Michael Brown

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ATLANTA -– The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE) residential ventilation standard is now available. ASHRAE Standard 62.2, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is the only nationally recognized indoor air quality standard developed solely for residences, according to newly appointed committee chair David Grimsrud. The standard is intended for use by code bodies with many of the requirements already existing in one or more codes. It can be applied to new or existing houses. The standard provides the minimum requirements necessary to achieve acceptable indoor air quality for dwellings. Prior to publication of the standard, ASHRAE addressed residential ventilation through ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. "The standard is appropriate for a wider audience, such as designers, contractors and engineers, of all who design and build residential buildings," he said. "While 62.2 has evolved from the residential portion of Standard 62, it represents a major discussion of ventilation issues in residences, a substantial subset of buildings that were covered only briefly in Standard 62." Grimsrud said that the most significant new guidance contained in 62.2 includes: The change to continuous mechanical ventilation. "This eliminates long periods during the year when houses are under-ventilated if infiltration is the only source of ventilation," he said. The adoption of a requirement for kitchen ventilation exhausted to the outside, which helps control the moisture and cooking-related pollutants generated in the kitchen.The cost of ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2003, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is $37 ($29, ASHRAE members). To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, by mail at 1791 Tullie Circle NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, or visit ASHRAE.org. Check out ourother news items or visit our forums.

The November 10th Seattle Post-Intelligencer carried an article about a 21-year old college student at Skagit Valley College who died the previous week from complications confirmed to have been caused by Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a particularly deadly disease spread by common deer mice. Concerned that home inspectors who routinely inspect rodent-infested attics and crawlspaces may be at particular risk of exposure and infection, TIJ contacted the Skagit County Public Health Department to learn more. Corinne Story, Public Health Nurse, informed TIJ that the State Health Department was still conducting a follow-up investigation to determine where the student, who died just days after being taken to the hospital suffering from diarrhea and vomiting, was exposed. According to Story, hantavirus works very quickly. Anyone exposed can begin showing symptoms within a day and reach end stage disease within 5 days. There have been 25 reported cases of hantavirus in Washington State since 1994 - nine of which were fatal (Nationwide, the mortality rate for the virus is 40%). Once infected, there are no antibiotics or known cures. All a hospital can do is provide support while the disease runs its course. Story recommends that anyone entering rural structures that have been closed up and unoccupied, such as camp cabins, barns or sub-structure areas - anywhere there is likely to be rodent infestation - wear at least a paper filter mask and gloves. Those who frequently inspect crawlspaces or attics should wear a respirator with P100 cartridges, surgical gloves and bag their coveralls until cleaned. Story suggests home inspectors working in rural areas warn their clients to avoid dry sweeping floors or dusting furniture or shelves in structures which have been closed up. Instead, buildings should be aired out for at least an hour and then floors and surfaces damp mopped, sprayed or wiped down with bleach. (The Seattle P-I story recommended soaking rodent nests with a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water.) Story confirmed that hantavirus can't be spread human-to-human and that in Washington State roughly 11% of deer mice tested carry the disease. She said that to her knowledge it has never been found in roof rats, Norway rats or field mice. Nonetheless, she advises extreme caution in any rodent-infested environment, and says that any inspector experiencing sudden onset of flue-like symptoms - chills and fever - accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and shortness of break, should seek immediate medical attention. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Skagit County Public Health Department at 360-336-9380, or at theWashington State Department of Health. Check out ourother news items or visit our forums.

'How should buildings be designed, built and operated to minimize problems with mold and moisture' may be the No. 1 question asked today in the construction industry. A new online technical resource from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) will help provide the answer. Mold and Moisture Management in Buildings contains 22 ASHRAE Journal articles and papers presented at ASHRAE IAQ conferences and ASHRAE's semi-annual meetings. "This collection provides extensive technical background along with specific suggestions for avoiding mold- and moisture-related problems," Lew Harriman, a member of ASHRAE's technical committee on moisture management in buildings, said. The papers and articles address mold fundamentals, moisture movement in building assemblies, dehumidification and HVAC systems, and also discussions of typical problems and solutions for both commercial and residential buildings. "Problems associated with mold and moisture seldom fall neatly into any single professional responsibility," according to Harriman. "Biology, medicine, engineering, architecture, construction and building operation all contribute to understanding and managing moisture in buildings. When difficulties occur, they usually expose gaps between these disciplines and often expose shortcomings of our overall understanding of the behavior of moisture and its consequences." The collection can help the professional community as well as the general public understand the technical issues surrounding mold and mildew, according to Harriman. The cost of Mold and Moisture Management in Buildings is $49 ($35 ASHRAE members). It is available only via download from the Bookstore at ASHRAE.org at ASHRAE Book Store. ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of 55,000 persons. Its sole objective is to advance through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve the evolving needs of the public. Check out ourother news items or visit our forums.

FPE Panels - Hazard or Hype? by Douglas Hansen

Hi, I'm betting that if you just do a google search for "marketing materials' and then search within the results for "online catalogs" you'll find lots of sites where you can order customized mugs and styrofoam cups. While you're on those sites, sign up for their catalogs. Word of caution - once you sign up for their catalog, don't be surprised if you start receiving catalogs from everybody and his uncle. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Should home inspector licensing be mandatory in every state? [:-wiltel]

by John Wells Many believe that a long time ago an English gent named John Crapper invented the flushing toilet. Obviously some of the nicknames for the toilet came from that myth. However, I personally take offense when someone calls a crapper the "John". Why not call it the Mike, or the Paul, or Norm, or Kurt, or even a Willie? Oops! I guess a "Willie" is something else often associated with a "John". Sorry to those named Willie out there. But I digress, this was supposed to be a story about ghosts. Here's the bit, I've had more than one Client ask about a horrid moaning noise in their house that comes at odds times, but from no particular location. The noise is a long, fairly high-pitched moan that builds to a crescendo and dies off slowly. I tell them, no worries mate, it's the ghost of John Crapper. There are two culprits (maybe ghosts) that cause the noise. One is a worn toilet refill valve washer, and the other is a leaking flush flapper. The flapper leaks and when the flush tank water-level drops the refill valve is actuated, but still almost closed and under high pressure. On occasion, these conditions can cause the refill valve washer to vibrate rapidly like a clarinet reed. The result is a very rapid water hammer that vibrates through the house plumbing, making it difficult to pinpoint the source. That's the technical explanation. You and I know that it's actually just old John Crapper expressing his displeasure with people for taking his name in vain. Editor's Note: This story was originally posted to TIJ by John Wells in XX. We thought it might give our readers a few chuckles, so we posted it again.

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ASHRAE News Release December 12, 2003 ASHRAE Offers Information on Control of Mold, Moisture ATLANTA - 'How should buildings be designed, built and operated to minimize problems with mold and moisture' may be the No. 1 question asked today in the construction industry. A new online technical resource from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) will help provide the answer. Mold and Moisture Management in Buildings contains 22 ASHRAE Journal articles and papers presented at ASHRAE IAQ conferences and ASHRAE's semi-annual meetings. "This collection provides extensive technical background along with specific suggestions for avoiding mold- and moisture-related problems," Lew Harriman, a member of ASHRAE's technical committee on moisture management in buildings, said. The papers and articles address mold fundamentals, moisture movement in building assemblies, dehumidification and HVAC systems, and also discussions of typical problems and solutions for both commercial and residential buildings. "Problems associated with mold and moisture seldom fall neatly into any single professional responsibility," according to Harriman. "Biology, medicine, engineering, architecture, construction and building operation all contribute to understanding and managing moisture in buildings. When difficulties occur, they usually expose gaps between these disciplines and often expose shortcomings of our overall understanding of the behavior of moisture and its consequences." The collection can help the professional community as well as the general public understand the technical issues surrounding mold and mildew, according to Harriman. The cost of Mold and Moisture Management in Buildings is $49 ($35 ASHRAE members). It is available only via download from the Bookstore at ASHRAE.org at http://resourcecenter.ashrae.org/store/ ... 174&page=1. ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of 55,000 persons. Its sole objective is to advance through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve the evolving needs of the public.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - On November 4, 2003, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC) voted unanimously to deny a petition to ban the use of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) pressure-treated wood in playground equipment. CCA manufacturers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had previously agreed to phase out CCA treatment of wood for most consumer uses by the end of 2003. CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton said, "The industry has already agreed to stop using this chemical as a treatment for wood for most residential consumer uses. The EPA action effectively addresses the petitioners' request." Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall said, "EPA's cancellation of the registration of CCA as a pesticide will have the effect of prospectively banning the use of CCA-treated wood, and most ajor manufacturers of playground sets have already ceased using CCA-treated wood. I urge the staff to continue its work to identify stains and sealants that will reduce exposure to arsenic from existing CCA wood structures." Commissioner Thomas Moore said, "While EPA's action will address the issue of a ban on the use of CCA-treated wood, I recommend that the staff continue efforts to identify stains and sealants. We need to educate the public about the cancer risk associated with these structures and steps to minimize the risk." Statements by the Commissioners are available at www.cpsc.gov. In a report submitted to CPSC Commissioners earlier this year, staff scientists found that some children may face an increased risk of developing lung or bladder cancer over their lifetime from playing on playground equipment made from CCA pressure-treated wood. This risk is in addition to the risk of getting cancer due to other factors over one's lifetime. Not every exposed individual will get cancer at sometime during his/her lifetime. CPSC staff states this increased risk to children is primarily due to exposure to arsenic residue on children's hands followed by hand-to-mouth contact. Transfer of the arsenic from the hand to the mouth can occur during and after playing on CCA pressure-treated wood playground equipment. An individual child's risk from arsenic in CCA-treated playground equipment will vary depending on many factors. Those include the amount of arsenic released from the CCA-treated wood, the amount of arsenic picked up on the hands, the number of days and years the child plays on the wood, and the amount of arsenic transferred to the mouth by hand-to-mouth activity. The staff considered these types of exposures in calculating the increased lifetime risk of developing lung or bladder cancer. There are many other risk factors that contribute to a person's risk for developing cancer over their lifetime such as environment, genetics, diet, and behaviors such as smoking. To minimize the risk of exposure to arsenic from CCA-treated playground equipment, the CPSC staff recommends that parents and caregivers thoroughly wash children's hands with soap and water immediately after playing on CCA pressure-treated wood playground equipment. In addition, the staff recommends that children not eat while on CCA-treated wood playground equipment. CPSC and EPA are conducting studies of coatings and sealants to determine effective measures of reducing the amount of arsenic released from CCA-treated wood. Results are expected in the next year. Arsenic occurs naturally in the air, soil, water, and in some foods. While exposure to arsenic from background sources could be much higher than the exposure from playgrounds for some children, exposure to arsenic from CCA-treated playgrounds could be a significant source of arsenic for other children on those days that include a playground visit. Most major manufacturers of commercial and residential wood playground equipment have already stopped using CCA-treated wood to make their products. In addition, playground structures can be made of other materials that don't contain arsenic, such as naturally rot-resistant wood (redwood and cedar), metal, plastic, composite materials, and wood treated with substitute chemicals. All of these materials could be used for new construction. Consumers may obtain a fact sheet on the findings of the Commission staff at the CPSC web site at www.cpsc.gov or by calling the CPSC hotline at 800-638-CPSC (2772). Editor's Note: In the November issue of Frame Building News there was a very good article written by one or two fellows from the US Forest Products Laboratory and a fellow from Washington State University that discusses the transition from all CCA-treated wood under the old labeling system to that of the new system. The article also explains the differences in the various new treatments that are going to be available. You should be able to find the article at http://www.framebuildingnews.com. Just register for a free subscription and then search the on-line edition archives. Check out ourother news items or visit our forums.

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Moved from Front Page Headlines February 15th, 2004 Home inspectors looking for relevant information to use in their marketing materials can find a free public domain document entitled The Home Inspection & You at the First Gov public information website. It is essentially a question and answer pamphlet that was put together in 1993 as a public service by the American Society of Home Inspectors in cooperation with the Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The title and text are changed slightly from the current document, which ASHI© sells, but the text is still informationally correct. The pamphlet can be found at this link: The Home Inspection & You Check out ourother news items or visit our forums.