In addition to the keynote presentation by William Fisk, conference attendees will have the opportunity to participate in numerous rounds of concurrent workshops on IAQ "hot" topics.  Some workshops will be presented twice.  The workshops listed below are scheduled for presentation on Wednesday, March 13, 2013.  The workshop rotation schedule is available HERE

2013 Workshop Topics (In alphabetical order)

Case Study:  Double Duty Use of Heat Pump Water Heaters
Presented by: Turner Building Science & Design, LLC

There is a recent resurgence in the use of heat pump water heaters which have been in existence for over 30 years. Several sizes and models are now widely available. In addition to spreading and reducing electric loads and economically producing domestic hot water without an on site combustion appliance, they have the potential to eliminate the need for a basement dehumidifier in climates with periods of extended high outdoor humidity. This presentation will focus on a case studies of an existing home retrofit located in Southern Maine. Data will be presented regarding the recorded hot water use, electricity use, condensate produced, and resultant basement humidity for a 6 month period. In this family of 4 case study the installation has eliminated the need for a dehumidifier, while not increasing the normal summer electric bills, and eliminated the use off 100 gallons of heating oil during the non-heating summer period. Home tightness (blower door) data will also be presented. 

By attending this session, participants will be able to identify characteristics of heat pump water heaters and the environmental and operational conditions that impact their performance; Be able to describe four potential positive/negative synergies;  Recognize when a heat pump water heater has the potential to serve the need to both dehumidify and provide domestic hot water. 

Case Study:  PCB Removal in a Maine School Facility
Presenters:  Lyndon B. Keck, AIA - PDT Architects, Portland, ME
                       Andrew Madura, Facility Director, MSAD 61
                       Mark Coleman, Consultant, Environmental Safety & Hygiene, Westbrook, ME

Asbestos and lead paint are well-known hazardous materials that building owners, architects, and contractors typically identify, develop plans, and budgetary costs well in advance of most renovations projects.   This workshop provides an overview and case study of a new and emerging hazardous material which is more prevalent in building materials than was originally understood, is more difficult to safely remove, and is much more expensive to abate or contain. 

Polychlorinated Biphenyls  (PCB)  belong to a family of man-made organic chemicals known as chlorinated hydrocarbons.  PCB’s were domestically manufactured in the United States from 1929 until their manufacture was banned in 1979.  PCB’s may be present in school building materials for schools built before 1980.  Products that may contain PCB’s include exterior caulking and sealants, ceiling tiles, paints, thermal insulations, as well as the more traditional uses in transformers, and oils used in motors and hydraulic systems.

This workshop will present a case study of one of Maine’s first PCB remediation projects at a public school.  It will present the challenges faced by the owner, architect, and Haz-Mat consultant as the project went from planning to renovation and construction.  Attendees will become familiar with EPA rules and regulations, how to perform early testing, budgeting and how to react with construction phasing and removals.

Case Study:  The New Hampden Academy - Community-Based and Sustainable Design
Presenters:    Jeffrey R. Davis, AIA, Education Studio Manager - WBRC A/E
                         Emil Genest - Assistant Superintendant for Business, SAD#22
                         Daniel C. Monroe, PE, LEED AP, Sr. Mechanical Engineer, WBRC A/E

In 2008, the towns of Hampden, Newburgh, and Winterport were given the go-ahead from the Maine Department of Education to build a new high school.  In August 2012, thanks to a team of visionaries as well as local-only dollars added to the state funding (by the tax payers of Hampden, Newburgh, and Winterport), SAD#22 students entered one of the most innovative schools in Maine.

This workshop will assist attendees in:

·         Understanding the role of ‘community based design’ in the visioning and development of a new high school designed for year-round use

·         Understanding the use of ‘local-only’ funds within the context of Maine DOE capital construction.

·         Understand the use of the LEED Certification process in the incorporation of design features and components to enhance the indoor environmental quality of a large high school.

·         Understanding the use of sustainable design features (including closed loop geothermal ground-source wells, transpired solar walls, heat recovery, and solar-thermal panels) in the conjunction with the heating and cooling of a large educational facility to provide a healthy educational environment.

Effectively Responding to Common IAQ Issues & Concerns
Presenter:  David Blake, Northwest Clean Air Agency - Mt. Vernon, WA

• Discover best practices for addressing IAQ issues raised by teachers, students, staff and other school community members. Learn how to maintain effective communication throughout the issue response and resolution process
• Learn tips and techniques on how to properly use common IAQ instruments, including how and when to collect data, interpret it, and effective ways to report your results.
• Understand the limitations of air sampling for mold and other pollutants, the relative value of a thorough visual inspection, and what can be accomplished without the use of instruments.
• Hear how to foster a culture of open communication in your district where reports of IAQ concerns are welcomed and encouraged as part of a quality IAQ management plan.

Increasing Building Performance through Reduced Fan Energy & Static Pressure
Presenter:  Jeff Watcke, Regional Manager, Dynamic Air Quality Solutions, Southington, CT

This presentation will discuss how to meet demands for a sustainable, high-performing building by reducing static pressure and fan energy. The session will provide an in-depth look at the solutions that can significantly reduce energy consumption while dramatically improving IAQ.  The session will also discuss why current systems are running inefficiently and provide insight from installations where IAQ has significantly improved due to use of new technology.

Leveraging Mobile Technologies to “Close-the-Loop” on Building Sciences Management
Presenters:  William Manfull - GRT

The proliferation of smartphones is creating new opportunities to cost effectively “close the loop” between collecting environmental data and easily managing, analyzing and sharing relevant data with other individuals and other business applications.  The panel discussion will focus on providing an overview of the emerging technologies, approaches being taken by the technology leaders in the field, highlight the considerations to be taken in choosing the appropriate platform for your needs, and how data can be incorporated into everyday best practices and shared with others.

The panel represents users and technology providers who will demonstrate the merits of evaluating a variety of technology approaches.  Presentations will not be “product pitches” but instead will focus on how each approach is well suited to the desired outcomes.  The goal will be to provide a “roadmap” from which each participant can begin their own evaluation process in discovering on the benefits of incorporating technology into their daily activities. 

Limiting Indoor Mold & Dampness in Buildings: The Newly Revised ASHRAE Position on Mold
Presenter:  Lew Harriman, Mason Grant Consulting, Portsmouth, NH

In 2012, the ASHRAE Board of Directors approved a major revision to the Society’s position on indoor mold. This presentation discusses some of the issues and recent research conclusions about indoor mold, and provides specific suggestions from the ASHRAE position document for HVAC designers, contractors, architects, builders and building operators.
 

Manage Your Facilities During High Heat Events
Moderator:  Norman Anderson, Maine CDC - Augusta, Maine

This session has been cancelled.

The Best Practices Committee of the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council, in partnership with the Maine Centers for Disease Control and their Environmental Public Health Tracking division, have developed a set of draft recommendations for management of facillties during high heat events.   Maine is typically considered a cold climate.  As a result, many of Maine's buildings are designed and constructed to keep the cold out and the warm air in.   However, it is not unusual for elevated temperatures outdoors to create conditions that increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.  Attendees of this session will not only have the opportunity to learn practical strategies to manage buildings and sensitive populations during high heat events, but will also have the opportunity to give the Council and the CDC constructive feedback on the document and its recommendations.

The New Hampshire Mold Task Force Standard of Care

Presenters:  Guy Sylvester, Dennis Francoeur, Scott Knightly

In 2008, a group of NH business leaders and health professionals came together with the same concern: there are currently no laws in place to protect the citizens of NH when it comes to mold and poor indoor air quality. This group was motivated to find a way to get mold legislation on the books, and they worked with lawmakers for several months to write and propose House Bill 482, relative to mold assessment, testing and remediation. The Bill was presented on the House Floor and did not pass, losing by just one vote.

Not ready to give up, the group formed a "Mold Task Force," with the goal of creating a Standard of Care for the state's mold industry. Published in December, 2012, the New Hampshire Mold Task Force (NHMTF) Standard of Care provides information to citizens about the causes of indoor mold, possible health risks, prevention measures, and about the mold industry in general, including best practices and tips for hiring consultants and contractors.  This presentation summarizes the findings of the NHMTF and the process which paved the way for the “Standard of Care’ and future legislation. The group is sharing their story with other states in the hopes that Mold Legislation takes root across the country. 

The NIOSH Dampness & Mold Evaluation Tool

Presenters:  Michelle Martin, M.S., Public Health Advisor - National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, Morgantown, WV
                       Steven Game, M.S., Health Scientist - National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, Morgantown, WV

NIOSH has developed a tool for assessing areas of dampness and mold in school buildings that includes an evaluation form and software.  The software includes data entry, editing, and exporting and has been implemented on PC-based tablets.  Session attendees will learn about the origin of the tool future plans for further development.  A software demonstration will be provided.
 

Principles and Practices for Healthy Building Assessments
Presenter:  Carl Grimes, HHS, CIEC - Healthy Habbitats, LLC, Denver, CO

There are Fundamental Principles of any assessment independent of the type of occupied building or the reason for the assessment. Once accounted for then the secondary variations can be included according to the building type and purpose. The Fundamental and Secondary principles for healthy buildings outlined here is based on a two day course developed jointly by  the IAQA Home Health Committee, the National Center for Healthy Housing, and the Environmental Center at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City.

Regional descriptors for combining outdoor fungal aerosol data, the impact of open windows, and the use of these data for interpreting indoor fungal spore concentrations.
Presenter:  David Gallup - EMLab P & K, San Bruno, CA

Outdoor fungal aerosols nearly always provide an important source for indoor aerosols, and, when present in high concentrations may impede the interpretation of indoor aerosols.  Collecting valid outdoor aerosol samples during a single on-site investigation is difficult because of the minute to minute variability both quantitatively and qualitatively in the outdoor aerosol.  Relying on a large outdoor database to sanity-check a small number of outdoor samples is likely to greatly increase the accuracy of indoor/outdoor comparisons.  We have collected a large number of outdoor samples with zip codes assigned to each sample, and present here approaches to establish regional guidelines by data to facilitate these comparisons.  A further complication of indoor aerosol data is the penetration rate of the outdoor aerosol into the indoor air. We have conducted a small scale study to evaluate the effect of opening windows and present it here.

This presentation will increase participants understanding of the importance of the outdoor fungal aerosol, its role in interpreting indoor fungal aerosol populations, and gain a better understanding of the penetration rates of outdoor fungal aerosols through windows.  

The presentation will be suitable for all levels.

Solving IAQ Mysteries - Some Case Studies
Presenter:  Jeffrey C. May, Principal Scientist - May Indoor Air Investigations, LLC, Tyngsborough, MA

In this workshop, Jeff will look at a variety of situations that he has encountered in homes that caused health symptoms in occupants. These will include, among others, a concealed mold problem in a finished basement of a newly-constructed home, back-drafting of combustion gases caused by an exhaust dehumidifier, mold in an attic due to combustion spillage, carbon-monoxide headaches from a gas stove, VOC emissions from a wall of spray foam insulation, the source of a dead-fish house odor that only appeared on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and health symptoms due to birds, quilts, and fish tanks. The attendees will become familiar with some of the more unusual building problems and some of the more obscure sources to look for when investigating IAQ complaints.

Presentation Level:  Intermediate

Sponsor Workshop Sessions:

Myths on Mold in Schools
Presented by John Sumlin, Tandus Flooring

___

There Is No "Plug and Play" in Green Cleaning
Presented by Michael Martin of SWISH

A conversion to a truly green cleaning program need not be difficult, and certainly not expensive, but some old practices have no place in a new economy of cleaning for health in schools. 

___

Indoor Air Quality Analysis: Interpreting Spore Trap Data
Tom Cheetham, PhD, Environmental Microbiology Division, NEL, Winslow Maine

This workshop will review the fundamentals of the detection and analysis of bioaerosols and provide discussion of the interpretation of mold spore trap data from a variety of residential and commercial environments. 

___

Round Table Discussion on Mold Remediation Techniques
Presented by Chris Prior, Envirovantage

___

Using Energy Recovery Ventilators for Bathroom Exhaust
Rich Bialobrzewski, RST Thermal

___

To Change or Not to Change:  How is the Question
Josh Peach, SchoolDude

Technology is changing very rapidly and is changing how we manage home and work.  Find out what's coming and what considerations you should be making.

Through Wall Flashing:  Compatibility, Sustainability and Performance

Presenter:  David Carroll, York Manufacturing, Sanford, ME

Because 70% of building litigation is related to moisture intrusion, knowledge of the types of flashing available and their impact on sustainability and compatibility is critical.  This session will provide attendees with an overview of the composition of each type of flashing and their specific effects on sustainability and life-cycle costs.  Attendees will learn how to specify through-wall flashings to avoid compatibility problems, and learn to understand the performance characteristics of the most commonly used cavity wall materials.

Presentation Level:  Basic

Vapor Intrusion - Introduction & Overview
Presenters:  Erica Bradstreet, Sanborn Head and Associates, Inc., Portland ME
                        Lisa Jacob - Sanborn Head and Associates, Inc., Portland ME

Vapor intrusion (VI) is the process by which chemicals present in the subsurface can migrate to the indoor air of occupied buildings above or downgradient to a contaminated site. Concepts of VI can be applied to a variety of contaminants including petroleum products, chlorinated solvents, and radon. The audience can expect an introduction and overview of VI concepts and processes, and advanced approaches and protocols for VI field investigations and data assessment to support informed decision-making. Processes in the soil between the water table and surface (vadose zone) and their effects on indoor air quality will also be discussed.                    

The presentation will outline the scientific basis for VI, provide an overview of field and laboratory programs, and review data and observations from detailed subsurface characterization. We will review technologies for indoor air sampling including, evacuated stainless steel cylinders, vacuum vials, Tedlar® bags, sorbent tubes, and passive diffusion devices. We will also discuss some of the difficulties associated with indoor air quality assessment, including the potential for background sources from ambient air and building use.

A selection of Sanborn Head vapor intrusion projects will be used to illustrate the above concepts, processes, and methodologies at locations in varying climates in the northeast, the mid-Atlantic, and mid-west. A framework for categorizing building conditions in residential buildings as well as larger commercial/industrial structures with engineered HVAC systems will be presented.

The intended audience includes regulators, consultants, or other stakeholders in an environmental investigation potentially impacting indoor air quality in private residential/commercial properties. The presentation will be appropriate for basic to advanced level audiences. Source materials will draw from references from pertinent scientific literature and other publications along with Sanborn Head’s extensive experience with vapor intrusion investigations. 

Overall Presentation Level:  Intermediate