November Meeting

Our guest speaker for November's meeting was Mark Rankin with Environmental and Occupational Risk Management (EORM.) Mark provided us with a wealth of information about preventing fungal growth within our buildings. Some of the highlights follow below; however, if you require additional information, you may contact Mark directly at:

Mark Rankin  IHIT, M(ASCP) EHS Consultant 8303 MoPac Expressway North, Suite B-300 Austin, Texas 78759 Email: rankinm@corm.com Tel: (512)418-0351

Photo:        Mark Rankin, left;             Mary Starr, , right
                    EORM                        Austin IFMA Programs Committee

Fungal Facts
  · Fungi include yeast, mold, mildew, mushrooms, rusts, and smuts
  · Fugal conidia/spores persist for prolonged periods in dust on indoor surfaces
Fungal Growth Requirements
  · Most important factors are water availability, nutrients, temperature
  · Preventing water intrusions/leaks indoors almost eliminates fungal growth
  · Buildings with a Relative Humidity greater than 50-60% are most likely to have mold
Health Effects
  · Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is identified by non-specific complaints and is indirectly liked to the building
  · Building-related Illness (BRI) can identify a specific medical condition and trace it directly back to the building.
Types of Health Effects
  · Respiratory-Flu-like symptoms, infections, respiratory distress, sinusitis, nosebleeds
  · Neural-Infections, neurological disorders, possible short-term memory loss
  · Dermal-Infections, irritation, dermatitis, and hypersensitivity
  · Systemic-Infections, toxicosis, malaise (non-specific ill feeling), myalgia (sore muscles)
Fungal Growth Protection
  · For best protection, stop water intrusions or leaks asap and dry out damp or wet materials within 24-48 hours
  · Establish a proactive Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management program
  · Remove porous materials that are damp or wet for more than 48 hours
  · Following a water intrusion that affects more than 10 square feet of materials, conduct an IAQ investigation for fungal growth
HVAC System Design Flaws
  · Oversized or undersized Air Handling Units (AHU)
  · Cuts and tears in the ductwork
 · Poor insulation around the supply plenum
 · AHU drain line and/or pan installation problems
IAQ Investigations
 · Initial
      · Provide impartial 3rd party assessment
      · Determine extent of microbal contamination
      · Determine if corrective actions are necessary
 · Follow-up
      · Assess the effectiveness of remediation activities
      · Ensure absence of significant cross contamination

Interesting News:

Plans for 7 World Trade Center Unveiled
(from Facilities.Net)

A 750-foot glass-and-steel office tower - with better fireproofing and wider stairs for quick evacuation - will be built on the site of one of the smaller buildings that collapsed from the fires that followed the crash of jetliners into World Trade Center Towers One and Two on Sept. 11, 2001.

The plans represent the first major rebuilding project at the World Trade Center to be announced.

The 52-story building at 7 World Trade Center - across the street from the main trade center site - will be sleeker and five stories taller than its predecessor, The New York Times reported.

Architects are still laboring to create designs for the larger trade center site. Although those plans will not be made final until next year, developer Larry Silverstein and his architect, David Childs of Skidmore Owings & Merrill, said their design for 7 World Trade would serve as a model.

The main site is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Silverstein is the leaseholder.

The new building, scheduled to open in late 2005, has been designed with stairs 20 percent wider than required by the city code, sturdier fireproofing than required, and an internal antenna system for improved communication by firefighters and police.

The first 10 stories will be occupied by a Con Edison power company substation; other tenants have not been determined.

The original 7 World Trade Center housed a Con Ed substation, the mayor's Office of Emergency Management and other government and financial offices. It had been evacuated when it fell, and no one died there.

Silverstein said that $800 million in insurance proceeds will cover most of the new building.

We would like to introduce you to VRC Industries. VRC Industries, located at the Austin State School, provides employment and training for people with developmental disabilities. They are looking for employment opportunities that you may be able to provide by outsourcing some tasks. The majority of the 354 workers at VRC Industries live at the Austin State School with approximately 35 of the consumers living at group homes or in the community. They have seven workshops--six on campus and one at the Austin State Hospital.

They have secured several new contracts in the past few months, but are always looking for new opportunities to keep their residents working. They are currently assembling Welcome Kits for Perdenales Electric Cooperative. This entails assembling 73/8” x 3 ¾” boxes, inserting two other boxed gifts along with two flyers into the box, applying a seal and label and mailing the boxes. They are also providing inserts for Commemorative Brands, Inc., folding/sorting shop rags and white towels for UniFirst and Cintas Corporation, and completing mail projects for Ballet Austin, Lakeway Resort, and others.

When they have work for the residents at VRC Industries, it is a positive situation for all involved. The residents benefit by having meaningful work to do, which brings training opportunities and improves skills for better employment opportunities resulting in the dignity of being gainfully employed. Customers benefit and save money by using VRC Industries’ services, while their employees can work on more critical projects and they are contributing to the positive employment of people without the fiscal burden of actual costs. It’s a winning partnership!

If you are interested in becoming a partner with VRC Industries, please contact Gina Beck at (512)374-6197 or email Virginia.beck@mhmr.state.tx.us .