Indoor Air Quality and Mold Inspection Review

This flashcard set covers the key concepts of indoor air quality, EPA statistics, HVAC functions, and the definitions and examples of SBS and BRI as presented in the lecture notes.

Indoor Time Percentage

According to the EPA, Americans spend $90\%$ of their time indoors.

Indoor Pollutant Levels

Levels of pollutants that can be from $2$ to $5$ times higher indoors than outdoors, and in some cases, $100$ times higher.

False Economy

The EPA description for building management changes made to save money on utilities that lead to problems like increased occupant complaints, reduced productivity, and absenteeism.

Dilution

The favored method for controlling odors and contaminants by introducing outdoor air into the indoor environment.

Ventilation Efficiency

The term used to describe the ability of the ventilation system to distribute supply air and remove internally generated pollutants.

HVAC Systems

The main pathway and driving force for air movement in buildings, commonly including furnaces, boilers, cooling towers, air handling units, and filters.

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)

A term used to describe cases where building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.

Oil Embargoes (Mid-70s)

The historical period when Sick Building Syndrome likely originated as buildings were built tight to conserve energy and reduce heating and cooling costs.

Building Related Illness (BRI)

A building-related disorder where specific diagnostic criteria and testing can confirm the presence of conditions such as allergic, infectious, or toxicological reactions.

Allergic BRI Conditions

Specific building related illnesses that include asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Infectious BRI Conditions

Health conditions like Legionnaires' disease that can be confirmed through diagnostic criteria.

Toxicological BRI Conditions

A category of Building Related Illness that includes carbon monoxide toxicity, fiberglass induced dermatitis, and organic dust toxic syndrome.