Welcome to our discussion forum series, The IAQ Club, modeled after the popular community tradition, the book club.
Next Club Forum: Wednesday, June 18: “Some Surprising Sources of IAQ Problems and Novel Ways to Sample Mold “
4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. (Eastern)
Moderator and original session presenter: Jeffrey May, IAQ Investigator, CIAQP CMC, May Indoor Air Investigations, LLC, Tyngsborough, MA
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How it works:
When you register for an IAQ Club Session, not only will you get access to a video and/or audio presentation* from a past education event, you’ll also be able to attend an informal discussion forum** with the original presenter or other knowledgeable moderator. You’ll find the forums fun, informative, and personal. Each session encourages lively discussion of the scheduled topic (and sometimes other related issues!) Participants can ask moderators and each other questions about current projects and challenges. Each session ends with a fun, interactive trivia quiz. You might win a MIAQC hoodie or t-shirt!
*Like a book club, it is recommended, but not required, that you watch the video or listen to the audio prior to the discussion forum, as it is not shown during the forum itself.
**IAQ Club forums are held via Zoom.
Cost:
Participation in the IAQ Club is free for members in good standing (dues current) of the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council, and just $25 for nonmembers. All participants get advance access to the recorded education session, as well as entry into the live, discussion forum for that topic.
About this month’s featured presentation: “Some Surprising Sources of IAQ Problems and Novel Ways to Sample Mold”
For the last twenty-five years, Jeff May has investigated thousands of homes, schools, and offices spaces; and has examined by microscopy over 40,000 air and dust samples. Despite the many years spent as an IAQ investigator, Jeff has been surprised by some of the indoor sources of allergens uncovered during his investigations. In the presentation, Jeff discusses some of his more interesting IAQ cases, which include exposures from couches, carpets, bedding, and even clothing. He describes several novel ways to gather samples, including the use of Air-o-Cell cassettes with a Scotch tape medium. The presentation will include case studies, photographs of conditions he has observed, and micrographs from samples that he examined. The focus is pragmatic rather than theoretical. Anyone interested in IAQ will discover new ways of thinking about and approaching IAQ problems.
Learning Goals:
- To recognize that mechanical equipment can be a powerful source of IAQ problems.
- To identify sources of IAQ problems that occupants introduce into the building envelope.
- To take a sample from a wall cavity without making a hole in the wall.
- To take a source sample using an inexpensive mini-vacuum along with Scotch Tape in a cassette.
- To understand that air sampling alone is not sufficient in an IAQ investigation; source sampling must be included.
This pre-recorded session is approximately 60 minutes in length. The recording is not played during the IAQ Club session.
About the Presenter:
Jeffrey C. May is principal scientist at May Indoor Air Investigations LLC, located in Tyngsboro, MA. His company investigates moisture, odor, and mold problems. Jeff is the co-author, along with Connie L. May, of “My House is Killing Me!” (2001; 2020), “My Office is Killing Me!” (2006), “The Mold Survival Guide” (2004), and “Jeff May’s Healthy Home Tips,” (2008), all published by The Johns Hopkins University Press. Jeff received his Master’s Degree in organic chemistry from Harvard University and served an adjunct faculty member at UMass Lowell. Before becoming an IAQ professional over 20 years ago, he was in turn a teacher, a contractor, and a home inspector. He was inducted into the IAQA Hall of Fame in 2018.
Continuing Education Credits:
| BPI | Submitted - 1.0 credit - Course #22200 |
| AIHA | Self-Submit with Certificate of Attendance |
| Engineers | Self-Submit with Certificate of Attendance |
| USGBC | Self-Submit with Certificate of Attendance |
| BOC | Self-Submit with Certificate of Attendance |
| CEO | Submitted |
Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming IAQ Club Sessions Spring 2025
June 18, 2025 – Jeff May on Some Surprising Sources of IAQ Problems and Novel Ways to Sample Mold
Click here to register for the June 18, 2025 IAQ Club Discussion forum
