Office environments are places which often suffer from indoor air quality problems. The reasons for poor air quality can range from insufficient fresh air supply, poor air filtration, off gassing from furniture and fittings, contaminants introduced by maintenance or cleaning personnel, building services failures, contaminants introduced by occupants them self, computers, photocopiers and many others. [...]
Basement (crawlspace ) air causing indoor air quality problems
Air quality investigation is a complex task an only rarely the investigator come across immediately obvious answer to a problem. Typical investigation will usually involve sampling for most likely contaminants in the hope that some will be present at the concentration likely to cause the experienced adverse health symptoms. Preparation and consultation with the client [...]
Exposure to coppper sulphate at art exhibition
Chemicals substances are rarely used in pure form for creation of art. However when the artist finds the courage to experiment some spectacular results can be achieved. I have recently had the opportunity to visit a piece of stunning art where the artist has decided to transform a small flat with copper sulphate crystals. The [...]
Failed mould removal project
I have been appointed to carry out post project verification after a mould removal in a large property. A contractor has been appointed to thoroughly clean and decontaminate all internal areas of this property. The overall objectives were to reduce fungal spore level in the internal areas to normal conditions and remove any dust debris [...]
Dust and indoor air quality
Generally the levels of dust are not a problem in the indoor environment unless a close source is present in close vicinity. In this case I have been invited to investigate the indoor air quality in an office building located in an industrial part of the city. The indoor air quality in the building was not bad as [...]
Deep clean of soft furnishing – Clean verification
Evaluate cleanliness of a particular area or an item can be sometimes very difficult and daunting task. More so, if the items to be evaluated are complex and constructed from porous materials. There are virtually no guidelines on what is considered to be clean and what not, with the rare exception of industrial clean rooms, [...]
Mould clean verification after service leak
Under some unfortunate circumstances properties can suffer from a catastrophic failure of building services which can results in destruction of finishes and contents as well. I have recently completed a project where such catastrophic failure occurred. Relatively minor leak of a bathroom pipe has resulted in flooding of wall cavities with water. The significanly elevated [...]
Problematic carpet
Investigation of indoor air quality is a complex process involving often involving analysis of numerous components of air and often with no clear cut results. The problem with indoor air quality assessment is the fact that you can only realistically measure only small number of possible contaminants. The main hindering factor in any investigation is [...]
Feacal Bacteria in Soft Play Area
Last week a small but serious accident happened at one of the major furniture store outlets. A failure of the customer’s toilet has resulted into flooding of children soft play area with sewage water. The store has reacted promptly and closed and stripped the whole area to structural brickwork. The whole area has been cleaned [...]
Indoor Air Quality – Mobile Home
Last year I was invited to investigate an indoor air quality complain from a proud owner of a new mobile home in the Welsh countryside. The owner has purchased this brand new mobile home from a respectable manufacturer. After moving into the mobile home the owner and his family members have noticed a particularly pungent [...]