Corporate Training By Zack Academy - IAQA Indoor Environmentalist - Fundamentals Level

Why Should You Take This IAQA Indoor Environmentalist - Fundamentals Course?

This IAQA Indoor Environmentalist -Fundamentals Course is a comprehensive overview of indoor environmental quality issues in primarily residential buildings. This level now incorporates the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) Essentials of Healthy Housing course and includes the "7 principles" of healthy housing as described by NCHH.  These principles can be adapted to work in both residential and commercial settings. Attendees will develop an understanding of how buildings are comprised of systems that must be in sync for people to be healthy and productive. The Fundamentals level course is designed for people that are new to IEQ consulting or for those with years of experience looking for a contemporary framework to help them move to the next level of IEQ consulting.   This course also emphasizes that a foundation in building sciences is essential for solving many IEQ issues.  We also review important vocabulary, guidelines, standards and regulations that are related to IEQ.  Finally, IEQ consulting is often times a collaborative effort that includes remediation of indoor environments.

Any level practitioner will benefit from this course, especially those that have focused on a single component of IEQ or those that have been involved in IEQ contracting issues.  Various contractors are commonly the first professionals on site or on the phone with building owners or residents that need IEQ consulting services.  Understanding who can help, how to find them, how to communicate with them and what your limits are is vital to providing value added services in residential and commercial buildings. This course is the first step in learning what your part is in the big picture of IEQ.

Syllabus

Day One -AM

Chapter 1 -Introduction to Indoor Environmental Quality

• Brief history of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
• Related associations and agencies
• Overview of indoor environmental quality
• Overview of Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)
• Introduction to bioaerosols

Chapter 2 -Introduction: Essentials for Healthy Homes

• Link between housing and health
• Groups at risk
• Basic public health and housing principles & the link between housing and health
• Holistic approach to health through better housing
• Introduction to Healthy Homes Principles
• Group participation exercise on links between health housing and contaminants
• Codes and regulations benefitting healthy homes

Chapter 3 -Introduction to Health Effects -Start with People

• Why start with people
• Interviewing Occupants
• IEQ health effects and Introduction to Human Physiology
• Routes of exposure
• Categories of health effects
• Signs and symptoms of housing related disease
• Identifying housing conditions that may affect health
• Summary of evidence and types of research.
• Levels of evidence
• Anecdotal evidence
• Case studies
• Population studies cross sectional or ecologic studies
• Cohort studies
• Prospective and retrospective cohorts
• Case control studies
• Randomized control trials
• Single blinded and double blind control trials
• Meta analysis
• Literature reviews

Day One -PM

Chapter 4 –The House as a System

• What’s a house?
• Types of systems in homes
• Residential HVAC Equipment
• Supply water systems
• Waste water systems
• The building envelope and residential building materials
• Other factors affecting the health of homes

Chapter 5 –Keep it Dry

• Excess moisture creates conditions that can affect health.
• Moisture in the home comes from inside and outside.
• Excess moisture should be prevented through appropriate construction methods, plumbing systems, temperature control, ventilation and proper maintenance.

Chapter 6 -Keep it Clean

• Pesticides, allergens, and general chemicals in the home
• Potential sources of allergens and contaminants in the home come from outdoor and indoor sources.
• Keeping a home clean includes controlling the source, creating smooth and cleanable surfaces, reducing clutter, and using effective cleaning methods.
• Indoor Environmentalist Course Outline
• Awareness Level

Day Two –AM

Chapter 7 Keep it Pest Free

• Pests can create allergens and be vectors of disease.
• Control of pests with pesticides can lead to poisonings and other neurological problems.
• Some pesticides found in homes have been banned.
• Make house less hospitable for pests.
• Integrated Pest Management

Chapter 8 – Keep it Ventilated

• Ventilation important role in maintaining health
• Ventilation to remove humidity and dilute/remove contaminants
• Local exhaust ventilation removes contaminants from a point source, while whole house ventilation uses fresh air to dilute contaminants

Chapter 9 – Keep it Safe

• Injuries are not accidents. They are preventable.
• Simple and inexpensive ways to prevent home injuries.Children and older adults are more at risk for injuries
• Falls, poisoning, and fires/burns are the most common causes of injury & deaths.

Day Two –PM

Chapter 10 – Keep it Contaminant Free

• It’s is easier to prevent exposure to contaminants than to remove them and treat their effects.
• Should contamination occur: control, contain, and cleanup.
• Contaminants are not always detectable by our senses.

Chapter 11 –Keep it Maintained

• Systems should be inspected regularly.
• Some maintenance activities require the use of trained professionals.
• Group review of HVAC photos from previous day with overview of HVAC system lay out. Group walk through of classroom and/or facility building enclosure & HVAC components focus on maintenance issues

Chapter 12 -Introduction to Remediation of Indoor Environments (D. Weyel & J. Hughes)

• What is indoor environmental contracting?
• Critical concepts for indoor environmental contractors
• Principles of indoor environmental contracting
• Group participation exercise on moisture assessment
• Water Damage Restoration & HVAC Cleaning and Restoration
• OSHA - A Brief Guide to Mold in the Workplace

Chapter 13 -Indoor Environmental Quality Investigations (Joe Hughes & D. Weyel)

• Review of Awareness Level Key Points
• Background on IEQ Investigations/Assessments
• Contrasting Diagnostics in Industrial vs. Commercial/Residential Facilities
• Common Causes of IEQ Problems & Complaints
• References for IEQ Consultants
• ASTM D7297 Standard Practice for Evaluating Residential
• Indoor Air Quality
• OSHA Indoor Air Quality in Commercial and Institutional Buildings