September/October 2015

Editor

Publisher

2

27

Features

In Every Issue

NADCA News

Industry News

Your Business3 President’s Message5 Committee Assignments 6 CEO’s Message36 Committee Spotlight37 Tell Your Tales38 2015 Safety Awards41 Members Spotlight: Air Fresh

Duct Cleaning Services44 Industry Calendar

21 Fall Tech Recap23 Why Membership In NADCA is a Good

Decision25 NADCA in the News32 On Deck: The NADCA Buyer’s Guide33 Got Questions? NADCA White Papers

Have Answers

7 NAFA Announces 32 Clean Air Award Recipients for 2015

11 School Indoor Air Quality Assessments Go Mobile

12 Introducing Pi-Cubes, Ubuntu Snappy Core-Powered HVAC Automation System

13 TestAll.com™ Launches New, Affordable Mold Testing Services For Home Inspection Professionals And Consumers

14 SPX Announces New Board Members15 Recent outbreak of Legionnaires

Disease Underscores Roles Duct Leakage Plays in Transmitting Airborne Contaminants

20 How Revenue-Based Financing Helps Bank-Blocked Business Owners

Contents

POSTMASTER: 1120 Route 73, Suite 200, Mount Laurel, NJ, 08054; Phone: 855-GO-NADCA; Fax: 856-439-0525; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.nadca.com

DucTales Magazine is published six times annually. NADCA annual dues include a paid subscription to DucTales. Yearly subscriptions to DucTales are available for $50.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) prints DucTales Magazine to provide its members and the HVAC system cleaning industry with a forum for the discussion of topics of interest. To that end, NADCA tries to include within DucTales a wide range of ideas and opinions. The ideas and opinions expressed by the authors who write articles for DucTales, however, are solely the views of the person expressing them, and do not necessarily represent the views, positions or policies of NADCA, its members, or its officers, directors or staff. NADCA is not responsible for claims made in advertisements. NADCA does not endorse any particular manufacturer or supplier of equipment, chemicals or related products, nor any particular model of equipment.

Editor

Publisher

Sarah BlackJodi Araujo, CEM

ECO BOXDucTales magazine text and cover pages are printed on SFI-Certified Anthem Plus Gloss paper using soy ink.

The SFI certified sourcing label is proof DucTales magazine is using fiber from responsible and legal sources.The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® program integrates the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the protection of wildlife, plants, soils and water. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® program promotes responsible forest management.

17

World On Fire: HVAC Cleaning After a Wildfire

The Fiberglass Challenge:Cleaning and RestorationCan be Done

3

President’s Message

I really enjoy certain aspects of running a business: enhancing our work processes, improving

our measurable initiatives, testing new equipment, designing business development initiatives or standing out as a professional. With all that is happening in my business, there is one thing that I consider the most: business ethics.

What about business ethics? How is it that you want to be known and understand your place in the business world? In life, we all have choices to make. The pressures mount. Perhaps you owe too much money on your credit card bill. Or perhaps you purchased a sports car or second home that you really couldn’t afford. What are you going to do to correct the problem? Sell the material items, change your lifestyle or be deceitful?

I am certain that if you wake up every day and do the best you can in an ethical and honest fashion you will ultimately succeed. If you do not quit or succumb to unethical business practices just because you lost a job or had a bad day, you will succeed in your goals and have a fulfilling personal life and career.

I think that ethical behavior in business is often overlooked and goes unspoken. It is one of the most important parts of any business. The temptation to be unethical is all around us. We see cheating and stealing glamorized in the media so

why not be that way ourselves? We should all want to build our corporate good will to add value to our businesses.

In our industry, it would be easy to be unethical. When you are performing a walk-through or duct cleaning job, how many times has a homeowner left something of value that you could have easily taken? How often could you have closed up ductwork without cleaning it to NADCA Standard or without a customer inspecting your workmanship? What did you do when a customer inadvertently paid you twice because of a bookkeeping error? Did you speak to a customer and inform them that you could not meet their expectations if they were unreasonable or did you just hide the result? Did you mislead a customer by selling expectations that were not realistic? Did you badmouth a competitor, causing a black eye to yourself as a sour person and to the industry? Did you mislead your staff to do something they should not have done? Did you mislead anyone to derive personal gain?

John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach said, “A true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is looking.” Live by it and exciting and fantastic results will follow.

I was going to write this piece about preparing for the fourth quarter and next year but I immediately got off

By Michael Vinick, NADCA President

Putting Our Best Foot Forward

April Yungen, ASCS (‘18)Air Management Industries8351 Elm Avenue, Suite 102Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730-7639 United States(909) [email protected]

Jimmy Meyer, ASCS (‘16)Meyer Machine & Equipment351 Main StreetAntioch, IL(847) [email protected]

Carlos Gonzales-Boothby, ASCS (‘16)Indoor Environmental ConsultantsPO Box 191648San Juan, Puerto Rico 00919-1648(787) [email protected]

Kevin Uilkie, ASCS (‘17)K.M. Facility Services, LLC5631 N. 52nd AvenueGlendale, AZ 85301(623) [email protected]

Mark Zarzeczny, ASCS (‘17)Schoen Duct Cleaning704 Cooper StreetEdgewater Park, NJ 08010(609) [email protected]

Jodi Araujo, CEMChief Executive Officer

Kristy CohenExecutive Director

Carla CheifetzMeeting Manager

Holly FrenchMembership & Certification Coordinator

Victoria RamsayClient Services

Robin GearySenior Meeting Manager

Karen SpiroIndustry Relations Manager

NADCA Headquarters1120 Route 73, Suite 200 • Mount Laurel, NJ 08054Toll Free: 855-GO-NADCA • Phone: (856) 380-6810

Fax: (856) 439-0525 • www.nadca.com

SecretaryMike White, ASCS (’17)Clean Air Systems of LA, Inc.P.O. Box 6210225 Mount Zion RoadShreveport, LA 71136(318) 869-0344FAX: (318) [email protected]

TreasurerDan Stradford, ASCS (‘18)Action Duct Cleaning787 W. WoodburySuite 2Altadena, CA [email protected]

PresidentMichael Vinick, ASCS (’17)Duct & Vent Cleaning of America Inc.311 Page BoulevardSpringfield, MA 01104(413) 734-8368FAX: (413) [email protected]

1st Vice PresidentRichard Lantz, ASCS (’18)Interior Maintenance Company45 Scottdale RoadLandsdowne, PA 19050(757) [email protected]

2nd Vice PresidentRick MacDonald, ASCS (’18)Armstrong Heating & Power Vac Inc.720 East Industrial Park Drive, #9 Manchester, NH 03109(603) 627-7016 FAX: (603) 627-7070 [email protected]

NADCA Officers

NADCA Directors

NADCA Staff

4

President’s Message

Custom training is now available to NADCA

members!

Instead of flying your entire staff somewhere

to receive training, NADCA will bring the

training to YOU!

Training and

Education

Made Easy!

Interested?Call NADCA

Headquarters at (855) GO-NADCA

to learn more.

track. The year is already winding down. What have you done to prepare for 2016? This is the time to get your act together and finish the year strong. If you haven’t, you need to plan for 2016. A big part of that plan should be to attend the 2016 Annual Meeting at the Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. There, you will have the unique opportunity to hear Jerry Colangelo speak about leadership and what it really means. You can gain industry insight through the educational sessions, learn about and handle equipment and network with your industry peers.

Our staff at Association Headquarters has been busy preparing for what lies ahead. So much is happening in our industry and with all of our committees. Your investment as a member of NADCA is being enhanced even more. The committee chairs and volunteers are charging ahead with terrific initiatives to enhance our already robust programs. We have had dozens of meetings by conference call and in-person pushing our initiatives. We are working hard to meet the strategic plan that was put into place that we had shared with you in the past. Our foothold as the go-to place for inspection, maintenance and restoration of HVAC systems strengthens every day. Our membership around the world is growing to levels that we have never seen. Whenever I have a discussion with a fellow member, they tell me how busy they are and that they are

having a hard time finding enough help to handle their workload. That is a great problem to have.

I am proud and lucky to be leading a Board of Directors who love the industry wherein they have chosen to build their careers. We are working to capitalize upon the hard work and path laid by those before us, but we still have more to do and more to learn. I quoted my father in my first two columns because his wisdom has helped me in my professional development and I want to share some of it with you. This time I will share one of his favorite quotes. My father loves to quote Mark Twain. He often says, “The older I get the smarter my father becomes.” How true that is. Have a great day!

5

Annual Meeting CommitteeChair: Mark ZarzecznyImmediate Past Chair: Michael Vinick

Kelly Dexter Tommy GwaltneyPeter Haugen Jimmy MeyerMatt Mongiello MJ PalazzoloAnthony Paterno Keith ReynoldsTerri Reynolds Mark TessmerMeg Walker Cindy White

By-Laws Policies Procedures CommitteeChair: Dan StradfordImmediate Past Chair: Richard Lantz

Ronald Nichols

Certification CommitteeChair: Dan Stradford

Tom Fehr Richard LantzRick MacDonald Mike McDavidTim O’Connor Todd St. OresCindy White Tom YacobellisApril Yungen

Education & Safety CommitteeCo-Chairs: Mike White Rick MacDonald

Jeff Bagley Mike DexterRon Gray Chet Goetz Reece Howell Richard LantzAndrew McLaughlin Dominic MentaMark Morris Vito MoscatoRonald Nichols Tim O’ConnorRobert Rizen Dan StradfordTom Wengert

Sub-committee: White Paper CommitteeChair: Dan Stradford

Sub-committee: Fall Technical ConferenceCo-Chair: Rick MacDonaldCo-Chair: Jimmy Meyer Mike Dexter Richard LantzMike McDavid Kehau Mendes James Queen Robert RizenBob Rousseau Bill TyrrellKevin Uilkie Tom Wengert Mike White Vito Mosato

Sub-committee: CVI Training Task Force

Ethics CommitteeChair: Dan StradfordImmediate Past Chair: Richard Lantz

Melinda Allen Kelly DexterGeorge Grozan Ron NicholsMichael O’Rourke

Finance CommitteeChair: Richard LantzImmediate Past Chair: Michael Vinick

John Line John Muller Dan Stradford Al Sutton

Industry & Public Relations CommitteeChair: Mark ZarzecznyImmediate Past Chair: Richard Lantz

Dave Adams Bob AllenJim Castellano Chad CowanPeter Haugen Clayton IvanyJimmy Meyer Scott MoritzMJ Palazzolo Larry StabbJames Shelley Travis TasseyChris Wilson Stephen Worrall

Sub-committee: Anti-Fraud Task ForceChair: Mark Zarzeczny

Jim Castellano April YungenKelly Dexter Stephen Worrall

Sub-committee: ACR Marketing Task ForceChair: Mark Zarzeczny

Jim Castellano MJ PalazzoloJames Shelley Larry Stabb

Sub-committee: Website Update Task ForceChair: Jimmy Meyer

Richard Lantz Paul Hannah

Sub-committee: Ad Hoc Research Task ForceDan Stradford Richard LantzMike White

Sub-committee: EPA Website Update Task ForceChair: Richard Lantz

Sub-committee: Editorial CommitteeChair: Richard Lantz

Sub-committee: Energy Research Study Task ForceChair: Mike White

International Affairs CommitteeInterim Chair: Michael VinickImmediate Past Chair: Matt Mongiello

Julio Cesar Arencibia Carlos BoothbyNelson Constanza Nicolas Charland Javier Dominguez Peter HaugenHugo Hernandez Richard LantzRosa Lopez Rick MacDonaldAl Sutton Travis TasseyValeria Vega

Membership CommitteeChair: Kevin UilkieImmediate Past Chair: Michael Vinick

Nelson Constanza James CookeTim Fico Peter HaugenJeff Johnson Andrew McLaughlinJimmy Meyer MJ PalazzoloApril Yungen Mark Zarzeczny

Sub-committee: Regional CoordinatorsChair: Kevin UilkieU.S. Northwest – Vito Moscato, Bill TyrrellU.S. Southwest – Matt Kelly, Kehau MendesU.S. Northeast – Rick MacDonald, Nelson ConstanzaU.S. Southeast – Tommy Gwaltney, Perry BagleyCanada Region 9 – Gary LapstraCanada Region 9.5 – Nicolas CharlandAustralia Region 11 – Travis TasseyItaly Region 12 – Giorgio Ziragachi, Andrea CasaChina Region 15 – Kenneth TungCentral & S. America – Carlos Boothby, Richard Lantz

Sub-committee: 2000 Members in 2020 Task ForceChair: Michael Vinick

Nelson Constanza Tim FicoMJ Palazzolo

Leadership Development CommitteeChair: Michael Vinick

Standards CommitteeChair: Richard LantzImmediate Past Chair: Bill Lundquist

Paul Burns Charlie CochraneBrad Kuhlmann Greg LongRick MacDonald Mike McDavidByron Ware

NADCA Committee Assignments

NADCA News

6D U C T A L E S S E P T E M B E R • O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

By Jodi Araujo, CEM; Chief Executive Officer

Pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin bread, pumpkin beer – pumpkin everything! I always know the

cool weather is fast approaching when my daughter’s favorite drink is back on the menu at Starbucks. We say goodbye to lazy days by the pool, trips to the beach and sun-kissed skin, but we welcome the beautiful Fall foliage, the start of a new school year, sweatshirts and of course, football season (go Giants)!

The change in season also brings system maintenance and cleaning in anticipation of cold weather months ahead for our members. Are you and your technicians staying abreast of the latest technology and product advancements in the industry? At NADCA’s Fall Technical Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, last month, more than 130 attendees heard from our industry’s technical specialists. They got to touch and feel, cut and drill and have a true hands-on experience under the guidance of NADCA’s expert instructors. This event continues to grow and evolve and is truly a worthwhile investment. In 2016

we’ll bring Fall Tech back to the East Coast with Charlotte playing host city.

The Fall season also means it’s time to review the look at the year-end projections and put together the 2016 budget. All too often, professional development and training is a “moving target” in our budgets and often is the first expense cut when we look at our bottom line. Your training budget cannot be in the discretionary spending column. Strategic management knows that training always has a place in the expense budget.

If you think education is

expensive, try ignorance.

– Derek Bok

Investing in people, in their development, demonstrates your commitment to their future with the company. That being said, development must be strategic. Hire the right people first, then invest in them and you’ll build a strong, loyal team of experts.

With another outstanding technical conference behind us, we’re looking past the cold and snow and focusing on early March, when NADCA will bring the Annual Conference to The Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. We’ve got two outstanding keynote speakers and a program packed with expert presentations. Watch your inbox for exciting announcements about our speaker line-up for this superb event. Be sure to budget for your trip to the West Coast in March!

I know I’ve probably piqued your interest in our keynote speakers. I’ll leave you with one clue: He came on the scene, a clown or a prince? But Sweet Georgia Brown’s been his tune ever since!

Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.

– Thomas Huxley

CEO’s Message

D U C T A L E S S E P T E M B E R • O C T O B E R 2 0 1 57

Industry News

T he National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) has announced its recipients of the

Clean Air Awards for 2015. The Clean Air Award is presented each year to the building owners and managers who take steps to significantly improve the quality of their indoor air by increasing the level or efficiency of their HVAC air filtration system in 10 specific categories.

Candidates are nominated by both NAFA members and members of the facility management community for the award. Candidates must submit detailed and specific steps taken towards cleaning the indoor environment through better air filtration and system hygiene. A NAFA Certified Air Filter Specialist then confirms these improvements. Awards are judged by the NAFA Clean Air Award Committee and each recipient receives a custom-designed trophy, building signage and recognition for their efforts.

Award-winning buildings must maintain indoor air quality (IAQ) diligence and submit inspection data each year in order to maintain the NAFA Clean Air Award.

2015 Companies that Best Utilize Filtration Practices:• 3050 Post Oak Blvd. – Hines Interest –

Houston, Texas• Bentall-Kennedy – 777 Hornby –

Vancouver, BC, CAN• The Bow Building – H & R REIT –

Calgary, BC, CAN• Cadillac Fairview/Pacific Centre – 777

Dunsmuir – Vancouver, BC, CAN• Camosun College – Fischer Building –

Victoria, BC, CAN• Chase Tower – Bedrock Management –

Detroit, MI• Commercial Place – GWL Realty

Advisors – Edmonton, Alberta, CAN• D.M.C. Children’s Hospital of Michigan

– Detroit, MI• Dream Office Management Corp. 444 –

7th Ave. – Calgary, AB, CAN• Dream Office Management Corp. – 606

4th St. – Calgary, AB, CAN

• Elbow River Casino – Calgary, AB, CAN• Federal Reserve Building – Bedrock

Management – Detroit, MI• Firelands Regional Medical Center –

Sandusky, OH• Greenspoint Place – Buildings 1-6 –

Hines Interest – Houston, TX• Grey Eagle Resort Casino – Sonco

Gaming, Ltd. – Calgary, AB, CAN• Harry Hays Building – Maple Leaf

Property Management – Calgary, AB, CAN

• Metropolis at Metrotown & Metrotowers Ivanhoe Cambridge – Burnaby, BC, CAN

• Plaza 1000 – Trivest Realty Advisors, Inc. – Calgary, AB, CAN

• Saint David’s South Austin Medical Center – Austin, TX

• Select Specialty Hospital – Jackson, MS• South Park 1-4 – Morguard Investments,

Ltd. – Calgary, AB• University of Kansas, Breidenthal

Bioscience & Technology Business Center – Kansas City, KS

• Wells Fargo Advisors, CBRE – St. Louis, MO

• Williams Tower – Hines Interest – Houston, TX

NAFA is especially pleased to recognize two companies – Greenspoint Place and South Park — for including all of their office complex buildings for the Clean Air Award.

NAFA Announces 32 Clean Air Award Recipients for 2015


Our 2015 recipients have performed a wide range of service that earned them the Clean Air Award. The following provides a further description of each individual facility and their work done.

3050 Post Oak Blvd. – Houston, TX

Ted Messlein, Engineering Manager of Hines Interest’s 3050 Post Oak Blvd, utilized the knowledge and experience of Phil Maybee, Certified Air Filter Specialist (CAFS) of The Filter Man, to correct an issue of low-efficiency filters installed in systems designed for high velocity and high-efficiency filtration. Dirt was entering the facility and, since the system was unfiltered, began sticking to cooling coils and indoor interiors. Efforts had to be undertaken to clean all parts of the systems to reach acceptable standards and a properly-sized air filter was designed and installed to handle airflow and contaminant removal. MERV 13 4-inch minipleat filters were installed with 0.30 inches w.g. and appropriate sheave and speed adjustments were made to the equipment. The upgraded housings were correctly gasketed and pressure measuring devices were installed at every unit. It is estimated that several years’ worth of life in service and operating performance can be anticipated with these filters.

Bentall-Kennedy – 777 Hornby – Vancouver, BC, CAN

Bentall-Kennedy continues to be in the forefront of sustainable property management and has been active in many innovative programs in this category. Constructed in 1969, Bentall-Kennedy is in the heart of downtown Vancouver’s business district. Working with NAFA Member Ray Riopel, CAFS of Pacific Air Filter; Dan Gold, Building Engineer; and John Maclean, P.Eng. for Bentall-Kennedy, the company upgraded to MERV 12 efficiency for its air filter system, replaced pressure gauges for more accurate determinations of change cycles, replaced all worn and missing gaskets to seal filter in place for no air bypass and implemented a filter change recording system. In addition, Gold studied and passed the international exam and became a NAFA Certified Technician (NCT). Congratulations to Mr. Gold on this accreditation and for his work in upgrading Bentall-Kennedy.

The Bow Building – Calgary, AB, CA

The Bow Building – H & R REIT located at 500 Centre Street in Calgary — was constructed in 2012 and has 58 floors and more than 2 million square feet of multi-use space including parking and retail. JP Nadeau, Chief Engineer for The Bow, used the expertise of Joanne McHugh, CAFS of B.G.E., The Filter Shop, to help reduce energy costs and air filter replacement schedules. The upgrade to 4-inch minipleat rigid filters with 105 square feet of media in each filter reduced the system pressure and allowed for the addition of activated carbon filters used to remove odors in the building resulting from a food court operation. Gasketing was replaced to ensure no air bypass and system pressure gauges were recalibrated to ensure proper filter change

schedules. The addition of carbon filtration has alleviated the issue of odor in the building.

Cadillac-Fairview/Pacific Centre Complex – 777 Dunsmuir – Vancouver, BC, CAN

Pacific Centre Complex consists of seven high-profile commercial and retail properties in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Building began in 1972 with construction of the TD Tower. Tower No. 4 at 777 Dunsmuir is a Class AAA building with 19 floors totaling about 284,000 square feet of space. Cadillac-Fairview adopted a philosophy of utilizing best practices regarding environmental sustainability resulting in several awards for these buildings. Three of the towers have already attained NAFA Clean Air Awards and this building is now added to the list. Tom Paulich, Operations Manager for 777 Dunsmuir worked with Riopel, CAFS of Pacific Air Filter, to upgrade all final filters to MERV 13 and all pre-filters were upgraded from MERV 6 to MERV 8 high-capacity pleated filters. Air handlers on each floor were upgraded to MERV 8 high-capacity pleated filters and all gasketing and seals were replaced as necessary to ensure an air-tight seal of the filters. Pressure gauges were either replaced or modified to working order for proper filter replacement cycles. Cadillac-Fairview plans to continue to upgrade each of the nine towers in the complex to attain the Clean Air Award for all.

Camosun College – Fischer Building – Victoria, BC, CAN

Camosun College is located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and its two campuses serve over 16,000 students with certificates, diplomas, bachelor’s degrees and continuing education programs. It has a diverse population that includes over 2,300 students from 40 different countries.

The college derived its name from the Lkwungen (Songhees) First Nation name meaning, “Where different waters meet and are transformed.” With over 50 buildings spread over 1 million square feet located on a 250-acre campus, Brian Calvert, Associate Director of Facilities, and Dale Biggan, Maintenance Supervisor, have a challenge to keep good indoor air for enhanced health, comfort and productivity for students and faculty. Starting with the Fischer Building, Calvert and Biggan, working with Ray Ripel, CAFS, have upgraded final filters to MERV 13; removed and replaced old and worn filter frames; replaced gasketing with new closed-cell neoprene; initiated scheduled cleanings of duct plenums, louvers and coil cleanings; and have installed pressure gauges for accurate determinations for filter change intervals. In addition, they have retained Riopel to help in annual reviews and assessments for other systems. This conscientious approach to cleaner indoor air is worthy of NAFA’s Clean Air Award.

Chase Tower – Bedrock Management – Detroit, MI

Chase Tower (formerly known as Bank One Center and the Bank of Detroit Building) is a high-rise, 14-story office building constructed in 1959 and

houses the Quicken Loan Operations Center. With over 500,000 square feet of space, the building was completely remodeled, a project completed in 2015. Bedrock Management’s John Walker Jr., Assistant Director of Maintenance, coordinated with NAFA Member Jeff Williams, CAFS, of Aero Filter, Inc., to upgrade the air filtration system. In combination with new energy management controls providing the perimeter VAV distribution systems with cleaner air and reduced pressure for increased energy consumption, MERV 8 filters were utilized in single-bank systems and MERV 13 final filters were utilized in two-bank systems. In addition, Walker received the NAFA Certified Technician (NCT) accreditation.

Commerce Place – GWL Realty Advisors – Edmonton, AB, CAN

Commerce Place, located at 10155 102nd St. in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was constructed in 1990 and is a 27-story, 720,000 square feet Class AAA office and retail building that holds LEED Gold and BOMA BEST Level 3 awards. Rod Murray, Operations Manager Realty Advisors, worked with NAFA member Doug Edwards and Guy Chauvet, CAFS, at B.G.E. Service and Supply, LTD., to raise the levels of air cleanliness in the building. NAFA Certified Technicians replaced the prefilter and final filter gaskets and sealed the system leaks, then installed MERV 8 and MERV 13 pocket filters, respectively, while all filter holding devices were replaced. All pressure gauges were recalibrated and used filters were taken back to B.G.E to be recycled. Results included a record for all work accomplished and filter records were updated for maintenance staff.

Detroit Medical Center – Children’s Hospital of Michigan – Detroit, MI

Hospital environments always pose the highest challenges for providing clean indoor air. For 129 years, Children’s Hospital of Michigan has provided the highest quality of pediatric care in a family-focused environment. The Detroit Medical Center (DMC) has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals for cancer. In 2014, David Leib, Director of Facilities and Patrick Manghum, Lead HVAC Supervisor for Children’s Hospital, began working with Larry Krass, CAFS, of Koch Filter Corporation to map a plan for upgrades to their system. They started with easy tasks such as removal and replacement of gaskets, sealing ductwork leaks and replacing non-functional pressure gauges. They worked up to more involved projects, such as upgrading MERV 8 to MERV 11 prefilters and replacement of traditional pocket filters with more durable and lower pressure MERV 14 mini-pleat V-cell filters. This resulted in better airflow and reduced energy consumption, which was documented and recorded at approximately $3,100 per year. Children’s Hospital also utilizes a scheduled maintenance program of coil and duct cleaning and installed ultraviolet germicidal technology installed in the system. All of these system upgrades and efficiency increases makes them eligible for the NAFA Clean Air Award.


Industry News

Dream Office Management Corporation – 444 7th Ave. SW – Calgary, AB, CAN

444 Seventh was constructed in 1963 and is over 263,000 square feet spread throughout 10 floors located in the heart of downtown Calgary. Dream Office Management and Senior Building Operator, Dritan Baxhaku, NCT, worked with NAFA Member Sharon Needham, CAFS, of B.G.E. and The Filter Shop, to assist Mr. Baxhaku in earning his NAFA Certified Technician accreditation and to upgrade the air quality in their building. Final filter upgrades to MERV 13 mini-pleat V-cell filters helped significantly extend the life of the final filters and lower the pressure in the system for energy savings. In addition, 444 Seventh has retained the services of B.G.E. and The Filter Shop NCT technicians to change their filters on a pressure-designated timeframe. All of these changes qualifies 444 Seventh for the NAFA Clean Air Award.

Dream Office Management Corporation – 606 4th St. SW – Calgary, AB, CAN

606 4th St. SW was constructed in 1963. The 52 year-old structure, renovated in 1998, has 15 floors and about 141,200 square feet of space. Working with Harry Ballach, Senior Building Operator for Dream Management worked with NAFA member Sharon Needham, CAFS of B.G.E. and The Filter Shop, to initiate a massive renovation of the air filter system. Removal of an antiquated agglomerator air filter roll system that was 14 feet high and 24 feet wide resulted in over a ton of metal that was all recycled from the system. B.G.E. service personnel installed front-access holding frames in the space and installed MERV 8 prefilters and MERV 13 mini-pleat V-cell final filters. This renovation resulted in higher efficiency filtration of the indoor air with decreased energy cost. Needham also assisted Ballach in the achievement of his NCT accreditation. Congratulations to Dream Management on this outstanding air filter renovation and the Clean Air Award.

Elbow River Casino – Calgary, AB, CAN

NAFA member ProMain Air Systems, Ltd. Christine Groulx, CAFS, NCT II, provided air filtration recommendations to the Elbow River Casino, which experiences the challenges of weather, pollen infiltration, smoking-permitted areas and a yearly influx of high traffic due to sporting and music events. Partnering with Epic Building Services, ProMain worked with Ward Perrault, Facility Manager of Elbow River, to completely upgrade the air filter system and overcome some of the systemic issues created by the aforementioned challenges. Installing a new reinforced pleated MERV 10 prefilter with increased cycles of change and upgrading to MERV 14 mini-pleat V-cell filters provided the needed solution to the challenges. In addition, ProMain introduced preventive maintenance coil cleanings and scheduled filter changes to eliminate costly equipment maintenance problems.

Federal Reserve Building – Bedrock Management, Detroit, MI

The Federal Reserve Building in Detroit, Michigan is a 1927 landmark facility listed as part of the National Register of Historic Places. Historic buildings always present a challenge for renovation and reconstruction. Bedrock Management purchased the building in 2013 and began an immediate renovation that involved complete replacement of the HVAC system, restoration of original two-story windows and distinctive entry features along with two vintage bank vaults retained as part of the décor. Fifty-three heat pump units were installed and Bedrock’s Assistant Director of Maintenance, John Walker Jr., NCT, worked with NAFA member Jeff William, CAFS, of Aero Filter, to install MERV 8 prefiltration and MERV 11 final filters. In addition, Walker studied and took the NAFA international NCT exam to achieve his accreditation. Congratulations to Mr. Walker and Bedrock for outstanding accomplishments in this historic restoration and IAQ achievement with increased levels of air filtration.

Firelands Regional Medical Center – Sandusky, OH

Through a combination of three former Sandusky hospitals, Firelands Regional represents the largest healthcare system in the five-county area. The 400-bed hospital has over 200 physicians and 1,900 employees on staff.

Over the last 24 months, Fireland’s director of operations, Darrell Boling, worked with NAFA member Larry Krass of Koch Filter Corporation to enhance the air filter system in the hospital. The renovation began with removal of a non-functional hybrid electronic agglomeration system and replacement with MERV 14 and MERV 15 mini-pleat V-cell filters. Prefilters were also upgraded from MERV 8 to MERV 11 to increase the life of the final filters and reduce the energy consumption and replacement costs. Predictive maintenance filter change schedules were initiated as was the installation of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation fixtures in several units that were critical to infection control. Gasketing and functional filter gauges are installed in all units.

Greenspoint Place – Buildings 1-6 – Houston, TX

Greenspoint is a collection of six independently operated facilities combined to make one large office complex. As part of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification process, inspections revealed the need to upgrade and replace the aging air filtration system. Each building applied for the NAFA Clean Air Award separately; however, the efforts and improvements are consistent throughout the campus with variances for system type and size. Phil Maybee, CAFS, and NAFA member of The Filter Man, worked with Robin Obaugh, VP Engineering for Hines Interest, to replace aging filter plenums had abrasions that compromised fibrous insulation. These were all removed and replaced with updated materials. Fan sections and coils that were damaged were replaced where necessary and all

surfaces that had deteriorated from water damage or wear-and-tear were replaced. After HVAC replacements, air filter housings were fabricated to assure proper sizing and retrofitted with front-loading filter frames with gasketing and sealing completed to prevent air bypass. Finally, MERV 13 mini-pleat air filters and new pressure measuring equipment were installed for proper maintenance and change schedules. The Filter Man provided staff with a maintenance guidelines to help ensure optimum performance with the longest service life. Multi-year service is anticipated from the filters for the upgrades made.

Grey Eagle Resort & Casino – Calgary, AB, CAN

Grey Eagle Resort & Casino is one of Calgary’s newest entertainment destinations located on the Tsuu T’ina First Nation in Canada. The four-star resort has state-of-the-art meeting and convention spaces along with fitness and spa centers and offers entertainment for all ages. NAFA member of ProMain Air Systems Ltd. Christine Groulx, CAFS, NCT II, has worked with Jack Mininfie, Facilities Manager of Grey Eagle, for over 10 years and has initiated a filter service contract and upgraded to pressure drop MERV 10 high-capacity pleated filters with polyester blankets installed during months of high precipitation. In addition, final filters were upgraded to MERV 14 mini-pleat V-cell filters. Using the NAFA energy savings calculation, this upgrade should reduce Grey Eagle energy costs by $5,722 each year. All filter pressure monitoring devices were recalibrated and gaskets were installed with all filters to prevent air bypass.

Harry Hays Building – Calgary, AB, CAN

The Harry Hays Federal Government Building was constructed in 1978 with eight levels of office and retail space totaling 520,000 square feet. Sean Jacobs, Operations Manager and Class IV Power Engineer for Maple Leaf, worked with NAFA member Christine Groulx, CAFS, NCT II, of ProMain Systems, Ltd., to improve the indoor environment with upgraded air filtration. Issues were being encountered because of the variable frequency drive (VFD) operating system and the pocket filters. Upgraded MERV 13 rigid pocket filters were installed because of their ability to handle the variable volume, coil cleanings and filter change schedules to assure a higher efficiency of filtration provided with a cleaner lower pressure drop system.

Metropolis at Metrotown & Metrotowers – Burnaby, BC, CAN

Located within the Vancouver Lower Mainland, Metro Properties is committed to environmental sustainability and have initiated BOMA BEST and LEED Platinum certifications for their buildings. Ivanhoe Cambridge is comprised of three office towers and a retail complex known as Metropolis at Metrotown. With a combined indoor area of 2.8 million square feet, the complex is a central landmark of the city of Burnaby. Under the direction of Herman Achterholt, Operations Manager for Ivanhoe Cambridge, and working with


B.G.E. Service and Supply’s Brad Behiel, CAFS and Senior Account Manager for B.G.E., a complete filter retrofit was initiated. Old filter banks were removed and sent to a local metal recycler to minimize environmental impact. MERV 13 filters were removed and MERV 8 prefilters and MERV 14 and 15 final filters were installed to improve air quality. Filter gasketing and new filter holding devices were installed along with a program to install and recalibrate pressure gauges throughout.

Triovest Realty Advisors – Plaza 1000 – Calgary, AB, CAN

Triovest Realty Advisors demands results and their top priority is growth with sustainability is their top priority. Plaza 1000 is a 10-story building with a state-of-the-art mechanical system, including an individually-controlled floor distribution system. Christine Groulx, CAFS, NCT II and Branch Manager of ProMain Air Systems, Ltd., worked with Renee Gregorio, Senior Building Operator for Plaza 1000, to address issues and recommend improvements. Retrofits to filter banks were recommended and completed by ProMain. MERV 10 high capacity pleated prefilters and MERV 13 pocket final filters were installed with the result of lowering the pressure in the system for increased efficiency and reduced operating costs. Coils were cleaned and other system upgrades were completed to qualify Plaza 1000 for the Clean Air Award.

Saint David’s South Austin Medical Center – Austin, TX

St. David’s is a 300-bed medical center located on the south side of Austin. The original facility opened in 1982 and has been expanded over the years to greater than 400,000 square feet. Carl Craddock, Director of Facilities, used the expertise of NAFA member Nathan Wittman, CAFS of Filter Technology Company, to increase the level of indoor air quality at St. David’s. Filter efficiencies were upgraded to MERV 8 prefilters and MERV 15A and 16A final filters in non-HEPA filtered areas. Gasketing was installed throughout the system, including gasketing replacement on filter bank doors. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation lamps were installed in all units and pressure gauges were installed for proper filter maintenance change schedules. All filters are installed and maintained by Filter Technology Company NCT, certified personnel. Regular and detailed air filter training seminars are held for St. David’s HVAC personnel, where the latest technology and applications are discussed.

Select Specialty Hospital – Jackson, MS

A NAFA member since 1982, Tom Riddell, CAFS, NCT II of Air Filter Sales and Service in Jackson, Mississippi, teamed with Gary Touchton, Director of Plant Operations at Chandler Ewing and CEO of Select Specialty Hospital, to correct an IAQ issue. Select Specialty Hospital is a 53-bed extended-care facility that helps extremely critical patients who have been transferred from other medical locations. The facility was experiencing extreme moisture in the HVAC system that resulted in high spore counts in the building. Improper and

inadequate coil cleaning was determined to be the problem and AFSS installed ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) equipment to supplement the MERV 8 prefilters and MERV 15 final filters. The UVGI equipment shines light in the ultraviolet spectrum completely within the coils to kill biofilm, bacteria and mold on surfaces and deep within the coil. This solution removed the moisture from the system and reduced the problem. All pressure gauges were refurbished and a planned air filter maintenance program was established with AFSS utilizing NAFA Certified Technicians.

SouthLand Park – Buildings 1-4 – Calgary, AB, CAN

The Southland suburban office center complex in southwest Calgary is one of the city’s largest premier office parks owned by Morguard Investments, Ltd. The campus totals a combined 882,000 square feet of multi-tenant office space, with each building operating a different HVAC system. Working with Sharon Needham, CAFS, Account Manager of B.G.E. at The Filter Shop, Lindsay Gavel and Eric Poirier, Operations Supervisors of Southland, were looking for ways to improve the air quality in each building.

Building 1 had issues with pocket filters that did not inflate properly during operation causing ruptures in the filter pockets. A change and upgrade to MERV 13 rigid cell filters increased the square footage of filter area from 42 to 90, lowering pressure in the system and increasing the life-in-service of the filters.

Building 2 presented an opportunity to upgrade filtration to MERV 8 prefilters and MERV 13 final filters, matching the filter efficiencies in the other buildings.

Building 3 had a filter bank that allowed for an upgrade from pocket filters to MERV 13 mini-pleat V-cell filters, increasing the filtering surface area from 46 to 130 square feet of media. This allowed for a decrease in system pressure from the filters of 0.50 inches w.g. to 0.22 inches w.g. resulting in energy savings and long filter service life.

Building 4 also upgraded to MERV 13 mini-pleat V-cell filters with a corresponding decrease in system pressure and longer filter service life.

In all buildings, gasketing was removed and replaced where necessary and system pressure measuring devices were recalibrated. An accurate air filter maintenance service log is kept on units in the complex.

The University of Kansas (KU) Medical Center – Kansas City, KS

The KU Medical Center is a non-profit academic institution and is the region’s only nationally verified Level I Trauma Center. The Breidenthal Bioscience & Technology Business Center is a unique

business incubator that helps promote innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization of university research. Robb Palmer, North Zone Manager, along with Eric Johnson, Facilities Specialist, worked with NAFA member Dick Ballard, CAFS of Koch Filter Corporation, to increase the indoor air quality by upgrading their filter system to MERV 15 mini-pleat, V-cell filters. This upgrade not only increased the filter efficiency for contaminant removal, but allowed for a lowering of the system pressure resulting in significant energy savings. Gasketing was removed and replaced to eliminate air bypass and pressure monitoring devices were installed and recalibrated and accurate filter change schedules were initiated. In addition, activated carbon filters were installed in areas that were experiencing an odor issue from research work being performed. The filters corrected the odor problem.

Wells Fargo Advisors – St. Louis, MO

The Wells Fargo Advisors building operated by CBRE, set goals of operational savings for reduced filter changes, shipping and inventory costs and energy savings for their VFD HVAC systems after a recent building addition and renovation that increased capacity to 2.3 million square feet. Gary Tappella, Lead Building Engineer, worked with Joe Dardis, CAFS of 3M Purification, to replace existing filters with MERV 12 mini-pleat, V-cell filters. This change allows for increased filter surface area resulting in system pressure reduction for energy savings and longer in-service filter performance. Gasketing incorporated on each filter eliminated air bypass and reduced particle counts downstream. The upgrade resulted in a reduction in system pressure for energy savings, filter service life now exceeding 12 months, reduced inventory and shipping costs and higher levels of contaminant removal. Dardis is continuing to monitor the system pressure and particle counts so that filter change schedules can be established.

Williams Tower – Houston, TX

Williams Tower is a Hines Interest property with 64 floors and over 1.4 million square feet of multi-use space. With a focus on LEED certification, Williams Tower’s Mike Taylor III called upon the service of Maybee to accomplish the goal. First identified were deficient filtration and gasketing on most all units along with poorly designed sealing methods for the filters. Because of these issues, pressure built up in the system over several years and coils were replaced. Filter plenum insulation had also deteriorated and was replaced. Filter efficiency was upgraded to 4-inch MERV 13 mini-pleat, V-cell filters to negate coil and indoor air contamination and gasketing and filter holding devices were replaced. Maybee also conducted staff training. Pressure gauges have been installed/replaced and an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation system has been installed to control bacterial odors from a sump system in the basement. A filter maintenance guide has replaced the filter change schedule. Finally, an operations contract for filter service was completed using NCT technicians for service.


Industry News

T he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently launched a new

mobile app to assist schools and school districts with performing comprehensive indoor air quality (IAQ) facility assessments to protect the health of children and school staff. The School IAQ Assessment mobile app is a one-stop shop for accessing guidance from EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit.

“Kids learn best in a healthy school environment. Now there’s an app for that,” said Janet McCabe, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “This app puts a powerful tool in the hands of people at the state, district and school level to protect children’s health. It’s our latest effort to provide updated, user-friendly guidance to help schools identify, resolve and prevent indoor air quality problems, using low- and no-cost measures.”

The mobile app provides schools and school districts with an efficient, innovative technology integrated with proven strategies for addressing critical building-related environmental health issues such as ventilation, cleaning and maintenance, environmental asthma triggers, radon and integrated pest management. Schools that want to develop, sustain or reinvigorate their IAQ management programs can use this tool to identify and prioritize IAQ improvements. The School IAQ Assessment mobile app complements existing IAQ

management programs and can become the central tracking mechanism schools and districts use to organize building assessments and prioritize IAQ improvements.

Today, half of the schools in the United States have adopted IAQ management programs, the majority of which are based on EPA’s IAQ Tools for Schools guidance initiatives. The EPA developed the mobile app to help these schools carry out their IAQ management programs more efficiently and to help the remaining nearly 60,000 schools conduct regular and thorough assessments to ensure their schools are safe and productive places to learn.

How It Works • Download: Go to epa.gov/

iaq/schools/iaq_schools_mobile_app and initiate the app on your Apple or Android smart device. Access the “How to Get Started” section to review the set-up options, intent and capabilities of the app.

• Assess: Conduct a walkthrough of the school buildings using a set of easy-to-follow checklists — all you need is an Internet connection. Then, submit your completed checklists via email to a designated IAQ coordinator for review and follow-up action. You can also attach photos and detailed

notes about the assessed area in your completed checklist submission.

• Discover: The completed checklists will identify IAQ concerns and validate good IAQ practices already in place. Checklists are provided to a designated IAQ Coordinator with recommended action steps generated by the app to address identified IAQ problems. Recommendations are based on the Framework for Effective IAQ Management for comprehensively addressing IAQ.

• Learn more: The mobile app includes other valuable resources from the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit, such as information about radon and asthma management in schools, as well as, EPA’s newest guidance – Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for School Building Upgrades, which integrates IAQ protections into school energy retrofits and other building projects.

Visit epa.gov/iaq/schools/iaq_schools_mobile_app/ to

download the new mobile app and epa.gov/schools for other

valuable school environmental health resources.

School Indoor Air Quality Assessments Go Mobile


Cube-Controls have introduced a new HVAC automation system for hobbyists and do-it-yourselfers. Pi-Cubes have been designed from the

ground up to offer a modular HVAC automation system capable of supporting up to four thermostats and 24 I/Os, giving makers the possibility of using different I/O boards for all sorts of home-automation projects.

According to the company’s Kickstarter page:

Pi-Cubes provides a complete solution by using Raspberry Pi to control your home HVAC system in any complexity. You may control your furnace, boilers, humidifiers, air handler units, dampers, valves and any other HVAC equipment.

Using the Modbus open-source communication protocol, the Pi-Cubes Communication Thermostat device can be easily accessed through the serial port of a Raspberry Pi Single-Board Computer (SBC). Additionally, the Pi-Cubes Software Development Kit (SDK) employs Node-RED and is powered by Snappy Ubuntu Core.

Maarten Ectors says in his blog article posted on the Canonical website, “Pi-Cubes I/O Modules are easily accessible from Raspberry Pi just using I2C serial communication, which provides a wide range of programming options, from Python, Node JS, C/C++ and all kind of existing control frameworks.”

See the Geeky Gadgets video of the system at geeky-gadgets.com/pi-cubes-offer-a-raspberry-pi-

based-hvac-automation-system-10-08-2015/. Or pre-order your own Pi-Cubes system from the project’s

Kickstarter page.

Introducing Pi-CubesUbuntu Snappy Core-Powered HVAC Automation System


Studies indicate between 30 to 70 percent of homes now have some issue with mold,

yet many of those homeowners may not be aware a problem exists that could be harming their family’s health. That lack of awareness is the basis for the launch of TestAll.com, a new company offering affordable testing for mold and other airborne impurities as well as recommendations on ways to treat any problems that may exist.

“As was the case with radon in the last decade, there is a growing awareness of health related issues linked to mold,” said TestAll.com Managing Director Blake Cundiff. “As a consumer with a family, I’m like everyone else in that I think my home is fine and healthy. Unfortunately, many homeowners are unaware they may have a problem in their home that is making them sick. Our mission is to provide a fast and affordable way to test for this problem with results they can trust.”

TestAll.com will work directly with a network of home inspection professionals as well as homeowners to test and evaluate homes for mold and other potential airborne issues. TestAll.com mold specialists will then provide the results to consumers in a user-friendly format, make recommendations for mold remediation if there is an issue, and help arrange for post-treatment

testing to demonstrate the success of the treatment.

“For decades no one wanted to talk about mold testing because the only solution was expensive and destructive,” Cundiff said. “As a result, there was a reluctance to have homes tested. Now, solutions are much more affordable, don’t include destruction, reconstruction or harsh chemicals and are just as effective. As the need continues to grow, and indoor air quality testing is done more frequently, we want to be the resource professionals and consumers know they can trust.”

Cundiff said that many industry professionals believe the growing problem is due to new, energy-efficient homes that can be conducive to mold growth because new construction techniques can restrict air movement. The health issues

that can result from exposure to a mold build-up in the home vary by individual, but they can be significant.

“It is not uncommon anymore to see news stories about entire families facing mold-related health issues or even school openings being delayed because of mold,” Cundiff said. “Once I began studying the problem, I realized a home could have a problem and no one would know it. Mold is typically not visible because it’s hidden behind walls, under floors or in attics. A lot of people may be going to the doctor every couple of months to get inhalers when the real problem may be what’s going on with the air in their home. I want to be a part of raising indoor air quality testing awareness and making a difference.”

As an added benefit, TestAll.com will provide its home inspectors with world-class training modules that will count toward American Society of Home Inspectors credits. Much of the training will be personally conducted by nationally recognized mold expert David Sherwood.

For more information about TestAll.com Home Inspector

Network, vist www.testall.com.

TestAll.com™ Launches New, Affordable Mold Testing Services For Home Inspection Professionals And Consumers

Industry News


SPX Corporation recently announced David A. Roberts and Dr. Ruth G. Shaw as new

members of the Board of Directors for SPX Corporation, effective upon the previously announced spin-off of SPX FLOW, Inc., which was expected to be completed near the end of the third quarter. In addition, Roberts has been elected to serve as Chair of the Compensation Committee and Dr. Shaw has been elected to serve as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

“We are very pleased to add two high-quality individuals with strong track records of success to our Board. David and Ruth are strong leaders with extensive experience and industry knowledge,” said Chris Kearney, Chairman, President and CEO of SPX Corporation. “With the appointments of David and Ruth, we have now completed the Board structure for SPX Corporation. We believe the newly formed Board will provide great leadership and counsel to Gene Lowe and his team as they execute on and achieve the growth strategy for SPX Corporation following the spin-off of our FLOW business.”

Roberts has served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Carlisle Companies, Inc., a diversified manufacturing company, since 2007. He also serves as a director for Franklin Electric Co., Inc. Roberts brings extensive experience in senior management of multinational companies, including expertise in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Roberts also contributes strong financial acumen

and experience from his services on various public company boards.

Dr. Shaw retired from Duke Energy Corporation in 2007 and served as Executive Advisor to the company until 2009. She previously served as Group Executive for Public Policy and President, Duke Nuclear from 2006-2007; President and Chief Executive Officer, Duke Power Company from 2003-2006; and Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative

Officer from 1997-2003, among other roles. Dr. Shaw also serves as a director for The Dow Chemical Company and DTE Energy.

Dr. Shaw contributes a deep understanding of human resources management, executive compensation, information technology, communications, public relations, environment, health and safety management, procurement and diversity.

SPX Announces New Board Members

Committee Assignments

Board Member

Compen-sation

Nominating & Governance Audit

Patrick O’Leary (non-executive Chairman)

Former EVP and CFO of SPX Corporation for 16 years

David RobertsChairman, President and CEO of Carlisle Companies

Chair X X

Ruth ShawFormer President and CEO, Duke Power Company

X Chair X

Rick Puckett EVP, CFO and CAO of Snyder’s Lance, Inc. X X Chair

Tana Utley

VP, Large Power Systems Division of Caterpillar Inc.

X

Chris KearneyChairman, President and CEO of SPX FLOW, Inc.

Gene Lowe President and CEO of SPX Corporation


Industry News

A recent outbreak of Legionnaires disease in New York City has contributed to an

increased interest among property owners and facility managers in the role that duct leakage plays in the spread of the disease. According to Neal Walsh, Senior Vice President of Aeroseal LLC, a duct-sealing technology company, HVAC businesses throughout the East Coast and elsewhere have experienced a notable increase in customer inquiries related to the Legionnaires outbreak and indoor air quality (IAQ) in general.

“We have heard from a number of our East Coast dealers who are responding to an uptick in calls from commercial clients that are concerned about the recent epidemic,” said Walsh. “They are learning that the microbes responsible for Legionnaires disease are typically spread through a contaminated indoor air environment, and that has led them directly to concerns about duct leakage.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and others, duct leakage can be a major contributor to health risks

associated with poor IAQ. Leaks in the ductwork allow contaminants to enter the duct system at one location within a structure and then spread throughout the rest of the building.

Experts believe that Legionella Pneumophila, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires disease, is typically spread through a building’s ventilation system. The recent New York City outbreak has been traced to contaminated cooling towers, which release water mist. It is likely that the contaminated water mist spread throughout the atmosphere with the assistance of leaky ventilation

systems, and then was inhaled by occupants.

“It’s estimated that poor indoor air quality costs businesses as much as $100 billion a year in lost productivity, health costs and other related problems,” said Walsh. “Poor indoor air quality can cause everything from headaches, coughing and skin irritation to more serious health concerns such as what we’re seeing in New York.”

Since it first appeared in late July, more than 100 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires Disease. While this disorder is easily diagnosed and can be treated with antibiotics, 10 people have died due to the latest outbreak.

To help minimize health risks associated with poor IAQ, many health organizations including the CDC, the EPA and the American Lung Association, recommend sealing ductwork. “We are working hard to educate the public about the problems associated with poor indoor air quality and the role that duct leaks play in exacerbating the problem,” said Walsh. “The recent Legionnaires outbreak is a reminder of how easily airborne diseases can spread and put us all at risk.”

Recent outbreak of Legionnaires Disease Underscores Roles Duct Leakage Plays in Transmitting Airborne ContaminantsCDC, American Lung Association and Others Recommend Effective Duct Sealing To Combat Health Risks Associated With Poor Indoor Air Quality


Feature

A duct cleaning company—call it Company X—is dispatched to a site for a potential job. As

the techs arrive on site, they ready their gear to assess the site’s HVAC system. Company X specializes in duct cleanings, having been in business for years. The solution should be simple, right? The techs have performed this service 100 times over.

There’s just one catch: the site is in South Florida and the system is made of fiberglass ductboard.

Now, the tried-and-true processes used in cleaning metal ducts – as vigorously as needed with less concern about any harmful substances escaping into the airstream – are gone. Even the most careful cleaning of fiberglass ductwork risks dislodging particles that could enter the airstream.

Fiberglass: Your FriendIt’s an issue within the air duct cleaning and HVAC industry. Fiberglass ducts are less common and have even been banned in some regions of the United States. However, many parts of the country see fiberglass ductwork used regularly, like southern Florida and southeastern Texas. A gap exists between HVAC professionals and

the knowledge needed to correctly approach cleaning fiberglass ducts.

“The majority of the country uses round, metal ductwork,” said Mike Dexter, co-owner of Air Quality Control Environmental, a company that has performed fiberglass duct cleanings since the early 1990s. “Even the NADCA Standard, up until recently, danced around the proper fiberglass ductwork standard, and understandably so, because 90-plus percent is metal material so you will gear your standard toward that.”

There are benefits to using fiberglass over metal ductwork—the material used for most HVAC systems. It is energy efficient and easy to install. The acoustics allow for less noise as temperature fluctuates and installation costs are significantly less because there is no need for metal work.

Even now, fiberglass duct manufacturers have created a newer form of ductwork that helps slow the deterioration process. “The fiberglass industry has made what is known as a ‘superduct’ with a black mesh layer,” said Dexter. “From a mechanical standpoint, it is easy to install, has good acoustics and has a good R-value.”

But the potential hazards when it comes to working with fiberglass are all too present. The durability of fiberglass is not as stable as metal without regular maintenance, and there are still the hazards of broken pieces of fiberglass.

The How-ToSo how do air duct cleaners approach a job that calls for cleaning fiberglass ductwork?

One possibility is to replace the contaminated ductwork. Until recently, the philosophy on fiberglass ductwork was that it can not be safely cleaned. Contaminated fiberglass needs to be disposed of and replaced.

And it would be well within NADCA standards, specifically, section 4.21.5 of the ACR-2013 NADCA Standard, which states that No cleaning process shall be performed that will damage a properly designed, installed and structurally sound HVAC system and its components, or negatively affect the performance, operation or normal life expectancy of the system.

“In the past, if it was contaminated, the industry said replace it,” said Dexter. “Their only way to deal with fiberglass was to remove it.”

The Fiberglass ChallengeCleaning and Restoration Can be Done

by Chazz Scogna


Yet developments in fiberglass ductwork now allow professionals to clean, but because the technique is uncommon, the majority of business comes directly from referrals from HVAC professionals. Even then, because the technique is so new, when Dexter’s company explains to other professionals that fiberglass can, in fact, be cleaned, the other professionals “laugh you right out of the office.”

Dexter’s company prefers spot vacuuming, but accessibility to the ductwork can be problematic. Other processes include using specifically designed brushes and low-impact air tools.

Most, if not all, air-duct cleaning professionals know the process used to clean fiberglass could cause it to break or loosen. Dexter would agree. “No matter how gentle the cleaning process is, you’re going to loosen that fiberglass and potentially release it into the airstream,” he said.

Enter the third possibility, the route that Dexter and the technicians at his company always take when it comes to fiberglass duct cleaning: after cleaning, apply a coating over the fiberglass to create a bond that stops particles from entering the airstream.

The photos below were taken at a condo in Miami. The elderly residents were on a fixed income and replacing the entire system was not a cost-effective option, especially since the ductwork ran through concrete walls and ceilings. The top

photo shows before the cleaning, while bottom photo shows the result after cleaning and sealing the ducts.

Photos courtesy of Air Quality Control Environmental.


Feature

“The coating should form a mechanical bond to the surface of the ductwork,” said Dexter. “Once it’s applied, in essence, it’s a cap and in the future, it can be cleaned.”

On top of the coating’s future maintenance, it greatly prohibits already loose or damaged fibers from normal wear-and-tear. “Even the airflow will eventually deteriorate the system,” said Dexter. “The coating protects that fiber from fraying or becoming looser.”

Coatings have become so efficient that most of them come equipped to thwart other hazards that may plague fiberglass ductwork. “The most popular coatings also have a fungicide in them that prevents mold, mildew and bacteria from growing in there as well,” said Dexter.

With the coating, the risks that come with cleaning decrease while the ability to thoroughly clean the system increases, exponentially improving the efficiency of the system and extending the efficacy of the ducts. “If you’re cleaning that duct and you’re not doing anything to protect it,” Dexter said, “you’re in breach of the standard and exposing the customer to a potential carcinogen.”

Coatings after fiberglass ductwork cleanings are so important to Dexter’s company that they will walk away from jobs if customers choose not to have them applied to the ductwork. Since the benefits of coating are still relatively unknown among consumers and professionals alike, Dexter is fighting an uphill battle for awareness. Industry standards, even the NADCA Standard, don’t require coatings. Dexter hopes that, in the future, coatings will be more strictly enforced throughout the industry, ensuring customers have the most efficient HVAC system while eliminating potential hazards.

The top photo shows before the cleaning, while bottom photo shows the result after cleaning and

sealing the ducts.

Photos courtesy of Air Quality Control Environmental.


According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics research, there are

approximately 28 million small businesses in the United States. At some point, every small business needs extra funding. Did you know 1 in 3 small business owners borrow money from family and friends, while 75 percent of funding comes from bank loans and credit, according to Bolt Insurance? Business loans come in many forms, so it’s likely that you’ll be able to find financing that fits your needs, but there is a downside; it is hard to qualify.

One of the most important, if not the most important, factors for qualifying for a traditional business loan is ensuring you have impeccable credit. Your credit score is an overview of your credit risk, which banks use to assess whether or not to extend credit and, if so, at what interest rate.

Today, banks simply are not willing to take a risk if you have less-than-perfect credit. They use credit scores such as FICO® to predict the likelihood of your business defaulting on business. The fact is banks believe that credit scores — i.e., past financial behavior — are a good indication of an individual’s future financial behavior. Whether or not you agree with that statement, the negative effects make it extremely frustrating for business owners to qualify for a traditional business loan.

That being said, business owners with challenged credit need to approach their search for a loan differently. By looking beyond banks and considering nontraditional lenders, businesses are able to attain a loan that might normally be outside their reach.

One approach to helping bank-blocked business owners is revenue-based financing. This program fills an important hole in small business funding. Unlike traditional lending, revenue-based financing requires no collateral or perfect credit ratings to qualify. Instead, lenders assess your company’s bank deposit history to determine eligibility and loan amount.

This type of alternative financing is designed for a business that generates revenue, but despite positive cash flow, still can’t get a bank loan because of poor credit rating and/or lack of collateral. Also known as cash-flow based lending, the loan program has been around since the 1900s, but, until recently, was mostly used only in the oil and gas industries.

Repayment is based on your business’s bank deposits, with a fixed percentage deducted from your account on a monthly basis. Basically, it allows a business to pay off a loan based on a monthly allocation of the revenue in which the business brings. While interest rates are higher than

a traditional loan, some business owners accept the riskier lending format because it enables them to retain ownership of their businesses while not requiring them to pledge collateral.

While revenue-based financing provides a viable alternative to traditional lending, it isn’t for everyone. According to Bloomberg, for businesses with low profit margins, revenue-based financing isn’t ideal because the fixed monthly percentage will further impede on your finances. Additionally, given revenue-based financing relies on a fixed monthly percentage; businesses can end up paying a lot for the loan over time.

If business owners are in need of financing to grow their businesses, but doesn’t have the credit score or collateral to secure a bank loan, there are many alternative funding options such as revenue-based financing that should be considered. As with any loan agreement, be sure to ask for complete transparency of fees, interest and penalties that can be assessed to the loan in the event of default.

Marco Carbajo is a business credit expert, author, speaker, and founder of the Business Credit Insiders Circle. He is a business credit blogger for Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corp, the SBA.gov Community, About.com and All Business.com.

This article originally appeared at www.sba.gov.

How Revenue-Based Financing Helps Bank-Blocked Business OwnersBy Marco Carbaio

Your Business


NADCA News

NADCA’s Fall Technical Conference was hosted Sept. 17-19, 2015, in St.

Louis, Missouri. The conference covered HVAC system cleaning as well as the broader HVAC restoration market, including working in healthcare systems, building performance and new services that can help add value for members’ businesses. Fall Technical Conference attendees select either the Technician Track/VMT Program or the Advanced Track. Each offered a combination of traditional classroom and hands-on training with participants having the opportunity to see and use tools of the trade on an actual HVAC system mock-up with ductwork and additional HVAC system components. In addition, attendees had the opportunity to take ASCS or CVI certification exams on site. And, in true NADCA fashion, there was a touch of fun to round out the program.

Fall Tech Recap

Now Showing: WDUC TVNADCA’s on-site filming at last year’s Fall Tech caught some of the action and helped generate interest in what Fall Tech is all about. See what everyone is talking about at youtube.com/NADCAHVAC.



NADCA News

If you are taking advantage of the member-only products, services and activities that

NADCA provides—you realize that membership is a smart decision. You demand a reasonable return on your investment (ROI) in membership and you should get it. You have done more than the non-member outliers; you have invested in this organization. Simply put, you deserve more.

You differ from the other industry/profession stakeholders that simply take advantage of the NADCA activities that serve the HVAC and indoor air quality industry. You have decided to actively participate with your time and resources. Let’s make sure you are getting all you can.

Several Years of ResearchOver the last several years, Rigsbee Research has been conducting qualitative research in the area of calculating the ROI of membership in actual dollar numbers. Surveying members as to their perception of value in dollar numbers for every

member-only feature delivered by their organization. Association and society members, like you, have valued their memberships accordingly: in the category of Professional Development at an annual real-dollar value of just under $4,000. The number for the Business Solutions category is just over $7,100, with Knowledge Management delivering a little over $2,400.

Professional DevelopmentProfessional development and career growth are basically synonymous. Some of the member-only features are as follows:

• Income differential through certifications

• Gained knowledge and experience through volunteer leadership positions

• Peer support and mentoring• Special interest groups• Career development services• Peer and industry prestige

Business SolutionsThe business solutions category is a large one for many organizations. Some of the member-only features measured included:

• Safety programs, education and resources

• Business development and peer referral opportunities

• Affinity or partner program discounts

• Innovative business/practice solutions

• Access to other organizations through affiliated membership agreements

• Discounts on organization’s goods, services and events

• Access to assistance at organization’s field or headquarter offices

• Legal seminars and consultations

Knowledge ManagementIn days of old, associations and societies were the hard-copy depository for industry or

By Ed Rigsbee, CAE, CSP

Why Membership In NADCA is a Good Decision


professional knowledge. Today, membership organizations compete against Google daily; however to organizations that excel in knowledge management have found ways to make access by members to their vast resources quick and easy. Some of the member-only features measured included:

• Industry research, benchmarking and compensation studies

• Legislative updates• Member-only password

protected knowledge sections on organization’s website

• Industry/profession standards, regulations and codes

• Printed and electronic magazines and newsletters

• Member directories

Buying MotivesIn the above listed examples of features of membership delivered my various membership organizations—your specific value might depend on your buying motive for joining and

belonging. Of the six buying motives listed in The ROI of Membership, the three most frequent membership buying motives tend to be:1. Profit and Gain2. Fear of Loss3. Avoidance of Pain

With this in mind, consider NADCA to be your No. 1 strategic alliance for success. Much of what you and your organization need to prosper is available to you as member-only features of membership. Just think how much more value NADCA could deliver to you in products, services and activities if there were twice as many members. Help NADCA to help you by recruiting just one new member this year. Then, help that new member to assimilate into the organization by influencing them to attend the annual meeting — and when they do — introduce them to your network of friends and colleagues. This will better assure their long-term membership.

Interestingly enough, we found that most membership organizations today are far better at delivering

value to members than they are at calculating and communicating the ROI of membership. It has been quite common for various membership organizations to deliver, annually, in the range of $10 to $50 in return for every dollar invested in membership. What does this mean to you? While NADCA may not have communicated all the value they deliver to you, you can be assured that if you access all that is available to you — you will enjoy an excellent return on your membership investment.

Copyright © 2015 Ed Rigsbee

Ed Rigsbee, president at Rigsbee Research, is the creator of the active focus group qualitative research method for calculating the real-dollar value of membership (ROI) that organizations deliver. He is the global authority on member ROI and author of The ROI of Membership-Today’s Missing Link for Explosive Growth. As both a non-profit CEO and professional speaker, he has a firm grasp of all sides of the member ROI equation. He holds both the Certified Association Executive and Certified Speaking Professional credentials, something enjoyed globally by less than a hand-full of professionals. Rigsbee is the author of five books and over 2,500 published articles, has been an adjunct professor at two universities and is the founder of a non-profit public charity. Learn more at rigsbee.com.


The website Angie’s List, a hub for customers to find local contractors, pointed potential

customers toward NADCA-certified companies for inquiries about duct cleanings.

The articles — which ran on CBS19 out of Tyler, Texas, and KY3 out of

Springfield, Missouri — both said customers should “avoid anyone who pressures you into immediate action and to look for someone certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. A good contractor will be happy to show you the completed work, even what’s been removed.”

In Atlanta, Georgia, CBS46 called on a NADCA certified technician to help stop an air duct cleaning

scheme that targeted the elderly.

The company, AA Duct Cleaning, performed fraudulent work across multiple states, bidding low on jobs and then charging exponentially more.

During the sting, CBS46 brought in NADCA member Ductz of Greater Atlanta to inspect a home prior to contracting AA Duct Cleaning. After Ductz gave the home a clean bill, AA Duct Cleaning was called in.

Mike White, NADCA Board Member, was an expert quoted in an article in June about issues that can arise if ducts aren’t cleaned regularly. In the article, run on The Commercial Appeal out of Memphis, Tennessee, White gives tips on how to limit breathing problems and allergens by cleaning air duct systems according to the NADCA Standard.

NADCA News

NADCA Earns Mention as Quality Air Duct Cleaners

NADCA Assists in Stopping Air Duct Scam

NADCA Offers Advice for Clean Ducts

Read the full article at http://goo.gl/xgBmrZ

Read the full article at http://goo.gl/udXIYL


Feature

WORLD ON FIRE


A s of September 2015, 27 active wildfires were burning around the United States,

damaging nearly 1.6 million acres of land. The Valley Fire in California —deemed one of the most destructive wildfires in U.S. history — had burned a total of 70,000 acres, destroyed 585 homes and displaced 13,000 people before it was even 30 percent contained. The 2015 wildfires are estimated to result in $237.3 billion of damage in just seven U.S. states this year. Part of these damage costs include those to HVAC systems. For members and service providers living and working in affected areas, a big job lies ahead in helping ensure the safe operation of HVAC systems following the prolonged burn of 2015 wildfires.

The Dirt on SootA building doesn’t have to burn for its HVAC system to incur damage from a wildfire. Soot — the

fine particles carried by smoke and haze that are produced by incomplete combustion of coal, oil, wood or other fuels — can infiltrate even well-sealed HVAC systems. This particulate can be especially dangerous, as it may consist of chemicals, metals, acids and other harmful materials suspended in the air. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is concerned about particulate matter 10 micrometers in diameter and smaller, as those are the particles small enough to pass through the throat and nose into the lungs. Soot is made up of particulate matter just 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller, which makes the dangerous particles easier to inhale and well within the hazardous range established by the EPA. According to the EPA, the microscopic particles that comprise soot “can penetrate deep into the lungs and have been linked to a wide range of serious health effects, including premature death, heart attacks and strokes, as well as acute

HVAC Cleaning After a

Wildfireby Sarah Black


bronchitis and aggravated asthma among children.”

Studies have shown that large wildfires, like those seen this year, can produce upwards of 36 tons of particulate matter per minute. The volume of particulate produced during wildfires can overwhelm otherwise healthy HVAC systems and pose a serious threat to the health of building occupants following a fire. What’s more, the duration of the fires burning in 2015 are a concern. “The longer a fire exists in the environment, the greater the likelihood that smoke, soot and embers will get into the system,” said Dan Stradford, NADCA Board Member and owner of Action Duct Cleaning in Altadena, California.

Soot can enter an HVAC system a variety of ways. NADCA’s continuing education training session, “Cleaning Smoke and Fire Damaged Projects Panel Discussion,” by Richard Lantz, ASCS, and Bob Getz, outlines soot contamination and common entry points:

• Improperly installed duct and grille connectors

• Braced-open fire dampers• Return or cold-air ducts

“If a system is operational, it’ll draw in smoke and ash from the outside air,” said Stradford. “The particulate in

the air will clog up the coils, spread throughout the system and circulate into the building.” However, a system doesn’t need to be operational to be contaminated by soot, as differential temperatures in occupied spaces mean the HVAC system is constantly exchanging air. Other ways a non-operational system could become contaminated by soot:

• Air handling units pressurized by outside air

• Heat recovery ventilators installed in newer homes

• HVAC systems operating in “fan on” mode

• Ceiling and whole-house fans in operation

Prevention and RemediationOne recommended prevention tactic is to employ mesh screening around building vents in eaves, siding, dryers and roofs. However, the National Fire Protection Agency reported on a study by the Institute for Business and Home Safety that found that even with the recommended 1/8-inch mesh screening, embers were still able to penetrate a building’s HVAC system. Filters are also not a fail-safe. “If there’s a lot of ash, the filters can load up and pass the debris through,” says Stradford. Or, the filter can even be sucked through the system. “If the filter is overloaded with ash, the

system is just drawing on that filter like a vacuum. The filters can get sucked out because they’re so laden with particulate. If there’s still smoke and ash in the environment after that happens, that particulate is going to flow freely through the system,” said Stradford.

The best solution: a thorough inspection and air duct cleaning if indicated. While fiberglass ductwork presents a unique cleaning challenge after a soot event, especially when dealing with the odors that can penetrate fiberglass, metal ductwork can be salvaged with an aggressive cleaning. “Smoke from a fire can contain liquid or sticky particles that can adhere to the walls of metal ductwork,” said Stradford. “You may need to consider deodorizing metal ductwork in those instances as well.” Heavy spray coating after cleaning may also be indicated. Any ductwork that shows signs of fire damage, or signs of heavy contamination, should be replaced.

Additional ConcernsIn addition to the dangers of soot, homeowners and building managers need to be aware of the potential for heat damage to flex ducts — plastic-lined fiberglass ducts. “Flex duct has a plastic liner between the inside of the duct and the fiberglass,” said Stradford. “That doesn’t get as impacted as lined ductwork by the

Feature

KEY CONSIDERATIONSIf you’re called to inspect a system following a wildfire, keep these three considerations top of mind:

1 . Can all of the particulate be cleared? If you can’t clear out all of the particulate, when the system is turned back on it will spit out the dangerous particles into occupied spaces.

2. How close did the fire get? Not only can prolonged exposure to high temperatures melt ductwork, it can cause insulation on wiring to melt, making system operation a fire hazard. Consider whether there could be mechanical issues following a fire.

3. Will there be lingering odor problems? Smoke smells; consult an odor or a restoration specialist if you anticipate that odors will be difficult to clear.


smoke, because the fiberglass is protected by the plastic, although smoke particles can adhere to plastic as well. In this case, heat is an additional issue. If the temperatures are too elevated, the duct could be compromised.” Melted flex duct should be replaced.

Homes and buildings can also be damaged by embers from the fires, which can be carried by wind up to a mile from a fire. A large part of the problem: residential areas being developed in or close to untouched wildland, or what is today called wildland-urban interface. It’s estimated that two out of every three

homes destroyed during a 2007 fire in San Diego County, California, were started by embers carried from the fire, not the fire itself. These dangerous embers can infiltrate a building’s HVAC system as well, causing burns throughout the system and irreparable damage.

Aerially-delivered fire retardant may also be a concern for buildings near areas being treated with the substance. Called slurry, aerially-delivered fire retardant is mostly water and fertilizer mixed with a clay-like material to help it “stick” to burning vegetation and avoid evaporation. Slurry is dyed bright red

to help pilots visualize treated areas and drop the material strategically. However, in recent years there have been concerns about the safety of slurry, as its runoff into creeks and rivers has decimated fish populations and killed sensitive vegetation. While new rules apply to how close slurry can be to bodies of water, the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) say that slurry is safe and not harmful to humans. The thick, liquid nature of slurry makes it unlikely to penetrate surrounding structures or work its way into HVAC systems. It’s advised that pets not be allowed to ingest slurry.


Heads up NADCA members! There are changes coming to the next edition of DucTales.

For the first time, NADCA will dedicate its entire November/December issue to a buyer’s guide for its members.

Called the 2016 NADCA’s Buyer’s Guide, the issue will include a full list of participants and will include basic information and means of contact. In the guide, associate members have an opportunity to go beyond just the print ads seen in DucTales. Now, they are able to really communicate their business services and products with NADCA members.

From a reader’s perspective, the guide is a reference for the tools and services they’re using in their day-to-day work, and is an easy way to find what they need. It can assist in determining which quality products are used most often by other professionals or what products are available.

“Associate Members of NADCA have a great opportunity to keep products and services for the HVAC industry front of mind with NADCA’s Buyer’s Guide,” said Karen Spiro, NADCA’s industry relations and sponsorship

manager. “The shelf-life will ensure that it’s a product members can reference for the entire year.”

The guide will have an extensive product listing of about 60 categories, from which associate members can choose to categorize

their products. Like a catalog, a reader can search for keywords and find the corresponding associate member offering. For example, if readers would like product listings or vendors for “dryer vent cleaning tools,” they merely search for that key phrase in the guide’s index and view a listing of which members offer the tools. And, since the associate members are alphabetically listed, readers only have to flip back to that member’s listing for any information needed.

NADCA wanted to produce the guide as a means of bridging the gap between member groups of its multi-layered organization. Now, members can be involved directly with other industry members. “NADCA has some of the best companies and products under its umbrella,” said Jodi Araujo, CEM, CEO of NADCA. “The guide will be a means of connecting associate members to other NADCA members.”

But the guide isn’t just for product listings. It’s a view into the world of HVAC and indoor air quality industries. It will also allow members to see which associate members are in their regions, helping ignite business relationships among them.

“One of our goals is to strengthen the bond of the NADCA family,” Arajuo said. “We feel that with the guide, we are accomplishing that goal because now DucTales readers have direct access to industry leaders.”

For more information, contact Karen Spiro, industry

relations and sponsorship manager, at 856.380.6872 or

[email protected].

On Deck: The NADCA Buyer’s Guide

NADCA News


NADCA News

T he idea of white papers started several years ago as a way to communicate the

complicated issue of using chemical products in HVAC systems to NADCA members. “It was a recurring issue that NADCA staff and leadership were having to address often,” says Dan Stradford, ASCS, NADCA Board Member and chair of the White Paper Subcommittee. “A writer had been working for a while to document the issue, and we put together a subcommittee under the Education Committee and gathered some guys to work on this.” The team included NADCA members, professionals with experience in chemical products and even a member of the Environmental Protection Agency. The result was a resource that’s still used today by NADCA members. That positive result has kept the White Paper Subcommittee going strong, with new papers slated for development.

NADCA’s PlaceThere’s no arguing that NADCA is a trusted resource and authority in the HVAC and indoor air quality industries. This was the driving force behind developing the white papers. “NADCA is looked to as a resource in the industry,” said Jodi Araujo, CEM, CEO of NADCA. “We need to weigh in on important issues and give members the information they need for their businesses.” The white papers are one of the ways NADCA accomplishes these goals.

Even more important, the white papers gather important information related to NADCA members’ industry in one place. “We deal with HVAC cleaning, so the public, even the government, looks to NADCA to gather this data,” said Stradford. Case in point: the NADCA white paper on interior insulation. “To my knowledge, there is no other document that brings all of that information together, but this is something that’s within our expertise, so it falls on our shoulders to bring this to the public.”

Filling the GapsNADCA’s intent with the white papers is also to address concerns members have in the field. “There’s a lot of confusion and missing information in subjects that NADCA members deal with regularly,” said Stradford. “The white papers try to fill those gaps and educate the public and NADCA members on technical issues that surround duct cleaning.”

With education as the main focus of the white papers, NADCA remains dedicated to developing balanced papers that do much more than advise members on a course of action. “We’re providing the information members need to make a decision and make them aware of things that need to consider, like rules and requirements,” said Kristy Cohen, NADCA’s executive director. “The subcommittee does a very good

job of being objective and producing a balanced paper.”

Topic TrainTo identify topics, NADCA turned to its members. “We asked our members what hot issues they’re dealing with,” said Araujo. “Members are telling us what they need.”

The first paper about using chemical products in HVAC systems yielded a host of other topics that needed to be addressed. “Several things came out of that first paper that we couldn’t resolve,” said Stradford. “UV lighting, for example. It’s not a chemical, so we needed to do a separate paper. Ozone is a chemical product, so we’ll need a separate paper.” Ultimately, that one paper served as a catalyst for many other topics that NADCA would need to address.

An upcoming paper focuses on restoring energy savings through HVAC system cleaning, a hot topic for everyone from homeowners to facility managers. The inspiration came from NADCA’s own realization that air duct cleaning could impact energy efficiency and, therefore, cost. “We discussed it and thought, let’s pull the data and really verify what we believe to be the case as far as cleaning impacting energy savings,” said Cohen. “This is an exciting topic because it’s going to provide

Got Questions?NADCA White Papers Have Answers


members with concrete information and data that they can use when educating consumers about their services. This official documentation is just one more resource that validates HVAC professionals and the benefits of air duct cleaning.”

Put Them to UseOf course, the real value of the white papers lies in making good use of the information. Stradford recommends dedicating time to review the papers with your staff. “I’ve even done presentations complete with a PowerPoint deck for a couple of the

topics,” he said. Make the most of NADCA’s white papers with these tips from Stradford:

• Make sure that your staff, particularly your technical, sales and legal staff, receive the paper.

• Do a presentation to review the paper.

• Attend a NADCA webinar on the paper topic.

• Make sure sales managers, GMs and service managers have copies of the papers for their own reference.

Don’t Miss Another Paper!

Visit nadca.com to view past white papers and download new papers as they become

available.


NADCA News

NADCA Working for YouNADCA committee members continue to work to provide members with tools they can use to be successful and get the most out of their NADCA membership.

Annual Meeting CommitteeThe Annual Meeting Committee, led by Committee Chair Mark Zarzeczny, has been working hard to put together a fantastic program for the 2016 Annual Meeting being held March 7-9 in Phoenix, Arizona. The meeting’s business track will include excellent sessions that tackle some of the biggest challenges our members face today.

Attendees will learn about eliminating the curse of employee turnover, having effective leadership skills in a growing business and knowing how to deal with crisis, just to name a few. Industry track topics including energy efficiency related to HVAC system cleaning, breaking into the industrial market and separating fact from fiction regarding use of antimicrobial products will give attendees tools they can use to expand their service offerings and meet the needs of their customers.

New this year, attendees can look forward to exciting and inspiring keynotes from legends in the sports world. Here’s a clue: Sun, sand, mercury and sharks ... this legend most definitely leaves his mark. Think you know who it is?

Visit nadca.com for the Annual Meeting Schedule at a Glance to find out about our keynote speakers and all of the excellent session topics that will make this meeting one of NADCA’s best yet. Meeting registration is open so reserve your seat today!

Calling all Members With More Than One ASCS on StaffDid you know that NADCA offers a Train the Trainer Program at the NADCA Annual Meeting? This program allows an ASCS who attends the required CEC sessions at the Annual Meeting to take what they learned and train other ASCSs on staff so they can also get the required six CECs to renew their ASCS certification. It is a great, cost-effective way for you to get all of your ASCS certified personnel the CECs they need to renew their certification each year.

For more information, visit nadca.com.

Certification CommitteeEver wonder how NADCA certification exams are developed? Qualified NADCA certified members, your industry peers, serve as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and volunteer hundreds of hours each year working to develop exam content. Working alongside expert psychometricians these volunteers write, review and approve exam items based on current industry standards, best practices and references, including the NADCA Standard.

Additionally, SMEs provide ongoing review once a new test form is offered to ensure that exam items are performing well. This rigorous, ongoing process of item development and review ensures that NADCA certification programs are developed in accordance with industry standards and best-practices and that certified individuals have demonstrated the appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities required.

NADCA wishes to thank all of the volunteer SMEs who assist in development of both the ASCS and CVI exams for their commitment and dedication. If you have an interest in certification development and would like to learn more, we invite you to consider joining NADCA’s Certification Committee. Committee volunteer application forms are available at nadca.com.

Committee Spotlight


NADCA News

Tell Your TalesMembers: It’s time to speak up! We’re asking you to share your thoughts, opinions and experiences with us in the Tell Your Tales feature of DucTales. Last issue, we asked:

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever found during a duct cleaning job?

Believe it or not I found this little guy on October 31. Happy Halloween!Dave Woolsey, ASCS, CVI Fresh Air Solutions

This may not be the strangest thing I ever found inside ductwork, but it was definitely the most unexpected.

$1,000 on old small face $20 bills. We kindly piled it up, gave it back. And received a $50 tip, as a sign of thanks, for being honest.Brooks Ingrassia, ASCS Duct Doctor USA of Kansas City

Our crew found an old, large, rolled-up outdoor piece of carpet inside the ductwork! Owners complained of a musty odor and poor airflow to one side of their home. They had just purchased the home and wanted a certified company. Craziest thing we’ve seen.Duane Gottschalk Air Gott Services, Inc.

Full bottle of wine (five years old), dressing for salads, dead mouse, dead birds, adult DVD, three-year-old can of Fanta...Dalimil Petrilak, ASCS Alkion Service S.R.O.

Up Next: What’s your biggest obstacle when securing new business?

Submit your response at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/

DucTales or by emailing [email protected].


T he National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) created the Safety Awards Program

to recognize companies that have sustained superior employee safety and health program results. Companies able to demonstrate excellent safety records will be honored with a Safety Award from NADCA.

To submit a Safety Awards application, a company must maintain an OSHA #300A Log in accordance with record keeping requirements under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. All companies participating in the NADCA Safety Awards Program, regardless of size, must maintain an OSHA #300A Log. For more information about OSHA #300A Log requirements, contact your regional OSHA Office, State Plan Office or visit osha.gov.

Awards Program Criteria• The company must be a

member of NADCA.• The company must provide a

copy of the completed OSHA #300A Log, regardless of size.

• Applicants must pay the $40 application fee.

• Completed applications must be received by NADCA no later than Jan. 15, 2015. No applications will be processed after this deadline.

Award Confirmation DeterminationsConfirmation of the NADCA Safety Award shall be made by the NADCA Safety Committee using standardized formulas developed by the National Safety & Health Council. The Committee will use data submitted by applicants to determine if an applicant’s record of non-fatal occupational injury and illness incidence rate is less than or equal to industry averages.

For the purposes of this program, industry average shall be that of the

SIC code “services to buildings.” The final number using the formula below must equal eight (8) or less. If the final number is more than eight (8), the company will not be eligible for a NADCA Safety Award.

The NADCA Safety Awards are presented in recognition of a company’s safety and health program results and achievements during the previous calendar year (January 1 to December 31). All applications and accompanying required documentation will be held in confidence by NADCA. The Incidence Rate is determined by using the formula included here. The NADCA Safety Committee shall determine award status. Decisions of the committee are final.

• Employee hours are those accrued in operations and job sites.

• Informationprovidedmustincludeofficeandsupervisory personnel on all shifts for the company or unit involved.

• Statistics are to include only employees on the company payroll, not those of independent contractors, guests, customers, etc.

• Employee hours should be calculated from payroll or time clock records. When this is not possible, they may be estimated by multiplying the total employee days worked for the period covered by the number of hours worked per day. If the number of hours worked per day varies between departments, separate estimates

should be made for each department and the results added.

• The total number of employee days for a period is the sum of the number of employees at work on each day of the period.

• In calculating employee hours of exposure for employees who live on company property, only those hours during which employees were actually on duty shall be counted.

• For executives, traveling salesman, etc., whose workinghoursarenotdefined,anaverageof eight hours a day shall be assumed in computing employee hours.

• Do not include any non-work time, even though paid, such as vacation, sick leave, holidays, etc.

Do The Math!

ClarificationofDefinitions&Calculations

This is the formula used to calculate non-fatal occupational injury and illness incidence rate

Total Recordable Cases x 200,000

Employee Hours Worked

Total recordable cases refer to those figures derived from the OSHA #300A Log.


Important!

A photocopy of your company OSHA #300A Log must accompany this application. Applications without the OSHA #300A Log will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Application Information Complete all sections below.

Company Name:

President or Senior Officer:

Street Address:

City, State, Zip:

Phone: Fax:

Yearly Average Number of Employees:

Contact Person / Safety Director:

Injury and Illness Records Complete the information below for the period spanning 1/1/2015 to 12/31/2015.

1. Average number of employees:

2. Total employee hours worked:

3. Total recordable cases: (from OSHA #300A Log, Lines G, H, I, J)

4. Total number of lost-time injury and illness cases involving days from work: (from OSHA #300A Log, Line H)

5. Total number of lost-time days: (from OSHA #300A Log, Line K)

6. Total Recordable Cases (from Line 3 above) x 200,000 Employee Hours Worked (Line 2 above) * This number but not be more than 8

Payment Information Application Fee: $40

q Check Enclosed q Visa q MasterCard q American Express

Card Number: Exp. Date: /

Cardholder Name:

Signature: Amount authorized to charge: $

Return your completed application to NADCA by Jan. 15, 2016, at: NADCA 1120 Route 73, Suite 200 Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 Fax: 856.439.0525

NADCA Safety Award Application

NADCA News


NADCA News

Many professional and technical fields embrace certification as a way to showcase your knowledge and skills. However, not all certifications are created equal. Becoming a Certified Small Talk Conversationalist —yes, that’s really a thing— requires a far different and less-demanding level of skill than becoming a NADCA Certified Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS). Mike Erlwein, ASCS, partner and general manager of one of NADCA’s newest members, Air Fresh Duct Cleaning Services in Coram, New York, provides perspective on how NADCA certification and membership has shaped his business.

Power StartErlwein originally started out owning a professional power washing company. “Where we are, in the Northeast, power washing is a very feasible job,” he said. However, the work is largely seasonal, so when the fall and winter months rolled around, Erlwein worked with a friend who had an air conditioning installation company. This seasonal work was his first exposure to the world of HVAC. “A lot of time when we were going into residential attics, we were asked to change out the unit but would leave the existing ductwork, and you would see some filthy ductwork,” said Erlwein. “I knew there had to be some kind of business I could start to

replace or clean that dirty ductwork I was seeing.”

As Erlwein made the transition from power washing to duct cleaning, he took on a partner who had been in the duct cleaning business for 15 years. He knew that to really do the job right, he needed the right education and training. “The logical step was to get a NADCA education,” said Erlwein. They started with NADCA webinars, followed with in-person training with certified NADCA members. Erlwein traveled across the country for weeks at a time to complete his training, and says that duct cleaning is now his primary focus.

The NADCA DifferenceErlwein had heard that NADCA certification would be beneficial,

but he didn’t realize just how beneficial until after he’d completed training. “They told us that NADCA certification would be one of the most important factors when bidding on large jobs. I thought maybe, maybe not,” admits Erlwein. His skepticism came from his experience with certification for power washing. “There are a couple power washing certifications you might have, but they’re pretty easy to get. The certifications have limited value, limited weight,” he said. “But the NADCA certifications, until a commercial job finds out

I’m NADCA certified, I don’t even get in the door. I don’t even get to submit a bid. That was really eye opening about the value of NADCA certification.”

Not only does Erlwein realize the value of NADCA certification from a business standpoint, he ensures that it’s part of his company’s values. “We really preach what NADCA teaches,” he said. “We refer to the NADCA Standard when we’re out on a job. It’s just part of how we do business.”

Dealing with CompetitionLike many NADCA members, Erlwein is up against companies performing shoddy work, luring customers with ultra-low-cost offers. “They’re offering to clean an entire house’s ductwork for $59,” he said. “It costs me $59 to

Member SpotlightAir Fresh Duct Cleaning Services


have two guys get in the truck and drive to the house!”

However, Erlwein highlights a unique challenge that other NADCA members are most likely up against as well. “There are big companies getting into duct cleaning, but they don’t realize that they’re not doing the job right,” he said. “But because they have the power of a brand behind them, they’re getting calls left and right, claiming to do the same job I’m doing for a third of the cost.” (See “You Know You Made a Mistake When …”)

The challenge of consumer education is a big one, and Erlwein focuses more on commercial cleaning as a result. “Residential is a hard sell because homeowners don’t really go further than opening up a Penny Saver, but if it’s commercial, chances are the person calling me isn’t the person writing the check,” he said. “They more inclined to get a better job than worry about the bottom-line cost.” A focus on commercial duct cleaning has helped grow the business and made good use of Erlwein’s certification.

A Reliable NetworkBeyond the weight that NADCA certification holds, Erlwein was surprised by what he calls a brotherhood among NADCA members. “I’ve been running my own business for 20 years. In such

a cutthroat world, you have NADCA members offering to help with whatever you need,” he said. He is particularly grateful for the NADCA members who led his training. “They connect me with people in my area who I can call and say, ‘Have you ever seen anything like this?’ They’re actually eager to help,” he said.

With air duct cleaning outpacing his power washing business, Erlwein is looking forward to a bright future for Air Fresh Duct Cleaning Services. “We really try to go above and beyond to follow the NADCA Standard to the letter,” he said. “We pride ourselves on being as professional and courteous to the customer as the work we deliver.” The NADCA Standard, and the network Erlwein has developed as a NADCA member, helps him do just that.

You Know You Made a Mistake When …

Many homeowners are just starting to realize the value of air duct cleaningandtheimportanceofhiringaNADCA-certifiedcompany

to perform the work. Erlwein encountered a particularly unfortunate situation when he was called to check out a job cleaning air ducts afterresidentialfiresinneighboringhouses.Hepulleduptothesite,onlytofindacompetitor’struckinthedrivewayofoneoftheburnedhomes,alsocharredfromthefire.“Thiswasabigcompany,peoplewouldknowthename,”Erlweinsaid.“Cometofindout,thetech from that company hadn’t shut down the system, so the truck caughtfire.”Thesmokefromthetruckfiredamagedthehome,and

eventually damaged the neighboring home. Erlwein’s company has a solidreputationwithfireandfloodrestorationcompanies,wascalledin to clean the ducts after the smoke damage and complete the duct

cleaning the initial company was sent in to do.

“We really preach what NADCA

teaches,” Erlwein said. “We refer to the NADCA Standard when we’re out on a

job. It’s just part of how we do

business.”


NADCA News

New ASCSs

New CVI New Members

Ahmed AbdelghanyGreat Deals Technical ServicesDubaiUAE

Mato BarisicDuct Detectives, Inc.Orlando, FL

Chris BartschModern PURAIR Shuswap/RevelstokeSalmon Arm, BCCAN

David BrentonAir Quality Remediation, LLCTownsend, DE

Merle ElogeDUCTZ of SE MichiganLivonia, MI

Aaron ForemanNational Drying Technologies, LLCNorth Venice, FL

Dave GroskinHudson Valley Mold RemediationWurtsboro, NY

Hazrin IsmailTotal Ventilation Hygiene PtyPrestons, NSWAustralia

Michael KnightDuct Detectives, Inc.Orlando, FL

Bruce LockerbyModern PurairCalgary, ABCAN

Eduardo MendezDUCTZ of SE MichiganAnn Arbor, MI

Above All Duct Cleaning Services LtdEdmonton, ABCAN

Air Quality Remediation, LLCTownsend, DE

CORE - Virginia OfficeNorfolk, VA

Great Deals Technical ServicesDubaiUAE

Hudson Valley Mold Remediation, Inc.Wurtsboro, NY

JPMcHale Pest Management, Inc. DBA EnvirocareBuchanan, NY

Modern PURAIR Shuswap/RevelstokeSalmon Arm, BCCAN

National Drying Technologies, LLC.North Venice, FL

Western Indoor Environmental ServicesLos Angeles, CA


Industry Calendar

IAQA 19th Annual MeetingJan. 24-27, 2016

Orlando, FL

2016 AHR ExpoJan. 25-27, 2016

Orlando, FL

International Restoration Convention and Expo

Mar. 21-23, 2016 Orlando, FL

NADCA’s 27th Annual MeetingMarch 7–9, 2016

Phoenix, AZ

NADCA Events

Related Industry Events

Date post:	25-Jul-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	jodia
View:	225 times
Download:	8 times

September/October 2015

Documents