Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Important
Health Notice
Some of the building materials used in this home emit formaldehyde. Eye,
nose, and throat irritation, headache, nausea, and a variety of asthma-like symp-
toms, including shortness of breath, have been reported as a result of formalde-
hyde exposure. Elderly persons and young children, as well as anyone with a
history of asthma, allergies, or lung problems, may be at greater risk. Research
is continuing on the possible long-term effects of exposure to formaldehyde.
Reduced ventilation resulting from energy efficiency standards may allow
formaldehyde and other contaminants to accumulate in the indoor air. Additional
ventilation to dilute the indoor air may be obtained from a passive or mechanical
ventilation system offered by the manufacturer. Consult your dealer for informa-
tion about the ventilation options offered with this home.
High indoor temperatures and humidity raise formaldehyde levels. When a
home is to be located in areas subject to extreme summer temperatures, an air-
conditioning system can be used to control indoor temperature levels. Check the
comfort cooling certificate to determine if this home has been equipped or
designed for the installation of an air-conditioning system.
If you have any questions regarding the health effects of formaldehyde,
consult your doctor or local health department.
Figure 13.1
Warning label required by HUD to be posted in new mobile homes and
included in owner's manuals.
on occupants and system principles. Inspected systems that meet perfor-
mance criteria are approved and issued a compliance certificate. Inspections
that identify minor faults require that they be remedied before the next
inspection; serious faults must be corrected and followed by a new inspection
before the system is approved and certified. The performance evaluation
requirements appear to work well, with high approval/certification rates for
schools and day nurseries (>85%) but lower rates for offices (40%), hospitals
(40%), and apartments (65 to 70%).
Performance requirements for HVAC systems in Canadian federal office
buildings, along the lines of those currently being developed by the Amer-
ican Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineers
(ASHRAE), have been incorporated into the Canadian Labor Code. The
amended Code requires that records of a building's HVAC system operation,
inspection, testing, cleaning, and maintenance, written by a qualified person,
be maintained. The Code also requires the conduct of IAQ investigations
using recognized investigative protocols.
Though the principle of compulsory inspections of ventilation systems
has enormous potential to improve IAQ in buildings, it is doubtful that such
a regulatory requirement could be imposed in the U.S. Its use is more likely
in countries with a strong social welfare tradition.
