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Do you experience poor health symptoms that show up in your home or office but disappear when you leave? You may be suffering from Sick Building Syndrome or other IAQ-related illnesses in these spaces. Using both personal interviews and sampling and analysis techniques, HPB professionals work to identify the causes of such complaints and then develop a plan to eliminate them. HPB employs the proven complaint analysis methodology of EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM). This method uses an interactive diagnostic process that organizes information to answer the key questions:
Although initially developed to address health complaints in commercial buildings, the procedures have been adapted by HPB for residential buildings, including single-family homes.
Samples are sent via overnight delivery to Aerotech P&K Laboratories, a fully-accredited IAQ laboratory providing analytical results in as little as 24 hours. The analytical results, as well as the responses to personal interviews, are reviewed jointly by Mr. Edward Aul and Dr. Margaret Deutsch to evaluate both the cause/effect relationships and the health implications of the collected information. On this basis, a plan is developed to eliminate (or at least isolate) the sources of concern. HPB is available to oversee mitigation measures and verify that the plan has been successfully implemented. If mold is a suspected problem, HPB is particularly well equipped to deal with it. As a Professional Engineer, Edward Aul brings years of experience to identifying and correcting the source of moisture that is required for mold growth. Removing mold without eliminating the moisture source is a lesson in futility. As a Certified Mold Inspector, Mr. Aul has the training, experience, and equipment to collect the full range of mold samples, including tape lifts and swab samples for visible contamination sites and air samples for hidden growth areas. Collected samples are sent to Aerotech P&K Laboratories for analyses and culturing, as required. The analytical results and site evaluations are used to develop a complete remediation plan, including clean-up methods, disposal of contaminated materials, and procedures to protect other occupants and areas of the building. HPB can perform smaller remediation jobs, if requested, or recommend other independent firms in the area. If another firm is used for the remediation, HPB is available to act as the owner’s representative to ensure that the remediation is conducted safely and effectively. HPB is also available to perform acceptance testing for re-occupation following remediation. |
When occupants of a building experience acute health effects that seem to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified, it is referred to as Sick Buildiing Syndrome (SBS).
Symptoms may include: headaches; eye, nose, and throat irritation; a dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors. With SBS, no clinically defined disease or specific chemical or biological contaminant can be determined as the cause of the symptoms. Typically those suffering from SBS feel relief soon after leaving the building. |
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Using the results of the complaint analyses, HPB will develop and execute a sampling and analysis plan to identify and quantify the cause(s) of the complaints. HPB can perform a wide range of sampling, including:|
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