CSC Environmental Newsletter: September 2020

Clark Seif Clark

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Environmental Newsletter

September 2020

Every day, Clark Seif Clark professionals are deployed across the nation helping both large and small customers resolve health & safety, industrial hygiene, environmental and indoor air quality issues.

At a moment's notice, Clark Seif Clark can send their experts anywhere they are needed. No matter if it's in response to a hurricane, wildfire, flood, tornado or other natural disaster, Clark Seif Clark is ready to help and can respond in no time at all.

Air Filter Selection and Replacement for Optimizing Indoor Air Quality and HVAC System Efficiency

Just as the type of fabric used in a face mask can influence what people breathe from their surrounding environment and exhale into the air, building air filters can also have a significant impact on the indoor air quality (IAQ) of a home or building. Air filters play an important job in the HVAC system, trapping particulates, which could include allergens, asthma triggers, respiratory irritants, infectious pathogens and other contaminants, as the air circulates.

Unfortunately, since air filters are typically out of sight, many people forget to change them on a routine basis. If not regularly replaced, they can become overloaded with dust and particulate matter which can make the HVAC system run less efficiently, increasing energy costs and perhaps decreasing the life of the system. A dirty filter may also negatively impact IAQ if it is no longer properly removing airborne matter. In a high humidity environment, a dirty filter could even support the growth of mold.

While following the manufacturer’s recommendation for how frequently to change a filter is an excellent place to begin, there are other factors that can come into play. For example, how frequently is the HVAC system used; how large is the home or building; do family members or building occupants suffer from allergies, asthma, COPD or other respiratory conditions; are there pets indoors; and is the property in an area prone to outside air pollution, high pollen counts or dusty conditions?

“There is no universally applicable frequency for changing HVAC filters. Temporal and site-specific dynamics dictate the ideal timing of filter replacements. Factors to consider include, but are not limited to, season, hours of daily operation, occupant density, indoor activities, filter type, filtration goals (e.g. basic HVAC protection or infection control) and the like,” said Derrick A. Denis, Vice President of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) for Clark Seif Clark. “Filters are classified with minimum efficiency reporting values (MERV) based on how efficiently they remove particles in various sizes ranges (e.g. 0.3-1.0µm, 1.0-3.0µm, and 3.0-10.0µm). Unique structures demand goal-oriented filtration, such as residences, clean rooms, airborne infection isolation rooms (AIIRs), etc. The higher the MERV rating the more effective the filtration of airborne particles, but the more restrictive the filter media. Dense filter media that exceeds the design specifications leads to excessive air resistance, reduced air flow and adverse pressure drops, which can lead to problems like frozen coils, extreme duct leakage, premature system wear and more. Don’t use the highest MERV rated filter you can afford, but instead, use the MERV rated filter your HVAC system is designed and rated to handle. Change the filters on the manufacturer’s recommended schedule or more frequently as needed.”

Dedicated to creating healthy and efficient indoor environments in homes, businesses and institutions are the professionals at Clark Seif Clark. Their building science, air quality, industrial hygiene and infection control experts offer building assessments and testing services to identify indoor pollutants, support infection control efforts, and evaluate ventilation and filtration issues. CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about air filters in residential settings that can be seen below:

Changing Air Filters and Indoor Air Quality in Homes

To learn more about this or other building science, infection control, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, health and safety services, please:

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Fungal Disease Awareness Week and Protecting Workers and the Public from Preventable Exposure Risks

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated September 21^st through the 25^th as Fungal Disease Awareness Week. The week is meant to highlight the importance of recognizing serious fungal diseases early enough in the course of a patient’s illness to provide life-saving treatment. The agency also reports that some fungal diseases go undiagnosed and cause serious infections in people in the United States.

For 2020, CDC is focusing on three fungal diseases that can feel like the flu or pneumonia: coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis and blastomycosis.

Valley fever, also called coccidioidomycosis, is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides. The fungus is known to live in the soil in the southwestern United States, parts of Mexico, and Central and South America. The fungus was also recently found in south-central Washington.

Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by a fungus known as Histoplasma. The fungus lives in the environment, particularly in soil that contains large amounts of bird or bat droppings. In the United States, Histoplasma is mainly found in the central and eastern states, especially in areas around the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys.

Blastomycosis is an infection caused by the fungus Blastomyces. The fungus lives in the environment, often in moist soil and in decomposing matter such as wood and leaves. Blastomyces mainly lives in areas of the United States and Canada surrounding the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys and the Great Lakes.

“There are other pathogenic fungi that a can be found in many of our homes, schools, businesses and even hospitals,” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “For example, a very common potential pathogen in properties with mold contamination is Aspergillus, which can cause aspergillosis. People with a weakened immune system are typically at greatest risk for developing aspergillosis and many of these fungal diseases. This is why places like healthcare centers, nursing homes and long-term care facilities need to be especially vigilant in preventing conditions that could allow for the growth of mold indoors.”

Helping businesses and institutions meet these challenges are the industrial hygiene and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) professionals at Clark Seif Clark. Their experts provide environmental, building science and infection control education; consulting; and comprehensive testing and inspection services. CSC has also sponsored an educational video about Fungal Disease Awareness Week that can be seen below:

To learn more about this or other microbial, indoor air quality, building science, occupational, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark: CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both the public and private sectors address environmental issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering making them the preferred environmental consultants to healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.