Kodak J-314 - Manual (Page 2)

Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation in Photographic Processing Facilities
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J-314(ENG) 2
The quality of the air in our homes,
schools, and places of business is an
important environmental health
issue. It is estimated that we spend
over 90% of our time indoors. It is
also important to note that the
design of buildings and ventilation
systems has changed dramatically
over the last 50 years as we have
moved toward more energy
efficient, climate controlled
environments. New or remodeled
buildings are more air tight, which
leads to less air exchange between
indoor air and fresh outdoor air. To
ensure good indoor air quality,
adequate fresh outdoor air must be
brought indoors. You can no longer
rely on leaking windows or other
pathways for outdoor air
infiltration. Indoor air quality (IAQ)
depends upon the ability of a
ventilation system to remove or
control the contaminants generated
within a space to acceptable levels.
When there is insufficient fresh
dilution air, IAQ problems can occur
which may result in a variety of
symptoms in building occupants
including:
• headache
• sinus congestion
• nausea
• eye, nose and throat irritation
• sneezing
• a metallic or sweet taste in mouth
• dizziness
Two terms are used to describe
IAQ health-related problems.
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS):
describes cases in which building
occupants experience acute health
and comfort effects that are
apparently linked to the time they
spend in the building, but in which
no specific illness or cause can be
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
(IAQ)
identified. Basically, people enter
the building and experience
symptoms which clear up after they
leave the building.
Building Related Illness (BRI):
refers to symptoms of diagnosable
illness that can be directly attributed
to environmental agents (chemical,
biological or physical) in the
building air. In other words, people
enter and become ill from a known
agent in the building air but do not
necessarily get better after they
leave the building (examples:
Legionnaire’s disease, respiratory
infections, and humidifier fume
fever).
The causes of poor IAQ continue
to be studied extensively. In the
1980s the National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) studied over 600 buildings
and identified the following as
potential causes of poor IAQ:
Recent studies have lead some
experts to believe that biological
contamination (molds, fungi,
bacteria) may account for up to 30%
of the IAQ problems in buildings.
To help prevent IAQ problems,
we recommend that you assemble a
comprehensive program that is
preventive in focus. Specific
performance elements of your IAQ
program should include:
1. Developing and maintaining an
IAQ profile for each building
(year built, tenant operations,
number of people, type of
HVAC).
2. Developing and maintaining a
thorough understanding of
your IAQ requirements and
processes.
Inadequate ventilation 52%
Inside sources 17%
Outside sources 11%
Biological 5%
Building fabric
3%
Unknown 12%
3. Maintaining up-to-date line
drawings and equipment
schedules for each HVAC
system.
4. Documenting the operational
parameters for each HVAC
system including scheduled
time of operation, temperature
and humidity set points,
seasonal variations, outside air
requirements, air flow
parameters.
5. Providing a process to identify,
investigate, track and respond
to IAQ-related complaints.
6. Maintaining a written
maintenance program and
relevant history of each HVAC
unit.
7. Providing a process to review all
major projects in or near the
building for their IAQ
implications.
8. Ensuring that HVAC systems
are commissioned and
periodically balanced.
9. Ensuring that the performance
of local exhaust systems are
periodically assessed.
10. Providing a process to review
health, safety and
environmental implications of
maintenance and housekeeping
chemicals used in the facility for
remodeling or construction
activities that may impact IAQ.
11. Requiring compliance with local
regulations or company
standards regarding smoking in
the workplace.
12. Requiring that personnel
involved in the design,
operation, evaluation and
maintenance of HVAC systems
are properly trained and aware
of new IAQ regulations and
trends.