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Mansel A Nelson Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals

Mansel A Nelson Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals. Visual Inspections and Occupants Role and Education of Occupants. Presentation. A Balancing Act Sensitivities The 3 Ls Visual Inspection (Look) Source Reduction Ventilation Air Cleaning Special Needs. Balancing Act.

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Mansel A Nelson Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals

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  1. Mansel A Nelson Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Visual Inspections and Occupants Role and Education of Occupants

  2. Presentation A Balancing Act Sensitivities The 3 Ls Visual Inspection (Look) Source Reduction Ventilation Air Cleaning Special Needs www.nau.edu/eeop

  3. Balancing Act nau.edu/iaqtc

  4. Sensitivities • Privacy • Human Subjects • Be careful about health data • Some tribes require “IRBs” • Watch the gossip nau.edu/iaqtc

  5. Three Ls Look Listen to Occupants Learn and Teach nau.edu/iaqtc

  6. Visual Inspection Purpose: Get “Lay of the land” of house and how it is operated Basic building characteristics Determining what measurements to make and where Look for visual clues Provides the foundation to interpret measurements

  7. Building Characteristics Vital Organs Foundation Wall construction Attic General Condition Safety hazards Insulation Sealing Windows & Doors

  8. Floor Plan / Site Plan Helps to diagram the layout of the structure and Components Identify Rooms Reference for later recall Location of equipment (e.g. HVAC) Location of observed problems Useful for annotating where measurements are made Basis for calculations (area, volume)

  9. Exterior Walk Around Orientation Exterior dimensions Construction type, obvious additions Ground Contact – Where & How house interfaces with ground Site Drainage General Condition – State of maintenance, obvious need for repairs Signs of water damage or leakage Type and condition of roofing Shading Record observations with Completed Form / Notes Photos / noted in form Floor Plan (one each occupied floor)

  10. Building Envelope Walls Floors and Basements Ceilings and Attics Doors and Windows Overall Heat Loss Air Leakage

  11. Walls • Type of construction • Insulation • Thickness / R value • Type • Penetrations and sealing

  12. Windows and doors Inventory Type Thermal breaks Exposure U rating Sealing

  13. Floors & Ceilings Type Finish Insulation Penetrations & Sealing

  14. Basement / Crawlspace Inspection • Determine insulation level & placement • Conditioned ? • Directly • Indirectly • Ducts and vents • Joints and Penetrations • To Soil • To Living Area • Drainage • Sealing • Traps • Venting • Vapor Barrier • Indication of water/water damage

  15. Slab inspection • Presence of exterior (footer) insulation • Interior joints penetrations • Sealing • Smoke test

  16. Attic Inspection • Type • Presence of Knee walls / Inaccessible voids • Attached garages • Exhaust vents • Attic Venting • Natural vents • Attic fans • Sealed / Unvented • Chases • Sealing /Barriers to Living Space • Access Door seals • Penetrations • Insulation • Location, Type and R value • Radiant barrier • Gaps and Voids • Evidence of moisture / moisture damage

  17. Attached Garage Smoke test at door to living area Air barrier Storage Water heater / Appliances

  18. HVAC & Duct Systems Inspection • Heating • Cooling • Ductwork • Portable Devices • Thermostats • Duct Type and Characteristics • Duct Leakage • Ductwork design, installation, sealing • Filter location, type, condition • System Inspection • Cleanliness • Condensate pan and drainage

  19. Inspect for Moisture Problems • Rain Water Leaks • Flooding • Damp Soil • High Water Table • Plumbing Leaks • Sewage Backups • Cold Surface Condensation • Cooling Systems

  20. Fire & Combustion Safety • Check for presence and operability of: • Smoke Detector / Alarm • CO monitor / Alarm • Electrical • Open boxes • Damaged wiring • Overloaded circuits • Clear exits • Unsafe storage of flammables • Fireproof clearance around combustion devices

  21. Wood / Coal Burning Stoves Maintain stoves and flues EPA Certified stoves preferred Consider switching to propane

  22. Lighting and Appliances • Inventory • Energy Star • Other fixtures and lamps • Appliances

  23. Occupant Roles and Issues Operate the home systems Maintain the home Cleaning the home Storage of chemicals in the home Activities in the home Listen to the Occupant Teach the Occupant

  24. Source Control Ventilation Air Cleaning Source Control becomes even more important as you “tighten” a home through weatherization activities.

  25. Personal Care/Cosmetics TVs & Computers Furniture Lead Asbestos Automobile Carpeting Cleaning Products & Pesticides Furniture Flooring Radon

  26. No Smoking In Homes

  27. Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) No risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke Following actions DO NOT protect nonsmokers • Separating smokers from nonsmokers • Cleaning the air • Ventilating buildings

  28. Cleaners and Air Fresheners Average US household uses 40 lbs. of chemicals each year Average household stores more than 60 hazardous products Many of the products are loaded with fragrances and petroleum-distilled chemicals (Volatile Organic Compounds / VOCs)

  29. Identifying Safer Products Third-party certified Green Seal EcoLogo EPA’s Design for the Environment

  30. Air Fresheners DO NOT “clean” the air They add more air pollutants

  31. Pesticides Read and follow label instructions IPM preferred

  32. Vacuuming HEPA Fireplace Vacuum Vacuuming can re-suspend particles Consider HEPA Vacuum

  33. Basic Principles Source Control Ventilation Air Cleaning

  34. Source Ventilation Excess moisture in bathroom can lead to mold

  35. Source Ventilation Cooking releases moisture Gas stoves release low CO and lots of moisture Make sure range hood vents to outside

  36. Ventilation ASHRAE’s residential ventilation standard (Standard 62.2) sets the minimum ventilation • 7.5 cfm per occupant • plus 3 cfm for every 100 square feet of occupied floor area

  37. Basic Principles Source Control Ventilation Air Cleaning Air cleaning is only considered after proper source control and ventilation.

  38. Air Cleaners • No Ozone Air Cleaners • True HEPA Filter • Activated Charcoal • Size for the space

  39. Special Needs • Asthma and Allergies • EPA Asthma Home Environment Checklist • Young Children • Elderly

  40. Resources • Help Yourself to a Healthy Home www.hud.gov/healthyhomes • An Office Building Occupants Guide to Indoor Air Quality www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/occupgd.html • Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/aircleaners.pdf • American Lung Association - Asthma www.lung.org/lung-disease/asthma/ • American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) www.aiha.org/about-aiha/Press/ConsumerBrochures/Forms/AllItems.aspx

  41. Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Mansel A. Nelson, Senior Program Coordinator Indoor Air Quality in Tribal Communities Northern Arizona University (NAU) nau.edu/iaqtc/ mansel.nelson@nau.edu Voice 928 523 1275 FAX 928 523 1280 PO Box 5768, Flagstaff, AZ 86011

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