When it comes to IAQ, humidity plays an influential role in the health, safety, and comfort of occupants in buildings and homes. 

Like it or not, mold is everywhere. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mold can cause a litany of health problems including nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing, and eye or skin irritation. 

Though ASHRAE recommends bringing in 15 cfm of outside air per occupant in a commercial building, a growing number of studies show that many U.S. schools are falling significantly short of that goal, which can translate to lower test scores, increased absences, and other health issues caused by poor IAQ.

Fixtureless, the RLM Xtreme™ UVC lamp system delivers high-output ultraviolet energy to irradiate coils and destroy mold, bacteria, and microbes in demanding, high-volume HVAC environments. 

E+E Elektronik wins contract from the National Meteorogical Service of Germany; E.L. Foust Co. Inc. announces full line of air purifiers is available online.

Designed to help eliminate sick-building-syndrome risks by reducing odors, air pollutants, VOCs [volatile organic compounds], smoke, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses, the PHI Cell for PTAC/ETAC Air Purification System by RGF Environmental Group Inc. is the gold winner in the IAQ category of the 2013 Dealer Design Awards. 

The trend to improve the indoor environment in commercial spaces is growing, according to experts in the field. Yet health and safety may not always be foremost in discussions between HVAC contractors and commercial clients. 

How do you know when you’re facing an IAQ issue? There are a few clues contractors can tap into based on their customers’ complaints.

When people step inside their homes, they tend to feel safe and protected from the outdoor world — and completely unaware of the many sources of pollution affecting their indoor environments.