Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
surfaces with thermal bridges [see Chapter 6]). Soot and wick fragments can
be identified microscopically.
B.
Nonresidential investigations
The investigation of IAQ/IE complaints in nonresidential office, commercial,
and institutional buildings is a much more difficult task than investigating
residential problems. Nonresidential buildings represent much more com-
plex environments in terms of the larger populations of individuals involved;
a greater diversity of contaminants and potential exposure sources; mechan-
ical systems that provide heating, cooling, ventilation, and sometimes steam
humidification; lack of individual control over thermal and ventilation com-
fort; interpersonal dynamics between occupants and building management;
and the often-multifactorial nature of health complaints in such buildings.
However, principles employed in conducting residential and nonresidential
investigations are, for the most part, similar.
Investigative techniques and protocols used in problem building inves-
tigations reflect the knowledge and experience of individuals conducting
them. They also reflect the availability of resources of government agencies
and private consultants that provide such services, as well as the resources
of those requesting services on a fee basis.
Early problem building investigations were conducted on an
basis.
They were usually limited to brief discussions with building management,
a building walk-through, and a few simple screening air tests. Increasingly,
building investigations conducted by state government agencies and con-
sulting companies that specialize in conducting IAQ/IE investigations have
become more systematic.
The purpose of an IAQ/IE investigation is, in theory, to identify and
resolve complaints in a way that prevents them from recurring. However,
building managers/owners may see the problem in different terms. They
may view it in the context of occupant complaints only; i.e., the focus of their
concern may be to mollify those who complain rather than identify and
resolve the actual cause or causes. Consequently, they may request that a
government agency or private consulting company conduct air testing to
demonstrate to occupants their “good faith” in responding to occupant con-
cerns. Such investigations are usually limited to providing screening mea-
surements. Since contaminant levels in screening measurements are rarely
above guideline values (with the exception of CO
ad hoc
), air testing alone is often
unsuccessful in identifying and resolving building-related problems. It is not
uncommon for building managers to conclude from such testing that an
IAQ/IE problem does not exist. The type of services that a building man-
ager/owner requests is discretionary, whether it makes technical sense or not.
2
1.
Investigative protocols for problem buildings
A number of systematic protocols have been developed for conducting prob-
lem building investigations in the U.S., Canada, and northern Europe. In the
