Three states have been making changes that will affect indoor environmental professionals. The three states are Virginia, Georgia, and Michigan. Read below to learn what each state has been doing to change IAQ Policies.

Virginia

New laws are affecting individuals and businesses regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). The Senate Bill 1375 creates a licensure program focused on residential building energy analysts. Recommendations to improve energy consumption and efficiency will be mandatory to receive a licensure issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors.

The Qualifications for licensure are under development by the board. The new developments of the regulatory process can be followed through the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website.

As for HB 1610 and SB 942, these policies require disclosure about defective imported Chinese drywall in real estate transactions. Any real estate licensees with real knowledge of defective drywall and fail to disclose this knowledge will be subject to disciplinary action by the board of Real Estate.

Georgia

The state of Georgia now has the authority to administer and enforce EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Program. The EPA appreciates the leadership Georgia is demonstrating by protecting children from being exposed to lead based paint.

The RRP program mandates that contractors, property managers and people working for compensation in both homes and child occupied facilities.

Michigan

The Department of Treasury in Michigan has made its smoke free air law increase sales tax from 2.73% to 2.84% in taverns with beer and wine only, nightclubs, family restaurants, cafeterias and fast food pizza. Taverns with liquor are seeing 1.57% decrease in year over year sales tax collections. Taverns with beer and wine only have seen 1.54% increase since May.

For information on IAQ policies in these three states, read this article from Ieconnections.com.

For professional help and questions on remediation contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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Need Lead Renovations done? Then you should be informed about the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recent roadblock in implementing its Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) rule because the EPA has not been able to approve a reliable lead test as mandated by its own regulations.

In addition to this roadblock, the EPA decided to not impose new lead dust-sampling and laboratory analysis requirements as part of the LRRP rule. The EPA decided to not impose this requirement because the EPA believed adding this procedure on the highly strict mandatory requirements would not be necessary.

This regulation went into effect, last year, April 22, 2010. The regulation makes contractors who perform work on homes built before 1978 to be EPA-certified. If the contractors are not EPA-certified, they can face fines up to $37,500 per violation per day.

The contractors that require this EPA-certification including the following: Property managers. Landlords. General contractors. Remodeling contractor such as plumbers, painters and electricians.

For those believing this regulation is too strict, a few members of Congress are trying to decrease the strictness of the regulation. Congress somewhat succeeded at this task in July when EPA announced it would not impose lead dust clearance as an addendum to LRRP. The EPA believes the existing lead-safe work practices and clean up requirements of 2010 are suitable in protecting people from lead dust hazards that were created during renovations jobs. In other words, there should be no need for additional clearance requirements. The EPA decided not to add additional Lead Clearance testing because the result would have been higher overall price tags for projects. If price tags for projects increase too much, homeowners are more inclined to work on do-it-yourself projects or hire non-certified individuals to do work. The EPA did not want to increase the potential of this risk occurring.

To learn more about the final LRRP Rule by the EPA read this article More Roadblocks for EPA’s Lead Renovation Rule by Tom Scarlett on Ieconnections.com.

Or for professional help and questions on Lead Renovations, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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Until the Environmental Protection Agncy (EPA) approves a reliable lead test (mandated in its own regulations), it will not be able to enforce its Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule (LRRP). This article from Indoor Environment Connections goes into greater detail about the regulation, which went into effect 22 April 2010.

The LRRP requires contractors, landlords, plumbers, remodelers, property managers, painters, window and floor installation professionals, and electricians who work with homes built before 1978 to be EPA-certified or face fines up to $37,500 per violation.

Yet, despite the intent of the LRRP (minimizing the spread of hazardous lead paint), the regulation continues to face repeated efforts by Congress to either water it down or kill it. To at least appease some of its detractors, the EPA announced it would not impose lead dust clearance as an addendum to the LRRP, which would have included expensive lead-dust sampling and laboratory analysis. It was concluded that enforcing additional testing would result in higher costs and cause more homeowners to attempt dangerous renovations themselves, which would not only put homeowners in harmful positions, but would also negatively impact certified contractors who would be unable to compete with rising remodeling costs.

Further opposition to the LRRP came in the form of The House appropriations amendment, sponsored by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), more commonly referred to as the Rehberg amendment. This amendment would lift the burden of LRRP compliance and its costs from thousands of consumers in homes that otherwise would have tested negative, because of unreliable test kits. The EPA, which was supposed to approve a lead test kit, which produced no more than 10% false positive and 5% false negative, has failed to do so. Instead, the test kits used today have been known to produce false positives as high as 60% of the time.

The Rehberg amendment has moved to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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With the recent string of natural disasters that have plagued the nation bringing countless clean up and repair efforts to these devastated cities and towns, a very real, new threat has been uncovered – lead-based paint.

This form of paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was eventually banned for residential use in 1978, and has been linked to reduced IQ, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and behavioral problems in children. While lead paint is very detrimental to the development of young children, it can still have a very negative effect on adults, as well.

This article from Indoor Environment Connections goes into greater detail about this threat and what the United States Environmental Protection Agency plans to do to minimize lead exposure.

The EPA has issued a warning, urging children and pregnant women to stay away from work areas to avoid exposure to lead-contaminated dust, one of the most significant sources of lead exposure – especially for children. The EPA is also suggesting that workers take precautions, when working on construction surfaces, to prevent the spread of lead dust.

Common renovation efforts – like sanding, cutting, and demolition – can create hazardous lead dust and chips, which can be harmful to both children and adults. This threat is even more likely due to the fact that many of the federal Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule requirements, which are put in place to lessen the spread of lead-based dust, do not apply because of the nature of the emergency clean up efforts. Other non-emergency renovation activities remain subject to the rule’s requirements.

If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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The construction of attics and concrete slabs has historically been done as a simple, cost-effective way to support a floor or roof. Because of this, the impact these two areas have on a home’s energy costs and ability to keep mold at bay is often overlooked. The old saying “out of sight, out of mind,” comes to mind when thinking of attics/slabs. Because the public rarely ever sees these areas, architects often ignore the affects attics and slabs have on the environment and energy costs.

So what can you do? This article from Indoor Environmental Connections explains.

The energy loss and potential mold growth associated with attics/slabs can negatively affect not only your wallet, but your health, as well. Mold growth has been linked to asthma, allergies, respiratory distress and other, more serious, health problems. To make things worse, many people place their HVAC systems in their attics, which simply spreads mold spores throughout the building – greatly affecting indoor air quality.

The technology and know-how does exist, however, to construct smarter attics and concrete slabs into new buildings. Additionally, the technology exists to retrofit many of these aspects into existing attics and slabs (though this process is sometimes time consuming).

So ask a professional about your options. Get your attic or concrete slab inspected and see what you could do to make your home more energy-efficient and mold resistant. If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the Lead: Renovation, Repair and Paint (RRP) Rule, which concerns renovations on homes containing pre-1978 lead paint. The regulation requires clearance testing to detect the presence, or lack, of lead following any home renovation. The RRP also requires that contractors, plumbers, electricians, painters, window installers and even wood floor refinishers, who performs work in homes built before 1978, be EPA-certified of face fines up to $37,500 per violation per day.

A group of senators, however, is not amused. They have asked the president’s Office of Management Budget (OMB) to review the regulation, hoping the department will repeal the EPA’s regulation. The OMB has the authority to modify regulations even after they are issued by a regulatory agency if they find substantial evidence of a regulation’s negative effect on the United State’s economy.

The senators believe that these additional testing costs will drive homeowners to either attempt dangerous renovations themselves or hire uncertified individuals for renovation projects. The EPA, on the other hand, does not share the senators’ concerns. They have stated that the rule will remain in place until further notice.

OMB has no current plans to review the EPA’s controversial regulation.

If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

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Air pollution is a problem that has gained more and more interest over the past few years. Research has shown that air pollution can negatively affect the health of those who are constantly subjected to harmful environments. But a recent study published in the Journal of the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that air filters greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

This article from Indoor Environment Connections explains these findings.

The study, which observed 45 adults from 25 different homes found that high efficiency particle air, or HEPA, filters greatly reduce the amount of airborne particulate matter, resulting in improved blood vessel health and reductions in blood markers that are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

The study was conducted over two consecutive 7-day periods. During this time, a HEPA filter (Honeywell model 50300) was placed in the main activity room, while a quieter model 18150 was placed in the participant’s bedroom. The HEPA filters operated with their filters one week and without the other (participants were kept in the dark as to which week they had a filter and which they didn’t). In addition to the filters, indoor air pollution sampling kits were placed in each activity room.

At the end of each 7-day period, blood and urine samples were taken from each participant and markers of cellular injury, as well as the body’s response to that injury, were measured. Endothelial function also was evaluated using a fingertip device to evaluate blood volume in small blood vessels, and air samples were collected and analyzed.

It was discovered that portable HEPA filters reduced the average concentrations of fine particulates inside homes by 60 pc and their use was associated with improved endothelial function (a 9.4 pc increase in reactive hyperemia index) and decreased inflammation (a 32.6 pc decrease in C-reactive protein).

So if you are looking for a way to improve your indoor environment, consider purchasing a few HEPA filters. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel! If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

It is like a Shakespearean play – damp or not too damp? That is the question. When is a school too dry or too damp? Both extremes can be hazardous to your child’s health and both need to be dealt with, but in completely separate ways.

This article from Indoor Environment Connections Online explains down the temperature turmoil.

Low-dewpoint winter weather often brings with it extremely dry indoor conditions, meaning schools that meet the recommended 15 cubic feet per meter of outside air could be experiencing 10 percent relative humidity in classrooms. These conditions often lead to the drying of mucous membranes and even nosebleeds.

There are several approved methods to deal with dry indoor conditions. These include:

1. Make the building as airtight as you can so that it is not overly drying out all night long when not occupied.
2. Do not over-ventilate it during occupied hours. That is, if the carbon dioxide levels are down around 600 parts per million at 11 a.m. versus 800 ppm in an occupied school on the coldest days of winter, you are very likely over-ventilating it and exacerbating any potential dryness problems.
3. Do not run the ventilation system when the building is unoccupied. This includes exhaust fans as well as make-up air fans.
4. Install enthalpy (total energy) recovery from the general building exhaust to capture some of the moisture from the occupants and put it back into the building.

Another way to combat respiratory issues is to clean the air in which we breathe. This means removing dust and other airborne debris. This can be accomplished by:

1. daily use of auto scrubbers (with clean water) on hard-surface floors;
2. daily use of vacuums with high efficiency bags and good suction on carpets and hard surfaces;
3. if dry mops are used, they must be treated, or they make dust clouds; or
4. use of some of the new microfiber dusting devices, or damp-wiping.

Unfortunately, dry indoor conditions are not the entire problem. Extremely damp conditions are also causing respiratory problems in schools. Damp areas facilitate the growth of mold, which can be extremely hazardous when inhaled.

There are only two methods for dealing with extremely damp areas.

1. Fix number one, stop the liquid water intrusion, or manage it in a way that porous materials stay dry, and routinely clean the hard surfaces like you would clean your bathroom fixtures.
   1. Drying: We know of two means for drying surfaces: Add lots of heat, or make air dry by dehumidifying it. In the winter heating up the space and allowing dry outdoor air to enter it will usually give you dry air and good drying potential. During the rest of the year, a good high capacity energy efficient dehumidifier such as a Thermastor Sierra, or one of their competitors, should do a great job at drying any surface by increasing the drying capacity of the air. We define a high capacity unit as one that gets you in the range of 100 to 140 pints a day of moisture for less than 10 amps of power with a 115 volt power source.
   2. Isolation and exhaust of dampness: In some cases, crawlspace dampness can best be addressed by installing a sub-membrane radon removal-type system to capture dampness from the earth below a smoke-rated plastic sheet and dumping it outdoors. Lots of information is now available regarding keeping crawlspaces sealed up, warm and dry, versus the typical vented and damp and cold.
2. If the source of the liquid water has been addressed, the effects of dampness can often be remediated by keeping paper products away from the damp area and either warming the surfaces in the area above the dew point of the air, or drying the air to lower the dewpoint.

If these problems persist, call a specialist as soon as possible. Respiratory problems, especially those caused by outside irritants, like mold, should not be ignored. If your child experiences any abnormal breathing problems, consult your primary car physician immediately.

If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

After recent studies conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), there have been a few changes in the way these agencies, along with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), are dealing with the problems surrounding the toxic drywall imported from China.

This article from Indoor Environment Connections explains the sudden change in recommended protocol.

The CPSC and HUD released their new “remediation protocol” after a study conducted on behalf of the CPSC by Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico found that the blackening of copper electrical wires and air conditioning evaporator coils caused by the corrosive compounds emitted by the toxic drywall was not an immediate safety hazard. Sandia simulated more than 40 years of corrosive conditions that could possibly exist in toxic drywall and found no signs of any acute or long-term electrical safety problems, such as smoke or fire.

Because of these findings, the two agencies are no longer recommending that homeowners remove all electrical wiring in contaminated homes.

With these changes, the remediation guidance for homes with toxic drywall calls for the replacement of all:

•     Problem Drywall

•     Fire safety devices

•     Electrical distribution components

•     Gas service piping and fire suppression sprinkler systems

The CPSC and HUD have also broadened the spectrum of problem drywall to include drywall installed as early as 2009.

If you think you may be at risk and you want your home inspected, call a specialist as soon as possible. If you have any questions, contact Advance Mold Remediation by calling 1-877-411-MOLD or click here today!

Mold is bad enough in the home. When it enters commercial buildings and schools, it can cause major problems. We’ve already seen how it can affect student performance. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published this list to prevent mold in buildings. Here are some of the important items:

• Keep drip pans to any equipment clean, unobstructed and flowing properly.
• Adhere to scheduled HVAC and building inspections and maintenance.
• Combat condensation by raising surface temperature or lowering humidity.
• Insulation and air circulation can raise surface temperature.
• Ventilation and dehumidifiers can reduce humidity.

We service commercial as well as residential customers. If you believe you building has a mold problem contact us right away.