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A Commentary on Carpet
Which is healthier: carpet or hard floors? The answer to that question is more complex and less clear-cut than you might think.IEHA Releases the Master’s Program
IEHA's Master's Program will be for IEHA’s elite members committed to continuous improvement and propagating professionalism.Floor-Matting Applications
One of the best ways to capture tracked-in moisture and soil is through the use of floor mats. However, using the right floor mat is important.School Renovation and Repairs Checklist
When renovating or remodeling, extra precaution should be taken to ensure the safety of students and staff. Here's how to do so before, during, and after renovation.Background Information for School Renovation and Repairs Checklist
Here's the details on how to keep students and staff safe when renovating and remodeling.The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) and The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) Partner to Reduce Slips and Falls
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) and The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) are partnering to reduce slips and falls by promoting the installation of NFSI-certified entrance matting, and carpeting wherever possible.Background Information for Walkthrough Inspection Checklist
How to go about a simple school walkthrough inspection and what potential IAQ problems to be on the lookout for.EPA Walkthrough Inspection Checklist
Use this checklist from EPA to make your IAQ walkthrough inspection as productive as it can be.Acute Antimicrobial-Related Illnesses Among Workers in Healthcare Facilities
Occupational exposures to antimicrobial pesticides are known to cause adverse health effects.Diagnosing and Solving IAQ Problems: Checking Potential Causes
After hypothesizing potential causes, you can perform simple checks to determine if the problem is obvious or if deeper investigation is required.Diagnosing and Solving IAQ Problems: Basic Measurement Techniques
Recommended techniques and tools to measure for adequate airflow, lighting, and thermal comfort - relative humidity and temperature.Diagnosing and Solving IAQ Problems: What are the Symptoms?
Evaluating the symptoms can help narrow down possible causes and can help you determine what checks need to be done.Diagnosing and Solving IAQ Problems: Diagnostic Process for Commercial Facilities
General process to troubleshooting indoor air quality problems in commercial facilities.Reducing Pesticide Exposure at Schools
How Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can be used to reduce student and staff exposure to harmful pesticides.Three Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Testing Programs for Carpet
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has developed three indoor air quality (IAQ) testing programs that will minimize the potential of emissions from new carpet installations. The programs cover carpet, carpet cushion, and floor covering adhesive products.Fit Faculty for Fit Facilities
There is no denying it: There is a link between the physical condition of workers and their performance in the work place.Light Wave Kills Hospital Superbugs, Harmless to People
A pioneering LED lighting system that kills superbugs in hospitals has been developed by researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.Schools Should Consider Water Treatment to Protect Students
The drinking water in thousands of schools contains lead and other toxins, prompting experts to urge administrators to look into treatment systems to protect students.Fact Sheet: Building Ecology
Microbial communities are an important part of the complex, dynamic systems we call “buildings”.Anna Gilmore Hall Joins The Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI) Advisory Board
Ms. Gilmore Hall, RN, MS, CAE is the Executive Director of Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading membership organization for institutions in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices.Innovative Approach to Hand Hygiene Yields Glowing Results
'Glowing hands' in the waiting room improves kids' handwashing.EPA Improves Access to Information on Hundreds of Chemicals
Searchable databases on chemical toxicity and exposure data are now available for scientists and the public.Indoor Air Quality and Particle Measurement
Since there are no official standards for indoor air quality, outdoor air quality measurements set by EPA are often used as benchmarks.EPA: Introduction to Molds
Types of mold and the health effects and symptoms associated with exposure to them.Mold Remediation - Communication With Building Occupants
When signs of mold growth are present, open communication with building occupants is essential.Five Principles of Mold Cleanup
There are five general principles of cleaning up - or remediating - mold.Commentary: Are Carpets Appropriate for Schools?
Jeffrey C. May, MA, principal scientist, May Indoor Air Investigations LLC, and member of the HFI Healthy Carpet Workgroup, shares his perspective.Commentary: No Link Between Carpet, Allergy and Asthma
Werner Braun, president of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), and member of the HFI Healthy Carpet Workgroup, offers his perspective.Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings - Prevention
The common causes of mold growth and ways to prevent it.John Gayetsky Joins The Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI) Advisory Board
John Gayetsky has joined The Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI) Advisory Board. Gayetsky is the Environmental Management Specialist for the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), providing consultative, training, and technical support services to school districts across the U.S.CRI and HFI Form Healthy Carpet Workgroup
Promoting discussion of asthma, allergies, and the role of carpet selection and care.Bed Bugs with MRSA in Chicago
Infectious disease expert says both are on the rise; more study is needed.Portable Anteroom HEPA Filtration May Prevent Perioperative Transmission of Airborne Microorganisms
AJIC study says a supplemental portable anteroom high-efficiency particulate air (PAS-HEPA) filter unit outside operating room suites may prevent secondary transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis).Beyond CO2: Sensing VOCs in Indoor Air Protects Health, Saves Energy
VOC sensors optimize ventilation to help ensure better air quality for occupants and reduce utility costs for building owners.Preventing Mold Related Problems in the Indoor Workplace
OSHA guide to preventing mold, mold sources, and building-related illnesses.Rolling It Out: Selecting Carpet for the Healthcare Environment
Carpeting can help hospitals improve sound-absorption, indoor air quality, staff and patient safety, and aesthetics, but it also poses many challenges.Who's In Charge of Children's Environmental Health at School?
While there are services to protect adults from some environmental hazards at school, more vulnerable children lack the same protection.Video: IAQ School Walkthrough - Overview
View the overview of “The Virtual School Walkthrough: Identifying and Solving Common Indoor Air Quality Problems” produced by the non-profit Northwest Clean Air Agency.Video: IAQ School Walkthrough - Outside the Building
View the 'Outside' portion of “The Virtual School Walkthrough: Identifying and Solving Common Indoor Air Quality Problems” produced by the non-profit Northwest Clean Air Agency.Video: IAQ School Walkthrough - Inside the Building
View the 'Inside' portion of “The Virtual School Walkthrough: Identifying and Solving Common Indoor Air Quality Problems” produced by the non-profit Northwest Clean Air Agency.Video: IAQ School Walkthrough - Classrooms
View the 'Classrooms' portion of “The Virtual School Walkthrough: Identifying and Solving Common Indoor Air Quality Problems” produced by the non-profit Northwest Clean Air Agency.Video: IAQ School Walkthrough - Quick Fixes
View the 'Fixes' portion of “The Virtual School Walkthrough: Identifying and Solving Common Indoor Air Quality Problems” produced by the non-profit Northwest Clean Air Agency.Video: IAQ School Walkthrough - Wrap-Up
View the 'Wrap-Up' portion of “The Virtual School Walkthrough: Identifying and Solving Common Indoor Air Quality Problems” produced by the non-profit Northwest Clean Air Agency.Bed Bugs, Public Health, and Social Justice: Part 2, an Opinion Survey
Even with the resurgence of bed bug infestations, the public health community has yet to mount a coordinated response to the problem. The results of surveys conducted at four events reveal public health agencies need to take action.Bed Bugs, Public Health, and Social Justice: Part 1, A Call to Action
While most are aware of the prevalence of bed bugs, more research must be done in regards to their behavior, effect on humans, and rampant spread; and action must be taken.Environmental Management for High Performance Schools
Without a long-term commitment to comprehensive environmental management, not even the best high performance school can hope to stay high performing for very long.IAQ School Walkthrough - Introduction
Introduction to “The Virtual School Walkthrough: Identifying and Solving Common Indoor Air Quality Problems” produced by the non-profit Northwest Clean Air Agency.Video: IAQ School Walkthrough - Introduction
View the introduction to “The Virtual School Walkthrough: Identifying and Solving Common Indoor Air Quality Problems” produced by the non-profit Northwest Clean Air Agency.Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools (PCHS)
Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools (PCHS) optimizes efficiency, cleanliness, ease-of-deployment, and health factors through a carefully designed and documented system tailored for K-12 school districts.LEED for Healthcare Launched at CleanMed Conference
First-of-its-kind green healthcare rating system distinguishes construction of high-performance healthcare facilities.Latest Hands-Free Electronic Water Faucets Found To Be Hindrance, Not Help, In Hospital Infection Control
Johns Hopkins researchers identified Legionella growing in 50 percent of cultured water samples from 20 electronic-eye faucets in or near patient rooms on three different inpatient units, but in only 15 percent of water cultures from 20 traditional, manual faucets in the same patient care areas.HFI Backs Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) and CIMS-Green Building (GB) Program
The Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI) has announced its support of the ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) and CIMS-Green Building (GB) program as a means to help enhance the health of indoor environments.Mold: A Continuing Problem in Schools - and What to Do About It
The recipe for mold is “just add water.” Your best investment is in prevention.Is Your Indoor Air Clean After Mold Remediation? Experts May Use a Particle Counter to Check
Certified technicians may use particle counters to help ensure your air is clean after mold cleanup.Controlling and Preventing Air- and Waterborne Infections
Pathogenic microorganisms are transmitted in many ways in hospitals. One important consideration is the role that the environment plays in pathogen transmission, specifically leading to airborne and waterborne infections.Commentary: The Trojan Couch and other Weapons of Class Obstruction
Upholstered couches and chairs, rugs, and bean bag chairs harbor dust mites, pet dander, and other contaminants that adversely affect classroom environmental quality.Curbing Asthma in Schools Through Better Cleaning Doesn’t Cost, It Pays
Asthma is a big problem in schools, and reducing it is a way for cleaning product distributors to make a big difference.Wipes Study - 3 Swipes and Germs are Out
If you have time to quickly swipe your pager or cell phone three times, that would be your best bet to get rid of most of the bacteria. And a simple tissue moistened with saline would do the trick. But if you only have time for a single swipe of a 'dirty' phone – you'd be better off reaching for a disinfectant wipe.The Importance of Widespread Understanding
Indoor environmental quality is the sum total of decisions made by an enormous variety of individuals and institutions.Most Chemicals Not Tested for Health Effects
Most chemicals in commercial use have not been tested for possible health effects. Fewer than one-third of regulated, high-production chemicals, including many found indoors, have undergone even a screening level of testing for adverse effects.Dry Copper Kills Bacteria on Contact
Metallic copper surfaces kill microbes on contact, decimating their populations, according to a paper in the February 2011 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.What are Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)?
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of over 100 different chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil and gas, garbage, or other organic substances like tobacco or charbroiled meat.More than 12% of Population Reports Extreme Sensitivity to Low Levels of Common Chemicals
2003 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) found 1.8% of population loses job as result.Product Ingredients: It’s Time to Find Out What’s Really Inside
Getting commercial cleaning product manufacturers to come clean and disclose their products' ingredients is important.Is Your Parking Lot Making You Sick?
Coal tar sealants are often used to protect and renew parking lots. Dust from this substance can get into buildings and cause a health hazard.Students Face Health Risks from Air Contamination
Excerpts from a report by the Environmental Working Group.HFI Issues Asthma Prevention Recommendations for Use of Cleaning Solutions
A clean facility is a healthy facility - most of the time - but it’s ironic that some products designed to make our buildings cleaner and healthier may contribute to asthma.CDC - Making Cruise Ships Healthier
The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assists the cruise ship industry to prevent and control the introduction, transmission, and spread of gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses on cruise ships.HVAC Energy-Saving Measures Compatible With IAQ
Data from many facilities show that a properly commissioned building with controls and equipment functioning properly can save 5%-15% in total building energy cost. With a little knowledge this can be done without compromising IAQ.Preventing Slip and Fall: Mastering Wet COF Measurement
Since a floor that is slip-resistant when wet will generally be slip resistant when dry, taking measurements of the condition of floors by benchmarking the wet Coefficient of Friction (COF) is an important starting point to raise safety levels.MD Anderson Study Shows Device Helps Purge Common Pathogens in Patient Rooms
Pulsed xenon ultraviolet light goes where housekeepers can’t.Study: Classroom Ventilation Affects Student Performance
Test scores improved when fresh air was properly circulated.School Walk-Throughs Take a Commonsense Approach
Walk-throughs are a practical learning experience for staff that builds awareness, confidence and skills – essential elements of a sustainable IAQ program.Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals Needed to Protect Workers and Communities
Hazardous chemicals and products are made and used in the greatest quantities in workplaces — where they first expose workers.Why Measure Carbon Dioxide Inside Buildings?
Current technology allows easy and relatively inexpensive measurement of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) as an indicator to help ensure ventilation systems (for high density occupancy zones) are delivering the recommended minimum quantities of outside air to the building’s occupants.Four Elements of IAQ Problems
Four elements - sources, the HVAC system, pollutant pathways, and occupants - are involved in the development of IAQ problems.Common IAQ Measurements - A General Guide
A brief introduction to making measurements that might be needed in the course of developing an IAQ profile or investigating an IAQ complaint.Asthma Hospitalizations Go Up When Kids Return to School
According to the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health: "Returning to school after vacations substantially increases the risk of hospital admissions for asthma in children, and this has considerable public health and economic impact."Carpet and Health
The benefits of carpet are forgotten or ignored in the face of perceived hazards.Health Benefits of Carpet Maintenance
There is a widespread perception that carpet cannot be kept clean (sanitary) and that because of its inability to be kept clean, carpet contributes significantly to the deterioration of indoor environmental quality, especially leading to unhealthy indoor air quality. This unnecessary misconception often leads to policy decisions for removing carpet from many environments such as schools, health care facilities, and public agencies.IAQ Basics
There are many factors that can affect IAQ, such as human activity within the building, the building’s construction materials, and the types of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in a building.Keeping Schools Dry to Prevent Mold
How to prevent the growth of mold and mildew in the school environment.Wise Use of Biocide and Antimicrobial Technology in Water-Related Restoration
Restorers should have an understanding of the proper use of agents that can help control the growth of microorganisms and reduce potential risks.Trend Towards Sustainability Grows
Five positive sustainable trends in the U.S. you may not have noticed.How Does Indoor Air Quality Impact Student Health and Academic Performance?
Making the case for comprehensive IAQ management in schools.The Science of Cleaning for Healthy Schools
A healthy school needs to engage in a scientific and professional cleaning process to realize its health objectives.Will Air Cleaning Reduce Health Effects from Indoor Air Pollutants?
Regardless of how efficient and effective air-cleaning devices are in removing pollutants, a question still remains about their ability to reduce adverse health effects.Disinfection By-products: A Question of Balance
By all accounts, disinfection of drinking water is one of the major public health triumphs of the 20th century. No human endeavor, however, is without risk.Toxicity Categories for Pesticide and Disinfectant Products
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established four Toxicity Categories for acute hazards of pesticide or disinfectant products.The Impact of the Physical Environment on Health & Learning
What benefits of healthy schools have been documented?
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