Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The operation and maintenance of a single-family residential building
should in theory be a relatively simple task since, in most cases, it is owner
occupied. Residential building O&M becomes more complex when occu-
pancy is based on leasing contracts and in multifamily buildings.
1.
Residential buildings
Residential indoor environmental contamination problems often result from
inadequate or improper maintenance. Typically these include heating sys-
tem operation, water damage, and building moisture problems. In older
residences, it may include lead dust contamination associated with deteri-
orated LBP.
Heating systems based on the use of combustion appliances must be
properly installed and maintained to prevent flue gas spillage during normal
operation and when appliances deteriorate with age. Maintenance concerns
include perforated heat exchangers and flue pipes, disconnected or partially
disconnected flue pipes, obstructed chimneys, inadequate draft, etc. The
likelihood of flue gas spillage increases with building system age since the
likelihood of deterioration and malfunctioning increases. Maintenance of
vented combustion appliances helps to assure that significant flue gas spill-
age will not occur. Good maintenance is also necessary to prevent mold
infestation problems in residences. Such concerns are described in a contam-
inant-specific section of this chapter.
In residences built before 1978, it is good practice to maintain all painted
surfaces in good condition and minimize contamination of exterior ground
surfaces by LBP removed in preparing exterior surfaces for repainting. In
building rehabilitation involving LBP, paint should not be removed by sand-
ing or high-temperature paint removing devices.
2.
Nonresidential buildings
Good O&M practices are also important in preventing indoor environmental
problems in nonresidential buildings. They do, however, differ in scope
(nonresidential buildings are more demanding in their O&M requirements,
and building systems are often more difficult to maintain). In most cases,
nonresidential buildings are operated and maintained by full-time facilities
staff. Depending on individual circumstances, facilities staff may be poorly,
minimally, or well-qualified to operate and maintain buildings and their
mechanical systems. Because of staff and budget limitations, many non-
residential, nonindustrial buildings are poorly operated and maintained. In
small or poorly funded school systems, custodians may be responsible for
operating mechanical systems despite the fact that they are not adequately
trained to do so. School corporations operating under significant budget
restrictions often drastically cut maintenance budgets and defer important
maintenance projects.
Air quality and comfort in mechanically ventilated buildings depend on
the proper operation of mechanical ventilation and exhaust systems. This
requires that HVAC systems be operated during periods of occupancy to
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