Ensuring
clean, healthy indoor air is a necessity for a
productive
business. According to NEMI (National Energy Management
Institute): "Benefits of improved IAQ (indoor air quality)
are so large that this opportunity cannot be ignored... these
include improved productivity, increased profits, greater
employee/ customer/visitor health, and reduced health costs."
Conversely, the failure of a building owner or an employer to
provide clean indoor air can result in costly consequences
including health problems, absenteeism, reduced productivity,
higher premiums for worker's comp and health insurance, and lost
tenants. Moreover, U.S. courts have consistently ruled that
building owners have a non-deferrable legal obligation to provide
building occupants with a safe and healthful environment.
Indoor air quality is the environmental issue of the
'90's. The USEPA has ranked poor IAQ as one of the highest risks
to human health among all types of environmental problems. In
fact, according to studies conducted by EPA, NIOSH and others, the
average measured levels of many hazardous pollutants may be as
much as 100 times higher in indoor air than in the air outside.
The World Health Organization has estimated that 30% of all
buildings experience IAQ problems. These problems are especially
prevalent in tight, energy-efficient buildings where a high
percentage of recirculated air is utilized. According to the
highly respected Journal of American Medical Association:
"the risk of respiratory infection is 45% higher among
occupants of energy efficient buildings."
Common indoor air contaminants include fibers and chemicals
from
carpeting and fabrics; formaldehyde and other chemicals from
furniture; vapors from cleaning and copier chemicals; and hair,
dander and germs from the occupants themselves. The combined
health effects of these pollutants on building occupants can be
significant, especially on those suffering from allergies, asthma
or other respiratory ailments.
What you can't see can hurt you.
A building's air duct network acts as its respiratory system.
Dirt, dust, debris and microbial growth that accumulate inside of
air ducts hidden from view "congest" the system and make
it difficult for the building to "breathe" properly and
function efficiently. In fact, a
1987 ASHRAE study concluded that maintaining system cleanliness
would reduce average operating costs by 10 to 25%.
More than 70% of all IAQ problems involve the HVAC system.
Dirty air ducts are an ideal breeding ground for mold spores,
mildew, bacteria (including Legionella) and other
health-threatening microbial growth. Dirty ducts can also result
in higher utility bills, reduced air supply and premature failure
of expensive HVAC components.
(Enlarged samples
taken from HVAC duct debris -from top to bottom) Fungi, bacteria, pollen
and dust mites. These pollutants can circulate freely through the air
ducts of a poorly or improperly maintained HVAC system. 42,000 dust
mites can be found in one ounce of dust.
The Solution: Clean air ducts for cleaner air.
Sick Building Syndrome and its very real costs can be
prevented.
Our high quality commercial duct cleaning service
enables our clients to provide ultra-clean indoor air, and to
realize the common sense business advantages that accrue from a
well-maintained air duct system.
Using state-of-the-art equipment and source removal techniques,
our crews are able to access and thoroughly clean the entire duct
system.
99.97% of the removed contaminants down to 0.3 microns in
size are captured by the HEPA-AIREŽ portable power vac's high
efficiency filtration system. Air exhausted back into the facility
is clean enough to meet surgical standards.
HEPA-AIREŽ is a registered trademark of Abatement
Technologies, Inc., Lawrenceville, GA.