Water quality and biological monitoring / Tennessee / Bradfield Environmental Services, Inc.

Bradfield Environmental Services, Inc.
	Hydrology & Environmental Monitoring

Air Quality Monitoring

Bradfield Environmental Services, Inc. provides consulting services to evaluate and improve indoor air quality (IAQ). Arthur Bradfield is a Certified Indoor Environmentalist by the Indoor Air Quality Association. Services include on-site consultation, comprehensive sampling services, evaluations of HVAC Performance, and long-term continuous monitoring of indoor air quality parameters (temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and odors/gases (VOC's) using the PureTrac SystemTM by PureChoice, Inc.


PureTrac Air Monitoring System. Web interface for real-time monitoring. Internet accessible charts and graphs. E-mail notification of alert limits.	Hi-Tech, state of the art Nose Monitor. LONMARK® Certified. 2003 Ashrae Innovation Award Winner.

The PureTrac SystemTM is a state of the art air monitoring system that provides real time data on the five crucial IAQ parameters. The PureTrac system is a web based program that allows the user access to continuous data that can be securely viewed from any computer with internet access through the PureChoice website. Summaries of data from each Nose MonitorTm sensor are compiled and emailed to the user weekly. Alarm emails or pages can be sent when parameters exceed a specified range.

Air samples can be analyzed for more than 250 organic compounds to quickly and economically evaluate vent and stack gases, indoor air quality, process emissions, and to investigate odor or employee complaints. Sampling services for the detection of molds are available using high sensitivity detection of microbial metabolites known as microbial volatile organic compounds. These compounds are biomarkers for molds that produce toxins that may cause health problems such as allergic reactions and respiratory irritation.

Detection of microbial activity has the following advantages:

Applications include office buildings, work areas, public buildings, schools, homes, air ducts, and manufacturing facilities. Certifying your building is clean demonstrates due diligence and provides documentation that can be used in the event of lawsuits blaming health problems on environmental conditions in the work place. Benefits of air quality monitoring far outweigh the costs by reducing the amount of lost work time.

HVAC Performance Evaluations:

Many indoor air quality problems are associated with heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that have not been maintained or are out of balance. Recent studies have shown that preventive maintenance is accomplished on less than 50% of commercial buildings. Bradfield Environmental Services, Inc. conducts HVAC Performance Evaluations that insure a thorough and cost-effective approach to documenting and improving system efficiency and indoor air quality.

Assessments are based in part on guidelines provided in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers application guide "Indoor Air Quality Standards of Performance", C.B. Dorgan and others, 1999, and procedures outlined in "Assessment, Cleaning, and Restoration of HVAC Systems", ( ACR 2002), an industry standard developed by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).

Occupant satisfaction with IAQ is primarily influenced by temperature, humidity, air movement, outdoor air rates, and contaminant levels. Contaminants, whether they are microbial, chemical, or organic in nature, are substances that can adversely affect the health and well being of occupants. Contaminants are generated in the occupied space, outdoors, and by mechanical systems (HVAC equipment and air ducts).

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is directly related to operation and maintenance practices for HVAC systems. Poorly maintained systems accumulate problems that are out of hand by the time people complain about air quality. Problems with degraded air quality are costly, resulting in decreased system energy efficiency, degradation of building materials, and reduced occupant satisfaction and productivity.

Bradfield Environmental Services, Inc. conducts HVAC Performance Evaluations in phases that insure information is gathered in a cost effective manner:

Phase I- Basic data collection and initial inspection:

1. Monitor temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter at selected locations in the building over a two to four day period. All data will be recorded, graphed, and analyzed to determine if these parameters are within guidelines established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

2. Visual inspection of HVAC system and ductwork. Components will be inspected to determine if cleaning is needed to insure maximum system efficiency. Available documentation regarding system design, capacity, and occupancy loads will be reviewed and evaluated along with IAQ monitoring data. Basic measurements of air flow will be collected to determine if the system is in balance and delivering sufficient amounts of outside air to all occupied space.

3. Collection of Particle Count data using the Aggressive Particle Profiling Procedures recommended by NADCA (ACR 2002) for supply and return ducts. Particle Count data (0.3 to 5 micron) are used to assess the performance of the filtration of the existing HVAC system and the ability of the system to distribute respirable viable and non-viable particles into indoor ambient air. Air samples to determine the type and quantity of fungal spores (mold), man-made vitreous fibers (fiber glass), and dust will be collected. Fungal counts found indoors will be compared to outdoor counts to identify potential moisture problems.

4. Study results will be documented in a formal report to include results of monitoring data, compliance with ASHRAE guidelines, and recommendations for improving indoor air quality and HVAC system efficiency. Cost estimates for implementing recommendations will be provided upon request.

Phase II- Implementation of Recommendations

Recommendations provided in the Phase I Report will be carried out to optimize the operation and energy efficiency of the HVAC system and insure cost-efficient operation of equipment and adequate indoor air quality for building occupants. Phase II can include cleaning of the HVAC system including supply and return air ducts, adjusting the amount of outdoor air introduced to the system according to ASHRAE guidelines, and balancing the system to maintain IAQ in all parts of the building.

Phase III- Establish Standards of Performance For Operation and Maintenance

Most commercial and office buildings have some level of maintenance, be it corrective, preventative, in house, or through a contractor. However, a very small percentage, estimated to be a maximum of 20%, of building maintenance programs are designed with indoor air quality in mind. The intent of a Standard of Performance (SOP) is to provide operation and maintenance (O&M) personnel with guidelines on which measurements are to be made and evaluated to insure HVAC systems operate properly.

The process by which SOP's are developed:

Once developed, SOP's are compared to the measurements collected and calculations completed. Through this comparison, O&M personnel can determine if a SOP is met. In not, corrective actions can be taken to insure optimum energy efficiency of the system and occupant satisfaction. The benefits of improved IAQ are many and they translate into economic gains. Benefits include fewer complaints, improved employee/tenant satisfaction, improved productivity, and protection from litigation. In some markets, guaranteed IAQ is considered a premium that can justify increased rental rates.

Links

Air quality:
www.epa.gov/airnow

American Lung Association
www.lungusa.org/air

OSHA
www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/indoorairquality

PureChoice, Inc.
www.purechoice.com

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
www.ashrae.org

Indoor Air Quality Association
www.iaqa.org

Continental Automated Buildings Association
www.caba.org/

National Air Duct Cleaners Association
www.nadca.com/index.htm

Telephone: 615.790.1000

Arthur@bradfieldenviro.com