Application Note

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Application Note

From the Fluke Digital Library @ www.fluke.com/library

Growing your business

through indoor air quality

particulate profiling

managers and homeowners will

agree that measuring particulate

pollutants such as plant pollen,

animal dander, fiberglass, com-

bustion particles or airborne

bacteria, is important.

With a particulate counter,

you’ll also be able to present real

data in support of any repair or

purchasing recommendations you

make. Before and after particulate

readings are an especially pow-

erful way to win customers for

life and build word of mouth

about your service.

Taking the first step is logical:

understanding how indoor air

quality relates to HVAC systems.

The second step is deciding what

tools you need. Once you have

the tool, start measuring and

learn how to interpret the data.

Soon, you’ll be ready to offer a

complete IAQ assessment, includ-

ing particulate profiling, to your

customers.

You’ve probably heard mold

referred to as the “new asbestos”

for HVAC/R. Concern about mold

and its health effects is driving

onsumers to have their indoor

air quality (IAQ) situation

assessed and, if nec

essary,

repaired

If you’re the contractor they

call, keep in mind that mold isn’t

the only issue to consider when

assessing the IAQ of a commercial

building or residence. Many dif-

ferent kinds of particulates in a

work or living environment can

cause Sick Building Syndrome

and aggravate allergy and respi-

ratory conditions.

IAQ has generated so much

awareness that you may want to

consider offering IAQ assessments

and particulate counts to all of

your customers, as an extra

service—just like when the

mechanic charges you for a diag-

nostic check. If you can present a

convincing case, many facilities

If you think “pollutants” is too strong a

word to use when describing particulate

measurement situations, consider this:

Studies conducted by both government

and independent entities have come to

the conclusion that indoor air in some

commercial settings can be up to five

times more polluted than outdoor air

Jim Johnson, a major appliance specialist and instructor, conducts a

particle assessment at an air filter.

Test both return and conditioned ducts for contaminants, indicating

leaks or other system malfunctions.

Summary of content (4 pages)

PAGE 1
Growing your business through indoor air quality particulate profiling Application Note Jim Johnson, a major appliance specialist and instructor, conducts a particle assessment at an air filter. Test both return and conditioned ducts for contaminants, indicating leaks or other system malfunctions. You’ve probably heard mold referred to as the “new asbestos” for HVAC/R.
PAGE 2
Step 1: How IAQ analysis and particulate profiling fits into HVAC systems We all remember our fundamental facts related to air flow: standard air at 70 °F (at sea level) and 50 % relative humidity has a weight of .075 pounds per cubic foot. That means a typical 5-ton cooling system moves 9,000 pounds of air in one hour, or up to 216,000 pounds in a 24-hour period. These are more than just impressive numbers for customers.
PAGE 3
Step 3: Making the measurements To conduct an IAQ inspection, get a map of the HVAC system, as installed, and use that to create an inspection route. Plan to take temperature, humidity, and particle samples in every zone of the building, especially in any areas where there have been complaints, as well as outside the building, as a baseline. Within each zone, take a measurement in the middle of the space as well as near the air intakes, outtakes, and any other HVAC system elements.
PAGE 4
Step 4: Offering IAQ services The easiest way to integrate indoor air quality and particulate testing into your business is to start with customers who are already sensitive to air quality. The first time you describe IAQ to a customer, come prepared to describe how poor air quality could affect that customer’s facility, either from employee health issues and product contamination to the maintenance costs and energy expenditure related to inefficient HVAC and aging filters.