WHEN WILDFIRES THREATEN INDOOR AIR QUALITY
No, you’re not imagining things. It really is getting hotter out there. There’s been an increase in the number of Texas wildfires over the last few years. Last year, there were over 900 wildfires in the state of Texas alone. Rising temperatures and droughts will likely only make these blazes worse. The biggest threats these fires pose is the loss of human life and immense property damage. However, even if you or your building
THE PROBLEM WITH HIDDEN IAQ PROBLEMS
There are two kinds of calls I can get when a client hires me to investigate indoor air quality complaints in their building. I estimated that 99 percent of the time when I get a call from a building owner or property manager, they ask me to come investigate the building, run the tests, and talk to the people who have been complaining. Their goal is to address any possible problems quickly, and
(NO, IT’S STILL NOT THE UNITED STATES)
In 2018, Canada officially banned the use of all types of asbestos and products containing asbestos. This ban was a huge victory for workers at risk from asbestos and Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU), who spent years lobbying for the change. With this ban, Canada joined 55 other countries who have banned the use of all types of asbestos.
BEWARE IAQ MIRACLE CURES
Last August, I was approached by a guy who claimed to have an amazing product that used hydrogen peroxide to oxidize odors and particles in the air. It worked great, he insisted, and would solve almost every indoor air quality problem. After being endorsed by both the U.S. Army and Homeland Security, he wanted
I’ve been with Bohannon Development Corporation since 1999. We’re a family-owned business working primarily in the apartment industry to develop, build, and manage apartment communities. Prior to joining the company, I was in banking. Bohannon Development Corporation was actually one of my clients when I worked
COULD THERE BE RADON IN TEXAS?
February is Cancer Prevention Month, and I’ve been thinking about radon. Early in my career, I used to test for the gaseous chemical. The only time I found any radon was on a marble fireplace mantle that had been imported from Italy. This won’t come as a surprise to most people. If you check the
COMMON CAUSES OF ODORS IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
Calling in an expert to deal with a bad smell can seem like overkill to someone who’s never dealt with an odor problem before. However, bad odors are a serious threat to indoor air quality and should always be taken seriously. Unpleasant odors can damage productivity, create a hostile work environment, and, depending on the source, be potentially harmful. When faced with an odor complaint
THE CHALLENGES OF IAQ AND ODORS
I recognize that I am an authority on indoor air quality (IAQ) issues. After 30 years, I better be! At the same time, I admit I am not the expert in strange and unusual odors. However, this hasn’t stopped clients from requesting the services of my nose. Recently, in the span of just 10 days, I
ONE COMPANY YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO RUN
If you think running your business is tough, try thinking about how Santa operates the North Pole. From least to most complex, here are the four hardest aspects of running an operation that delivers gifts to 7 billion people.
THE BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR
When I first started Building Air Quality 29 years ago, winter was pretty quiet. Clients seldom called in the cold months. It was the hot, humid summer days that kept me busy. Now, since the work I do is so varied, I get calls year-round. This is a blessing and a curse.