The goal of every restoration job is to safely and efficiently return the indoor environment to pre-loss condition for the customer.
Part of this responsibility is to address the quality of the air inside the structure.
Any job that involves cleanup of sewage, mold, and/or fire damage will generate significant amounts of particulates and odiferous (smelly) gases.
These contaminants are a direct result of the damage itself, as well as the necessary process of treating and cleaning damaged materials.
This includes not only damage in the occupied space, but also contaminants in wall or ceiling cavities that may be disturbed and unknowingly introduced into the occupied space.
These contaminants can settle on carpet, upholstery, furnishings, and be drawn into the HVAC system.
Even clean-water losses are susceptible to compromised indoor air quality.
The high-velocity airflow necessary for effective drying does more than evaporate moisture into the air—it also stirs up millions of microscopic particles that have been trapped in the carpet or have settled on structural materials.
Some of these particles, such as human skin cells, animal hair, and dirt, are nearly always present but are innocuous to occupant health.
Chemical agents such as soot particles, hydrogen sulfide gas, and mercaptans (organic sulfur-containing chemicals generated by sewage-borne bacteria) can create unwanted visual damage and noxious odors.
Potential human allergens such as cat or dog dander or dust mites may be released in large concentrations from damaged carpets and furniture.
Most importantly, readily aerosolized biological agents such as sewage-born bacteria or mold spores (and spore byproducts) are likely to be introduced into the air in large amounts during the drying restoration process—and these agents can cause adverse human health effects when inhaled.
Ultimately, if these pre-existing or newly introduced contaminants are not removed effectively, they will impact the indoor air quality (IAQ) of the worksite and compromise the quality of the entire restoration job.
Mildew and other contaminants are common problems in restoration projects.
However, using a high-quality air scrubber can help alleviate this problem.
The HEPA 500 uses a two-stage system to filter the air. First, air is moved through a pre-filter designed to gather large particles. Next, the air moves through an independently tested and verified top-quality HEPA filter. This filter traps 99.97% of the smallest airborne particles – as small as .03 microns.
