Builders oppose OSHA's proposed silica rule

The proposed rule for silica would be
too expensive, builders say.

In a classic tug-of-war between keeping contractors safe on the job and the cost of that safety, builders are battling the Occupational Safety and Health Administration over its proposed standards for silica.

Crystalline silica is found in soil, sand, granite, quartz, and other natural substances that contractors work with.

When blasted, cut, or drilled, those stones and minerals produce dust that workers can inhale.

Long-term exposure can lead to respiratory problems and silicosis, a chronic lung disease.

OSHA’s plan to require more aggressive protection has been in limbo since the agency introduced it in September 2013.

After multiple extensions, the proposed rule had one of the longest public comment periods in OSHA’s history.

Although the comment period is closed, the Construction Industry Safety Coalition, a consortium of 25 trade associations, sent a report to OSHA last week saying the agency’s proposed requirements for lowering the exposure to silica on job sites could cost the industry billions of dollars more than the government has projected.

In an accompanying letter to Assistant Labor Secretary David Michaels, a lawyer for the Coalition called the proposed rule “potentially… the most expensive OSHA standard ever for the construction industry.”

The government’s case

Both sides agree that contractors working in mining, quarrying, road construction, with cement or flint, and in sand blasting and glass industries are most likely to be at risk.

But they disagree about the best way to mitigate that risk.

OSHA’s proposed construction standard would require employers to measure the amount of silica that workers are exposed to, during an eight-hour work day, to see if it could exceed a level acceptable to OSHA (25 micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air). If the exposure measures more than 50 micrograms, the company must protect workers.

In addition, the proposed rule would require construction firms to limit workers’ access to high-exposure areas; use dust controls to protect workers from inhaling higher-than-acceptable amounts of the powder; supply respirators when those dust controls aren’t enough to limit a worker’s exposure; and offer medical exams, including chest X-rays and lung function tests, every three years to workers who are exposed to high levels of silica for 30 or more days a year.

The rule would also mandate more employee training and careful record-keeping that documents workers’ exposure and medical exams.

At a congressional hearing in mid-March, Labor Secretary Thomas Perez defended the upcoming standard.

“We’re trying to save lives here, and exposure to silica kills,” Perez told the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

House Republicans questioned the need for the rule, suggesting that OSHA do a better job of enforcing its existing standard. Compliance with the current rule is 70%.

The builders’ response

Builders and trades involved in commercial, residential, road, and heavy industrial construction have partnered to oppose the proposed rule. They back a Construction Industry Safety Coalition request for OSHA to withdraw its planned new standard and instead bolster enforcement of the existing rule.

The cross-sector Coalition claims that the proposed silica standards will cost the industry $5 billion per year—a whopping $4.5 billion more than OSHA has estimated.

“We are deeply concerned about the misguided assumptions and cost and impact errors that OSHA has relied upon in creating this proposed rule that will significantly affect our industry,” Tom Woods, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, said in a press release.

Woods asked OSHA to put its proposal aside and instead work with the industry on a compromise that is “technologically and economically feasible [and] also works to improve industry workers’ health and safety.”

The Coalition claims OSHA’s cost estimates reflect “a fundamental misunderstanding of the construction industry.”

The Coalition’s report estimates that 80% of the cost of complying with the proposed rule will come from paying for additional equipment, labor, and record-keeping.

The remaining 20% will result from increased prices for materials like concrete, glass, roofing shingles, tile, paint, and countertops, as manufacturers pass their compliance costs on to builders.

In addition, the industry has predicted that the proposed rule will lead to the loss of more than 33,000 full-time jobs among contractors, equipment suppliers, and building products manufacturers, and another 20,000 economy-wide when laid-off construction and supplier workers no longer have earnings to spend.

Add in part-time and seasonal jobs, and the number soars to 80,000 lost positions, the Coalition’s report says.

Source: Construction Dive

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Company sued for selling formaldehyde-releasing floors

Class-action lawsuits allege Lumber Liquidators sold flooring that contained dangerous chemical

The laminate flooring in question allegedly released
formaldehyde, which can affect people's health and well-being.

Los Angeles, CA -- It’s bad enough to be facing a parade of lawsuits ranging from allegations of stock price affectations to defective products. However, when Anderson Cooper and the venerable 60 Minutes comes knocking at your door, you know you’re not going to have a good day.

Such are the issues facing Lumber Liquidators, a US vendor of Chinese flooring products that are alleged to have not only failed California’s so-called CARB-2 safety standards, plaintiffs also claim levels of formaldehyde in the products exceed safe limits by serious margins.

The issue takes on greater significance given the adoption of the California Air Resource Board Phase 2 (CARB-2) emissions standard for formaldehyde in manufactured products as the US standard several years ago, which finally comes into effect nationwide later this year.

According to the report aired on 60 Minutes, glue used in the production of laminate flooring can sometimes contain formaldehyde. In low levels it’s not considered a problem, especially when the formaldehyde is encased in the product, preventing emissions from escaping into the air.

The problem with Lumber Liquidators Flooring formaldehyde, according to the allegations, is that a greater level of formaldehyde is used in the production of products for Lumber Liquidators, in an effort to keep costs down.

Such a high level of formaldehyde, according to environmental experts interviewed by CBS News for 60 Minutes, can succeed in escaping from the product into the air, making homeowners ill.

That’s the allegation carried in a Lumber Liquidators Defective Flooring Class Action Lawsuit filed by John and Tracie-Linn Tyrrell in federal court in California March 5.

Customer suffered health effects after floor installation

According to the Richmond Times Dispatch (3/5/15), John Tyrrell began experiencing symptoms that include extreme shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, and incessant coughing and sneezing shortly after he and his son-in-law installed the laminate flooring.

“Despite repeated medical tests, his doctors have not been able to identify the cause of these symptoms,” the lawsuit claims.

The proposed class action seeks to represent any consumer who purchased Chinese flooring products from Lumber Liquidators in the last four years. They seek re-imbursement for the material and installation, as well as unspecified damages.

The lawsuit also seeks to force Lumber Liquidators’s hand by having an injunction granted, preventing the company from selling the allegedly defective products.

“Based on lawsuits, articles and blog posts, [Lumber Liquidators] knew or should have known that its laminate wood flooring products were not compliant with [California emissions] standards,” the lawsuit said.

“Despite this knowledge, defendant failed to reformulate its flooring products so that they are compliant or to disclose to consumers that these products emit unlawful levels of formaldehyde.”

Lumber Liquidators, according to the Dispatch report, is “currently reviewing the allegations contained in this lawsuit,” the company said.

“It appears that many of the claims mimic contentions raised in a separate suit that was filed by a law firm that also represents a short-seller, which looks to benefit from decreases in our stock price, in another action against us. We believe in the safety of our products and intend to defend this suit vigorously.”

Out of 31 samples of Chinese flooring products imported by Lumber Liquidators independently tested by 60 Minutes at two certified testing labs, all but one sample presented with seriously high levels of formaldehyde that exceeded state and pending federal guidelines.

Upon dispatching reporters to the manufacturing facility in China, 60 Minutes was told the facility had the capability of manufacturing to the CARB-2 standard, but switched to cheaper manufacturing methods that utilized higher levels of formaldehyde in the wood glue for products manufactured for Lumber Liquidators.

Officials of the manufacturing facility also admitted to 60 Minutes reporters using a hidden camera that products were improperly labeled as CARB-2 compliant, or so it is alleged.

In a filing, Lumber Liquidators said “we believe that ‘60 Minutes’ used an improper test method in its reporting that is not included in California regulations and does not measure a product according to how it is actually used by consumers. We stand by every single plank of wood and laminate we sell all around the country.”

The case is John Tyrrell et al v. Lumber Liquidators Inc., Case No. 2:2015cv01615, California Central District Court.

Source: LawyersandSettlements.com

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Top 25 cities with most Energy Star buildings

Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, New York, San Francisco make top five

Healthier buildings can impact employee health
and well-being and benefit the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the sixth annual list of the top 25 U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified buildings.

The cities on this list demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits achieved by facility owners and managers when they apply a proven approach to energy efficiency to their buildings.

The Top 10 cities on the list are: Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; New York; San Francisco; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Philadelphia; and Houston.

"Not only are the Energy Star top 25 cities saving money on energy costs and increasing energy efficiency, but they are promoting public health by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions from commercial buildings,” said Administrator Gina McCarthy.

“Every city has an important role to play in reducing emissions and carbon pollution, and increasing energy efficiency to combat the impacts of our changing climate.”

Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for 17 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion per year.

Energy Star certified office buildings cost $0.50 less per square foot to operate than average office buildings, and use nearly two times less energy per square foot than average office buildings.

Cities with more Energy Star buildings are increasing efficiency,

protecting health and battling pollution

The data also show that more than 23,000 buildings across America earned EPA’s Energy Star certification by the end of 2013.

These buildings saved more than $3.1 billion on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual electricity use from 2.2 million homes.

First released in 2008, the list of cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings continues to demonstrate how cities across America, with help from Energy Star, are embracing energy efficiency as a simple and effective way to save money and prevent pollution.

Los Angeles has remained the top city since 2008 while Washington, D.C. continues to hold onto second place for the fifth consecutive year. Atlanta moved up from the number five to number three. For the first time, Philadelphia entered the top 10, ranking ninth.

Commercial buildings that earn EPA’s Energy Star must perform in the top 25 percent of similar buildings nationwide and must be independently verified by a licensed professional engineer or a registered architect.

Energy Star certified buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings.

Many types of commercial buildings can earn the Energy Star, including office buildings, K-12 schools, hotels, and retail stores.

Products, homes and buildings that earn the Energy Star label prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency requirements set by the U.S. EPA. In 2013 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved an estimated $30 billion on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual electricity use of more than 38 million homes.

From the first Energy Star qualified computer in 1992, the Energy Star label can now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, with more than 4.5 billion sold. Over 1.5 million new homes and 23,000 commercial buildings and industrial plants have earned the Energy Star label.

The 2014 Energy Star Top Cities are:

1. Los Angeles
2. Washington, DC
3. Atlanta
4. New York
5. San Francisco
6. Chicago
7. Dallas-Fort Worth
8. Denver
9. Philadelphia
10. Houston
11. Charlotte
12. Phoenix
13. Boston
14. Seattle
15. San Diego
16. Minneapolis-St. Paul
17. Sacramento
18. Miami
19. Cincinnati
20. San Jose
21. Columbus, Ohio
22. Riverside, Calif.
23. Detroit
24. Portland, Ore.
25. Louisville

Source: EPA

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Job numbers rising in construction

Construction employment is
seeing an upward trend.

The latest federal report on jobs shows that builders and contractors put 19,000 more people on payrolls in March than they were paying in February, and that was enough to lower the unemployment rate, even though more people are looking for work now.

Associated General Contractors touted the fact that construction employment – residential and non-residential – last month was 5,964,000, which was the largest number since June 2009.

Associated Builders and Contractors broke down the gain as coming from 6,700 more people working in non-residential, 9,100 more in residential and 3,200 more in civil and heavy construction.

The construction industry unemployment rate went down to 11.3% without a seasonal adjustment, even though the overall unemployment rate in the U.S. stayed at the 6.7% it was at in February.

While that is still above where it was in the second half of last year, winter seems to finally be going away, and AGC noted that construction employment has gone up 2.6% in the past year compared with the overall workforce gain of 1.7%.

Source: Construction Dive

Construction workers may be exposed to a wide range of respiratory hazards, including toxic fumes, fine particles and asbestos or silica dust. 

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Silica dust regulations spark outrage

Exposure rules provoke row with senators

Construction workers are often exposed to
silica dust, which is linked to lung disease.

Crystalline silica dust released during construction work can cause serious lung damage.

Senate accusations of prejudice have forced a US government agency to defend its actions over a proposed tightening of regulations concerning industrial workers’ exposure to deadly silica dust.

The row blew up late last year when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began a public consultation on setting new limits for working with the dust, which is a major hazard for construction workers, causing serious lung disease.

The agency ruffled feathers in the Senate when it asked that those submitting evidence should declare their funding sources.

Last November, a group of 16 senators wrote an open letter to OSHA criticizing the move for its implication that the agency might prejudge submissions. The consultation period closed on 11 February, and OSHA is now vigorously defending its request.

“What I’m doing here is essentially saying the information that we will base our standard on has to be of the highest integrity, and we have to do it in a transparent manner, and conflict-of interest disclosure is an important component of both of those,” David Michaels, the head of OSHA, told Nature.

“It would be surprising right now if a scientific journal didn’t ask for that information.”

Produced by tasks such as grinding concrete and sandblasting, used in the construction and other industries, crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis — an incurable disease involving inflammation of the lungs — and lung cancer.

The dust is thought to kill or disable thousands of people in the United States every year, but guidelines on working with it have not been updated for more than 40 years.

“Our current standard is antiquated,” says Michaels. “There are literally millions of workers in the United States who are exposed to dangerous levels of silica.”

The present rules generally advise limiting exposure to roughly 100 micrograms of crystalline silica per cubic metre of air, averaged over 8 hours. OSHA has proposed halving this limit.

Workers would also have to be better protected, for example by dust being ‘wetted down’ and with the use of extraction fans.

OSHA estimates that the new regulations will cost about US$640 million a year, with employers picking up most of the tab, but the agency believes that the rules will save up to 700 lives a year. US standards are also influential in other countries, some note, potentially saving many more workers’ lives.

The proposals were published in the Federal Register last September, at the start of the consultation period.

The Associated General Contractors of America, an industry group based in Arlington, Virginia, called the proposals “significantly flawed” and “rife with errors and inaccurate data”.

And shortly after they were published, the group of senators, led by Lamar Alexander (Republican, Tennessee), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, wrote to OSHA saying that they were “very concerned about OSHA’s attempt to have commenters disclose their financial backers”.

They added that the request “raises questions” about whether OSHA would prejudge submissions on the basis of who was sending them.

There is also support for the new silica standard. Tee Guidotti, a physician in Washington DC and a member of the American Thoracic Society’s Environmental Health Policy Committee, says that the scientific case for the proposed limit is “close to being bulletproof”.

He adds that, if it is successful, it could provide a template for how OSHA deals with similar hazards, such as dust and radon.

The viewpoints contained in the 1,600 or so comments received through the consultation will be discussed in public hearings starting on 18 March. It will probably be several years before a final rule is enacted.

Source: Nature

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Asbestors inspectors overloaded in Iowa

One inspector oversees 4,500 projects annually

Asbestos remediation needs to be
done properly to minimize health risks.

Most people were unaware of the dangers of asbestos decades ago, and many construction workers were working with materials without breathing apparatuses — something that today be considered a violation of federal regulations.

In fact, many construction workers may look the other way regarding possible asbestos violations, perhaps not comprehending the long-term ramifications of their inaction.

In Iowa, one inspector enforces U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asbestos removal regulations and oversees as many as 4,500 asbestos removal projects each year.

His job with the state’s natural resources department is primarily centered on protecting public health under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, also known as NESHAP.

Another asbestos inspector is part of the Iowa Division of Labor. That inspector focuses on worker protections under federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.

While the agencies frequently communicate and sometimes share information, the regulations they enforce are separate and often require separate reviews, officials from both agencies said.

City and county government officials are also responsible for assisting in asbestos oversight. State and federal regulations, for example, sometimes require an asbestos survey to be completed and those regulations may require removal of material that can become airborne prior to the issuance of a demolition permit.

A contractor’s complaint has prompted closer scrutiny of possible asbestos exposure involving workers at a downtown Des Moines renovation project, but an inspector doesn’t even visit hundreds of sites across Iowa each year where workers could face risks from the cancer-causing material.

The routine lack of asbestos-handling inspections at construction sites in Iowa and across the nation represents a widespread failure to protect the public, environmental safety advocates say.

In Iowa, one inspector enforces U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asbestos removal regulations and oversees as many as 4,500 asbestos removal projects each year. Another inspector must try to enforce federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration asbestos regulations.

Some say the number of OSHA asbestos inspectors in Iowa should increase to five or 10. Minnesota’s OSHA agency, for example, has 15 inspectors who are trained to sample and assist with asbestos investigations.

This article has been edited for length. Source: Des Moines Register

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Chemical demand may be on the rise

Strong auto sales
may boost demand
in basic chemicals.

Strong auto sales and an uptick in housing starts, which combined to spur modest growth in U.S. chemical production in 2013, will continue this year. What will be new and notable in 2014 is a manufacturing revival in the U.S. and economic expansion around the globe that will buoy demand for basic chemicals.

“Manufacturing needs and exports will drive demand for basic chemicals, especially where shale gas drives competitive advantage. Europe and many emerging markets will be stronger in 2014,” says T. Kevin Swift, chief economist at the American Chemistry Council, a trade group.

Combined, the positive trends should impact most segments of the U.S. chemical industry including plastics, basic chemicals, and specialties, according to ACC.

Compared with the 1.6% growth in chemical production that the U.S. saw in 2013, this year’s expected growth rate of 2.5% will be rather robust.

But the acceleration won’t happen until mid-2014 or later, says Sergey Shchepochkin, chemical industry analyst at credit insurance provider Euler Hermes.

By then, the rise in construction will have had downstream effects on demand for appliances and other durable goods.

Consumer spending will also create more demand for plastics and electronics, Shchepochkin says; paper and textile markets, in contrast, will continue to underperform.

Consumers around the world, not just in the U.S., will demand more autos and homes, which will boost chemical exports by 6.6% this year, according to Swift.

He expects a continuing trade surplus, with basic and specialty chemical exports more than offsetting imports of pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals.

Last year’s slowdown in demand from China’s manufacturing sector is likely to turn around this year, to the benefit of U.S. chemical exporters.

Meanwhile, the Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates, a trade group for smaller firms, has turned its eye to Europe as it advocates for the U.S. and European Union to agree early in the year on the trade-enhancing Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership.

Another big change for the U.S. chemical industry this year should be in employment, where expansion is helping to reverse what had been more than a decade of workforce decline.

Chemical jobs grew by an estimated 1.3% in 2013, says Swift, who expects additions to continue through 2018. Employment will follow the large capital investments in the U.S. brought by shale gas; the tally of new projects has reached 135 with a combined value of more than $90 billion.

Source: Chemical and Engineering News

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Silica exposure limits on the cutting block

Silica exposure can cause lung cancer.

(Reuters Health) - The U.S. government is planning stricter controls on exposure to silica, a carcinogen found in workplaces ranging from dentist's offices to granite quarries, according to a new report.

Silica is powdered quartz, in particles so small they can be inhaled deep into the lungs.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that 2.2 million people in the U.S. are exposed to silica at work, including 1.85 million construction workers.

Other occupations carrying a risk of silica exposure include sandblasting, mining, stone grinding, as well as ceramic and glass manufacturing. Dental assistants may be exposed if they grind silica-containing casts and porcelains.

Silica has long been known to cause silicosis, and evidence now confirms that silica exposure can cause lung cancer as well, Kyle Steenland of Emory University in Atlanta, a co-author of the new report, told Reuters Health.

Silicosis causes varying degrees of breathing difficulty, and there is no cure or treatment. Recent research has also shown that non-smokers can get lung cancer from silica exposure, and that people who develop silica-related lung cancer don't always have silicosis, Steenland and his colleague Elizabeth Ward of the American Cancer Society note.

Lower exposure limits

OSHA is planning to lower permissible levels of silica exposure from 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter of air to 0.05 mg/m3, which the agency estimates will save 700 lives per year, and prevent 1,700 cases of silicosis annually. The current standard dates back to 1971.

The preferred approach to reducing silicon exposure is to use less hazardous materials, ventilate work areas where silicon dust is produced and use water-based methods so dust can't escape into the air, Steenland said.

"Respirators may be useful for workers in short-term high exposure situations, but are generally not recommended as the primary means of exposure control due to worker discomfort, difficulties in communicating with others, lack of compliance and enforcement, and the fitting and maintenance requirements," Steenland and Ward write in their report, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians

Anyone who has been exposed to silica and smokes should quit, Steenland said in an interview. Smoking aggravates the carcinogenic effects of silica, and smokers with high silica exposure can cut their risk of lung cancer up to five-fold by quitting, according to the new report.

People with a history of silica exposure may also qualify to undergo screening for lung cancer using CT scanning, the investigators note.

OSHA recently extended the public comment period for the proposed silica exposure rule to January 27, 2014. [Update: The comment period is now extended to Feb. 11. See more info here.]

While there is always a balance between worker protection and employers' interests, "I'm fairly confident that this standard will be put into place," Steenland said.

Source: Reuters

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Construction outlook for 2014

A little less single-family, more power and manufacturing

Manufacturing and power facilities will be strong in 2014,
construction experts predict.

Last year's construction spending was, at best, uneven, with the power sector – residential – covering up some mediocre and bad performances elsewhere.

Ken Simonson, chief economist for Associated General Contractors, expects construction for manufacturing and power facilities to experience double-digit growth percentages, warehouse construction to do well and lodging to continue its strong performance.

This year, Simonson expects, private nonresidential construction is looking at a 5% to 10% growth rate, public spending will continue to be bad news – though maybe not as bad as the 3% shrinkage in 2013 – and multifamily will pull residential spending to an increase of about 10%.

Interestingly, Simonson thinks single-family residential, which has been slowing somewhat in recent months, will stall later this year.

Looking at costs, some materials will be up and some down, but labor costs are where he sees the big problem coming for contractors.

Source: Construction Dive

Breathe better air on construction sites

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IAQ and low-energy buildings: Finding the right balance

Vancouver ASHRAE conference to explore indoor air quality and low-energy buildings

Poor IAQ deserves more attention,
industry professionals say.

Finding the balance between environmental health and energy efficiency in the pursuit of low-energy buildings is examined in a paper at the upcoming ASHRAE IAQ (indoor air quality) 2013 conference,setting the tone for discussion for the entire event.

“Neglecting indoor air quality while pursuing other goals can result in building environments that negatively impact the health, comfort and productivity of occupants and therefore defeat the overall goal of building design, including reduced costs,” said Kevin Teichman, a senior science advisor at the U.S. Environment Protection Agency.

“While building design is key to achieving a high-performing building, it is critically important to follow these good intentions through construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance. Only in this way will high-performing buildings actually perform as designed.”

Teichman’s paper is among 80 papers and extended abstracts being presented at IAQ 2013, Environmental Health in Low-Energy Buildings, which takes place Oct. 15-18 in Vancouver, B.C. This conference is the 17th in the ASHRAE IAQ conference series and is co-organized by the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate.

His paper, “Indoor Air Quality in High-Performing Building Case Studies: A Wealth of Intent, A Dearth of Data,” examines the role of indoor air quality in high-performing buildings, focusing on case studies in ASHRAE’s High Performing Buildings magazine. The paper was co-authored by Andrew Persily and conference co-chair Steve Emmerich, mechanical engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

A panel discussion on the topic also is planned.

“While progress has been made in achieving sustainable, high-performance buildings, it is noteworthy that many discussions of green, high-performing and certainly net-zero energy buildings tend to focus on energy consumption,” Teichman said. “Energy is critically important, but is only one aspect of performance and should not be pursued to the neglect of the others.”

The conference seeks to describe the current state-of-understanding of the relationship of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in high-performance buildings.

The conference features papers and presentations in nine tracks, which include:

— Environmental Health in Low-Energy Buildings
— Moisture and Health
— Sources and Chemistry
— Indoor Environmental Quality Factor Interactions
— Residential Buildings
— Commercial and Institutional Buildings
— Air Cleaning and Filtration
— Microorganisms and Infection
— Tools (models, measurements and more)

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a building technology society with more than 50,000 members worldwide. The society and its members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability.

Source: Daily Commercial News

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Construction dust a big health and safety risk

Inhaling dust and particles at construction sites is a
major health and safety issue, officials say.

Construction workers that don't protect themselves from inhaling even small amounts of dust on the job could put their health at risk, health and safety officials say.

In Britain, about 500 workers die each year from conditions related to the inhalation of dusts from concrete, wood, sandstone, mortar and gypsum.

In order to reduce these numbers and improve the health and safety for construction workers, Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) offers a free seminar on Sept. 20 on the dangers of construction dust and measures of protection.

The seminar is organized by the Working Well Together group and will take place in Coalville, Leicestershire, to increase awareness among managers and supervisors about health effects associated with dusts.

Dust inhalation linked to ill health

One major health effect is the possible development of silicosis, a respiratory disease caused by breathing in silica dust.

Silica is a common, naturally-occurring crystal and it is present in many construction materials.

Intense exposure can lead to health problems right away, but typically, health effects only emerge after 10 to 15 years of regular exposure.

"Construction dust is not just a nuisance, it is a serious risk to workers' health," said Chris Lucas of HSE’s Health Risk Management Unit in a news article about the seminar. He'll be speaking during the seminar. 

"Regularly breathing in even small amounts of dust over a long time can cause life-changing and life-threatening lung diseases, including cancer," he added. "Common jobs like cutting or grinding concrete, chasing out mortar, drilling in enclosed spaces or sanding wood can be high risk if not properly controlled." 

For a free information sheet, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis36.htm.

Source: Occupational Health and Safety Online

Air purification systems for construction and renovation projects 

Apart from personal protective systems, a portable yet highly efficient air cleaner helps provide cleaner air at construction and renovation work sites.

Electrocorp's IAQ solutions for construction and renovation include:

Air Marshal Series 
Equipped with powerful activated carbon and HEPA filters, these portable air purifiers help control airborne dust, particles, chemicals and fumes. Variable speed controls, pressure light indicator, negative air ready and various options available for different construction sites or projects.

The AirRhino is a highly efficient and portable air
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AirRhino Series 
Job site employees and building occupants alike will breathe cleaner and healthier air with an AirRhino air purification unit on site. The AirRhino can easily go from a dust and particle filtration system to a chemical, gas and odor abatement unit or a combination of both. Various filter options available.

5000 Series 
For smaller areas and renovation jobs, Electrocorp offers the 5000 Series air purifiers with HEPA and activated carbon filters for the abatement of dusts, particles, odors, chemicals and fumes.

For more information or a consultation with an IAQ expert, contact Electrocorp at 1-866-667-0297 or write to info@electrocorp.net.

China leads the world in eco-cities

Eco-cities are now becoming more the norm than the exception
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos

A recent survey by the University of Westminster indicates China builds the most eco-friendly cities in the world. 

Despite having a reputation for being one of the most polluted countries on earth, China has been making some significant strides in creating housing complexes that are both cost-effective and help residents consume less.

These eco-cities are popping up all over China, but people seem to move there more for the low prices and health benefits than for environmental reasons. 

Despite the fact that questions still abound with regards to China's primary source of energy used (coal-fired electricity) and how easily plant life can survive in polluted cities like Dezhou, steps have been taken toward building more eco-conscious, energy-saving apartment buildings.

The second-most eco-friendly country has been slated at the United States. Unlike the Chinese, Americans tend to prize eco-friendly homes for the positive impacts they have on the environment.

Source: USA Today

 Building safe and ecological homes

When environmentally-friendly apartment complexes are planned, many different building materials are needed.

From sustainable lumber to formaldehyde-free insulation to multiple air filtration systems and VOC-free paints, there are a lot of elements to incorporate into the design and construction of these complexes. 

For buildings that are built in polluted or industrialized areas, it is extremely important to protect the residents’ health; both on the inside and outside of the buildings.

Merely using eco-friendly materials is not enough. Living in polluted surroundings will undoubtedly affect the indoor air quality. This is why installing air cleaners in the central air system is extremely important.

Air cleaners for eco-friendly homes

An integral part of the planning process is the environmental consultant. He or she will suggest which materials are most beneficial for the environment.

Working in conjunction with architects, environmental consultants can determine the best industrial-grade air cleaners to use with regards to the size of the buildings and their proximity to polluted areas. 

Electrocorp's I-6500 series

Electrocorp’s I-6500 AH is an industrial-grade air cleaner which contains a filter of up to 160 pounds of activated carbon.

This filter is used to eliminate pollutants, like ozone, exhaust fumes and other organic chemicals, from the air. It is also refillable.

An additional 12-inch deep medical-grade HEPA filter helps to rid the air of particles as small as 0.3 microns.

The unit is completely customizable and can be attached to the building’s central air system. 

Installing units such as this one will result in an eco-friendly home, from the inside out.

Do you or someone you know live or have been to an eco-city? Share your story with us!

Show your support for green working environments by becoming a follower of this blog.

Electrocorp offers air cleaners for commercial, residential and industrial applications. For more information on Electrocorp and its products, contact us.

Roofing tiles now 'eat' smog

As people are becoming more health-conscious, the need for eco-friendly products in and around the house is increasing. Now, it is possible to install roofing tiles that are not only environmentally conscious, but actually help reduce smog. See the video below for details.


How do you feel about these smog-eating tiles? Send us your comments, questions or concerns and we'll be happy to respond.

Air cleaners for indoor work

Though these smog-eating tiles are an added benefit to the construction industry and to the people living and working in these buildings, indoor air cleaners are an equally important component for reducing air pollution.

When working in construction and restoration, using an air cleaner, such as the AirRhino series, will help crews work and breathe better indoors. A highly versatile cleaner, the AirRhino can be used to filter particles, chemicals, gases and odors from the air. Filters range from traditional bag filters, to HEPA, UV and activated carbon filters. Switch the filtration system on site for whichever function you need the unit to have.


Show your support for green working environments by becoming a follower today!

For more information on Electrocorp's air cleaners, please contact us online.

From green buildings to toxin-free buildings: Homes of the future?

Popular green options were not always the least toxic
or "healthy" materials, a couple's research showed.

When a Minneapolis couple decided to replace their mold-riddled, 1950s-era home, they wanted to use the least toxic materials available.

Since the wife had just undergone treatment for ovarian cancer, the couple wanted to reduce their exposure to chemicals and toxins linked to cancer to help prevent occurrences.

Their quest was not an easy one, since there exists no official standard for building a “healthy” home, and the couple had to do their own research into materials, studies and marketing claims to get what they wanted.

The inside of their luxuriously large house now features curved stone and wood walls, high ceilings, glass-and-steel floating stairs and copper accents.

The couple's non-toxic options include:

• Cast-iron pipes instead of PVC piping
• Water purification system
• Air purification system
• American Clay plaster on inside walls that resists mold
• Wood floors with toxin-free, water-based finishes
• A green roof for insulation and better indoor air quality
• Recycled-glass counter tops

It is still a fact that non-toxic and green homes often cost a bit more, but a growing public awareness about chemical exposures and potentially harmful materials may help make them become more available to the general public.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Air cleaners for better indoor air quality

Whether it’s during construction or after completion, the indoor air in most buildings tends to be polluted in some way, exposing people to airborne chemicals, odors, dust, particles, biological contaminants and mold.

Electrocorp has developed portable and extremely powerful air cleaners for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications as well as for residential use.

The air cleaners purify the air with a multistage filtration system containing deep beds of activated carbon for chemicals, odors and gases, HEPA for particles and dust, pre-filters for larger pollutants and optional UV germicidal filtration for the neutralization of molds, bacteria and viruses.

Contact Electrocorp for more information or recommendations.
 

Chemical makers oppose new green building standards

Green building standards worry chemical manufacturers.

The proposed standards by the U.S. Green Building Council have many chemical manufacturers up in arms, saying that the new rules would unfairly target their products.

Business groups are lobbying lawmakers to reconsider the proposed standards to avoid job losses in the industry.

The proposed changes, known as LEED 2012 or LEED v4, encourage builders to avoid certain materials that go into roofing, piping and vinyl siding to earn a green building certification.

The chemical makers say that a fragile building construction sector will suffer from even more uncertainty if those materials are being avoided.

The Green Building Council, however, has rejected the notion that the building economy would be affected by the proposed changes.

The standards do not ban any products and instead rewards companies that produce more transparent and well-documented building materials, they say.

The final vote of the standards has been delayed until June 2013, and the standards may be changed until then.

Source: The Hill

Better indoor air quality in green construction and older buildings

Poor indoor air quality has been linked with a wide range of health symptoms and lower productivity, among other effects.

Electrocorp has teamed up with engineers, environmental consultants, government buyers and construction professionals to help provide cleaner and healthier air during and after building projects.

Electrocorp’s air cleaners for industrial and commercial applications feature deep-bed activated carbon (or charcoal) filters for chemicals and odors, a HEPA filter for particles and optional UV germicidal filtration for biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and mold.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.

“Green” roofs provide environmentally friendly solutions

Gone are the days that flat roofs need to be black tar – now they can be white, green, blue and solar-panel black.

On the green roof of the Mountain Equipment
Co-op store in Toronto, Canada.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

These different kinds of green roofs help solve serious environmental concerns, including air pollution, urban heat spots, storm water runoff and more.

Turning roofs into gardens or painting them white helps them to have much lower surface temperatures.

A city's average temperature is often much higher than in the surrounding suburbs (where more green spaces and trees provide more shade).

Green roofs can retain 75 percent of a one-inch rainfall and use the moisture to cool down.

The idea of green roofs is not new, but it has become a more popular choice in the past 50 years or so, especially in Europe, where Germany’s green roofs top the list (10 percent of roofs in Germany are considered green).

Costs of green roofs 

Greening a roof requires some work and money and a lot of different materials: Insulation, waterproof membranes, barriers to control roots, drainage layers (gravel or clay), mats for erosion prevention, lightweight soil and plants.

Depending on the types of plants and maintenance work involves, a green roof can cost $15 to $30 per square foot.

But factoring in air conditioning and heating costs all year round, the expense may well be worth it.

Researchers from Columbia University and City University of New York found that a green roof can cut the rate of heat gained through the roof in summer by 84 percent, and the rate of heat lost through the roof in winter by 34 percent.

Reducing the storm runoff water can help curb sewer overflows and improve public health.

Green roofs can also help reduce air pollution in the city. One square meter can absorb all the emissions from a car being driven 12,000 miles a year, experts say.

Source: New York Times

Air cleaners for healthier buildings

Greener roofs may help with reducing air pollution, but until they become mainstream, many workers and city dwellers will be exposed to the harmful fumes, gases and particulate matter polluting the city.

Electrocorp has designed air cleaners for facility management, offices and other applications.

The portable or HVAC-compatible air cleaners feature a complete air filtration system with activated carbon and HEPA plus optional UV germicidal filtration to remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants.

The air filters can capture airborne chemicals, gases, fumes, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses, allergens, mold and more.

For more information, contact Electrocorp today.

Majority of builders see green home trend growing

The green trend is continuing in the construction industry
and indoor air quality is becoming more important.

More than 80% of builders surveyed in a new report say that construction now is greener than just two years ago and that energy-efficient features are more prevalent in new homes.

The goal to save money on utility bills may drive a lot of those energy-efficient choices, as does the need to differentiate a home from the competition.

Green homes also gained popularity because they are seen as being higher quality (and therefore higher value) and providing better indoor air quality.

Speaking of indoor air quality - it is growing in importance and focus for home builders. 60% of home builders believe that efforts to improve indoor air quality make homes greener than they were two years ago, and 95% of high volume home builders report including features that impact air quality.

Green homes made up a 17% share in the construction market in 2011, which amounts to $17 billion, but the report estimates that this market share will increase to between 29% and 38% by the year 2016.

A growing number of projects are also seeking green certification, the report says, and higher first costs for building green are noted by a much lower percentage of builders as an obstacle now than they were reported in 2008.

The SmartMarket report was released by McGraw-Hill Construction and surveyed members of the National Association of Home Builders.

Source: USA Today, NAHB

Taking care of indoor air quality

When the energy-saving wave first hit the construction and renovation market, it was driven by a desire to save on heating costs and utility bills.

However, the ensuing airtight houses gave rise to a new risk to public health – indoor air pollution, which was named as one of the top 5 risks to public health by health authorities like the EPA.

Electrocorp offers portable
air cleaners like the RAP series.

So it’s good to hear that indoor air quality has been growing in importance in the building industry.

Electrocorp has been a long-time promoter of good indoor air quality and offers air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications that can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants.

Electrocorp’s air cleaners contain a multistage filtration system with activated carbon + HEPA + optional UV germicidal filtration.

Together, these filters can remove airborne chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses, mold and other contaminants.

Whether it’s during construction or renovation work, remediation projects or for air cleaning after the work is done in single-family dwellings or larger settings, Electrocorp can provide the right air cleaners, the most effective air filters and the most customizable options.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.
 

Building materials for better indoor air

The wrong building materials can lead to poor
indoor air quality and respiratory disease.

Indoor air pollution is one of the top 5 risks to public health, and one of the main sources of exposure is the building materials.

The volatile organic compounds and other chemicals that can be emitted by common building materials can contribute to the onset or aggravation of respiratory diseases.

When building or renovating a home, people and contractors need to take building materials and indoor air quality into account.

Here is a selection of “healthy” building materials that won’t off-gas too many toxins and won’t affect the indoor air quality in a negative way.

• Concrete, ceramic tile and stone
• Paperless drywall
• Low-VOC paint
• Solid wood cabinets and doors (Products that contain plywood emit high levels of formaldehyde)
• Butcher block for countertops (better for IAQ than plastics laminates with adhesives)
• Factory finished flooring like bamboo and cork
• Fiberglass insulation (that is formaldehyde-free)
• Stainless steel

Look for eco-products that are certified and won’t pollute your indoor environment. A healthy home will require healthy air, and it all starts with the building materials.

Of course, keep ventilation systems and other air-quality friendly measures in mind when building or renovating a home.

Source: Business2Community

Use carbon + HEPA air cleaners when building or renovating homes

Along with proper planning, the right materials and good ventilation, a serious air cleaner with many pounds of activated carbon and HEPA air filters can help keep the air in the home clean and healthy.

Electrocorp offers industrial-strength air cleaners that can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including VOCs, chemicals, gases, odors, dust, particles, fibers, mold, bacteria and viruses.

They can also keep the air clean after the work is done.

For more information, contact Electrocorp today.
 

Will new building codes lead to sick buildings?

Energy-efficient construction codes have to take indoor air
quality concerns into consideration.

This month, new building requirements came into effect in Ontario, Canada, prompting builders to question the effect they will have on the indoor air quality.

Anyone applying for a building permit for a new structure in Ontario must fulfill much stricter energy efficiency measures.

But more efficiency often means there is less air entering the home, and this may result in poor indoor air quality.

Poor IAQ has been linked to a wide range of health effects, less productivity and more absenteeism.

The new energy efficient homes need to have effective heat recovery ventilators that circulate the air in and out, builders say.

A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) consists of two separate air-handling systems – one collects and exhausts stale indoor air; the other draws in outdoor air and distributes it throughout the home.

Both the exhaust and outdoor air streams pass through the heat transfer module, and the heat from the exhaust air is used to pre-heat the outdoor air stream.

If the HRVs are unable to keep pace with the government’s stricter building codes, the buildings may be too airtight and could allow the buildup of indoor air pollutants, experts say.

Source: CBC News 

Manage IAQ properly in homes and buildings

Builders and planners need to take indoor air quality in consideration when they finalize their projects.

In many cases, IAQ suffers when buildings are too airtight. One solution is to incorporate an air filtration system into the plan.

Electrocorp offers HVAC-compatible as well as portable industrial-strength air cleaners with a multistage filtration system containing activated carbon and HEPA that can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants.

The deep-bed activated carbon filter remove chemicals, gases, odors and fumes, while HEPA filters trap airborne particles and dust. Optional UV germicidal filtration helps neutralize pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and molds.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.
 

Is silica dust the new asbestos?

Health and Safety officials warn against
gaseous and particulate contaminants.

Health and safety officials are honing in on a new threat in the construction industry – silica dust, which is emerging as an occupational risk for workers in the industry.

Airborne chemical contaminants, including silica dust, have been identified as an area of concern for occupational health and safety enforcers.

According to information by WorkSafeBC, a Canadian health and safety organization, statistics show that traumatic work site fatalities have dropped, while fatalities due to occupational disease are on the rise.

Health effects due to chemical exposure typically take longer to emerge, but people that are exposed over a lifetime are dying in the 50s to 70s, meaning that preventative measures should be put in place.

Silica dust is one of many potentially harmful exposures on construction sites. Crystalline silica dust is commonly found in sand, rock and building materials, such as concrete and brick, and is released into the air each time these materials are cut, ground or drilled.

Prolonged exposure to the fine particles at higher than accepted concentrations can lead to lung damage, experts say, and it is a suspected carcinogen. Chronic silicosis develops after 10 or more years of exposure in relatively low doses.

The Canadian exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica (including quartz) is 0.025 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3). 

Workers could be exposed to this concentration eight hours per day, five days per week, without adverse health effects, according to the occupational health and safety regulation. However, the official word is that exposures should be kept as low as possible at all time.

Employers have a responsibility to ensure that workers

• Protect themselves with a respirator
• Have the right equipment, including special vacuum cleaners  that capture concrete grinding dust and drills with built-in vacuums
• Use the safest materials possible, ideally without silica

Air monitoring is also advisable to make sure that certain exposure limits are not exceeded.

Source: Journal of Commerce

Air cleaners for the construction industry

Tiny particles, airborne chemicals and other indoor air pollutants can become a burden for workers and employers alike.

Electrocorp has designed portable yet powerful industrial air cleaners that can help keep the air clean at construction sites.

Whether it’s high efficiency particle filter for woodworkers, chemical and odor control on site, asbestos and mold remediation or any other restoration process, Electrocorp’s product line offers the right unit.

Contact Electrocorp for more information or recommendations.