Allergies Blog
October 09, 2003
Homebuilders Find Alternative Technology To Improve Indoor Air Quality
The increased awareness of mold and other indoor pollutants has driven many homebuilders and commercial builders to find alternative technologies that can help improve indoor air quality.
There are increasing reports on mold problems with newer homes, schools and commercial buildings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that daily exposure to indoor air pollution can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels.
Indoor air quality can be affected by the level of ventilation and the types of building materials often used in homes, schools and office buildings. Mold growth should be considered a mishap, not an inevitable consequence of age. Such mishaps are fully preventable and entirely fixable. The more that is known about how to prevent mold growth, the more likely we are to build good buildings that stay free of microbial contamination.
The increased awareness of mold and other indoor pollutants has driven many homebuilders and commercial builders to find alternative technologies that can help improve indoor air quality. People don’t want to be in a home or building that’s polluted or moldy. If there is a way of building that will avoid indoor pollution and mold, we should be using it.
There are specific environmental conditions required for mold to propagate. A specific temperature range and source of food are the basic factors that must be in place, but the most important element is the presence of moisture. Moisture can be present within building walls, ceilings, attics, and crawlspaces via gravity, capillary action, air leakage and diffusion.
In order to minimize the potential for mold growth, a building envelope system has to meet specific criteria. Primarily, the building envelope must prevent water from penetrating. The components of the building should resist moisture and once wet should then have the potential to dry quickly (they should be hydrophobic). Therefore, the structure must be properly sealed and contain an effective drainage plane or rain screen. The building envelope must control air leakage. Uncontrolled air leakage leads to condensation and mold growth within the building envelope.
Of all the building materials used in a newly constructed building, insulation can have a major, long-term impact on the quality of the indoor air you breathe. With 40 percent of North American households having at least one family member who suffers from allergies or asthma, attaining maximum indoor air quality can be a major concern. "By sealing a building, reducing pollution sources, and controlling the air leaving it, we can greatly reduce the threat of airborne pollutants" said Bruce Small, director of the Envirodesic™ Certification Program (http://www.envirodesic.com), which independently tests and certifies building products that contribute to healthy indoor air.
One of Envirodesic™ Certification's premier products is The Icynene Insulation System®, a breakthrough spray-in-place soft foam insulation that totally seals a building with zero-emission insulation material. An Icynene Insulation System envelope is the ideal base for a healthy indoor environment, and is even suitable for construction for people who are hypersensitive.
"The Icynene Insulation System®, in tandem with mechanical ventilation, is a key to avoiding the growth of mold," said Mr. Small. More importantly, Icynene does not release any harmful emissions or fibers into the air. With the look and feel of angel food cake, the water-based foam does not emit gases known as volatile organic compounds (VOC) and contains no formaldehyde or harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC).
Source: PRWeb Press Release
09/29/03
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