GEISEL LIBRARY HEATING, VENTILATING, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC)
ISSUES QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
December 15, 1995

Those present to address the questions asked by library staff were:

The speakers began by explaining that in 1995 alone, the Environment, Health and Safety office investigated 53 cases of air quality complaints on campus. Complaints concerning air quality can stem from a variety of factors including building construction and renovation; a problematic ventilation system; and even the activities of the occupants themselves, e.g., Are there too many people working in the space available? Is a paper shredder in frequent use near staff areas? Are the occupants of the space wearing perfume?

It is often very difficult to trace the true source of negative air quality in an area. EH&S has adopted a "process of elimination" approach in dealing with air quality investigations. In an analysis of air quality, EH&S first develops different theories of possible causes of adverse air, conducts experiments to test their theories, and, from their findings, determines what may or may not be the cause. Some of the complaints can be resolved quickly. In other cases, hundreds of hours of work might have to be devoted to the study of a complaint. In still other cases, their conclusion may be that their investigation is simply inconclusive.

The discussion then moved on to questions and responses:

Q1. How is the quality of air in this building measured, that is, what tools are used and what standard is used? Are the standards for a building like this different from the standards that are used in another type of work environment, such as a place where food is prepared?

A1. In monitoring the quality of air in a building, three measurements are taken into consideration: temperature, level of humidity, and level of carbon dioxide (CO2) present in the air. The standard temperature in the building is between 68 and 70 degrees, with temperature varying depending upon location throughout the building. Optimally, humidity should be regulated at a level between 50% to 60%. Higher levels of humidity promote the possibility of mold growth. CO2 is measured to determine if there is adequate air circulation/air exchange in a given area.

Another form of monitoring the quality of air is to initiate a "bio test." This test checks for the presence of mold or fungi in the building. Air samples are taken from inside the building, incubated for a period of five days on a small rectangular surface called a "bio strip," and then compared to samples of outside air. This same test is often used in hospitals and in meat packaging facilities where sterilization is very important.

Air quality standards for this building are really no different from standards implemented in other work environments. Optimal levels are always sought.

Q2. How frequently is the air quality in this building tested?

A2. Air quality in the building is tested when an investigation is initiated upon request and/or prompted by some "unusual" condition (e.g., this summer's flood, extensive construction work, etc). Investigations are not conducted on a regular or random basis. Historically, EH&S has responded to requests from Geisel Library approximately once every year. However, with much activity taking place here in the last few years, the air quality in Geisel Library has been evaluated approximately five to six times in the last two years.

Q3. Are records kept? If so, can trends or patterns of air quality be observed in the records over months or years in this building? Are the air quality records/reports public, or at least available to the staff? How does one request this information?

A3. Yes, records and reports are kept and are available to the public. The Libraries' staff members can obtain this information by contacting the Library Facilities Department.

Q4. If air quality in a certain area appears to be below standards, what formal steps are taken to inform the employees and patrons?

A4. If staff members notice that the air quality appears to be subpar in an area, they should inform the Library Facilities Department as soon as possible. Facilities staff then will contact Physical Plant Services and/or Environment, Health and

Safety to initiate an investigation of the area. Results will then be made known to the staff, along with any other information about measures that staff should take regarding air quality in their work area.

Q5. What type of air filtration system is installed in this building? How well does the system filter out allergy or illness causing factors such as dust, mold, fumes and other potentially harmful contaminants? How frequently are the filters checked, cleaned or replaced if needed?

A5. The air filtration system installed in this building is what is known as a "re-circulation" system; air in this building is a combination of filtered and recycled air. The fresh air intake points for the east and west wings of the Addition are the little "chimneys" on the atriums. Intake points for the tower are the grills on the forum level.

The air filtration system in the east and west wings of the Addition is equipped with two banks of paper filters which resemble large window box fans. Each is six inches deep with an efficiency rate of 65%. The air filtration system in the tower is equipped with two banks of filters as well, each two inches deep with an efficiency rate of 35%. The 12-inch deep air filters in the rare book area are the most efficient. There are approximately 800 filters installed in this building as a whole. Filters are visually inspected every two months and changed once a year. These filters can screen out various types of dirt, mold and pollen but cannot screen out fumes; that capability would require charcoal filters.

The quality of air in a given area largely depends upon factors that we, the occupants of that area, can control. Much of the dirt surrounding ceiling vents appears to be blown into the room from the vent itself; in reality, most of that dirt comes from inside the room and adheres to the ceiling as it is being drawn out of the room. Occupants of an area are usually the greatest source of pollution in campus buildings. We bring in food, drinks, soil on our shoes, trash, plants, etc., that can contribute to contaminants in our air. By keeping our areas generally clean, we can help to alleviate some of the pollution that gets drawn into the HVAC system.

Q6. What is the mold content in the air in this building compared to other buildings on campus and compared to outdoor air?

A6. The mold content in the air in Geisel Library is considerably lower than typical outdoor air. At times, however, there may be a growing concentration of mold in one area due to any number of factors. For instance, food inadvertently left in desk drawers over long periods of time will surely promote the growth of mold in that area. In another case, certain types of plants may also contribute to contaminants in the air.

The mold content in the air in a building is measured by bio-strips that reveal whether there is a concentration of particular types of bacteria in an area.

Q7. What is considered "good" air, and what is the threshold at which "good" air becomes "bad" air?

A7. There is no definitive answer to this question. What is "good" air and what is "bad" air is largely based upon an individual's opinion and the present circumstances. For example, often when a building is undergoing extensive construction, it is common for staff to experience some level of discomfort stemming from fumes, dust and other pollutants in the air, and therefore regard the air quality in their area as "bad." Environment, Health and Safety staff distinguish between those conditions which may be uncomfortable but temporary, e.g., unpleasant odors, and those conditions which may be long term and truly hazardous to our health. Typically, indoor air quality problems on this campus are oriented around complaints regarding general discomfort, not serious health hazards.

Q8. On an average day, what percentage of "fresh" air versus "recycled" air do we receive? How often is the entire volume of air in the building replaced? If some chemical were released into the system, how long would it take to clear the air?

A8. The air in this building is constantly being filtered and recycled through the air filtration system. On an average day, we receive 20 cubic feet of air per minute per person and six air exchanges per hour (20% outside air generally, but may be as low as 10%).

It is difficult to say how long it would take to clear the air after a chemical had been released into the air. The answer largely depends upon the volume and content of the chemical.

Q9. To what degree does the air quality in the building vary? Where are some of the optimal areas and where are some of the worst areas in the Library?

A9. There are a variety of variables to consider in answering this question. For instance, if one's workstation is located directly beneath a vent that supplies air to an area, then this may be problematic for some and may be considered a "bad" area of the building because of the "draft" effect. However, the variation of carbon dioxide levels around the building is very minor.

Q10. How are the atriums in this building taken into account when the air quality is measured? Do the atriums contribute mold or fungus to the air that circulates throughout the whole building?

A10. The atriums are visually inspected each time an indoor air quality investigation is requested in the vicinity. The biotests taken over the years have not shown an evidence of mold or fungus from the atriums.

Q11. To what degree, if any, do dust mites living in carpeting contribute to contaminants in the air? Would frequent vacuuming help to alleviate this type of problem?

A11. Dust mites can be found in all sorts of areas in public buildings, including the carpet in the Geisel Library. Dust mites are found in most private homes, as well. Allergists recommend that people who have particular sensitivity to dust mites use a special type of high-powered vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency particulate air filter--widely known as "HEPA vacuums"--to remove dust mites. HEPA vacuums are not the type used in most homes, and they are not used on a regular basis in the Geisel Library. HEPA vacuums were brought in for clean-up in the aftermath of the flood, however.