Indoor air quality and mold in commercial buildings (with Neil Carlson)

Structure Talk

In this conversation, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry interview Neil Carlson, a public health specialist with expertise in indoor air quality and mold. They discuss various mold-related topics, including its causes, identification, and remediation. Neil shares insights into his work in commercial and residential buildings, highlighting common problem areas such as air handling units, basements, bathrooms, and attics. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding the building as a system and considering factors like humidity control, filtration, and ventilation. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the impact of cooking on indoor air quality. The conversation covers various topics related to indoor air quality, including the effects of particulate matter on health, monitoring for particulates in buildings, the importance of range hoods in kitchens, unique cases of mold growth, dealing with mold in homes, cleaning ductwork, and the challenges of sub-slab ductwork. Neil Carlson provides insights and recommendations based on his building science and HVAC systems expertise.
Takeaways
Mold growth is a common issue in commercial and residential buildings, with problem areas including air handling units, basements, bathrooms, and attics.
Understanding the building as a system is crucial for addressing mold and indoor air quality issues, considering factors like humidity control, filtration, and ventilation.
Proper maintenance and cleaning of HVAC systems, including air handling units and coils, can help prevent mold growth.
Designing buildings with appropriate materials and insulation can reduce the risk of mold growth.
Cooking can contribute to poor indoor air quality, with high particles generated during cooking. Particulate matter, tiny particulates, has a strong negative impact on people's health, and it is often created indoors from cooking and other sources.
Monitoring particulates in buildings, especially kitchen areas, is important for maintaining good indoor air quality.
Range hoods are crucial in kitchens to remove pollutants and particulates generated during cooking.
Unique cases of mold growth, such as mold growing inside countertops and bagpipes, highlight the importance of proper maintenance and cleaning.
Dealing with mold in homes requires caution, especially for individuals with compromised immune systems, and professional help may be necessary for larger mold problems.
Cleaning ductwork can be beneficial if done correctly and thoroughly, but it can also create problems if not done properly.
Sub-slab ductwork that continuously gets wet is difficult to address, and the best solution may be to fill it in with concrete and go with an elevated system.
Using portable HEPA filtration systems can help improve indoor air quality, but it's important to oversize the filter and adjust the airflow to minimize noise.
Understanding geology and drainage is crucial when dealing with sub-slab ductwork to prevent moisture and mold issues.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:36 Neil Carlson's Background and Expertise
06:15 Common Problem Areas in Buildings
11:21 Identifying Mold in Homes
15:28 Mold Issues in Commercial Buildings
21:23 The Impact of Cooking on Indoor Air Quality
29:02 The Impact of Particulate Matter on Health
30:20 Monitoring for Particulates in Buildings
32:38 The Importance of Range Hoods in Kitchens
33:07 Dealing with Mold in Homes
37:54 Cleaning Ductwork: Benefits and Challenges
41:46 Challenges of Sub-slab Ductwork
45:17 Understanding Geology and Drainage in Sub-slab Ductwork
50:50 Using Portable HEPA Filtration Systems