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Decks and Patios – Places to Relax

In architecture, a deck is a flat surface capable of supporting weight, similar to a floor, but typically constructed outdoors, often elevated from the ground, and usually connected to a building. The term is a generalization of decks as found on ships.

Wood or timber “decking” can be used in a number of ways – as part of garden landscaping, to extend living areas of houses, and as an alternative to stone based features such as patios. Decks are made from treated lumber, composite material, Aluminum, Western red cedar, teak, mahogany, ipê and other hardwoods and recycled planks made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS) and PET plastic as well as mixed plastics and wood fiber (often called “composite” lumber).

Historically, the softwoods used for decking were logged from old growth forests. These include Atlantic white cedar, redwood and Western red cedar (red cedar). Atlantic City built the first coastal boardwalk in the United States, originally constructed of Atlantic white cedar. However, it was not long before the commercial logging of this tree and clearing of cedar swamps in New Jersey caused a decline in the availability of decking. Atlantic City and New York City both switched to Western red cedar. By the 1960s, Western red cedar from the US was declining due to over-logging. More expensive Western red cedar was available from western Canada (British Columbia) but by then, pressure treated pine had become available.

But even with chemical treatments (such as chromated copper arsenate or CCA), pine decking is not as durable as cedars in an outdoor environment. Thus, many municipalities and homeowners are turning to hardwoods.

Generally, hardwoods used for decking come from tropical forests. Much of the logging taking place to produce these woods, especially teak, mahogany and ipê, is occurring illegally, as outlined in numerous reports by environmental organizations such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and Rainforest Relief. US tropical wood imports are rising, partly due to the demand for decking.

The deck of a house is generally a wooden platform built above the ground and connected to the main building. It is generally enclosed by a railing for safety. Access may be from the house through doors and from the ground via a stairway. Residential decks can be constructed over steep areas or rough ground that is otherwise unusable. Decks can also be covered by a canopy or pergola to control sunlight.

Larger buildings may also have decks on the upper floors of the building which may be open to the public as observation decks.

A deck is also the surface used to construct a boardwalk over sand on barrier islands.

Deck Yearly Checklist:

  • Inspect the joint between the house and the deck.
  • From underneath the deck, observe the condition of the top of the deck joists.
  • The guardrail should be checked for secure attachment to the deck surface.
  • Check the decks foundations/support points.
  • Determine if paint, stain or preservative needs to be applied to all exposed surfaces. The hot Arizona sun is brutal on these surfaces. Remove all splinters from the deck surface.
  • Check with your local building code enforcement official to determine if the guardrails and railings are constructed per local code requirements.

Patios

patio (from the Spanish: patio meaning ‘back garden’ or ‘backyard) is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that often adjoins a residence and is typically paved. It may refer to a roofless inner courtyard of the sort found in Spanish-style dwellings or a paved area between a residence and the garden.

Patios are typically made of concrete or stone slabs laid over a firm base. This base is often formed of a layer of compacted hardcore (stone chips), a layer of sharp sand, and a layer of cement mortar. The firmness and stability of the base is essential to the robustness of the top layer of slabs – an infirm base will typically result in cracked slabs. Patios that hold a lot of weight, such as driveways, require stronger foundations than those that are designed for light use. Patios are more common in Arizona than decks. Most homes in Arizona have concrete slab-on-grade patios installed at the rear of the home and covered. Very often the rear patio will adjoin the pool patio area.

Deck Yearly Checklist:

  • It is important that the concrete patios be sloped at a 5% grade away from the house. This will keep water from draining towards the foundation which can lead to slab movement and foundation problems.
  • Clean the deck with a commercially available concrete cleaner. Dirty patios can become slippery when wet.
  • Check for cracks and seal with a high quality epoxy based crack filler material. Any cracks that have vertically displaced more than ¼ inch need to be ground down to eliminate any tripping hazard.

POLYBUTLYLENE PIPING – A Soggy Tragedy

What is Polybutlylene?

Polybutylene is a form of plastic resin that was used extensively in the manufacture of water supply piping from 1978 until 1995. Due to the low cost of the material and ease of installation, polybutylene piping systems were viewed as “the pipe of the future” and were used as a substitute for traditional copper piping. It is most commonly found in the “Sun Belt” where residential construction was heavy through the 1980’s and early-to-mid 90’s, but it is also very common in the Mid Atlantic and Northwest Pacific states.

These are typically gray or white in color with a dull finish. Most are shown with pipe attached. Figure (4) is a new fitting.

The piping systems were used for underground water mains and as interior water distribution piping. Industry experts believe it was installed in at least 6 million homes, and some experts indicate it may have been used in as many as 10 million homes. Most probably, the piping was installed in about one in every four or five homes built during the years in which the pipe was manufactured.

How to Tell If You Have Poly Exterior – Polybutylene underground water mains are usually blue, but may be gray or black (do not confuse black poly with polyethelene pipe). It is usually 1/2″ or 1″ in diameter, and it may be found entering your home through the basement wall or floor, concrete slab or coming up through your crawlspace; frequently it enters the home near the water heater. Your main shutoff valve is attached to the end of the water main. Also, you should check at the water meter that is located at the street, near the city water main. It is wise to check at both ends of the pipe because we have found cases where copper pipe enters the home, and poly pipe is at the water meter. Obviously, both pipes were used and connected somewhere underground.

Interior – Polybutylene used inside your home can be found near the water heater, running across the ceiling in unfinished basements, and coming out of the walls to feed sinks and toilets. Warning: In some regions of the country plumbers used copper “stub outs” where the pipe exits a wall to feed a fixture, so seeing copper here does not mean that you do not have poly.

Will the Pipes Fail? While scientific evidence is scarce, it is believed that oxidants in the public water supplies, such as chlorine, react with the polybutylene piping and acetal fittings causing them to scale and flake and become brittle. Micro-fractures result, and the basic structural integrity of the system is reduced. Thus, the system becomes weak and may fail without warning causing damage to the building structure and personal property. It is believed that other factors may also contribute to the failure of polybutylene systems, such as improper installation, but it is virtually impossible to detect installation problems throughout an entire system.

Throughout the 1980’s lawsuits were filed complaining of allegedly defective manufacturing and defective installation causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Although the manufacturers have never admitted that poly is defective, they have agreed to fund the Class Action settlement with an initial and minimum amount of $950 million. You’ll have to contact the appropriate settlement claim company to find out if you qualify under this settlement.

Go here for more info:

“A series of reports have suggested that increased use of chloramines accelerates corrosion and degradation of some metals and elastomers common to distribution plumbing and appurtenances. With regard to elastomers, the study showed that with few exceptions, solutions of chloramines (either monochloramine or dichloramine) produced greater material swelling, deeper and more dense surface cracking, a more rapid loss of elasticity, and greater loss of tensile strength than equivalent concentrations of free chlorine.” —-Steven Reiber, HDR Engineering, American Water Works Association Research Foundation

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Call Plumbing Express today for information and a firsthand look at what happens to the inside of poly pipes and fittings. We also offer free estimates within our standard service areas.

Polybutylene Pipes and Insert Fittings

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Valves- Typically found under sinks and toilets.

polybutylene3

Adapters- Typically used to connect polybutylene pipe to fixtures.

polybutylene4

Other fittings.

polybutylene5

Manufactured Manifolds.

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A riser (22) is a pipe running from sink, toilet, or other fixture to a valve. Pipe may be white PVC (23), black polyethylene (24), cream CPVC (25), or gray polybutylene pipe marked “PB 2110 M” (26).

Polybutylene Plumbing System: Polybutylene pipe with plastic or metal fittings Polybutylene Yard Service Line: Polybutylene pipe utilizing any kind of fitting

 

These are typically gray or white in color with a dull finish. Most are shown with pipe attached. Figure (4) is a new fitting.

polybutylene7

Metal Insert Fittings- These are typically made of copper or brass. New fittings are shown in (11, 12).

polybutylene8

Polybutylene Pipe- Yard Service Line is typically blue (13), gray (14), or black (15). Inside Pipe is typically gray (14) or Black (15).

 How Do I Get Rid of Polybutylene? There are two types of poly replacement, Interior and Exterior. Exterior poly runs from the main street lines serviced by the city to your house. You are responsible for the portion from your home to the city hook up. And many of these underground lines were installed using poly. Interior poly lines run inside your home, behind your walls and under your floors. Following is information pertaining to how to replace both, Interior and Exterior poly. 

EXTERIOR: There are several factors that determine the process of replacing your underground water main. First, you must consider the depth underground. In the “Sun Belt” where the frost line is shallow, a trencher is used for excavation because it is economical for clients, and it causes very little damage to the landscaping. When a trencher is used, the entire job takes about six hours, and your yard will show very few signs of all the work that went into installing the water main. “Last Sunday my exterior polybutylene pipe broke. It caused a huge sink hole in the front yard and flooded my basement with about five inches of water.” —-Sabrina Greer, Germantown, Maryland In parts of the country where the frost line is deep, a device is pulled through the old line that splits it while simultaneously pulling new copper piping through the old, expanded line. For deep installations, this process is very economical and requires very little disturbance to your yard or interior. In a few instances, however, pulling the pipe is not feasible, a trench must be excavated. When this process is used, the excavated dirt is piled onto plastic sheeting to protect the landscaping, and demolition of interior concrete is usually limited to a small area which is draped-off with plastic to control dust. With either process, the yard and interior concrete is restored as necessary, and the work is completed in about six to twelve hours.

INTERIOR: The process begins by mapping out the existing plumbing system and then selectively cutting a limited number of holes in the walls.  Technicians strategically decide on where to make the least number of cuts to do the job right. If someone tells you they need to start ripping apart entire walls, escort them out of your home. And if someone tells you they can’t do the drywall themselves, you know you’re in trouble. Our experts provide you with a turnkey operation from plumbing to drywall to final restoration and computerized matching of your paint. In an average-sized home, 20-30 discreetly placed cuts are made. From these entry points brand-new copper plumbing is installed.


Our floors and walls were buckling and waterlogged.”“Cascading water ruptured the ceiling in several places on the main level and poured down onto [Milton and Rhonda Schultz’s] kitchen cabinets, newly decorated walls and oak floor. From there, it spilled into the living room and family room, destroying carpeting in its wake, and sloshed downstairs to the basement.” —-Kenneth Lelen, Washington Post, May 16, 1998   
structural design and analysis

Hillside Lots and the Slippery Slope

City of Phoenix – Hillside

The city of Phoenix requires the review of hillside plans for any project deemed in the hillside development area (those properties having a 10 percent or greater slope). The Landscape Section checks the grading and drainage plans for ordinance requirements, such as height of the building over natural grade, lot coverage, and area of disturbance outside of the roof.

Hillside plans are classified as civil plans and therefore are reviewed under the civil plan review process. For a step-by-step overview of the civil process, please select Civil Plans Review Process. Otherwise, select from the hillside topics listed below for additional information:

If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact your project team leader or the Development Services Department by calling 602-262-7811 or send us feedback online.

Scottsdale – Hillside Lot Ordinance

Insider News – The Air We Breath door Air Quality

IntroductionDisclaimerInformation provided in this booklet is based on scientific and technical understanding of the issues presented and is reflective of the jurisdictional boundaries established by the statutes governing the co-authoring agencies. Following the advice given will not necessarily provide complete protection in all situations or against all health hazards that may be caused by indoor air pollution.Indoor Air Quality ConcernsAll of us face a variety of risks to our health as we go about our day-to-day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes, engaging in recreational activities, and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable. Some we choose to accept because to do otherwise would restrict our ability to lead our lives the way we want. And some are risks we might decide to avoid if we had the opportunity to make informed choices. Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about.In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.In addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods of time are often those most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease.Why a Booklet on Indoor Air?While pollutant levels from individual sources may not pose a significant health risk by themselves, most homes have more than one source that contributes to indoor air pollution. There can be a serious risk from the cumulative effects of these sources. Fortunately, there are steps that most people can take both to reduce the risk from existing sources and to prevent new problems from occurring. This booklet was prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to help you decide whether to take actions that can reduce the level of indoor air pollution in your own home.Because so many Americans spend a lot of time in offices with mechanical heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, there is also a short section on the causes of poor air quality in offices and what you can do if you suspect that your office may have a problem. A glossary and a list of organizations where you can get additional information are available in this document.Top of pageIndoor Air Quality in Your HomeWhat Causes Indoor Air Problems?Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.Pollutant SourcesThere are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits and how hazardous those emissions are. In some cases, factors such as how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained are significant. For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove can emit significantly more carbon monoxide than one that is properly adjusted.Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in housekeeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities.Amount of VentilationIf too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. Unless they are built with special mechanical means of ventilation, homes that are designed and constructed to minimize the amount of outdoor air that can “leak” into and out of the home may have higher pollutant levels than other homes. However, because some weather conditions can drastically reduce the amount of outdoor air that enters a home, pollutants can build up even in homes that are normally considered “leaky.”How Does Outdoor Air Enter a House?Outdoor air enters and leaves a house by: infiltration, natural ventilation, and mechanical ventilation. In a process known as infiltration, outdoor air flows into the house through openings, joints, and cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings, and around windows and doors. In natural ventilation, air moves through opened windows and doors. Air movement associated with infiltration and natural ventilation is caused by air temperature differences between indoors and outdoors and by wind. Finally, there are a number of mechanical ventilation devices, from outdoor-vented fans that intermittently remove air from a single room, such as bathrooms and kitchen, to air handling systems that use fans and duct work to continuously remove indoor air and distribute filtered and conditioned outdoor air to strategic points throughout the house. The rate at which outdoor air replaces indoor air is described as the air exchange rate. When there is little infiltration, natural ventilation, or mechanical ventilation, the air exchange rate is low and pollutant levels can increase.What If You Live in an Apartment?Apartments can have the same indoor air problems as single-family homes because many of the pollution sources, such as the interior building materials, furnishings, and household products, are similar. Indoor air problems similar to those in offices are caused by such sources as contaminated ventilation systems, improperly placed outdoor air intakes, or maintenance activities.Solutions to air quality problems in apartments, as in homes and offices, involve such actions as: eliminating or controlling the sources of pollution, increasing ventilation, and installing air cleaning devices. Often a resident can take the appropriate action to improve the indoor air quality by removing a source, altering an activity, unblocking an air supply vent, or opening a window to temporarily increase the ventilation; in other cases, however, only the building owner or manager is in a position to remedy the problem. (See the section “What to Do If You Suspect a Problem“) You can encourage building management to follow guidance in EPA’s IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM).  I-BEAM updates and expands EPA’s existing Building Air Quality guidance and is designed to be comprehensive state-of-the-art guidance for managing IAQ in commercial buildings.  This guidance was designed to be used by building professionals and others interested in indoor air quality in commercial buildings. I-BEAM contains text, animation/visual, and interactive/calculation components that can be used to perform a number of diverse tasks.  You can also encourage building management to follow guidance in EPA and NIOSH’s Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers (The BAQ is available as PDF files which can be downloaded and viewed individually or as a single file with all of the PDF files).Top of pageImproving the Air Quality in Your HomeIndoor Air and Your HealthHealth effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later.Immediate effects may show up after a single exposure or repeated exposures. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such immediate effects are usually short-term and treatable. Sometimes the treatment is simply eliminating the person’s exposure to the source of the pollution, if it can be identified. Symptoms of some diseases, including asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever, may also show up soon after exposure to some indoor air pollutants.The likelihood of immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depends on several factors. Age and preexisting medical conditions are two important influences. In other cases, whether a person reacts to a pollutant depends on individual sensitivity, which varies tremendously from person to person. Some people can become sensitized to biological pollutants after repeated exposures, and it appears that some people can become sensitized to chemical pollutants as well.Certain immediate effects are similar to those from colds or other viral diseases, so it is often difficult to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air pollution. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to the time and place the symptoms occur. If the symptoms fade or go away when a person is away from the home and return when the person returns, an effort should be made to identify indoor air sources that may be possible causes. Some effects may be made worse by an inadequate supply of outdoor air or from the heating, cooling, or humidity conditions prevalent in the home.Other health effects may show up either years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal. It is prudent to try to improve the indoor air quality in your home even if symptoms are not noticeable. More information on potential health effects from particular indoor air pollutants is provided in the section, “A Look at Source-Specific Controls.”While pollutants commonly found in indoor air are responsible for many harmful effects, there is considerable uncertainty about what concentrations or periods of exposure are necessary to produce specific health problems. People also react very differently to exposure to indoor air pollutants. Further research is needed to better understand which health effects occur after exposure to the average pollutant concentrations found in homes and which occur from the higher concentrations that occur for short periods of time.The health effects associated with some indoor air pollutants are summarized in the section “Reference Guide to Major Indoor Air Pollutants in the Home.”Identifying Air Quality ProblemsSome health effects can be useful indicators of an indoor air quality problem, especially if they appear after a person moves to a new residence, remodels or refurnishes a home, or treats a home with pesticides. If you think that you have symptoms that may be related to your home environment, discuss them with your doctor or your local health department to see if they could be caused by indoor air pollution. You may also want to consult a board-certified allergist or an occupational medicine specialist for answers to your questions.Another way to judge whether your home has or could develop indoor air problems is to identify potential sources of indoor air pollution. Although the presence of such sources does not necessarily mean that you have an indoor air quality problem, being aware of the type and number of potential sources is an important step toward assessing the air quality in your home.A third way to decide whether your home may have poor indoor air quality is to look at your lifestyle and activities. Human activities can be significant sources of indoor air pollution. Finally, look for signs of problems with the ventilation in your home. Signs that can indicate your home may not have enough ventilation include moisture condensation on windows or walls, smelly or stuffy air, dirty central heating and air cooling equipment, and areas where books, shoes, or other items become moldy (see www.epa.gov/mold). To detect odors in your home, step outside for a few minutes, and then upon reentering your home, note whether odors are noticeable.Measuring Pollutant LevelsThe federal government recommends that you measure the level of radon in your home. Without measurements there is no way to tell whether radon is present because it is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas. Inexpensive devices are available for measuring radon. EPA provides guidance as to risks associated with different levels of exposure and when the public should consider corrective action. There are specific mitigation techniques that have proven effective in reducing levels of radon in the home. (See “Radon” for additional information about testing and controlling radon in homes.)For pollutants other than radon, measurements are most appropriate when there are either health symptoms or signs of poor ventilation and specific sources or pollutants have been identified as possible causes of indoor air quality problems. Testing for many pollutants can be expensive. Before monitoring your home for pollutants besides radon, consult your state or local health department or professionals who have experience in solving indoor air quality problems in non-industrial buildings.Weatherizing Your HomeThe federal government recommends that homes be weatherized in order to reduce the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling. While weatherization is underway, however, steps should also be taken to minimize pollution from sources inside the home. (See “Improving the Air Quality in Your Home” for recommended actions.) In addition, residents should be alert to the emergence of signs of inadequate ventilation, such as stuffy air, moisture condensation on cold surfaces, or mold and mildew growth (see www.epa.gov/mold). Additional weatherization measures should not be undertaken until these problems have been corrected.Weatherization generally does not cause indoor air problems by adding new pollutants to the air. (There are a few exceptions, such as caulking, that can sometimes emit pollutants.) However, measures such as installing storm windows, weather stripping, caulking, and blown-in wall insulation can reduce the amount of outdoor air infiltrating into a home. Consequently, after weatherization, concentrations of indoor air pollutants from sources inside the home can increase.Three Basic StrategiesSource ControlUsually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. Some sources, like those that contain asbestos, can be sealed or enclosed; others, like gas stoves, can be adjusted to decrease the amount of emissions. In many cases, source control is also a more cost-efficient approach to protecting indoor air quality than increasing ventilation because increasing ventilation can increase energy costs. Specific sources of indoor air pollution in your home are listed later in this section.Ventilation ImprovementsAnother approach to lowering the concentrations of indoor air pollutants in your home is to increase the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. Most home heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating systems, do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house. Opening windows and doors, operating window or attic fans, when the weather permits, or running a window air conditioner with the vent control open increases the outdoor ventilation rate. Local bathroom or kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors remove contaminants directly from the room where the fan is located and also increase the outdoor air ventilation rate.It is particularly important to take as many of these steps as possible while you are involved in short-term activities that can generate high levels of pollutants–for example, painting, paint stripping, heating with kerosene heaters, cooking, or engaging in maintenance and hobby activities such as welding, soldering, or sanding. You might also choose to do some of these activities outdoors, if you can and if weather permits.Advanced designs of new homes are starting to feature mechanical systems that bring outdoor air into the home. Some of these designs include energy-efficient heat recovery ventilators (also known as air-to-air heat exchangers).For more information about air-to-air heat exchangers, contact the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Office (EERE) at www.eere.energy.gov/ . You may contact the EERE Information Center with questions on EERE’s products, services, and 11 technology programs by calling 1-877-EERE-INF (1-877-337-3463).Air CleanersThere are many types and sizes of air cleaners on the market, ranging from relatively inexpensive table-top models to sophisticated and expensive whole-house systems. Some air cleaners are highly effective at particle removal, while others, including most table-top models, are much less so. Air cleaners are generally not designed to remove gaseous pollutants.The effectiveness of an air cleaner depends on how well it collects pollutants from indoor air (expressed as a percentage efficiency rate) and how much air it draws through the cleaning or filtering element (expressed in cubic feet per minute). A very efficient collector with a low air-circulation rate will not be effective, nor will a cleaner with a high air-circulation rate but a less efficient collector. The long-term performance of any air cleaner depends on maintaining it according to the manufacturer’s directions.Another important factor in determining the effectiveness of an air cleaner is the strength of the pollutant source. Table-top air cleaners, in particular, may not remove satisfactory amounts of pollutants from strong nearby sources. People with a sensitivity to particular sources may find that air cleaners are helpful only in conjunction with concerted efforts to remove the source.Over the past few years, there has been some publicity suggesting that houseplants have been shown to reduce levels of some chemicals in laboratory experiments. There is currently no evidence, however, that a reasonable number of houseplants remove significant quantities of pollutants in homes and offices. Indoor houseplants should not be over-watered because overly damp soil may promote the growth of microorganisms which can affect allergic individuals.At present, EPA does not recommend using air cleaners to reduce levels of radon and its decay products. The effectiveness of these devices is uncertain because they only partially remove the radon decay products and do not diminish the amount of radon entering the home. EPA plans to do additional research on whether air cleaners are, or could become, a reliable means of reducing the health risk from radon. EPA’s booklet, Residential Air-Cleaning Devices, provides further information on air-cleaning devices to reduce indoor air pollutants.For most indoor air quality problems in the home, source control is the most effective solution. This section takes a source-by-source look at the most common indoor air pollutants, their potential health effects, and ways to reduce levels in the home. (For a summary of the points made in this section, see the section entitled “Reference Guide to Major Indoor Air Pollutants in the Home“).Ozone Generators That Are Sold As Air Cleaners (which is only available via this web site) was prepared by EPA to provide accurate information regarding the use of ozone-generating devices in indoor occupied spaces. This information is based on the most credible scientific evidence currently available.“Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?” was prepared by EPA to assist  consumers in answering this often confusing question. The document explains what air duct cleaning is, provides guidance to help consumers decide whether to have the service performed in their home, and provides helpful information for choosing a duct cleaner, determining if duct cleaning was done properly, and how to prevent contamination of air ducts.Top of pageA Look at Source-Specific ControlsRadon (Rn)The most common source of indoor radon is uranium in the soil or rock on which homes are built. As uranium naturally breaks down, it releases radon gas which is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas. Radon gas enters homes through dirt floors, cracks in concrete walls and floors, floor drains, and sumps. When radon becomes trapped in buildings and concentrations build up indoors, exposure to radon becomes a concern.Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.Sometimes radon enters the home through well water. In a small number of homes, the building materials can give off radon, too. However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves.Health Effects of RadonThe predominant health effect associated with exposure to elevated levels of radon is lung cancer. Research suggests that swallowing water with high radon levels may pose risks, too, although these are believed to be much lower than those from breathing air containing radon. Major health organizations (like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Lung Association (ALA), and the American Medical Association) agree with estimates that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths each year. EPA estimates that radon causes about 14,000 deaths per year in the United States–however, this number could range from 7,000 to 30,000 deaths per year. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.  Read more about Radon health risks…Reducing Exposure to Radon in HomesMeasure levels of radon in your home.You can’t see radon, but it’s not hard to find out if you have a radon problem in your home. Testing is easy and should only take a little of your time. There are many kinds of inexpensive, do-it-yourself radon test kits you can get through the mail and in hardware stores and other retail outlets. EPA recommends that consumers use test kits that are state-certified or have met the requirements of some national radon proficiency program.  If you prefer, or if you are buying or selling a home, you can hire a trained contractor to do the testing for you (see www.epa.gov/radon/radontest.html).  You should call your state radon office to obtain a list of qualified contractors in your area. You can also contact either the National Environmental Health Association’s (NEHA) National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) www.neha-nrpp.org or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) – www.nrsb.org for a list of proficient radon measurement and/or mitigation contractors.Refer to the EPA guidelines on how to test and interpret your test results.You can learn more about radon through EPA’s publications, for example:A Citizen’s Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Radon, andHome Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to RadonLearn about radon reduction methods.Ways to reduce radon in your home are discussed in EPA’s Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction. There are simple solutions to radon problems in homes. Thousands of homeowners have already fixed radon problems. Lowering high radon levels requires technical knowledge and special skills. You should use a contractor who is trained to fix radon problems.A trained radon reduction contractor can study the problem in your home and help you pick the correct treatment method. Check with your state radon office for names of qualified or state-certified radon-reduction contractors in your area.Stop smoking and discourage smoking in your home.Scientific evidence indicates that smoking combined with radon is an especially serious health risk. Stop smoking and lower your radon level to reduce lung cancer risk.Treat radon-contaminated well water.While radon in water is not a problem in homes served by most public water supplies, it has been found in well water. If you’ve tested the air in your home and found a radon problem, and you have a well, contact a lab certified to measure radiation in water to have your water tested. Radon problems in water can be readily fixed. Call your state radon office or the EPA Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) for more information.Top of pageEnvironmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is the mixture of smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, and smoke exhaled by the smoker. It is a complex mixture of over 4,000 compounds, more than 40 of which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals and many of which are strong irritants. ETS is often referred to as “secondhand smoke” and exposure to ETS is often called “passive smoking.”Health Effects of Environmental Tobacco SmokeIn 1992, EPA completed a major assessment of the respiratory health risks of ETS (Respiratory Health Effects of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders EPA/600/6-90/006F). The report concludes that exposure to ETS is responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in nonsmoking adults and impairs the respiratory health of hundreds of thousands of children.Infants and young children whose parents smoke in their presence are at increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia and bronchitis) and are more likely to have symptoms of respiratory irritation like cough, excess phlegm, and wheeze. EPA estimates that passive smoking annually causes between 150,000 and 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children under 18 months of age, resulting in between 7,500 and 15,000 hospitalizations each year. These children may also have a build-up of fluid in the middle ear, which can lead to ear infections. Older children who have been exposed to secondhand smoke may have slightly reduced lung function.Asthmatic children are especially at risk. EPA estimates that exposure to secondhand smoke increases the number of episodes and severity of symptoms in hundreds of thousands of asthmatic children, and may cause thousands of non-asthmatic children to develop the disease each year. EPA estimates that between 200,000 and 1,000,000 asthmatic children have their condition made worse by exposure to secondhand smoke each year. Exposure to secondhand smoke causes eye, nose, and throat irritation. It may affect the cardiovascular system and some studies have linked exposure to secondhand smoke with the onset of chest pain. For publications about ETS, go to Smoke Free Homes web site, the IAQ Publications page.Reducing Exposure to Environmental Tobacco SmokeDon’t smoke at home or permit others to do so. Ask smokers to smoke outdoors.The 1986 Surgeon General’s report concluded that physical separation of smokers and nonsmokers in a common air space, such as different rooms within the same house, may reduce – but will not eliminate – non-smokers’ exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.If smoking indoors cannot be avoided, increase ventilation in the area where smoking takes place.Open windows or use exhaust fans. Ventilation, a common method of reducing exposure to indoor air pollutants, also will reduce but not eliminate exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Because smoking produces such large amounts of pollutants, natural or mechanical ventilation techniques do not remove them from the air in your home as quickly as they build up. In addition, the large increases in ventilation it takes to significantly reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke can also increase energy costs substantially. Consequently, the most effective way to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the home is to eliminate smoking there.Do not smoke if children are present, particularly infants and toddlers.Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of passive smoking. Do not allow baby-sitters or others who work in your home to smoke indoors. Discourage others from smoking around children. Find out about the smoking policies of the day care center providers, schools, and other care givers for your children. The policy should protect children from exposure to ETS.Top of pageBiological ContaminantsBiological contaminants include bacteria, molds, mildew, viruses, animal dander and cat saliva, house dust mites, cockroaches, and pollen. There are many sources of these pollutants. Pollens originate from plants; viruses are transmitted by people and animals; bacteria are carried by people, animals, and soil and plant debris; and household pets are sources of saliva and animal dander. The protein in urine from rats and mice is a potent allergen. When it dries, it can become airborne. Contaminated central air handling systems can become breeding grounds for mold, mildew, and other sources of biological contaminants and can then distribute these contaminants through the home.  (See www.epa.gov/mold)By controlling the relative humidity level in a home, the growth of some sources of biologicals can be minimized. A relative humidity of 30-50 percent is generally recommended for homes. Standing water, water-damaged materials, or wet surfaces also serve as a breeding ground for molds, mildews, bacteria, and insects. House dust mites, the source of one of the most powerful biological allergens, grow in damp, warm environments.Health Effects From Biological ContaminantsSome biological contaminants trigger allergic reactions, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic rhinitis, and some types of asthma. Infectious illnesses, such as influenza, measles, and chicken pox are transmitted through the air. Molds and mildews release disease-causing toxins. Symptoms of health problems caused by biological pollutants include sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, dizziness, lethargy, fever, and digestive problems.Allergic reactions occur only after repeated exposure to a specific biological allergen. However, that reaction may occur immediately upon re-exposure or after multiple exposures over time. As a result, people who have noticed only mild allergic reactions, or no reactions at all, may suddenly find themselves very sensitive to particular allergens.Some diseases, like humidifier fever, are associated with exposure to toxins from microorganisms that can grow in large building ventilation systems. However, these diseases can also be traced to microorganisms that grow in home heating and cooling systems and humidifiers. Children, elderly people, and people with breathing problems, allergies, and lung diseases are particularly susceptible to disease-causing biological agents in the indoor air.Reducing Exposure to Biological ContaminantsInstall and use exhaust fans that are vented to the outdoors in kitchens and bathrooms and vent clothes dryers outdoors.These actions can eliminate much of the moisture that builds up from everyday activities. There are exhaust fans on the market that produce little noise, an important consideration for some people. Another benefit to using kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans is that they can reduce levels of organic pollutants that vaporize from hot water used in showers and dishwashers.Ventilate the attic and crawl spaces to prevent moisture build-up.Keeping humidity levels in these areas below 50 percent can prevent water condensation on building materials.If using cool mist or ultrasonic humidifiers, clean appliances according to manufacturer’s instructions and refill with fresh water daily.Because these humidifiers can become breeding grounds for biological contaminants, they have the potential for causing diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and humidifier fever. Evaporation trays in air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and refrigerators should also be cleaned frequently.Thoroughly clean and dry water-damaged carpets and building materials (within 24 hours if possible) or consider removal and replacement.Water-damaged carpets and building materials can harbor mold and bacteria. It is very difficult to completely rid such materials of biological contaminants.Keep the house clean. House dust mites, pollens, animal dander, and other allergy-causing agents can be reduced, although not eliminated, through regular cleaning.People who are allergic to these pollutants should use allergen-proof mattress encasements, wash bedding in hot (130o F) water, and avoid room furnishings that accumulate dust, especially if they cannot be washed in hot water. Allergic individuals should also leave the house while it is being vacuumed because vacuuming can actually increase airborne levels of mite allergens and other biological contaminants. Using central vacuum systems that are vented to the outdoors or vacuums with high efficiency filters may also be of help.Take steps to minimize biological pollutants in basements.Clean and disinfect the basement floor drain regularly. Do not finish a basement below ground level unless all water leaks are patched and outdoor ventilation and adequate heat to prevent condensation are provided. Operate a dehumidifier in the basement if needed to keep relative humidity levels between 30-50 percent.To learn more about biological pollutants, read Biological Pollutants in Your Home issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Lung Association. For contact information, see the section, “Where to Go For Additional Information.”Top of pageStoves, Heaters, Fireplaces, and ChimneysIn addition to environmental tobacco smoke, other sources of combustion products are unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, woodstoves, fireplaces, and gas stoves. The major pollutants released are carbon monoxidenitrogen dioxide, and particles. Unvented kerosene heaters may also generate acid aerosols.Combustion gases and particles also come from chimneys and flues that are improperly installed or maintained and cracked furnace heat exchangers. Pollutants from fireplaces and woodstoves with no dedicated outdoor air supply can be “back-drafted” from the chimney into the living space, particularly in weatherized homes.Health Effects of Combustion ProductsCarbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that interferes with the delivery of oxygen throughout the body. At high concentrations it can cause unconsciousness and death. Lower concentrations can cause a range of symptoms from headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, confusion, and disorientation, to fatigue in healthy people and episodes of increased chest pain in people with chronic heart disease. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are sometimes confused with the flu or food poisoning. Fetuses, infants, elderly people, and people with anemia or with a history of heart or respiratory disease can be especially sensitive to carbon monoxide exposures.Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a colorless, odorless gas that irritates the mucous membranes in the eye, nose, and throat and causes shortness of breath after exposure to high concentrations. There is evidence that high concentrations or continued exposure to low levels of nitrogen dioxide increases the risk of respiratory infection; there is also evidence from animal studies that repeated exposures to elevated nitrogen dioxide levels may lead, or contribute, to the development of lung disease such as emphysema. People at particular risk from exposure to nitrogen dioxide include children and individuals with asthma and other respiratory diseases.Particles, released when fuels are incompletely burned, can lodge in the lungs and irritate or damage lung tissue. A number of pollutants, including radon and benzo(a)pyrene, both of which can cause cancer, attach to small particles that are inhaled and then carried deep into the lung.Reducing Exposure to Combustion Products in HomesTake special precautions when operating fuel-burning unvented space heaters.Consider potential effects of indoor air pollution if you use an unvented kerosene or gas space heater. Follow the manufacturer’s directions, especially instructions on the proper fuel and keeping the heater properly adjusted. A persistent yellow-tipped flame is generally an indicator of maladjustment and increased pollutant emissions. While a space heater is in use, open a door from the room where the heater is located to the rest of the house and open a window slightly.Install and use exhaust fans over gas cooking stoves and ranges and keep the burners properly adjusted.Using a stove hood with a fan vented to the outdoors greatly reduces exposure to pollutants during cooking. Improper adjustment, often indicated by a persistent yellow-tipped flame, causes increased pollutant emissions. Ask your gas company to adjust the burner so that the flame tip is blue. If you purchase a new gas stove or range, consider buying one with pilotless ignition because it does not have a pilot light that burns continuously. Never use a gas stove to heat your home. Always make certain the flue in your gas fireplace is open when the fireplace is in use.Keep woodstove emissions to a minimum. Choose properly sized new stoves that are certified as meeting EPA emission standards.Make certain that doors in old woodstoves are tight-fitting. Use aged or cured (dried) wood only and follow the manufacturer’s directions for starting, stoking, and putting out the fire in woodstoves. Chemicals are used to pressure-treat wood; such wood should never be burned indoors. (Because some old gaskets in woodstove doors contain asbestos, when replacing gaskets refer to the instructions in the CPSC, ALA, and EPA booklet, Asbestos in Your Home, to avoid creating an asbestos problem. New gaskets are made of fiberglass.)Have central air handling systems, including furnaces, flues, and chimneys, inspected annually and promptly repair cracks or damaged parts.Blocked, leaking, or damaged chimneys or flues release harmful combustion gases and particles and even fatal concentrations of carbon monoxide. Strictly follow all service and maintenance procedures recommended by the manufacturer, including those that tell you how frequently to change the filter. If manufacturer’s instructions are not readily available, change filters once every month or two during periods of use. Proper maintenance is important even for new furnaces because they can also corrode and leak combustion gases, including carbon monoxide.Read the booklet What You Should Know About Combustion Appliances and Indoor Air Pollution to learn more about combustion pollutants.Top of pageHousehold ProductsOrganic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products. Paints, varnishes, and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products. Fuels are made up of organic chemicals. All of these products can release organic compounds while you are using them, and, to some degree, when they are stored.EPA’s Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) studies found levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas. Additional TEAM studies indicate that while people are using products containing organic chemicals, they can expose themselves and others to very high pollutant levels, and elevated concentrations can persist in the air long after the activity is completed.Health Effects of Household ChemicalsThe ability of organic chemicals to cause health effects varies greatly, from those that are highly toxic, to those with no known health effect. As with other pollutants, the extent and nature of the health effect will depend on many factors including level of exposure and length of time exposed. Eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment are among the immediate symptoms that some people have experienced soon after exposure to some organics. At present, not much is known about what health effects occur from the levels of organics usually found in homes. Many organic compounds are known to cause cancer in animals; some are suspected of causing, or are known to cause, cancer in humans.Reducing Exposure to Household ChemicalsFollow label instructions carefully.Potentially hazardous products often have warnings aimed at reducing exposure of the user. For example, if a label says to use the product in a well-ventilated area, go outdoors or in areas equipped with an exhaust fan to use it. Otherwise, open up windows to provide the maximum amount of outdoor air possible.Throw away partially full containers of old or unneeded chemicals safely.Because gases can leak even from closed containers, this single step could help lower concentrations of organic chemicals in your home. (Be sure that materials you decide to keep are stored not only in a well-ventilated area but are also safely out of reach of children.) Do not simply toss these unwanted products in the garbage can. Find out if your local government or any organization in your community sponsors special days for the collection of toxic household wastes. If such days are available, use them to dispose of the unwanted containers safely. If no such collection days are available, think about organizing one.Buy limited quantities.If you use products only occasionally or seasonally, such as paints, paint strippers, and kerosene for space heaters or gasoline for lawn mowers, buy only as much as you will use right away.Keep exposure to emissions from products containing methylene chloride to a minimum.Consumer products that contain methylene chloride include paint strippers, adhesive removers, and aerosol spray paints. Methylene chloride is known to cause cancer in animals. Also, methylene chloride is converted to carbon monoxide in the body and can cause symptoms associated with exposure to carbon monoxide. Carefully read the labels containing health hazard information and cautions on the proper use of these products. Use products that contain methylene chloride outdoors when possible; use indoors only if the area is well ventilated.Keep exposure to benzene to a minimum.Benzene is a known human carcinogen. The main indoor sources of this chemical are environmental tobacco smoke, stored fuels and paint supplies, and automobile emissions in attached garages. Actions that will reduce benzene exposure include eliminating smoking within the home, providing for maximum ventilation during painting, and discarding paint supplies and special fuels that will not be used immediately.Keep exposure to perchloroethylene emissions from newly dry-cleaned materials to a minimum.Perchloroethylene is the chemical most widely used in dry cleaning. In laboratory studies, it has been shown to cause cancer in animals. Recent studies indicate that people breathe low levels of this chemical both in homes where dry-cleaned goods are stored and as they wear dry-cleaned clothing. Dry cleaners recapture the perchloroethylene during the dry-cleaning process so they can save money by re-using it, and they remove more of the chemical during the pressing and finishing processes. Some dry cleaners, however, do not remove as much perchloroethylene as possible all of the time. Taking steps to minimize your exposure to this chemical is prudent. If dry-cleaned goods have a strong chemical odor when you pick them up, do not accept them until they have been properly dried. If goods with a chemical odor are returned to you on subsequent visits, try a different dry cleaner.Top of pageFormaldehydeFormaldehyde is an important chemical used widely by industry to manufacture building materials and numerous household products. It is also a by-product of combustion and certain other natural processes. Thus, it may be present in substantial concentrations both indoors and outdoors.Sources of formaldehyde in the home include building materials, smoking, household products, and the use of unvented, fuel-burning appliances, like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters. Formaldehyde, by itself or in combination with other chemicals, serves a number of purposes in manufactured products. For example, it is used to add permanent-press qualities to clothing and draperies, as a component of glues and adhesives, and as a preservative in some paints and coating products.In homes, the most significant sources of formaldehyde are likely to be pressed wood products made using adhesives that contain urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins. Pressed wood products made for indoor use include: particleboard (used as subflooring and shelving and in cabinetry and furniture); hardwood plywood paneling (used for decorative wall covering and used in cabinets and furniture); and medium density fiberboard (used for drawer fronts, cabinets, and furniture tops). Medium density fiberboard contains a higher resin-to-wood ratio than any other UF pressed wood product and is generally recognized as being the highest formaldehyde-emitting pressed wood product.Other pressed wood products, such as softwood plywood and flake or oriented strandboard, are produced for exterior construction use and contain the dark, or red/black-colored phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin. Although formaldehyde is present in both types of resins, pressed woods that contain PF resin generally emit formaldehyde at considerably lower rates than those containing UF resin.Since 1985, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has permitted only the use of plywood and particleboard that conform to specified formaldehyde emission limits in the construction of prefabricated and mobile homes. In the past, some of these homes had elevated levels of formaldehyde because of the large amount of high-emitting pressed wood products used in their construction and because of their relatively small interior space.The rate at which products like pressed wood or textiles release formaldehyde can change. Formaldehyde emissions will generally decrease as products age. When the products are new, high indoor temperatures or humidity can cause increased release of formaldehyde from these products.During the 1970s, many homeowners had urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) installed in the wall cavities of their homes as an energy conservation measure. However, many of these homes were found to have relatively high indoor concentrations of formaldehyde soon after the UFFI installation. Few homes are now being insulated with this product. Studies show that formaldehyde emissions from UFFI decline with time; therefore, homes in which UFFI was installed many years ago are unlikely to have high levels of formaldehyde now.Health Effects of FormaldehydeFormaldehyde, a colorless, pungent-smelling gas, can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing in some humans exposed at elevated levels (above 0.1 parts per million). High concentrations may trigger attacks in people with asthma. There is evidence that some people can develop a sensitivity to formaldehyde. It has also been shown to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans.Reducing Exposure to Formaldehyde in HomesAsk about the formaldehyde content of pressed wood products, including building materials, cabinetry, and furniture before you purchase them.If you experience adverse reactions to formaldehyde, you may want to avoid the use of pressed wood products and other formaldehyde-emitting goods. Even if you do not experience such reactions, you may wish to reduce your exposure as much as possible by purchasing exterior-grade products, which emit less formaldehyde. For further information on formaldehyde and consumer products, call the EPA Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) assistance line (202-554-1404).Some studies suggest that coating pressed wood products with polyurethane may reduce formaldehyde emissions for some period of time. To be effective, any such coating must cover all surfaces and edges and remain intact. Increase the ventilation and carefully follow the manufacturer instructions while applying these coatings. (If you are sensitive to formaldehyde, check the label contents before purchasing coating products to avoid buying products that contain formaldehyde, as they will emit the chemical for a short time after application.) Maintain moderate temperature and humidity levels and provide adequate ventilation. The rate at which formaldehyde is released is accelerated by heat and may also depend somewhat on the humidity level. Therefore, the use of dehumidifiers and air conditioning to control humidity and to maintain a moderate temperature can help reduce formaldehyde emissions. (Drain and clean dehumidifier collection trays frequently so that they do not become a breeding ground for microorganisms.) Increasing the rate of ventilation in your home will also help in reducing formaldehyde levels.Top of pagePesticidesAccording to a recent survey, 75 percent of U.S. households used at least one pesticide product indoors during the past year. Products used most often are insecticides and disinfectants. Another study suggests that 80 percent of most people’s exposure to pesticides occurs indoors and that measurable levels of up to a dozen pesticides have been found in the air inside homes. The amount of pesticides found in homes appears to be greater than can be explained by recent pesticide use in those households; other possible sources include contaminated soil or dust that floats or is tracked in from outside, stored pesticide containers, and household surfaces that collect and then release the pesticides. Pesticides used in and around the home include products to control insects (insecticides), termites (termiticides), rodents (rodenticides), fungi (fungicides), and microbes (disinfectants). They are sold as sprays, liquids, sticks, powders, crystals, balls, and foggers.In 1990, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that some 79,000 children were involved in common household pesticide poisonings or exposures. In households with children under five years old, almost one-half stored at least one pesticide product within reach of children.EPA registers pesticides for use and requires manufacturers to put information on the label about when and how to use the pesticide. It is important to remember that the “-cide” in pesticides means “to kill.” These products can be dangerous if not used properly.In addition to the active ingredient, pesticides are also made up of ingredients that are used to carry the active agent. These carrier agents are called “inerts” in pesticides because they are not toxic to the targeted pest; nevertheless, some inerts are capable of causing health problems.Health Effects From PesticidesBoth the active and inert ingredients in pesticides can be organic compounds; therefore, both could add to the levels of airborne organics inside homes. Both types of ingredients can cause the effects discussed in this document under “Household Products,” however, as with other household products, there is insufficient understanding at present about what pesticide concentrations are necessary to produce these effects.Exposure to high levels of cyclodiene pesticides, commonly associated with misapplication, has produced various symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, muscle twitching, weakness, tingling sensations, and nausea. In addition, EPA is concerned that cyclodienes might cause long-term damage to the liver and the central nervous system, as well as an increased risk of cancer.There is no further sale or commercial use permitted for the following cyclodiene or related pesticides: chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, and heptachlor. The only exception is the use of heptachlor by utility companies to control fire ants in underground cable boxes.Reducing Exposure to Pesticides in HomesRead the label and follow the directions. It is illegal to use any pesticide in any manner inconsistent with the directions on its label.Unless you have had special training and are certified, never use a pesticide that is restricted to use by state-certified pest control operators. Such pesticides are simply too dangerous for application by a non-certified person. Use only the pesticides approved for use by the general public and then only in recommended amounts; increasing the amount does not offer more protection against pests and can be harmful to you and your plants and pets.Ventilate the area well after pesticide use.Mix or dilute pesticides outdoors or in a well-ventilated area and only in the amounts that will be immediately needed. If possible, take plants and pets outside when applying pesticides to them.Use non-chemical methods of pest control when possible.Since pesticides can be found far from the site of their original application, it is prudent to reduce the use of chemical pesticides outdoors as well as indoors. Depending on the site and pest to be controlled, one or more of the following steps can be effective: use of biological pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, for the control of gypsy moths; selection of disease-resistant plants; and frequent washing of indoor plants and pets. Termite damage can be reduced or prevented by making certain that wooden building materials do not come into direct contact with the soil and by storing firewood away from the home. By appropriately fertilizing, watering, and aerating lawns, the need for chemical pesticide treatments of lawns can be dramatically reduced.If you decide to use a pest control company, choose one carefully.Ask for an inspection of your home and get a written control program for evaluation before you sign a contract. The control program should list specific names of pests to be controlled and chemicals to be used; it should also reflect any of your safety concerns. Insist on a proven record of competence and customer satisfaction.Dispose of unwanted pesticides safely.If you have unused or partially used pesticide containers you want to get rid of, dispose of them according to the directions on the label or on special household hazardous waste collection days. If there are no such collection days in your community, work with others to organize them.Keep exposure to moth repellents to a minimum.One pesticide often found in the home is paradichlorobenzene, a commonly used active ingredient in moth repellents. This chemical is known to cause cancer in animals, but substantial scientific uncertainty exists over the effects, if any, of long-term human exposure to paradichlorobenzene. EPA requires that products containing paradichlorobenzene bear warnings such as “avoid breathing vapors” to warn users of potential short-term toxic effects. Where possible, paradichlorobenzene, and items to be protected against moths, should be placed in trunks or other containers that can be stored in areas that are separately ventilated from the home, such as attics and detached garages. Paradichlorobenzene is also the key active ingredient in many air fresheners (in fact, some labels for moth repellents recommend that these same products be used as air fresheners or deodorants). Proper ventilation and basic household cleanliness will go a long way toward preventing unpleasant odors.National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)EPA sponsors the NPIC (800) 858-PEST/800-858-7378 to answer your questions about pesticides and to provide selected EPA publications on pesticides.  See their web site at – http://npic.orst.edu/ or, read their brochure – http://npic.orst.edu/brochure.pdfTop of pageAsbestosAsbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. EPA and CPSC have banned several asbestos products. Manufacturers have also voluntarily limited uses of asbestos. Today, asbestos is most commonly found in older homes, in pipe and furnace insulation materials, asbestos shingles, millboard, textured paints and other coating materials, and floor tiles.Elevated concentrations of airborne asbestos can occur after asbestos-containing materials are disturbed by cutting, sanding or other remodeling activities. Improper attempts to remove these materials can release asbestos fibers into the air in homes, increasing asbestos levels and endangering people living in those homes.Health Effects of AsbestosThe most dangerous asbestos fibers are too small to be visible. After they are inhaled, they can remain and accumulate in the lungs. Asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the chest and abdominal linings), and asbestosis (irreversible lung scarring that can be fatal). Symptoms of these diseases do not show up until many years after exposure began. Most people with asbestos-related diseases were exposed to elevated concentrations on the job; some developed disease from exposure to clothing and equipment brought home from job sites.Reducing Exposure to Asbestos in HomesLearn how asbestos problems are created in homes.Read the booklet, Asbestos in Your Home, issued by CPSC, the ALA, and EPA. To contact these organizations, see the section, “Where to Go For More Information.”   Also, see EPA’s asbestos web site – www.epa.gov/asbestosIf you think your home may have asbestos, don’t panic!Usually it is best to leave asbestos material that is in good condition alone. Generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fiber. There is no danger unless fibers are released and inhaled into the lungs.Do not cut, rip, or sand asbestos-containing materials.Leave undamaged materials alone and, to the extent possible, prevent them from being damaged, disturbed, or touched. Periodically inspect for damage or deterioration. Discard damaged or worn asbestos gloves, stove-top pads, or ironing board covers. Check with local health, environmental, or other appropriate officials to find out about proper handling and disposal procedures.If asbestos material is more than slightly damaged, or if you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, repair or removal by a professional is needed. Before you have your house remodeled, find out whether asbestos materials are present.When you need to remove or clean up asbestos, use a professionally trained contractor.Select a contractor only after careful discussion of the problems in your home and the steps the contractor will take to clean up or remove them. Consider the option of sealing off the materials instead of removing them.Call EPA’s TSCA assistance line at (202) 554-1404 to find out whether your state has a training and certification program for asbestos removal contractors and for information on EPA’s asbestos programs ( www.epa.gov/asbestos )Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Hotline – Sponsored by the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, the TSCA Hotline provides technical assistance and information about asbestos programs implemented under TSCA, which include; the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act (ASHAA), the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), and the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act (ASHARA).  The Hotline provides copies of TSCA information, such as Federal Register notices and support documents, to requesters through its Clearinghouse function. E-mail address: tsca-hotline@epa.gov  Hours of Service: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST) M – F Telephone: (202) 554-1404 TDD: (202) 554-0551 Fax: (202) 554-5603 (Fax available 24 hours a day)Top of pageLead (Pb)Lead has long been recognized as a harmful environmental pollutant. In late 1991, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services called lead the “number one environmental threat to the health of children in the United States.” There are many ways in which humans are exposed to lead: through air, drinking water, food, contaminated soil, deteriorating paint, and dust. Airborne lead enters the body when an individual breathes or swallows lead particles or dust once it has settled. Before it was known how harmful lead could be, it was used in paint, gasoline, water pipes, and many other products.  See also, EPA’s web site – www.epa.gov/lead.Old lead-based paint is the most significant source of lead exposure in the U.S. today. Harmful exposures to lead can be created when lead-based paint is improperly removed from surfaces by dry scraping, sanding, or open-flame burning. High concentrations of airborne lead particles in homes can also result from lead dust from outdoor sources, including contaminated soil tracked inside, and use of lead in certain indoor activities such as soldering and stained-glass making.Health Effects of Exposure to LeadLead affects practically all systems within the body. At high levels it can cause convulsions, coma, and even death. Lower levels of lead can adversely affect the brain, central nervous system, blood cells, and kidneys.The effects of lead exposure on fetuses and young children can be severe. They include delays in physical and mental development, lower IQ levels, shortened attention spans, and increased behavioral problems. Fetuses, infants, and children are more vulnerable to lead exposure than adults since lead is more easily absorbed into growing bodies, and the tissues of small children are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Children may have higher exposures since they are more likely to get lead dust on their hands and then put their fingers or other lead-contaminated objects into their mouths.Get your child tested for lead exposure. To find out where to do this, call your doctor or local health clinic. For more information on health effects, get a copy of the Centers for Disease Control’s, Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children (October 1991).Ways to Reduce Exposure to LeadKeep areas where children play as dust-free and clean as possible.Mop floors and wipe window ledges and chewable surfaces such as cribs with a solution of powdered automatic dishwasher detergent in warm water. (Dishwasher detergents are recommended because of their high content of phosphate.) Most multi-purpose cleaners will not remove lead in ordinary dust. Wash toys and stuffed animals regularly. Make sure that children wash their hands before meals, nap time, and bedtime.Reduce the risk from lead-based paint.Most homes built before 1960 contain heavily leaded paint. Some homes built as recently as 1978 may also contain lead paint. This paint could be on window frames, walls, the outside of homes, or other surfaces. Do not burn painted wood since it may contain lead.Leave lead-based paint undisturbed if it is in good condition – do not sand or burn off paint that may contain lead.Lead paint in good condition is usually not a problem except in places where painted surfaces rub against each other and create dust (for example, opening a window).Do not remove lead paint yourself.Individuals have been poisoned by scraping or sanding lead paint because these activities generate large amounts of lead dust. Consult your state health or housing department for suggestions on which private laboratories or public agencies may be able to help test your home for lead in paint. Home test kits cannot detect small amounts of lead under some conditions. Hire a person with special training for correcting lead paint problems to remove lead-based paint. Occupants, especially children and pregnant women, should leave the building until all work is finished and clean-up is done.For additional information dealing with lead-based paint abatement contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the following two documents: Comprehensive and Workable Plan for the Abatement of Lead-Based Paint in Privately Owned Housing: Report to Congress (December 7, 1990) and Lead-Based Paint: Interim Guidelines for Hazard Identification and Abatement in Public and Indian Housing (September 1990).Do not bring lead dust into the home.If you work in construction, demolition, painting, with batteries, in a radiator repair shop or lead factory, or your hobby involves lead, you may unknowingly bring lead into your home on your hands or clothes. You may also be tracking in lead from soil around your home. Soil very close to homes may be contaminated from lead paint on the outside of the building. Soil by roads and highways may be contaminated from years of exhaust fumes from cars and trucks that used leaded gas. Use door mats to wipe your feet before entering the home. If you work with lead in your job or a hobby, change your clothes before you go home and wash these clothes separately. Encourage your children to play in sand and grassy areas instead of dirt which sticks to fingers and toys. Try to keep your children from eating dirt, and make sure they wash their hands when they come inside.Find out about lead in drinking water.Most well and city water does not usually contain lead. Water usually picks up lead inside the home from household plumbing that is made with lead materials. The only way to know if there is lead in drinking water is to have it tested. Contact the local health department or the water supplier to find out how to get the water tested. Send for the EPA pamphlet, Lead and Your Drinking Water, for more information about what you can do if you have lead in your drinking water. Call EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) for more information.Eat right.A child who gets enough iron and calcium will absorb less lead. Foods rich in iron include eggs, red meats, and beans. Dairy products are high in calcium. Do not store food or liquid in lead crystal glassware or imported or old pottery. If you reuse old plastic bags to store or carry food, keep the printing on the outside of the bag.You can get a brochure and more information by calling the National Lead Information Center, 800-424-LEAD (800-424-5323). EPA’s Lead in Paint, Dust and Soil page – www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm See also, EPA’s web site – www.epa.gov/leadTop of pageWhat About Carpet?In recent years, a number of consumers have associated a variety of symptoms with the installation of new carpet. Scientists have not been able to determine whether the chemicals emitted by new carpets are responsible. If you are installing new carpet, you may wish to take the following steps:Talk to your carpet retailer. Ask for information on emissions from carpet.Ask the retailer to unroll and air out the carpet in a well-ventilated area before installation.Ask for low-emitting adhesives if adhesives are needed.Consider leaving the premises during and immediately after carpet installation. You may wish to schedule the installation when most family members or office workers are out.Be sure the retailer requires the installer to follow the Carpet and Rug Institute’s installation guidelines.Open doors and windows. Increasing the amount of fresh air in the home will reduce exposure to most chemicals released from carpet. During and after installation, use window fans, room air conditioners, or other mechanical ventilation equipment you may have installed in your house, to exhaust fumes to the outdoors. Keep them running for 48 to 72 hours after the new carpet is installed.Contact your carpet retailer if objectionable odors persist.Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper carpet maintenance.Top of pageWhen Building a New HomeBuilding a new home provides the opportunity for preventing indoor air problems. However, it can result in exposure to higher levels of indoor air contaminants if careful attention is not given to potential pollution sources and the air exchange rate.Express your concerns about indoor air quality to your architect or builder and enlist his or her cooperation in taking measures to provide good indoor air quality. Talk both about purchasing building materials and furnishings that are low-emitting and about providing an adequate amount of ventilation.The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends a ventilation rate of 0.35 ach (air changes per hour) for new homes, and some new homes are built to even tighter specifications. Particular care should be given in such homes to preventing the build-up of indoor air pollutants to high levels.Here are a few important actions that can make a difference:Use radon-resistant construction techniques.Obtain a copy of the EPA booklet, Model Standards and Techniques for Control of Radon in New Residential Buildings, from your state radon office or health agency, your state homebuilders’ association, or your EPA regional office. You can also visit EPA’s Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC) site and read “Building Radon Out: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Build Radon-Resistant Homes” EPA 402-K-01-002, April 2001 – www.epa.gov/radon/pubsChoose building materials and furnishings that will keep indoor air pollution to a minimum.There are many actions a homeowner can take to select products that will prevent indoor air problems from occurring – a couple of them are mentioned here. First, use exterior-grade pressed wood products made with phenol-formaldehyde resin in floors, cabinetry, and wall surfaces. Or, as an alternative, consider using solid wood products. Secondly, if you plan to install wall-to-wall carpet on concrete in contact with the ground, especially concrete in basements, make sure that an effective moisture barrier is installed prior to installing the carpet. Do not permanently adhere carpet to concrete with adhesives so that the carpet can be removed if it becomes wet.Provide proper drainage and seal foundations in new construction.Air that enters the home through the foundation can contain more moisture than is generated from all occupant activities.Become familiar with mechanical ventilation systems and consider installing one.Advanced designs of new homes are starting to feature mechanical systems that bring outdoor air into the home. Some of these designs include energy-efficient heat recovery ventilators (also known as air-to-air heat exchangers).Ensure that combustion appliances, including furnaces, fireplaces, woodstoves, and heaters, are properly vented and receive enough supply air.Combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, and particles can be back-drafted from the chimney or flue into the living space if the combustion appliance is not properly vented or does not receive enough supply air. Back-drafting can be a particular problem in weatherized or tightly constructed homes. Installing a dedicated outdoor air supply for the combustion appliance can help prevent back drafting.Top of pageDo You Suspect Your Office has an Indoor Air Problem?Indoor air quality problems are not limited to homes. In fact, many office buildings have significant air pollution sources. Some of these buildings may be inadequately ventilated. For example, mechanical ventilation systems may not be designed or operated to provide adequate amounts of outdoor air. Finally, people generally have less control over the indoor environment in their offices than they do in their homes. As a result, there has been an increase in the incidence of reported health problems.Health EffectsA number of well-identified illnesses, such as Legionnaires’ disease, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever, have been directly traced to specific building problems. These are called building-related illnesses. Most of these diseases can be treated, nevertheless, some pose serious risks.Sometimes, however, building occupants experience symptoms that do not fit the pattern of any particular illness and are difficult to trace to any specific source. This phenomenon has been labeled sick building syndrome. People may complain of one or more of the following symptoms: dry or burning mucous membranes in the nose, eyes, and throat; sneezing; stuffy or runny nose; fatigue or lethargy; headache; dizziness; nausea; irritability and forgetfulness. Poor lighting, noise, vibration, thermal discomfort, and psychological stress may also cause, or contribute to, these symptoms.There is no single manner in which these health problems appear. In some cases, problems begin as workers enter their offices and diminish as workers leave; other times, symptoms continue until the illness is treated. Sometimes there are outbreaks of illness among many workers in a single building; in other cases, health symptoms show up only in individual workers.In the opinion of some World Health Organization experts, up to 30 percent of new or remodeled commercial buildings may have unusually high rates of health and comfort complaints from occupants that may potentially be related to indoor air quality.What Causes Problems?Three major reasons for poor indoor air quality in office buildings are the presence of indoor air pollution sources; poorly designed, maintained, or operated ventilation systems; and uses of the building that were unanticipated or poorly planned for when the building was designed or renovated.Sources of Office Air PollutionAs with homes, the most important factor influencing indoor air quality is the presence of pollutant sources. Commonly found office pollutants and their sources include environmental tobacco smoke; asbestos from insulating and fire-retardant building supplies; formaldehyde from pressed wood products; other organics from building materials, carpet, and other office furnishings, cleaning materials and activities, restroom air fresheners, paints, adhesives, copying machines, and photography and print shops; biological contaminants from dirty ventilation systems or water-damaged walls, ceilings, and carpets; and pesticides from pest management practices.Ventilation SystemsMechanical ventilation systems in large buildings are designed and operated not only to heat and cool the air, but also to draw in and circulate outdoor air. If they are poorly designed, operated, or maintained, however, ventilation systems can contribute to indoor air problems in several ways.For example, problems arise when, in an effort to save energy, ventilation systems are not used to bring in adequate amounts of outdoor air. Inadequate ventilation also occurs if the air supply and return vents within each room are blocked or placed in such a way that outdoor air does not actually reach the breathing zone of building occupants. Improperly located outdoor air intake vents can also bring in air contaminated with automobile and truck exhaust, boiler emissions, fumes from dumpsters, or air vented from restrooms. Finally, ventilation systems can be a source of in door pollution themselves by spreading biological contaminants that have multiplied in cooling towers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, or the inside surfaces of ventilation duct work.Use of the BuildingIndoor air pollutants can be circulated from portions of the building used for specialized purposes, such as restaurants, print shops, and dry-cleaning stores, into offices in the same building. Carbon monoxide and other components of automobile exhaust can be drawn from underground parking garages through stairwells and elevator shafts into office spaces.In addition, buildings originally designed for one purpose may end up being converted to use as office space. If not properly modified during building renovations, the room partitions and ventilation system can contribute to indoor air quality problems by restricting air recirculation or by providing an inadequate supply of outdoor air.Top of pageWhat to Do if You Suspect a ProblemIf you or others at your office are experiencing health or comfort problems that you suspect may be caused by indoor air pollution, you can do the following:Talk with other workers, your supervisor, and union representatives to see if the problems are being experienced by others and urge that a record of reported health complaints be kept by management, if one has not already been established.Talk with your own physician and report your problems to the company physician, nurse, or health and safety officer.Call your state or local health department (see our Where You Live pages at www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html) or air pollution control agency to talk over the symptoms and possible causes.You can encourage building management to follow guidance in EPA’s IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM).  I-BEAM updates and expands EPA’s existing Building Air Quality guidance and is designed to be comprehensive state-of-the-art guidance for managing IAQ in commercial buildings.  This guidance was designed to be used by building professionals and others interested in indoor air quality in commercial buildings. I-BEAM contains text, animation/visual, and interactive/calculation components that can be used to perform a number of diverse tasks.  You can also encourage building management to follow guidance in EPA and NIOSH’s Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers (The BAQ is available here as PDF files which can be downloaded and viewed individually or as a single file with all of the PDF files).Frequently, indoor air quality problems in large commercial buildings cannot be effectively identified or remedied without a comprehensive building investigation. These investigations may start with written questionnaires and telephone consultations in which building investigators assess the history of occupant symptoms and building operation procedures. In some cases, these inquiries may quickly uncover the problem and on-site visits are unnecessary.More often, however, investigators will need to come to the building to conduct personal interviews with occupants, to look for possible sources of the problems, and to inspect the design and operation of the ventilation system and other building features. Because taking measurements of pollutants at the very low levels often found in office buildings is expensive and may not yield information readily useful in identifying problem sources, investigators may not take many measurements. The process of solving indoor air quality problems that result in health and comfort complaints can be a slow one, involving several trial solutions before successful remedial actions are identified.If a professional company is hired to conduct a building investigation, select a company on the basis of its experience in identifying and solving indoor air quality problems in non-industrial buildings.Work with others to establish a smoking policy that eliminates involuntary nonsmoker exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.Call the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for information on obtaining a health hazard evaluation of your office (800-35NIOSH), or contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (202) 219-8151.Top of pageReference Guide to Major Indoor Air Pollutants in the HomeThe pollutants listed in this guide have been shown to cause the health effects mentioned. However, it is not necessarily true that the effects noted occur at the pollutant concentration levels typically found in the home. In many cases, our understanding of the pollutants and their health effects is too limited to determine the levels at which the listed effects could occur.Radon (Rn)Sources: Earth and rock beneath home; well water; building materials.Health Effects: No immediate symptoms. Estimated to contribute to between 7,000 and 30,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Smokers are at higher risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer.Levels in Homes: Based on a national residential radon survey completed in 1991, the average indoor radon level is 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L.Steps to Reduce Exposure:Test your home for radon it’s easy and inexpensive.Fix your home if your radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced.If you want more information on radon, contact your state radon office, or call 800-SOS-RADON.Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)Source: Cigarette, pipe, and cigar smoking.Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; lung cancer; may contribute to heart disease. Specifically for children, increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and ear infections; build-up of fluid in the middle ear; increased severity and frequency of asthma episodes; decreased lung function.Levels in Homes: Particle levels in homes without smokers or other strong particle sources are the same as, or lower than, those outdoors. Homes with one or more smokers may have particle levels several times higher than outdoor levels.Steps to Reduce Exposure:Do not smoke in your home or permit others to do so.Do not smoke if children are present, particularly infants and toddlers.If smoking indoors cannot be avoided, increase ventilation in the area where smoking takes place. Open windows or use exhaust fans.BiologicalsSources: Wet or moist walls, ceilings, carpets, and furniture; poorly maintained humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners; bedding; household pets.Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; shortness of breath; dizziness; lethargy; fever; digestive problems. Can cause asthma; humidifier fever; influenza and other infectious diseases.Levels in Homes: Indoor levels of pollen and fungi are lower than outdoor levels (except where indoor sources of fungi are present). Indoor levels of dust mites are higher than outdoor levels.Steps to Reduce Exposure:Install and use fans vented to outdoors in kitchens and bathrooms.Vent clothes dryers to outdoors.Clean cool mist and ultrasonic humidifiers in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and refill with clean water daily.Empty water trays in air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and refrigerators frequently.Clean and dry or remove water-damaged carpets.Use basements as living areas only if they are leak-proof and have adequate ventilation. Use dehumidifiers, if necessary, to maintain humidity between 30-50 percent.Carbon Monoxide (CO)Sources: Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, woodstoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves. Automobile exhaust from attached garages. Environmental Tobacco Smoke.Health Effects: At low concentrations, fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease. At higher concentrations, impaired vision and coordination; headaches; dizziness; confusion; nausea. Can cause flu-like symptoms that clear up after leaving home. Fatal at very high concentrations.Levels in Homes: Average levels in homes without gas stoves vary from 0.5 to 5 parts per million (ppm). Levels near properly adjusted gas stoves are often 5 to 15 ppm and those near poorly adjusted stoves may be 30 ppm or higher.Steps to Reduce Exposure:Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.Consider purchasing a vented space heater when replacing an unvented one.Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves.Open flues when fireplaces are in use.Choose properly sized woodstoves that are certified to meet EPA emission standards. Make certain that doors on all woodstoves fit tightly.Have a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune-up central heating system (furnaces, flues, and chimneys) annually. Repair any leaks promptly.Do not idle the car inside garage.Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)Sources: Kerosene heaters, unvented gas stoves and heaters. Environmental tobacco smoke. Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation. May cause impaired lung function and increased respiratory infections in young children.Levels in Homes: Average level in homes without combustion appliances is about half that of outdoors. In homes with gas stoves, kerosene heaters, or unvented gas space heaters, indoor levels often exceed outdoor levels.Steps to Reduce Exposure: See steps under carbon monoxide.Organic GasesSources: Household products including: paints, paint strippers, and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; stored fuels and automotive products; hobby supplies; dry-cleaned clothing.Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.Levels in Homes: Studies have found that levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. During and for several hours immediately after certain activities, such as paint stripping, levels may be 1,000 times background outdoor levels.Steps to Reduce Exposure:Use household products according to manufacturer’s directions.Make sure you provide plenty of fresh air when using these products.Throw away unused or little-used containers safely; buy in quantities that you will use soon.Keep out of reach of children and pets.Never mix household care products unless directed on the label.Respirable ParticlesSources: Fireplaces, woodstoves, and kerosene heaters. Environmental tobacco smoke.Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; respiratory infections and bronchitis; lung cancer. (Effects attributable to environmental tobacco smoke are listed elsewhere.)Levels in Homes: Particle levels in homes without smoking or other strong particle sources are the same as, or lower than, outdoor levels.Steps to Reduce Exposure:Vent all furnaces to outdoors; keep doors to rest of house open when using unvented space heaters.Choose properly sized woodstoves, certified to meet EPA emission standards; make certain that doors on all woodstoves fit tightly.Have a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune-up central heating system (furnace, flues, and chimneys) annually. Repair any leaks promptly.Change filters on central heating and cooling systems and air cleaners according to manufacturer’s directions.FormaldehydeSources: Pressed wood products (hardwood plywood wall paneling, particleboard, fiberboard) and furniture made with these pressed wood products. Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI). Combustion sources and environmental tobacco smoke. Durable press drapes, other textiles, and glues.Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; severe allergic reactions. May cause cancer. May also cause other effects listed under “organic gases.”Levels in Homes: Average concentrations in older homes without UFFI are generally well below 0.1 (ppm). In homes with significant amounts of new pressed wood products, levels can be greater than 0.3 ppm.Steps to Reduce Exposure:Use “exterior-grade” pressed wood products (lower-emitting because they contain phenol resins, not urea resins).Use air conditioning and dehumidifiers to maintain moderate temperature and reduce humidity levels.Increase ventilation, particularly after bringing new sources of formaldehyde into the home.PesticidesSources: Products used to kill household pests (insecticides, termiticides, and disinfectants). Also, products used on lawns and gardens that drift or are tracked inside the house.Health Effects: Irritation to eye, nose, and throat; damage to central nervous system and kidney; increased risk of cancer.Levels in Homes: Preliminary research shows widespread presence of pesticide residues in homes.Steps to Reduce Exposure:Use strictly according to manufacturer’s directions.Mix or dilute outdoors.Apply only in recommended quantities.Increase ventilation when using indoors. Take plants or pets outdoors when applying pesticides to them.Use non-chemical methods of pest control where possible.If you use a pest control company, select it carefully.Do not store unneeded pesticides inside home; dispose of unwanted containers safely.Store clothes with moth repellents in separately ventilated areas, if possible.Keep indoor spaces clean, dry, and well ventilated to avoid pest and odor problems.AsbestosSources: Deteriorating, damaged, or disturbed insulation, fireproofing, acoustical materials, and floor tiles.Health Effects: No immediate symptoms, but long-term risk of chest and abdominal cancers and lung diseases. Smokers are at higher risk of developing asbestos-induced lung cancer.Levels in Homes: Elevated levels can occur in homes where asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed.Steps to Reduce Exposure:It is best to leave undamaged asbestos material alone if it is not likely to be disturbed.Use trained and qualified contractors for control measures that may disturb asbestos and for cleanup.Follow proper procedures in replacing woodstove door gaskets that may contain asbestos.Lead (Pb)Sources: Lead-based paint, contaminated soil, dust, and drinking water.Health Effects: Lead affects practically all systems within the body. Lead at high levels (lead levels at or above 80 micrograms per deciliter (80 ug/dl) of blood) can cause convulsions, coma, and even death. Lower levels of lead can cause adverse health effects on the central nervous system, kidney, and blood cells. Blood lead levels as low as 10 ug/dl can impair mental and physical development.Steps to Reduce Exposure:Keep areas where children play as dust-free and clean as possible.Leave lead-based paint undisturbed if it is in good condition; do not sand or burn off paint that may contain lead.Do not remove lead paint yourself.Do not bring lead dust into the home.If your work or hobby involves lead, change clothes and use doormats before entering your home.Eat a balanced diet, rich in calcium and iron.Top of pageWhere to Go for Additional Information on Indoor Air QualityDisclaimer: Links to other Federal Agencies on this page (designated with ) are pointers to other hosts and locations in the Internet. The information on this is provided here as a service. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not endorse, approve or otherwise support these other Federal sites.Federal Information Sources for Indoor Air QualityFederal agencies with indoor air quality information may be contacted as follows:U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)Indoor Air Quality Information (IAQ INFO) Hotline P.O. Box 37133 Washington, DC 20013-7133 (800) 438-4318; (703) 356-4020 (fax) 703-356-5386 or e-mail: iaqinfo@aol.com Operates Monday to Friday from 9a.m. to 5p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).National Radon Hotline (800) SOS-RADON [(800) 767-7236] Information recording operates 24 hours a day.National Lead Information Center 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) Operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers may order an information package and/or speak to an information specialist. Operates Monday to Friday from 8:30a.m. to 5p.m. EST.National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)EPA sponsors the NPIC (800) 858-PEST/800-858-7378 to answer your questions about pesticides and to provide selected EPA publications on pesticides.  See their web site at – http://npic.orst.edu/ or, read their brochure – http://npic.orst.edu/brochure.pdf Operates Monday to Friday from 6:30a.m. to 4:30p.m. Pacific Time. Provides information about pesticides to the general public and the medical, veterinary, and professional communities. Medical and government personnel may call 800-858-7377.RCRA/Superfund Hotline National toll-free number: (800) 424-9346 In Washington, DC area: (703) 412-9810 Operates Monday to Friday from 8:30a.m. to 7:30p.m. EST. Provides information on regulations under both the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (including solid and hazardous waste issues) and the Superfund law.Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791 Operates Monday to Friday from 8:30a.m. to 5p.m. EST. Provides information on regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act, lead and radon in drinking water, filter information, and a list of state drinking water offices.TSCA Assistance Information Service (202) 554-1404 Operates Monday to Friday from 8:30a.m. to 5p.m. EST. Provides information on regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act and on EPA’s asbestos program.U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) [www.cpsc.gov/]Washington, DC 20207-0001 Product Safety Hotline: (800) 638-CPSC Teletypewriter for the hearing impaired (outside Maryland): (800) 638-8270; Maryland only: (800) 492-8104. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day when calling from a touch-tone phone. Operators are on duty Monday to Friday from 10:30 to 4 EST to take complaints about unsafe consumer products.U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [www.hud.gov/]Office of Energy and the Environment, Washington, DC 20410 HUD USER National toll-free number: (800) 245-2691 In Washington, DC area: (301) 251-5154U.S. Department of Energy [www.doe.gov/]Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – www.eere.energy.gov/U.S. Public Health ServiceDivision of Federal Occupational Health Office of Environmental Hygiene, Region III, Room 1310 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104 (215) 596-1888; fax: 215-596-5024 Provides indoor air quality consultative services to federal agency managers.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [www.cdc.gov]Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 4770 Buford Highway, NE (F-42) Atlanta, GA 30341-3724 (800) 488-7330Office on Smoking and Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 4770 Buford Highway, NE (K-50) Atlanta, GA 30341-3724 (404) 488-5701Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) [www.osha.gov/] Office of Information and Consumer Affairs Room N-3647, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 (202) 219-8151State and Local OrganizationsYour questions or concerns about indoor air problems can frequently be answered by the government agencies in your state or local government. Responsibilities for indoor air quality issues are usually divided among many different agencies. Calling or writing the agencies responsible for health or air quality control is the best way to start getting information from your state or local government.  EPA maintains a list of state agency contacts at www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html just click on your state.Other OrganizationsThe following organizations have information specifically discussed in this booklet.American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) 3800 Reservoir Road, NW Washington, DC 20007 www.aapcc.orgAssociation of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) 1111 19th Street, NW Suite 402 Washington, DC  20036 (202) 872-5955 www.aham.orgAHAM also provides information on air cleaners on their AHAM-certified Clean Air Delivery Rate site at www.cadr.orgAmerican Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning (ASHRAE) 1791 Tullie Circle NE Atlanta, GA 30329 www.ashrae.orgWorld Health Organization (WHO) Publications Center 49 Sheridan Avenue Albany, NY 12210 www.who.orgYour Local American Lung Association (ALA) National ALA Headquarters 1740 Broadway New York, NY 10019 (800) LUNG-USA www.lungusa.orgTop of pageGlossary of TermsAcid Aerosol: Acidic liquid or solid particles that are small enough to become airborne. High concentrations of acid aerosols can be irritating to the lungs and have been associated with some respiratory diseases, such as asthma.Animal Dander: Tiny scales of animal skin.Allergen: A substance capable of causing an allergic reaction because of an individual’s sensitivity to that substance.Allergic Rhinitis: Inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose that is caused by an allergic reaction.Building-Related Illness: A discrete, identifiable disease or illness that can be traced to a specific pollutant or source within a building. (Contrast with “Sick building syndrome”).Chemical Sensitization: Evidence suggests that some people may develop health problems characterized by effects such as dizziness, eye and throat irritation, chest tightness, and nasal congestion that appear whenever they are exposed to certain chemicals. People may react to even trace amounts of chemicals to which they have become “sensitized.”Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS): Mixture of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and smoke exhaled by the smoker (also secondhand smoke or passive smoking).  See Smoke-free Homes Program at www.epa.gov/smokefreeFungi: Any of a group of parasitic lower plants that lack chlorophyll, including molds and mildews.  (see www.epa.gov/mold )Humidifier Fever: A respiratory illness caused by exposure to toxins from microorganisms found in wet or moist areas in humidifiers and air conditioners. Also called air conditioner or ventilation fever.Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: A group of respiratory diseases that cause inflammation of the lung (specifically granulomatous cells). Most forms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis are caused by the inhalation of organic dusts, including molds.Organic Compounds: Chemicals that contain carbon. Volatile organic compounds vaporize at room temperature and pressure. They are found in many indoor sources, including many common household products and building materials.PicoCurie (pCi): A unit for measuring radioactivity, often expressed as picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air.Pressed Wood Products: A group of materials used in building and furniture construction that are made from wood veneers, particles, or fibers bonded together with an adhesive under heat and pressure.Radon (Rn) and Radon Decay Products: Radon is a radioactive gas formed in the decay of uranium. The radon decay products (also called radon daughters or progeny) can be breathed into the lung where they continue to release radiation as they further decay.Sick Building Syndrome: Term that refers to a set of symptoms that affect some number of building occupants during the time they spend in the building and diminish or go away during periods when they leave the building. Cannot be traced to specific pollutants or sources within the building. (Contrast with “Building related illness”).Ventilation Rate: The rate at which indoor air enters and leaves a building. Expressed in one of two ways: the number of changes of outdoor air per unit of time (air changes per hour, or “ach”) or the rate at which a volume of outdoor air enters per unit of time (cubic feet per minute, or “cfm”).

COPPER PIPING – on the way out?

Not yet…….many of the high end builders in the metro Phoenix area prefer to use copper piping and tubing.

Tubing made of copper was introduced in about 1900, but didn’t become popular until approximately 1950, depending on local building code adoption.   If you have a home that was built in the 1950’s or prior, chances are it has or once had galvanized plumbing and not copper piping.

Common wall-thicknesses of copper tubing are “Type K”, “Type L” and “Type M”;

Type “M” are relatively thin-walled and generally suitable for condensate and other drains, but sometimes illegal for pressure applications, depending on local codes.

Type “L” has a thicker pipe wall section, and is used in residential and commercial water supply and pressure applications,

Type “K” has the thickest wall section of the three types of pressure rated tubing and is commonly used for deep underground burial such as under sidewalks and streets, with a suitable corrosion protection coating or continuous polyethylene sleeve as required by code.

Types “K” and “L” are generally available in both hard drawn “sticks” and in rolls of soft annealed tubing, Type “M” is usually only available in hard drawn “sticks”. Thin-walled types used to be relatively inexpensive, but since 2002 copper prices have risen considerably due to rising global demand and a stagnant supply.

In the plumbing trade the size of copper tubing is measured by its nominal diameter (average inside diameter). Some trades, heating and cooling technicians for instance, use the outside diameter (OD) to designate copper tube sizes. The OD of copper tube is always 1/8th inch larger than its nominal size. Therefore, 1″ nominal copper tube and 1-1/8th” inch ACR tube are exactly the same tube with different size designations. The wall thickness of the tube, as mentioned above, never affects the sizing of the tube.

Type K ½” nominal tube, is the same size as Type L ½” nominal tube (5/8″ ACR).

Generally, copper tubes are soldered directly into copper or brass fittings, although compression, crimp, or flare fittings are also used.

Formerly, concerns with copper supply tubes included the lead used in the solder at joints (50% tin and 50% lead). Some studies have shown significant “leaching” of the lead into the potable water stream, particularly after long periods of low usage, followed by peak demand periods. In hard water applications, shortly after installation, the interior of the pipes will be coated with the deposited minerals that had been dissolved in the water, and therefore the vast majority of exposed lead is prevented from entering the potable water. Building codes now require lead-free solder. Building Codes throughout the U.S. require the use of virtually “lead-free” (<.2% lead) solder or filler metals in plumbing fittings and appliances as well.

PEX (cross-linked polyethylene piping is fast replacing the use of copper piping is homes and buildings. Just because the pipe nipples that are visible penetrating the wall under sinks and at water heater locations does not mean that the entire house if plumbed with copper. It is very common for many types of plastic piping to be connected to copper within the wall and floor cavities.

If you are unsure as to what type of piping is installed in your home or building ask a licensed plumber or building inspection engineer to do a thorough inspection for you.

Copper Tubing Sizes (CTS) for Plumbing
Nominal sizeOutside diameter (OD) (inches)Inside diameter (ID) (inches) 
Type KType LType M 
3/81/20.4020.4300.450 
1/25/80.5280.5450.569 
5/83/40.6520.6680.690 
3/47/80.7450.7850.811 
11-1/80.9951.0251.055 
1-¼1-3/81.2451.2651.291 
1-½1-5/81.4811.5051.527 
22-1/81.9591.9852.009 
2-½2-5/82.4352.4652.495 
33-1/82.9072.9452.981 

ASTM B75-02 Specification for Seamless Copper Tube

ASTM B42-02e1 Standard Specification for Seamless Copper Pipe, Standard Sizes

ASTM B88-03 Standard Specification for Seamless Copper Water Tube

My New Home

We are in the process of building a new home. This article will document the process from raw land through to the final inspection including problems that we encounter along the way. I hope that it helps those who are considering building a new home…An exciting and challenging adventure.

  • Defining the living space and purpose of the home.
  • Selecting a site.
  • Developing the plans.
  • Choosing an architect and engineer.
  • Dealing with the local authorities.
  • Obtaining financing.
  • Monitoring construction progress and payments.
  • Performing a Final Inspection.
  • Move- In Day.

Everything’s Turning up GREEN!

Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use and harvest energy, water, and materials and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better sitting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle.

Green building is also sometimes known as sustainable building or environmental building, although there are slight differences in the definitions. The practice of green building can lead to benefits including reduced operating costs by increasing productivity and using less energy and water, improved public and occupant health due to improved indoor air quality, and reduced environmental impacts by, for example, lessening storm water runoff and the heat island effect.

Green building is an essential component of the related concepts of sustainable design, sustainable development and general sustainability.

Practitioners of green building often seek to achieve not only ecological but aesthetic harmony between a structure and its surrounding natural and built environment. The appearance and style of sustainable homes and buildings can be nearly indistinguishable from their less sustainable counterparts.

Sustainable building techniques

Green building and natural building are both sets of building techniques that aim to be more sustainable than conventional construction. However, there is a difference in the degree of sustainability. In practice, green building tends to be popular with professionals in the development industry who are convinced that building more sustainably is not only necessary to lessen the impact on the environment but also makes good economic sense. Green building is increasingly governed by standards, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Natural building, on the other hand, is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally.

Green architecture

Main article: Green architecture

The focus of green architecture is for the project to work in harmony with the natural features and resources surrounding the site, and to use materials that are sustainably grown or recycled rather than new materials from non-renewable resources.

Building materials may be sought within a 500-mile radius of the building site to minimize the use of fuel for transportation. The building itself may be oriented a particular direction to take advantage of naturally occurring features such as wind direction and angle of the sun. When possible, building materials may be gleaned from the site itself; for example, if a new structure is being constructed in a wooded area, wood from the trees which were cut to make room for the building would be re-used as part of the building itself. Taking advantage of available natural light reduces dependence on artificial (energy-using) light sources. Well-insulated windows, doors, and walls help reduce energy loss, thereby reducing energy usage. To further address energy loss hot water heat recycling is used to reduce energy usage for domestic water heating.

Low-impact building materials are used wherever feasible: for example, insulation may be made from low VOC (volatile organic compound)-emitting materials such as recycled denim, rather than the fiberglass insulation which is dangerous to breathe. To discourage insect damage, the insulation may be treated with boric acid. Organic or milk-based paints may be used.

Architectural salvage and reclaimed materials are used when appropriate as well. When older buildings are demolished, frequently any good wood is reclaimed, renewed, and sold as flooring. Many other parts are reused as well, such as doors, windows, mantels, and hardware, thus reducing the consumption of new goods. When new materials are employed, green designers look for materials that are rapidly replenished, such as bamboo, which can be harvested for commercial use after only 6 years of growth, or cork oak, in which only the outer bark is removed for use, thus preserving the tree.

Good green architecture also reduces waste, of both energy and material. During construction phase, the goal is to reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Well designed buildings also help reduce the amount of waste generated by the occupants as well, by providing onsite solutions such as compost bins to reduce matter going to landfills.

To reduce the impact on wells or water treatments plants, several options exist. “Greywater“, wastewater from sources such as dishwashing or washing machines, can be used to flush toilets, water lawns, and wash cars. Rainwater collectors are used for similar purposes, and some homes use specially designed rainwater collectors to gather rainwater for all water use, including drinking water.

Green architecture often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, e.g., using sunlight through passive solar, active solar, and photovoltaic techniques and using plants and trees through green roofs, rain gardens, and for reduction of rainwater run-off. Many other techniques, such as using packed gravel for parking lots instead of concrete or asphalt to enhance replenishment of ground water, are used as well.

Green building worldwide

Standards and ratings

Many countries have developed their own standards of energy efficiency for buildings.

Australia

There is a system in place in Australia called First Rate designed to increase energy efficiency of residential buildings. The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has developed a green building standard known as Green Star.

In Adelaide, South Australia, there are at least two different projects that incorporate the principles of Green building. The Eco-City development is located in Adelaide’s city center and the Aldinga Arts Eco Village is located in Aldinga. Guidelines for building developments in each project are outlined in the bylaws. The bylaws include greywater reuse, reuse of stormwater, the capture of rainwater, use of solar panels for electricity and hot water, solar passive building design and community gardens and landscaping.

Melbourne has a rapidly growing environmental consciousness, many government subsidies and rebates are available for water tanks, water efficient products (such as shower heads) and solar hot water systems. The city is home to many examples of green buildings and sustainable development such as the CERES Environmental Park. Two of the most prominent examples of Green commercial buildings in Australia are the 60L and CH2 buildings in Melbourne.

Canada

Canada has implemented “r2000” guidelines for new buildings built after the year 2000. Incentives are offered to builders to meet the r2000 standard in an effort to increase energy efficiency and promote sustainability. In December 2002, Canada formed the Canada Green Building Council and in July 2003 obtained an exclusive license from the US Green Building Council to adopt the LEED rating system to Canadian circumstances.

  • Beamish-Munro Hall at Queen’s University features sustainable construction methods such as high fly-ash concrete, triple-glazed windows, dimmable fluorescent lights and a grid-tied photovoltaic array.

Germany

German developments that employ green building techniques include:

  • The Solarsiedlung (Solar Village) in Freiburg, Germany, which features energy-plus houses.
  • The Vauban development, also in Freiburg.
  • Houses designed by Baufritz, incorporating passive solar design, heavily insulated walls, triple-glazed doors and windows, non-toxic paints and finishes, summer shading, heat recovery ventilation, and greywater treatment systems.
  • The new Reichstag building in Berlin, which produces its own energy.

India

Main article: Energy efficient buildings in India

The Confederation of Indian Industry plays an active role in promoting sustainability in the Indian construction sector. There are many energy efficient buildings in India, situated in a variety of climatic zones.

Malaysia

The Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) promotes green building techniques. Malaysian architect Ken Yeang is a prominent voice in the area of ecological design.[citation needed]

United Kingdom

Main article: Energy efficiency in British housing

The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) has promoted sustainable building in the UK since 1989.

The UK Building Regulations set requirements for insulation levels and other aspects of sustainability in building construction.

United States

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, which is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. They have developed specific versions of the LEED rating system to assist specific building types in achieving certification. Some of the commercially available systems are LEED-NC: New Construction and Major Renovations (the most commonly applied-for LEED certification)

  • LEED-CI: Commercial Interiors
  • LEED-CS: Core/Shell)
  • LEED-EB: Existing Buildings
  • LEED-Homes

Other versions that will soon be released for public consumption are:

  • LEED-ND: Neighborhood Developments
  • LEED for Schools
  • LEED for Healthcare
  • LEED for Labs
  • LEED for Retail

The Green Building Initiative is a non-profit network of building industry leaders committed to bringing green to mainstream residential and commercial construction. The GBI believes in building approaches that are environmentally progressive, but also practical and affordable for builders to implement. The GBI has developed an easy to use, inexpensive and web-based rating tool called Green Globes, which is being upgraded in accordance with ANSI procedures.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s EnergyStar program rates commercial buildings for energy efficiency and provides EnergyStar qualifications for new homes that meet their standards for energy efficient building design.

In 2005, Washington became the first state in the U.S. to enact green building legislation. According to the law, all major public agency facilities with a floor area exceeding 5,000 square feet (465 m²), including state-funded school buildings, are required to meet or exceed LEED standards in construction or renovation. The projected benefits of this law are:

  • 20% annual savings in energy costs
  • 20% reduction in water costs
  • 38% reduction in wastewater production
  • 22% reduction in construction waste

In 2006, Charlottesville, VA became one of the first small towns in the US to enact green building legislation. This presents a significant shift in construction and architecture as LEED regulations have formerly been focused on commercial construction. If US homeowner interest grows in “green” residential construction, the companies involved in the production and manufacturing of LEED building materials will become likely candidates for tomorrow’s round of private equity and IPO investing.

The Purpose of a Home Inspection

Why take that chance?

Neglecting to have your property inspected, could be the most costly mistake of your life! 

Why Do I Need An Inspection?

Very simply, a house is the single largest investment most individuals will ever make. More and more purchasers are coming to understand the wisdom of a thorough home inspection prior to committing to its purchase. Home inspections have proven to be a positive and educational experience for prospective home buyers. An impartial inspection by a professional Registered Home Inspector (RHI) or CAHPI National Certificate Holder will provide a large measure of protection from unpleasant surprises and allow you to make an informed decision about your purchase.

Having a professional home inspection may also reveal serious issues with a property you intend on purchasing. Is the home in an area known to be subject to Radon Gas? Is there any chance that the home was a former Marijuana Grow Operation or a Meth Lab? The fact that a house may not appear on the Ottawa Police listing of known properties that were former grow ops, is no guarantee that this house wasn’t. Would you know what to look for? Is the home in an area known for unstable soil conditions? These are all issues that a professional home inspector will make you aware of during your home inspection. Miss them, and your family’s health and safety may be at risk, not to mention the hole it will burn in your pocketbook to resolve them.

Read our CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

The purpose of an inspection is to determine the condition of a property at the time of purchase, or afterwards in cases involving litigation, in order to disclose the following:

  • serious deficiencies (usually defined as repairs in excess of $1,500)
  • replacement and repair requirements
  • age and life expectancy of major components
  • positive aspects of the home
  • maintenance and safety information

The following is part of a standard home inspection:

Exterior:

  • Slope, grading and drainage of the property
  • Foundation and exterior walls
  • Porches and decks
  • Windows, doors, headers and sills
  • Fascia, soffits and eaves troughs
  • Roof, flashings, vents and chimneys
  • Garage, carport and outbuildings

Interior:

  • Foundation walls, basement floor, posts and beams
  • Waterproofing, moisture penetration, wood rot, etc.
  • Electrical service and wiring
  • Plumbing supply, waste drainage and fixtures
  • Heating, air conditioning (summer only) and ventilation
  • Floors, walls, ceilings, doors and windows
  • Attic insulation and ventilation

Typically an inspection takes between 2 and 3 hours, occasionally longer, and includes an examination of all the major systems such as roofing, structural, exterior and interior finishes, electrical, heating/air conditioning, insulation, plumbing and related components. A professional home inspection does not include appraisals, exact quotations for repairs, noncompliance with building code requirements, and is not intended to provide guarantees or warranties. Well water analysis and septic inspections are not part of a standard home inspection but very important. We would suggest that you have both of these areas addressed by professionals in those specialties. Several Laboratories provide water sample vials that may be collected and filled by the purchaser and submitted to the lab for analysis. Air Conditioners can not be inspected except during summer months (typically May to September). Pools and spas are not included as inspection items. Wood burning appliances such as fireplaces and wood stoves would require an separate inspection by a WETT inspector (Wood Energy Technology Transfer). Some fire insurance companies provide discounts for WETT inspected and approved properties. Knowing what to expect will help you make an informed decision about the value of your home as well as the costs of future upkeep. Check out our information on Preparing for the Inspection. Two articles taken from the “Ottawa Citizen” and well worth reading are: Home Inspections Pay Dividends and Inspect Before You Seal the Deal

When Should The Inspection Take Place?

New Homes* With any new home purchase, it is strongly recommended that you ensure that you fully comprehend all the rules and requirements of your provincial warranty program prior to taking possession. In Ontario, you will want to visit the Tarion Warranty website and review it in detail.

If you have not yet purchased your new home, it is a good idea to consider the services of a Professional Home Inspector during it’s construction. You will require that a clause be inserted into the Agreement of Purchase & Sale with the builder that stipulates that construction inspections are permitted. Some builders are hesitant to allow this service. If this is the case with your choice of builders, you may want to reconsider things. We strongly suggest that you consult with an expert real estate lawyer, prior to the signing of any new home purchase agreement. Your lawyer may also suggest that you have a copy of the floor plan for your new home, included in the agreement papers.

If your builder will not accommodate construction inspections, it is still in your best interests to consider having a professional home inspector accompany you to your PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection) prior to your occupancy and any money changing hands. During this PDI you will be asked to create a list of deficiencies with the builder representative (and of course the verbal assistance of your home inspector). After you move into your new home, there is generally a period of 30 days in which you may forward a list of building deficiencies to the Warranty Program. There is also another opportunity as you approach your first anniversary in the home. Your final list of home deficiencies needs to be submitted to Tarion Warranty within a 30 day period prior to the end of your first year in the home.

PLEASE READ: It is imperative that all correspondence to your builder and/or the warranty program, contains a running list of ALL outstanding deficiencies with your home – even if previously reported. Most Warranty Programs look at your last list submitted as the most recent and accurate reflection of all outstanding issues. If you were to submit a report of any new issue on its own, they will assume that all previous matters have been remedied. (whether they have been corrected or not). * (Home Inspectors® has provided this information as a courtesy and does not warrant the accuracy of any warranty information above as rules and regulations for any warranty program may change from time to time. We strongly suggest that you remain current with all warranty policies and strictly adhere to the requirements of the program in order to retain the most from your coverage)

Resale Homes Your real estate agent may have included a clause in your offer to purchase, making it conditional upon a home inspection to your satisfaction. If there isn’t a clause to that effect, then you need to include it. We would even go so far as to suggest that you add a clause stating that if your inspector suggests additional inspections by specialized professionals (such as a heating contractor or electrician), there be an allowance to accommodate them as well. An agreement of purchase is a binding contract, once signed, there may be little room for alterations or changes. No offer to purchase should be signed without seeking the advice of a reputable real estate lawyer who will ensure that your interests are protected within the contract. Remember that items like air conditioners cannot be inspected during colder months and a clause to ensure their satisfactory operation should be considered (we normally suggest that a date like July 1st would allow a purchaser the chance to test an air conditioning unit under hot climatic conditions). You are generally granted a limited time frame to arrange and have your inspection completed. The inspection should take place after all price negotiations have been finalized and the vendors have accepted your offer. At this point in time, it is evident that you intend to purchase the property. Now is your opportunity to determine the finer details about what you are buying by engaging the services of a registered home inspector. It is highly recommended that you accompany the inspector during the inspection process. At Home Inspectors® we encourage your active participation in the inspection process through questions and answers so be sure to bring along a pad and paper. Please remember that part of the inspection occurs outdoors – so dress accordingly. You should receive a written copy of your inspection report at the time of its completion. At Home Inspectors® we provide you with a copy of your report generally onsite – We retain a second reference copy at our office. You may call us anytime for information, as advice is free for as long as you own the home.

How Much Will It Cost?

Often the first question asked, it should actually be one of your last!  An inspector’s qualifications should be of more importance to you. A poor inspector at any price, isn’t a deal and may actually end up costing you more in the long run. Many individuals may call themselves home inspectors and charge less than their competition. You should be suspicious of any quotes less than $400. Check their qualifications, track record and ask several pertinent questions (see the section below on choosing an inspector). While you shouldn’t have to pay a fortune for a building inspection, the old adage that “you get what you pay for” holds a lot of truth! Homeownership is an expensive task and cutting corners by hiring the cheapest inspector that you can find, may end up as a very costly mistake. Check out references and credentials and above all – Hire an Experienced Professional! A good quality inspection by a National Certificate Holder (NCH) or Registered Home Inspector (RHI), professional will likely cost upwards of $400 but should not generally total more than $550 (taxes included). Exceptions should be made for larger or unique properties or those containing multiple units such as a residence with a basement apartment, a duplex or triplex. Inspections involving several site visitations such as those during a building’s construction, will cost  considerably more due to the time involved and the uniqueness of this service. Payment of the fee is usually due upon completion of the inspection. The actual cost of the inspection should be one of your least concerns as the benefits realized from a professional inspection will far outweigh it’s cost, several times over.

How Do I Choose The Right Inspector?

Don’t become an unfortunate statistic as many unsuspecting home buyers and homeowners have become. Home Inspection is still totally unregulated in Canada. Absolutely ANYONE can claim to be a home inspector in Canada, even if they have NO credentials, related training or experience. So how do you choose?  Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation -CMHC recommends that consumers deal only with professional home inspectors who are members of a recognized professional association.  CMHC offers an on-line publication entitled Hiring a Home Inspector. Having said that, not all professional home inspectors are created equal. It is very important to determine how long the individual has been conducting professional home inspections full time. While many individuals claim to have “X years of experience” it may be in a construction related trade and not actual inspection experience – there is a HUGE difference. Professional Home inspectors are specifically trained in “Defect Recognition”. Any tradesperson or professional such as an Engineer does not specially have this training by virtue of their trade or professional degree. Do you really need an Engineer to conduct your home inspection. The answer is simply – NO – You need someone specifically trained in  “Defect Recognition”. This distinction is discussed in our 20 Questions To Ask a Home Inspector page. While home inspectors in Canada remain an unregulated body, there are some professional associations that offer certification to their qualified members.  In Canada the highest national designation now available, is through the National Certification Authority and monitored by CAHPI – The Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors. This new designation is the CAHPI – National Certificate Holder NCH (for more information ). CAHPI Ontario also known as THE ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF HOME INSPECTORS – OAHI is the Ontario branch of the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI) the only association that grants the RHI (Registered Home Inspector) designation.

National Certification – What is it and why is it so important? in 2005 The Federal Minister of Housing announced that CAHPI “would become the voice of the Canadian Home Inspection Industry” and they were given the mandate to administer a certification program fairly and equally among Canadian Home Inspectors including members and non-members. This new designation ensures that it’s recipients have the knowledge and technical competencies required of this profession. All applicants must conduct an inspection and submit a report for a peer review board. As it must be renewed annually, this is absolute highest home inspection designation available nationally in Canada today. In the Fall of 2006, the first group of inspectors to receive this title, were presented with their Certification at the CAHPI National Conference. Paul Wilson of Home Inspectors® was one of them. If you want the best home inspector possible, then ensure that they are  National Certificate Holders. The National Certification Authority permits home inspectors from all across Canada to apply and be tested for this designation regardless of their professional affiliation. Applicants must pass rigorous technical requirements (generally taking 2 years to complete) as well as two field inspections in front of a peer review board. Qualifications are revisited and inspectors are re-testing every five years to ensure that they remain current and up-to-date. There are very strict national code of ethics and standards of practice that must be adhered to. Once successful, National Certificate Holders can conduct inspections anywhere across Canada. This designation is now considered the “Gold Standard” in home inspections nationally and is fully supported by The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Paul Wilson of Home Inspectors is strongly committed to the promotion of this new National Certification. He feels that “the bar has been raised for inspectors across the country” and the clear winner will be today’s consumer. In October 2008, a new Ontario Association was formed to provide all home inspectors in Ontario regardless of their professional affiliation, with a clear path to this national certification. PHPIO (pronounced fippio) is The Professional Association of Home & Property Inspectors of Ontario. Paul Wilson of Home Inspectors, is PHPIO’s President and one of it’s founding members.

PHPIOs founding committee consists of some of the most experienced and well respected home inspectors in Canada today. While PHPIO is a new organization, its founding committee members are from all across Ontario and bring with them many of years of association experience on both national and provincial levels. This impressive list includes a Past President of The Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI), a former Past President of the provincial association, as well as several former provincial board members. Many of committee members have been honored with CAHPI awards for service and commitment to the Home Inspection profession as well as contribution and dedication to the development of the National Certification Program. Others have been involved with the national initiative since its inception in 1996 and have worked for many years to ensure that all home inspectors across Canada work to the same standard. These dedicated individuals are volunteering their efforts to ensure PHPIOs success in Ontario and the success of the National Certification Program across Canada. About The Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI) also known as CAHPI-Ontario Home inspections began as a consumer service in the 1970’s in direct response to the growing demands by home buyers. It soon became apparent that selecting a home inspector was becoming as important as finding the right home. To meet this need, the Canadian Association of Home Inspectors (CAHI) was formed in 1982, followed by the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI) in 1987. The OAHI operated as a chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), until 1994 when the OAHI became a self-regulating professional body with the passage of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors Act. The Ontario Association of Home Inspectors Act received royal assent on December 9, 1994, enabling the OAHI to define qualification and performance requirements and the exclusive right to grant the designations “Registered Home Inspector” and “RHI” to qualified members in the Province of Ontario. OAHI is at the leading edge of the North American profession as the first self-regulating home inspection organization, with associations in other jurisdictions following the OAHI’s lead. The Ontario Association of Home Inspectors is dedicated to enhancing the technical skills and professional practice of home inspectors, and maintaining high professional standards through education and discipline. The OAHI Standards of Practice provides inspection guidelines, and the OAHI Code of Conduct defines the member’s responsibility to act in a strictly fair, impartial, and professional manner.

What is a Registered Home Inspector (R.H.I.)? Qualified members of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors have the exclusive right to call themselves RHI’s (Registered Home Inspector) under the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors Act, 1994 (The Ontario Government Bill 158). The Act and the by-laws: Define a home inspection through the Standards of Practice Establish membership criteria Set out a Code of Conduct and Provide for regulation of the professional through the disciplinary process.

WHAT IS AN RHI?  What are the Qualifications? RHI’s must meet specific criteria in the areas of: 1. Education 2. Technical background, and 3. Experience What does this mean to the Home Buyer, Realtor, Lawyer, Banker? Enhanced professional image: putting people in touch with home inspection professionals reinforces your relationship with clients. More protection for you: you reduce your liability for both the condition of the home and the quality of the inspector you recommend when you direct people to members of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors. More protection for the home buyer: all Registered Home Inspectors (RHI’s) must have proven ability, training, and experience.  Their Code of Ethics and a Standards of Practice enable quality of service to be provided to the public on a consistent basis. Registered Home Inspectors – RHI’s have met the educational and technical requirements, have passed a certification process, and must maintain ongoing educational upgrading. Registered Home Inspectors (RHI designation) come from many ranks. They have several years of experience in inspections, engineering, architecture, house construction or the building industry. This also applies to  CAHPI – National Certificate Holders. Please note: many home inspection associations have various levels of membership. Being an association member does not necessarily mean that they are fully trained or have successfully completed the designation process and as a bare minimum, carry the RHI designation. Make sure that you are making a fair comparison of inspectors actual home inspection experience and training. Only a fully trained professional home inspector carries the RHI designation. The absolute highest home inspection designation now available nationally in Canada is the new CAHPI – National Certificate Holder. Very few inspectors have yet to gain this very prestigious designation (for more information).

The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) is also a reputable and well recognized home inspection association who offers membership to qualified inspectors across North America. Here are 20 Important Questions to ask any Home Inspector before hiring them.

structural inspection

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment

The purposes of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (“ESA”) are:

  •  To identify existing or potential Recognized Environmental Conditions (as defined by ASTM Standard E-1527-05) affecting the Property that: 1) constitute or result in a material violation or a potential material violation of any applicable environmental law; 2) impose any material constraints on the operation of the Property or require a material change in the use thereof; 3) require clean-up, remedial action or other response with respect to Hazardous Substances or Petroleum Products on or affecting the Property under any applicable environmental law; 4) may affect the value of the Property, and; 5) may require specifications to be performed with regard to such conditions and circumstances.

The information contained in the ESA Report will be used by Client to: 1) evaluate its legal and financial liabilities for transactions related to foreclosure, purchase, sale, loan origination, loan workout or seller financing, 2) evaluate the Property’s overall development potential, the associated market value and the impact of applicable laws that restrict financial and other types of assistance for the future development of the Property, and or; 3) determine whether specific actions are required to be performed prior to the foreclosure, purchase, sale, loan origination, loan workout or seller financing of the Property. As such, the purpose is intended to satisfy the requirements of an “appropriate inquiry” to qualify for the innocent landowner defense to potential Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) liability.

In addition, we can examine environmental issues and conditions beyond the scope of the ASTM E 1527-05 standard which may not present potential CERCLA liability but which warranted consideration within the stated scope of this project, in accordance with Standard & Poor’s Plus Protocol.

Typical Scope of Work:

ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT

SCOPE OF WORK

For Commercial Property

ENGINEER shall provide the services set forth herein for each subject property accompanying this scope of work. The Services shall be provided in compliance with the ASTM E 1527-05 standards for Phase I Environmental Assessments unless otherwise provided herein. To the extent conflicts exist between this Scope of Work and the ASTM standards, this Scope of Work shall receive first priority and the ASTM standards shall be given secondary priority.

  1. Historical Review

Identify any prior use or activities at or near the site which might have created any environmental problems back to the time when the property was first developed or to 1880, whichever is later. Sources of information and supporting documentation may include, but are not necessarily limited to the items set forth below. Use of several different sources may be necessary to fill in gaps in the site’s history.

  • Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
  • City Directories
  • Area Plat Book
  • Title Search or Assessor Records
  • Topographic Maps
  • Aerial Photos
  • Construction Documents (including Building Permits)
  • Interviews with Knowledgeable Individuals
  • Tribal Records
  • Local Government Records
  • Federal and State Institutional/Engineering Controls Registries
  1. Title Search and Registry Review for Environmental Liens and Institutional/Engineering Controls

Conduct a review of title and judicial records for the site and identify any and all recorded environmental liens, oil and gas easements, and Institutional/Engineering Controls for the site. Review all available Federal and State Institutional/Engineering Controls Registries and identify any and all Institutional/Engineering Controls for the site.

  1. Environmental Agency File Reviews and Database Inquiries
  2. With regard to federal, state and local Environmental Authorities, check for and review, to the extent material:
    • record of environmental permits, registrations or other authorizations (owner and tenants);
    • record of environmental violations, spills, or other incidents;
    • status of any past or present environmental issues or remedial plans;
    • record of all of the above for all abutting properties;
    • ground water sampling data near the project site;
    • environmental regulations or requirements that may be relevant to this transaction (e.g., ECRA in New Jersey);
    • locations of nearby landfill or hazardous waste disposal sites;
    • general groundwater flow direction and condition in the vicinity of the sites. Identify any “regional” groundwater problems.
  1. Perform “database” search for location of sites of potential concern, including those undergoing or otherwise subject to remediation programs, as specified in the ASTM standards, as well as registered underground storage tanks. A map should be provided showing all database “hits” within a 1 mile radius of the property.

3. Contact Local Fire Officials for:

  • record of underground tank installation, removals, ruptures, leaks or other incidents;
  • record of fires involving toxic substances.
  1. Contact Local Health Authorities for:
  • record of any health-related environmental issues pertaining to the property.
  1. Contact Local Water and Sewer Authorities for;
  • source of water for the property;
  • location of nearby water supply wells indicate whether the ground water is used as a source of potable water;
  • record of any drinking water contamination problems, either at the property or the immediate vicinity;
  • method of sewage disposal.

The ENGINEER should try to determine ground water direction flow (based on topography, nearby ground water testing results, etc.) and for each environmental database “hit”, determine whether there is a reasonably possible concern. If the Subject Property or neighboring sites present a cause for concern, ENGINEER shall interview relevant agencies and review any reasonably available files.

  1. Site Inspection
  2. Interview Property Owner, Property Manager, Maintenance Personnel and Tenants, and Review Available Files for:
  1. any past or present environmental incidents, violation notices, or environmental litigation;
  2. any past or present use, storage, handling and disposal of any hazardous materials including petroleum chemicals, pesticides and asbestos. Provide a copy of the “right to know” (hazard communication) and SARA Title III filings;
  3. record of required environmental permits by owner and/or tenants;
  4. waste generated and disposal methods used;
  5. wastewater generated and disposal methods used. Specify the presence of sanitary sewer connections, septic systems, dry wells, etc.
  • Thoroughly Inspect Subject Property for:
  • storage or handling of hazardous materials in tanks, drums, containers or otherwise;
  • evidence of illegal dumping of hazardous materials, debris or construction materials;
  • extensive use of fill from source of unknown origin;
  • evidence of soil, surface water and/or ground water contamination (e.g., staining, distressed vegetation);
  • potential for contaminated storm water drainage from adjacent properties;
  • evidence of underground waste disposal (sumps, floor drains);
  • any environmental concerns surfaced as the result of the Historical Review;
  • any potential jurisdictional wetlands;
  • any environmental concerns resulting from the handling of hazardous materials of nearby properties (e.g., gas stations, manufacturing plants) considered at least a ¼ mile radius;
  • verify through inspection, interviews and records review that no dry cleaning operations have ever been conducted on site. In the event any dry cleaning operations are identified, ENGINEER shall recommend subsurface investigation;
  • identify any other use of chlorinated solvents not captured above.
  1. Concerning Underground and Aboveground Storage Tanks and Other Equipment:
  • provide an inventory of all storage tanks, including size, location, installation date, contents, tank material, etc.;
  • provide a record of any tank leak tests and results;
  • verify all tank permits and registrations;
  • conduct physical inspection of aboveground tanks, process equipment and piping systems to the extent possible;
  • document the presence of any cathodic protection system, leak detection system or other means of equipment protection, and compare with regulatory requirements;
  • describe and evaluate any spill prevention or containment measures including SPCC plan if available;
  • determine prior tank removals or repairs. Explain the reasons for the removal or repair, and whether or not any contaminated soil or groundwater was removed or remediated. The absence of post-excavation sampling may require a Phase II investigation;
  • indicate any plans for future tank removals or repairs;
    1. tank testing or subsurface investigation may be required at ENGINEER’s discretion, based on available data.
  • 4. Concerning Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs):
  • document the location and owner of all transformers or capacitors that contain PCBs:
  • verify that all PCB equipment (i.e., contains any PCBs) including all transformers present on the property, are in compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations;
  • visually inspect PCB equipment and determine whether there are any leaks or other hazards;
  • determine whether all oil-filled transformers have been classified by PCB Testing (mandatory for non-utility owned transformers) or other acceptable alternative;
  • verify that the PCB transformers located near (provide distance) commercial buildings have been properly registered with the building owner and are subject to an appropriate inspection program.
  1. Abutting and/or Nearby Upgradient Properties

Visually inspect abutting properties. The presence of a gasoline service station, dry cleaners or facility handling a significant quantity of hazardous materials adjacent to the property shall require a more detailed investigation. To the extent feasible and possible, consider the potential that current or prior off-site activities may result in an environmental impact. This shall include:

  • nearby (at least within ¼ mile) upgradient properties handling hazardous materials disclosed by the investigation described in Section 1;
  • properties with known problems within one mile upgradient of the property.

If a neighboring site is a cause for concern, ENGINEER shall interview officials at relevant agencies and review any reasonably available files. If this review of agency files is not sufficient to eliminate neighboring site as a material concern, ENGINEER shall recommend subsurface sampling on the Subject Property.

Asbestos

  • determine whether the presence of asbestos is suspected or confirmed at the property (evaluate any available asbestos survey);
  • examine available building records for an indication of the presence of asbestos.
  • determine whether there is an Operations and Maintenance plan (O&M) in effect;
  • if an asbestos bulk survey is required, it shall be conducted consistent with the Guide or as otherwise agreed to by CLIENT.
  • Interview Past Property Owner if past owner is identified and the information to be gathered is not likely to be duplicative.
  • Interview an Adjoining Property Owner if the Subject Property is abandoned.

The Site inspection will be performed by an “Environmental Professional” as defined in ASTM 1527-05.

  • Report Requirements

The ENGINEER shall submit a Draft Report to CLIENT conforming to the format set forth in the ASTM standards and as set forth below, or as otherwise agreed to by CLIENT.

  1. The ENGINEER shall acknowledge in the transmittal that, CLIENT and the entities named in the accompanying Proposal will be entitled to rely on the report.
  2. Upon completion of the Phase I assessment, an evaluation of the environmental issues associated with the property and a recommendation regarding the need for any follow-up investigation shall be made by the ENGINEER. CLIENT shall receive immediate verbal notification of any issues on which ENGINEER recommends a Phase II assessment.
  3. Excepting only issues on which the ENGINEER recommends further investigation or other actions, the Report shall state the ENGINEER’s opinion that, based on all available information and in the ENGINEER’s reasonable professional judgment, the Subject Property is in compliance with all applicable environmental laws, and the CONSULTANT is aware of no information that would lead it to believe in its reasonable professional judgment that there are circumstances present relating to the use, management or disposal of any Hazardous Materials for which investigation, testing, monitoring, containment, clean-up remediation could be required under any federal, state or local law or regulation.
  4. The ENGINEER’s final Phase I report shall also include, but not be limited to:
  • narrative description of the property and the surrounding area;
  • site plans and location maps indicating all referenced locations;
  • site photographs;
  • a discussion of all environmental issues identified;
  • identification of sources consulted to address data gaps and comments on significance of data gap with regard to the ability of the ENGINEER to identify conditions indicative of releases and threatened release;
  • declarations as required by ASTM E 1527-05 sections 12.13.1 and 12.13.2;
  • a description of all applicable state and local regulatory requirements;
  • limitations of the report with explanations (e.g., limited access)summary checklist of conclusions as provided in the ASTM standards
  • for every identified environmental issue, ENGINEER must either explain why the issue is not a significant environmental concern or recommend additional investigation.
  1. Any recommendation for follow-up investigation shall include, at a minimum:
  • reasons leading to the recommendation;
  • recommended method(s);
  • number, depth, and location of any subsurface sampling required;
  • any remote sensing techniques (i.e., soil gas survey, ground penetrating radar, etc.);
  • substances and parameters to be tested for by laboratory analysis and the rationale;
  • projected time schedule for submission of the Phase II results;
  • cost estimate for all work recommended;
  • a range of expected remediation costs based on the ENGINEER’s experience with similar problems at other sites.

Permanent Foundations

Engineer Certification on Mobile Home and Manufactured Home Foundation Systems:

On certain types of loans, such as VA & FHA-insured loans, the underwriters want the additional assurance regarding the structural integrity of the home and they require a professional engineer’s stamp of approval. We are able to assist with the field inspection and engineer’s certification process. The standard requirement is that the foundation complies with the HUD publication, Permanent Foundation Guide for Manufactured Homes dated 1996 and that the engineer’s letter attest to this fact with a wet stamp of his/her license and signature. The inspection generally identifies the home by HUD Label numbers and encompasses the type of support system, type of perimeter enclosure and ventilation, and the impact of any attached porches, decks, garages or other additions.

It is anticipated that government insured loans will become increasingly more important in the marketplace when the Expanding Homeownership Act/FHA Modernization bill passes Congress in 2008, both for the entry level market for the first time home buyer as well as the senior citizen 62 years or older that wants to tap into his equity with a Reverse Mortgage. The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has directed its policy agenda for 2008 towards the focus of improving the flow of capital to manufactured housing by modernizing FHA’s Title I and Title II programs and creating a duty to serve manufactured housing for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

This handbook is a guide for those approving HUD-code manufactured homes on permanent foundations, including engineers, manufacturers, and site owners seeking approval.  It provides current technical information, recommendations, and tables of analytical data, expanding and clarifying the definition of a permanent foundation.  It updates 1989 loading requirements for snow, wind, and seismic forces. Because of the increased use of multi-section manufactured homes, the guide now includes consideration of large openings along the length of marriage walls in multi-section units. The construction recommendations assure that the home, foundation, and site are all compatible.  In addition to the new technical recommendations, the guide has been expanded and reorganized for easy reference with more illustrations and clarifications. The handbook can greatly assist preparation of the worksheets needed to apply for an FHA mortgage.

Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing (September 1996, 384 p.)

FULL TEXT Handbook:

Executable (*.exe, 2074 KB)

PDF Document (*.pdf, 13.7 MB)

Executable with MS Word files (*.exe, 2543 KB)  Introduction – Chapter 5 (*.pdf, 1105 KB) Chapter 6 – Chapter 15 (*.pdf, 1058 KB) Chapter 16 – Appendicies (*.pdf, 14301 KB)

PFGMH Software About the Software (*.txt, 6KB) PFGMH Software (*.exe, 3605 KB) Win32s Version 1.30a Software (*.exe, 1904 KB)

PFGMH Software: 3 .exe files for shorter downloading time PFGMH Software 1 (*.exe, 1297 KB) PFGMH Software 2 (*.exe, 1045 KB) PFGMH Software 3 (*.exe, 1312 KB)

Schembri Engineers can perform a HUD Permanent Foundation Inspection.  To find a local permanent foundation installer in Arizona:

www.PermanentFoundations.com

www.HUDFoundation.com

www.FHAFoundation.com

www.VAFoundation.com

www.HUDPermanentFoundation.com