Mold Testing and Indoor Air Quality Testing
Tallahassee Pensacola Panhandle
ABOUT US
At A Accredited Mold Inspection Service, we provide mold testing and indoor air quality testing. On larger homes and on commercial buildings we travel to locations throughout the state of Florida from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys.
CASE STUDY OF AN ACTUAL INDOOR AIR QUALITY INVESTIGATION WE CONDUCTED IN THE FL PANHANDLE.
While conducting mold testing and IAQ testing in a building complex located between Pensacola and Tallahassee our IAQ investigator was asked to identify the source of foul smelling chemical odors. The odors were in a massive commercial building complex. The odor was very strong in this medical building that deals in infants. Clients actual identity and location is withheld for confidentiality.
A MYSTERY CHEMICAL
Previous investigations by two previous Tallahassee mold inspection and indoor air quality testing companies was able to verify odors but was not able to provide any answers at all as to what they were. The inspectors all indicated extremely low indoor pollution levels in the buildings air.
Despite testing and inspections by two different firms, and sample analysis preformed by two different respectable labs, the air always came up extremely clean despite the presence of obvious foul odors.
Fortunately we were able to clearly identify the source and identity of the contaminant. Our firm was not able to identify the chemical and it’s source via the air testing we preformed. The mystery was solved via repeatedly interviewing our clients, and through inspecting the massive building complex spanning three buildings.
Stock Image of a building.
TEXT FROM THE REPORT
Various building occupants described the odor in the building as mold odors, rodent odors, chemicals, diapers odor, and even salt marsh, seaweed, and swamp odors. The inspector has dealt with many odors as an indoor air quality consultant and mold inspector for years and is extremely familiar with all the above odors. He can assure you the odor was from a chemical and was not from mold, rodents, swamps, or any of the other possible sources suggested by hospital staff.
This odor in the skylight area above the complaint area was identical to radiator fluid odor, or calcium lime and rust remover sold at many hardware stores.
The substance creating the odors did not show up on the previous consultants tests, nor on our own air testing results. It was foul smelling and was present in the air in a very sensitive area of the hospital where very young infants were cared for.
THE SOURCE FOUND
A source of this radiator fluid smelling chemical was in abundance in a large drum in another building. It was identified by smell by our inspector to be the same smell found in the infant care area. The chemical is called Ancosteam 2011 and is from ANCO Anderson Chemical Company.
THE PATHWAY
How did this antifreeze and rust and mineral build up remover called Ancosteam get from a barrel in a boiler room three buildings away? How did it end up in the infant care ward of the hospital far away from the source?
Stock Image of a commercial building we inspected in the Caribbean.
From interviewing the facility engineer it was found that the Ancosteam is purposely put into the boiler systems condensate water pipes three buildings away. The condensate water goes to the boilers, and the boiler water goes to the heat exchangers.
Thus the chemical is put into the boiler system pipes to prevent rust inside the boiler pipes. It travels via pipes through three building complex preventing rust and freezing and functioning as intended and causing no problems in most areas.
HOW DID THE ANCOSTEAM ESCAPE FROM THE PIPES AND ENTER THE BUILDING IN QUESTION?
The inspector visited the steam decontamination room and the laundry room of the building where the odors were causing a problem and found an answer. The IAQ consultant detected the odor to be released from inside the pipes where what we shall call steam releasing sterilizers were found. From the steam releasing sterilizers the fumes floated up towards the ceiling where it traveled down the hall to the neo natal care unit. A ladder and the inspectors nose confirmed that the chemical was floating near the ceiling and traveling from the point of release in the steam denomination room to the problem areas in neo natal unit.
testing because the water in the end point building has never been tested for the substance, only PH is tested.
The chemical substances could only pass from the water pipes to the steam pipes via cracked heat exchangers.
Stock Image indoor pollution.
SOLUTION
Have the manufacturer or other appropriate service provider check the heat exchangers for cracks and replace cracked heat exchangers. If they do not see cracks have them check again.
The Ancosteam 2011 was likely not a problem. It likely served it’s intended purpose inside the pipes and was a fine chemical. The problem was that it was escaping. It escaped from water pipes into steam pipes via cracked heat exchangers.
If you need mold testing or IAQ testing contact us.
If you need a local IAQ or mold inspector in your area try IAQA.org or ACAC.org