt can lead to unexpected shutdowns of critical IT equipment, the connection between contamination and hardware failures is often overlooked. A new book from ASHRAE provides basic information essential to the control and prevention of particulate and gaseous contamination in datacom facilities. Particulate and Gaseous Contamination in Datacom Environments identifies datacom equipment susceptibility and operational impact, strategies for prevention and control, as well as contamination testing and analysis.

“Any installation planning checklist for datacom environments typically includes power, cooling, and structural criteria,” said the author Joe Prisco, a member of ASHRAE’s technical committee on mission control facilities, technology spaces, and electronic equipment.  “Contamination criteria can now be added. The guidance in this book is crucial for maintaining a high level of IT equipment dependability and availability.”

Prisco noted that as IT equipment shrinks in size, resulting in smaller components and less physical space between them, the risk of contamination grows.

The book is part of the ASHRAE Datacom Series, developed to provide a more comprehensive treatment of datacom cooling and related subjects. The cost of Particulate and Gaseous Contamination in Datacom Environments is $54 (ASHRAE members, $46). It is available from the ASHRAE bookstore.

Some people just can’t quit. What am I talking about? Smoking, of course. And in the U.S., smoking has pretty much been pushed out of public places and into parking lots, alleys, and other inconvenient locations.

In response to this trend, one European company, SuperSmoker (based in Brussels, Belgium), has released its electronic cigarette, Blue, to North American consumers. Blue is a smokeless nicotine* delivery device which allows users to mimic the act of smoking while eliminating the usage of tobacco, tar, and an open flame.

The device includes a rechargeable battery, nicotine gel vaporizing atomizer, and replaceable cartridge that looks and feels like a real cigarette. The device gives off a vapor that looks like smoke but has none of the risks associated with second hand smoke. In efforts to ensure that Blue is not mistaken for an actual cigarette, the tip of Blue is bedazzled with a crystal gem that shines a bright blue when the user inhales.

After the initial starter kit purchase, Blue customers will be able to reduce smoking costs of up 50% due to the comparatively inexpensive cost of the cartridges. Cartridges come in packs of 24 and last approximately 30 inhalations, the equivalent of about four cigarettes. And since Blue has no tobacco, it is not taxed like traditional cigarettes.

Blue eliminates the need for ashtrays and the trash involved in the habit of smoking. While drastically reducing waste and air pollution, Blue can also save the time required for cigarette breaks. Giving up a 15 minute cigarette break twice a day during the work week will eliminated over five days of wasted time over the course of a year. Cartridges are available in Zero, Light, Normal, and Menthol strengths and have varying levels of nicotine.

“Americans will now have the ability to ’smoke’ where previously not allowed while eliminating the odor and risks associated with the intake of traditional cigarette smoke and the exposing of others to second hand smoke,” said SuperSmoker Commercial Director Dimitri Kyriakopoulos.

* SuperSmoker makes no determination as to the health risks and/or benefits associated with their products. Nicotine is an addictive substance and should be consumed with the consultation of a medical doctor. Electronic cigarettes are not currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools (TfS) Program in 1995 to reduce exposures to indoor environmental contaminants in schools through the voluntary adoption of sound IAQ management practices. This program provides IAQ guidance and resources for facility managers and others who work in K-12 public and private schools.

The IAQ TfS Awards Program was initiated to recognize schools and school districts that have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving children’s health by promoting IAQ practices. For those schools and districts just beginning to implement IAQ management plans to those who have mature, sustainable, district-wide IAQ programs, EPA provides a series of national level awards.

Up until this year, the Awards Program featured four types of awards: National Great Start Award; National Leadership Award; National Excellence Award; and National Model of Sustained Excellence Award. Additionally, for 2009 the National IAQ TfS Connector Award has been added to the program.

Since the inception of the IAQ TfS Awards Program, EPA has presented National Excellence awards to nearly 80 schools and school districts in recognition of their dedication to improving IAQ.

Description Of Awards

The IAQ TfS National Great Start Award is for U.S. schools and districts in the initial stages of implementing the IAQ TfS Program. To qualify, schools must establish an IAQ team or designate an IAQ Coordinator. Designed to recognize schools and school districts that are on their way to achieving sustainable IAQ management plans, Great Start Awards are non-competitive. Applications are accepted year round, and awards are presented throughout the year.

The IAQ TfS National Leadership Award is for U.S. schools and districts that have shown significant progress in implementing an IAQ management program. To qualify, schools must at least meet the minimum criteria for the Great Start Award and show progress towards completing IAQ walkthroughs or assessments for each school in the district that has agreed to participate in the program. Applicants must demonstrate how they are taking action to address IAQ issues and have identified and prioritized any IAQ repairs and upgrades. The Leadership Awards are non-competitive. Applications are accepted year round, and awards are presented throughout the year.

The IAQ TfS National Excellence Award is one of EPA’s highest IAQ awards, presented to U.S. school districts with exemplary IAQ programs and that have shown exceptional commitment to good IAQ management. These awards are competitively judged and will be presented to the selected school districts at EPA’s 10th Annual IAQ TfS National Symposium, to be held in Washington, DC on January 14-16, 2010. Deadline: must be postmarked by September 30, 2009

The IAQ TfS National Model of Sustained Excellence Award is presented to U.S. school districts that show ongoing exceptional commitment and achievement in maintaining healthy educational facilities while institutionalizing comprehensive IAQ management practices. Recipients must have been a past National Excellence Award recipieny. Applicants must demonstrate how they have sustained their IAQ practices, established IAQ management goals, and tracked short-term and long-term progress on IAQ management. These awards are competitively judged and will be also presented to the selected school districts at EPA’s 10th Annual IAQ TfS National Symposium in January 2010. Deadline: must be postmarked by September 30, 2009

New for 2009 is the the National IAQ TfS Connector Award, which will be presented to individuals and organizations whose outstanding, innovative actions and initiatives have supported improved school indoor environments, with a special focus on activities that reflect the spirit of the IAQ TfS Connector—the central communication and networking platform of the IAQ TfS Program. These awards are competitively judged and will also be presented to the individuals or organizations at EPA’s 10th Annual IAQ TfS National Symposium in January 2010. Deadline: must be postmarked by September 30, 2009

More information, along with past winner stories, can be found on the Awards Program home page.

Or Start Now..
If you’re still in the early stages of creating a formalized IAQ program in your school, you may want to order (or download) the components of EPA’s IAQ TfS Action Kit.

Since its release in 1995 (just re-released this year), the kit (which is free of charge) instructs schools on how to carry out a practical plan to improve indoor air problems at little cost or no-cost using straightforward activities and in-house staff. The kit provides best practices, industry guidelines, sample policies, and a sample IAQ management plan.

This Web Exclusive comes from Gina Tsiropoulos, Market Manager, Kimberly-Clark Filtration.

Virtually everyone has been learning to cope with tough economic conditions. For individuals, the loss of jobs and cuts in pay mean tighter budgeting at home: forgoing vacations, dinners out, and luxury purchases. For companies, reduced income and profits often means taking a hard look at line item expenses in an attempt to boost the bottom line.

One line item that may come under scrutiny among facility managers (fms) looking to reduce maintenance expenses is the HVAC system. It may seem perfectly logical, for example, to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year in purchasing costs by reducing the frequency of air filter change-outs or by downgrading to a lower-priced filter.

Smart fms should realize the small amount of money saved by reducing or eliminating air filter purchases or by purchasing lower priced (and lower efficiency) filters pales in comparison to the energy and operating costs that can be saved by maintaining a robust air filtration maintenance and upgrade program.

The Role of Air Filtration
Effective air filtration provides the primary defense for building occupants and HVAC equipment against pollutants generated within a building as well as pollutants from air drawn into a building from the HVAC system. It affects the quality of indoor air, which can be two to five times as polluted as outdoor air.

Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is more than just a nuisance. The cost of poor IAQ to the overall U.S. economy is in the neighborhood of $160 billion in terms of healthcare costs and reduced productivity among workers. Moreover, studies have shown that when indoor environments are improved, businesses can realize up to a 20% improvement in productivity—another strong incentive to pay close attention to enhancing IAQ through proper air filtration.

While air filters play a key role in a building’s IAQ, they also play a major part in the energy consumed to operate the building’s HVAC system. This makes air filtration a wise target for cost reductions as long as the right strategies are followed.

HVAC Expenditures: Myths vs. Facts
There are a number of ways that facilities may try to save money and reduce their HVAC system budgets. For example, facilities may try to delay filter change-outs or upgrades, or they may want to downgrade from high efficiency pleated filters to lower efficiency and lower priced panel filters. These strategies may be short sighted and contrary to cost saving goals; especially when one considers that the U.S. Department of Energy suggests enhancing operating efficiency of HVAC systems can reduce energy bills by up to 20% without significant capital investment.

Myth: Delaying filter maintenance (i.e., change-outs) will help save money.
Fact: While it is true that purchasing fewer filters reduces initial expenses, delaying filter change-outs also causes the filter to run more days at peak energy usage. It doesn’t take long for peak usage cost to offset any savings in the filter price. (See chart below.) That’s because energy use is the largest operating cost involved in air filtration. A filter’s energy consumption accounts for a full 80% of its total life cycle costs. Moreover, the cost of the energy used to operate the filter can be more than eight times the initial purchase price of the filter itself.

It comes down to physics; the energy used to operate filters is directly proportional to the airflow resistance of the filters. The more resistance (due to clogged filters that aren’t changed out as frequently as needed), the more energy is needed to push air through the filter. Resistance typically increases as filters remove more and more contaminants from the air. This filtration is essential for air quality and protection of HVAC equipment, but it comes at an extremely high cost when filter change-outs are delayed.

Delaying filter maintenance not only increases energy consumption, it also increases CO2 emissions; the extra energy consumed by dirty filters drives up energy production and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the U.S. Environmental Information Administration, 1.354 pounds of CO2 are released into the atmosphere for every 1 kWh of electricity produced, making delayed filter maintenance extremely costly to the environment. Plus, because America generates close to 50% of its energy by burning coal, reducing HVAC energy consumption also helps conserve natural resources.

Myth: There is little economic incentive to upgrade a building’s air filtration system.
Fact: Some commercial and institutional buildings in the United States are still using pre-WWII technology in their air filtration system—panel filters. Sometimes called “throw-away” filters, they are constructed in much the same way they were made 75 years ago and are among the lowest priced filters in use today.

For years, it was believed that panel filters provided adequate filtration to keep HVAC systems running cleanly and efficiently. However, a recent study found that panel filters do not provide adequate protection to HVAC equipment, allowing for particle deposits to build on fans and heating/cooling coils, a problem known as “fouling.” Fouling greatly reduces airflow through the HVAC system and prevents heat transfer in the coils, all of which can add up to a significant increase in energy costs. Fouling also leads to expensive and time consuming fan and coil cleaning.

Myth: Air filtration is not in the budget.
Fact: One of the biggest traps that commercial facilities fall into regarding budgeting for air filtration is the NIMB (Not in My Budget) factor. In many cases, one department (and budget) is responsible for purchasing air filters and filter service contracts while another is responsible for energy expenditures. The problem inherent in this system is that the filter purchaser can easily and quite innocently make a costly decision for the enterprise by choosing to buy filters without considering the energy consumption and system operating implications described above.

Reducing HVAC-Related Costs
It is important to remember that filters will only support good IAQ and perform as specified when they are maintained correctly. There are three important factors for proper air filter maintenance and reduced operating and energy costs: following the proper filter change-out frequency and installation steps; upgrading from panel filters to pleated filters; and choosing a filter with a lower resistance to airflow.

Proper filter maintenance is crucial to keeping HVAC ductwork clean. If dirt accumulates in the ductwork and if the relative humidity reaches the dewpoint so condensation occurs, then it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.

For all of these reasons and more, it is important to establish the appropriate filter change-out frequency. However, filters should be changed immediately if they become wet, if microbial growth on the filter media is visible, or when the filters collapse or become damaged to the extent that air bypasses the media.

It is crucial to pay close attention to filter installation during change-outs. The goal is to avoid bypass air (air that does not go through the filter) which occurs when filter media is not properly sealed in the filter frame, when filters are not properly installed and gasketed in filter racks, or when air handler doors and ducts are not properly sealed. Bypass air can cause contamination in housings, coils, fans, and ducts and can increase system operating costs; fouled heat exchangers have diminished heat transfer performance and increased pressure drop, leading to increased energy use and decreased heating and cooling performance. Bypass air can also decrease a filter’s performance and negatively affect IAQ.

Keep in mind that bypass air tends to have a larger effect on high performance filters. A 1mm gap causes a MERV 15 filter to perform as a MERV 14 filter, while a 10mm gap causes a MERV 15 filter to perform as a MERV 8 filter.

One way to lessen the frequency of and purchase costs related to filter change-outs is to choose a high-capacity pleated filter which typically has an extended filter life along with a low resistance to airflow Pleated filters certainly offer advantages over “throw-away” panel filters.

First, while panel filters typically yield performance only in the MERV 1 to 4 range, pleated filters are available with performance up to MERV 13, allowing improved efficiency in capturing both large and small particles. Second, upgrading from panel filters to pleated filters provides cost savings advantages, thanks to decreased routine maintenance and energy costs. Because panel filters allow HVAC system components to become dirty, operating efficiency decreases and energy costs to operate the inefficient system can increase. The small amount of money saved by purchasing a lower priced panel filter can be substantially offset by even a slight reduction in the operating efficiency of the system.

One of the easiest ways to realize HVAC related energy costs savings is to switch to a filter with a lower resistance to airflow. When filters have a lower resistance to airflow, the HVAC system motor needs to overcome less resistance to deliver the required air flow, thus reducing the motor’s energy consumption.

Airflow resistance is calculated with a pressure gauge, which indicates Water Gauge (WG), the measure of the pressure required to lift a 4C-degree column of water a certain distance in the air. For example, a 0.05” WG reduction in a filter’s initial pressure drop (also known as airflow resistance) can reduce energy costs by up to 3.5% or about $7 per filter, while a 0.20” WG reduction in a filter’s initial pressure drop can reduce energy costs by up to 10% or about $28 per filter. While an energy cost savings of $28 per year may not sound like a lot, those cost savings are per filter, not for an entire HVAC system.

Skimping on air filtration during a tough economy has the potential to put facilities even deeper in financial trouble. It can negatively impact IAQ which can increase costs relating to worker health and productivity. It can also increase HVAC system operating and energy costs. While reducing the frequency of filter change-outs or downgrading to a lower-priced (and lower performance) filter may seem like good ways to reduce expenditures, they are not true cost-savings strategies. Because energy costs are the largest component of an air filter’s total life cycle cost, it is imperative for facilities to look beyond the line item purchase price of filters when seeking to reduce their overall costs and instead look at the initial and sustained pressure drops of different filters.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood, and studies indicate it disproportionally affects inner-city children living in public housing. In most cases, asthma is triggered by airborne allergens, usually dust, that cause respiratory inflammation, airway constriction and wheezing.

Scientists have long wondered if there is a specific allergen in dust that causes asthma. According to a study in the New York Times*, it now appears that scientists from the Boston University School of Medicine have finally discovered one of the key culprits.

Dust was collected from homes in public housing facilities using a vacuum cleaner. The dust sample contained cockroach remains, which become airborne after the insects die. Laboratory mice that inhaled this dust soon experienced difficulty breathing, showing signs that they were experiencing an asthma attack.

Many scientists, including those not directly involved in the research, have expressed excitement regarding this discovery. Said Dr. Lester Kobizik of Harvard Medical School, “[Now we know] the nasty material people actually become allergic to.”

One reason scientists were so excited by this discovery is because most previous tests searching for the allergens that induce asthma have been performed in artificial, laboratory settings. “In this case, however, they found the cause of the problem [by] turning to a real-life situation: vacuuming a carpet,” says Jolynn Kennedy, marketing manager at Tornado Industries. “Now we know all of our work and research into high-filtration, HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaners that can capture and trap many of these allergens was for a good cause.”

* “House Dust Yields Clue to Asthma: Cockroaches” by Elissa Ely, NYT, 4/7/2009

Air-Dryr from Davis Instruments uses heat and natural convection to keep the air dry and prevent mold. Areas such as basements, closets, storage units, wine cellars, musical instrument rooms, vaults, pools, and spas are among the smaller spaces subject to mold and mildew, and the compact Air-Dryr is an alternative to dehumidifying bags or fan units with tanks to empty.

This unit is placed on the floor and plugged into a 110/120V outlet. The air is heated above dew point to hold the moisture in suspension so it will not settle on surfaces; then it is released through the top vents of Air-Dryr. As warmed air rises, cooler damp air is drawn into the unit, where it too is heated.

Designed to be left on 24 hours a day, Air-Dryr can handle a high volume of air. The neutral beige housing is made of strong and durable polycarbonate, and an aluminum base panel supports the tubular metal heating element. The units are silent, with no switch, fan, or thermostat. A thermal cut-off turns the unit off if air flow be impeded.

The Air-Dryr 500 from Davis Instruments (which is located in Hayward, CA) handles up to 500 cubic feet, draws 0.6 amps, 130 watts, and measures 14″L x 5″W x 4.5″H. The Air-Dryr 1000 handles up to 1,000 cubic ft., draws 1.1 amps, 130 watts, and measures 13.5″ in diameter and 4.25″ high.

Wright Line, a manufacturer of enclosures and airflow management systems for data centers, as well as command and control consoles and other furniture for technology-intensive work applications, has announced that a number of its products have been certified to meet the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) standards for products from the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI). Through this designation, Wright Line is giving its customers the ability to create healthier environments while bringing them closer to achieving Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) points.

Wright Line’s Compass™, LINX®, LMS™, Optimedia®, Profile®, TechBench™ and TechCart™ product lines now hold the GREENGUARD Certification. The process to attain the third-party GREENGUARD Certification stamp of approval requires rigorous testing to determine if the individual components that make up the final products consist of low-emitting materials. (Shown here is the Profile® Advanced Console System.)

“Green has become a key in product selection and we are thrilled to have attained this designation from the GEI. As we work with business owners, as well as specifying members of the architect, design and engineering communities, on new construction projects we will certainly tout this important certification,” stated Wright Line CEO, Ed Bednarcik. The 75 year old company is headquartered in Worcester, MA.

Said Dr. Marilyn Black, Founder of GEI, “The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute applauds Wright Line on its commitment to furthering our mission of improving indoor air quality. When certified Wright Line products are integrated into any facility, building owners can be assured that the products they are purchasing are healthy for their indoor environments.”

For a complete listing of certified Wright Line models, view the GREENGUARD Online Product Guide and search for Wright Line. Each product is linked to a printable certificate that verifies GREENGUARD Certification, which is approved by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for LEED project submission.

Online Database Uses Government Data to Track How Toxic Chemicals Affect Air at Nearly 128,000 Schools

USA TODAY is launching an investigative series today (12/8/08) called “The Smokestack Effect: Toxic Air and America’s Schools.” The special project looks at issues such as why children are vulnerable to toxic chemicals and, using the government’s own data and modeling software, points to schools which appear to be in toxic hot spots. The series took eight months to produce and will run through the month.

An interactive database of nearly 128,000 schools shows how emissions of toxic chemicals may affect the air at schools across the country. It also shows how schools rank in their exposure to cancer-causing and other toxic chemicals.

The database is modeled on information reported to the government by 20,000 industrial plants. The series also offers information on how Americans can learn more about the air outside their schools and do something about it.

In Part I of the “The Smokestack Effect,” USA TODAY compares what the model shows to what the State of Ohio found after it monitored the air outside Meredith Hitchens Elementary School in Addyston, a Cincinnati suburb. In 2005, Hitchens was closed after the Ohio EPA found levels of carcinogens 50 times higher than what the state considers acceptable. The chemicals were emitted from a plastics plant across the street from the school.

USA TODAY found that the air outside 435 schools nationwide may be even worse than the air was outside Hitchens when it closed. Those schools, identified by the government’s own data and model, extended from East Coast to West, in 170 cities across 34 states. USA TODAY also worked with the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health to take “snapshots” of the air at almost 95 schools in 30 states.