Standards Activities Relative to HVAC Systems and Mold Assessment and Remediation
By Bob Baker
This is a continuation of a paper presented by me on September 30 in Vancouver, BC to the Air and Waste Management Association. The first part on regulatory activities was in last month's issue.
Standards
The S-520 Project
In the year 2001, members of various organizations involved with providing services related to the indoor environment became concerned about the growing need for uniformity in mold remediation and initiated a project to develop an industry consensus standard to dealing with mold contamination in buildings. Although this work has drawn from the various guidelines that currently exist, the objective of the design team was to establish a new paradigm and is best described in the introduction to the Standard:
"This document is the result of a collaborative effort primarily involving industry experts, companies, training schools, industry trade associations, government and educational institutions, institutes and professional societies. The three principal designers of the document include:
Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)
Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA)
Indoor Environmental Institute (IEI) Other organizations contributing to the creation of this document include the American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQ), the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR, International), the International Society of Cleaning Technicians (ISCT) and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). The publication of this document was made possible through the boundless contributions of a dedicated group of experts. The IICRC Board of Directors and the Standards Committee members genuinely appreciate the time and effort contributed by these individuals. They exhibit the true volunteer spirit that has been the driving force behind the IICRC since its inception."
The document is designed to set the standard of care for remediation contractors. The committee and other contributors represent a broad section of individuals from industry, consulting firms, law, academia and science. The prime criteria for selection of contributors were knowledge of the processes and willingness to submit to the ambitious schedule that the group imposed for completion of the document. The core working committee consisted of 33 individuals. An additional 40 persons are listed as contributors and over 250 participated in the initial peer review. This represents the majority of the United States based individuals who are considered "expert" in indoor environmental issues.
Mr. Baker's field of expertise is the control of contamination in air-conditioning and ventilating systems by mold, mildew and bacteria. He writes and speaks frequently about the efficacy, legal risks, and regulatory issues involved in various control strategies. He serves on ASHRAE Technical Committee TC 2.3, TC 2.4, TC 9.8, and Sampling of Airborne Particulate Concentration in Commercial and Residential Buildings GPC 17P. He also serves as a member of ASTM D22.06 (Indoor Air Quality) and is on the Board of Directors of the Indoor Air Quality Association and the Florida Public Health Foundation. Because HVAC applications encompass new uses from an U.S. EPA regulatory standpoint, Mr. Baker works closely with the EPA and industry groups, including serving as the chair of the IAQ committee of the Consumer Specialty Products Association, to help formulate policy in this area.
Bob Baker is Chairman and CEO of BBJ Environmental Solutions, Inc., a company specializing in providing clean air through environmentally responsible products, such as BBJ MicroBiocide , BBJ Micro Coil Clean , "FreshDuct Odor Eliminator ", and BBJ Mold and Mildew Remover™ as well as the revolutionary new Power Coil Clean™. For additional information, Mr. Baker can be reached at (800) 889-2251 or through the company web site at http://www.bbjenviro.com.
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