ASHRAE Journal - July 2024 - 31

COLUMN IEQ APPLICATIONS
material moisture content, water activity and
equilibrium);
* Moisture Control (e.g., building envelope and HVAC
system components);
* Control of Legionella (e.g., potable water systems,
whirlpool spas/hot tubs, ornamental water features and
cooling towers/evaporative coolers); and
* Long-Term Prevention and Cleaning Management.
Chapter 5-Building Assessment Strategy
This chapter was written by Ian Cull, P.E., CIH, and
describes the steps necessary for an investigator or
an engineer to conduct an initial building bioaerosol
assessment. The chapter is divided into subchapters that
include the following:
* Gathering Preliminary Information (e.g.,
information on health complaints, bioaerosols and the
building history, structure, HVAC systems, etc.);
* Building Inspection (e.g., interior space, ventilation
and building envelope);
* Indicator Measurements (e.g., relative humidity,
material moisture content and building air pressures);
* Developing and Testing Hypotheses; and
* Recommendations (e.g., corrective action and risk
communication).
The importance of building ventilation is emphasized
for controlling indoor moisture accumulation, which
can result in biological growth such as mold and
bacteria and ensuing indoor air contamination. This
chapter describes a visual inspection of critical building
components that infl uence moisture activity and
biological growth. There are checklists for inspections of
the interior space, HVAC systems, building envelope and
areas surrounding building components.
While this chapter focuses on commercial buildings
with HVAC systems, many residential tenants in the
U.S. and other countries, especially in lower income
residences, only have windows for ventilation. These
dwellings often lack the code-required open window
area (e.g., 4% - 5% of fl oor area of each habitable room
depending on the specifi c local building code). As a
result of lack of adequate ventilation, these residences
can experience indoor moisture accumulations and
surface condensation with ensuing mold growth.
In residences with only window ventilation, mold
inspections report the openable window area in each
habitable room (e.g., bedrooms, living room, kitchen,
bathroom). If the openable window area is less than
the code required open window area (e.g., 4% - 5% of
fl oor area) because of missing or stuck windows, it
is recommended that immediate mitigation begin.
Failure to mitigate the lack of openable window areas
in residences with only window ventilation risks the
reoccurrence of indoor moisture accumulation and
surface condensation with ensuing mold growth.
The installation of HVAC systems into residences
with only window ventilation can provide a continuous
dependable mechanical supply of dry and fi ltered
outdoor air. These HVAC systems would greatly reduce
the risk of indoor moisture accumulation and surface
condensation with ensuing mold growth and bioaerosols
contamination of the indoor air.
Chapter 13-Engineering Controls for Bioaerosols
The author of this chapter was Robert Strode, CIH,
with a diverse group of three coauthors, William D.
Mele, Andrew A. Havics, P.E., CIH, and Edward A.
Nardell, M.D. The chapter examines the methods
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ASHRAE Journal - July 2024

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