J U L Y / A U G U S T
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Cover Story: Job Hazard Assessment. Page 14. Also in this Issue: Identity Theft. Page 10.
F E A T U R E S
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The Blow and Go Battle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Identity Theft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Fall Tech Conference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Fall Tech Conference
Job Hazard Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 AIHA and IAQA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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NADCA IAQU Class Bundle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Job Hazard Assessment
DucTales • July/August 2013
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EDITOR PUBLISHER
Erik Caplan Jodi Araujo, CEM
POSTMASTER: 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C, Mount Laurel, NJ, 08054; Phone: 855-GO-NADCA; Fax: 856-439-0525; E-mail: info@nadca.com; Web site: www.nadca.com DucTales Magazine is published six times annually. NADCA annual dues include a paid subscription to DucTales. Yearly subscriptions to DucTales are available for $50. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) prints DucTales Magazine to provide its members and the HVAC system cleaning industry with a forum for the discussion of topics of interest. To that end, NADCA tries to include within DucTales a wide range of ideas and opinions. The ideas and opinions expressed by the authors who write articles for DucTales, however, are solely the views of the person expressing them, and do not necessarily represent the views, positions or policies of NADCA, its members, or its officers, directors or staff. NADCA is not responsible for claims made in advertisements. NADCA does not endorse any particular manufacturer or supplier of equipment, chemicals or related products, nor any particular model of equipment.
American Caddy Vac. Page 24. D E P A R T M E N T S
President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Executive Director Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Member Spotlight: Cool Zone Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Associate Member Spotlight: American Caddy Vac. . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Committee Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 New NADCA Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 New ASCSs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
ECO BOX DucTales magazine text and cover pages are printed on SFICertified Anthem Gloss paper using soy ink.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® program promotes sustainable forest management. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® program integrates the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the protection of wildlife, plants, soils, and water.
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The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® program promotes DucTales • July/August 2013 responsible forest management.
Training and Education
Made Easy! Custom training is now available to NADCA members! Instead of flying your entire staff somewhere to receive training, NADCA will bring the training to YOU!
Interested? Call NADCA Headquarters at (855) GO-NADCA to learn more.
P R E S I D E N T ’ S
M E S S A G E
H
ow do you get good technicians for our industry? This question is universal to all of our members and one that my company has asked on a regular basis. Actually, this question has been around ever since I was working at my first job at a new McDonalds that opened in 1966. Back then they were looking for clean-cut young men with the right attitude. They would supply the paper hat, apron, black bow tie and training—lots of training. Bill Benito, ASCS They would build exactly what they wanted. Starting with NADCA President the simplest tasks, as you proved your ability to accept responsibility, you moved up from $1.40 per hour to $1.45 maybe even $1.55! In the ‘80s, when I was service manager of two different truck dealerships, it was hard to find mechanics. All the good ones had jobs, and the ones who said they were mechanics didn’t know “lefty loosey” from “righty tighty.” If I wanted to keep up with the increasing workload and grow the service department, I had to build new mechanics. Training was the way I did it—mostly On-the-Job Training (OJT.) While the concept seems simple, the come-backs and mistakes were costly. This is when we started our in-house service meetings. There was very little available in the way of training materials, so most of the training involved experienced mechanics explaining things using a chalk board. We had monthly meetings, and while some ran only an hour, others did run longer, but the employees always got paid. When formal training slides were available from different suppliers, we used them. Last week I was invited to be on the advisory board for Technical Schools that have an HVAC Technician course. They wanted to have their course study and hands-on program reviewed by mechanical contractors and HVAC Hygiene companies to make sure they were producing entry level technicians companies would want to hire. I found out their job placement percentage for HVAC graduates was around 50 percent compared to their other courses ranging from 77 percent to as high as 88 percent. They asked us what we were looking for in a HVAC student. My company does not do any mechanical, so I told them we looked for the usual—good attendance, good work ethics, good manners and basic HVAC knowledge. They showed us a print-out of a past student with the full attendance record, course grades and teacher assessment of attitude. Attitude? Now, that caught my eye. I have two signs in my shop that reads “If you give me the right attitude, I will give you the right ability” and “Attitude = Altitude.” Pre-screening for a good attitude is the first step to getting and building good technicians. The tough part is classroom and field training. Today, 30 years later, our industry has some very good training materials, classes and online webinars. Building an HVAC cleaning technician from scratch takes a lot of time and effort. Using NADCA’s training can help reduce time and cost. Here’s how: After the new hire has shown if he or she is worth keeping, sign them up for NADCA’s low-cost VMT online entry level courses. They can use any computer anywhere, so you can have them do it on their own time at home. There are five different modules. Offer them a 10-cent-per-hour increase for each module completed. You can control how fast they go through the course and monitor their progress. Control their pace so it takes 30 to 90 days for them to complete. article continues on page 32
DucTales • July/August 2013
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E X E C U T I V E M E S S A G E
D I R E C T O R ’ S
“Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” — Satchel Paige NADCA has now finished one full year with Association Headquarters, and we have settled in to the routine of day-to-day management. Expectations have been outlined and documented, and we are working through our second round of membership and certification renewals. Many lessons were learned last year, but, most importantly, I believe our members learned that looking back and holding on will only slow them down and allow others to pass on by. If we can educate our members, and they, in turn, educate their Jodi Araujo, CEM customers, our industry will become stronger and more vital. Executive Director We can dispel the negative perception scam companies have painted for our members, and we can show the value our service brings to the indoor air quality arena. How can we accomplish this? Let’s begin with professional development. Professional development is functionally directed at meeting the needs of the industry. As a major method of learning, it helps employees acquire the relevant knowledge and skills to serve the industry optimally. It remains the only source of learning bridging the gap between basic education and industry practice. Professional development benefits employers and employees alike. Any time you consider your company goals, remember enhancing the skills of employees can affect the future of your company and bring a tremendous return on investment in those employees. An employee with formal training and education is a much better representative of your company than one with little education and little investment. This can sound like a costly venture, but consider that NADCA offers the Ventilation Maintenance Technician (VMT) course modules for just $35 each! They can be taken at any time, online, at your own pace.
“Invest in yourself. Your career is the engine of your wealth.” — Paul Clitheroe NADCA’s staff has been working with the Education Committee to revitalize educational offerings and bring more valuable training opportunities to the members. We started with an overhaul of the ASCS training course, which was debuted at the 2012 Fall Technical Conference in Chicago. New webinars are in development, and content on the current webinar offerings has been reviewed and revamped to offer a more time-friendly and budget-conscious schedule. For those looking for a more significant offering, NADCA’s Fall Technical Conference is upon us, September 26-28, 2013 in Atlanta. This event offers the opportunity for technicians to get hands-on training and small classroom instruction at a very affordable price. Visit www.NADCA.com for more information and to register. Additionally, we have partnered with IAQA to provide deep discounts for members on its online education, and we will be recognizing those selected courses for CECs at renewal time. NADCA has something for everyone—from the technician to the business owner. Stay tuned as we roll out new content and continue to build NADCA’s educational library. Be sure to mark your calendar for NADCA’s 25th Anniversary celebration, March 3-6, 2014, in San Antonio, where we will look back at the industry over the past 25 years while giving you the tools to look forward and position your company for growth and success. I invite all of you to look ahead, to build upon the past but not live in it, and take the initiative to get educated, get trained and get ahead of your competitors. Remember, success is where preparation and opportunity meet!
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2013–2014 NADCA OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS NADCA OFFICERS President Bill Benito, ASCS (’15) Connecticut Steam Cleaning Inc. P.O. Box 354 440 John Fitch Boulevard South Windsor, CT 06074 (860) 289-5100 FAX: (860) 528-5556 BillBenito@aol.com
Secretary Mike White, ASCS (’14) Clean Air Systems of LA, Inc. P.O. Box 6210 225 Mount Zion Road Shreveport, LA 71136 (318) 869-0344 FAX: (318) 869-0346 mike.white@cleanairsystemsiaq.com
1st Vice President Rick MacDonald, ASCS (’15) Armstrong Heating & Power Vac Inc. 720 East Industrial Park Drive, #9 Manchester, NH 03109 (603) 627-7016 FAX: (603) 627-7070 rmac@ahpv.com
Treasurer Richard Lantz, ASCS (’15) Air Duct Cleaners of Virginia Suite D 913 Business Park Dr. Chesapeake, VA 23320 (757) 366-5237 r.lantz@airductcleanersva.com
2nd Vice President Michael Vinick, ASCS (’14) Duct & Vent Cleaning of America Inc.
311 Page Boulevard Springfield, MA 01104 (413) 734-8368 FAX: (413) 733-1997 mvinick@ductandvent.com
NADCA DIRECTORS John Lee, ASCS (‘14) Penn Air Control, Inc. 5941 Lakeshore Drive Cypress, CA 90630 (714) 220-9091 johnlee@pennairgroup.com Dan Stradford, ASCS (‘15) Action Duct Cleaning 787 W. Woodbury Suite 2 Altadena, CA 91001 dstradford@aol.com Jimmy Meyer, ASCS (‘16) Meyer Machine & Equipment 351 Main Street Antioch, IL (847) 395-2970 jimbob@meyermachine.com
Carlos Gonzales-Boothby, ASCS (‘16) Indoor Environmental Consultants PO Box 191648 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00919-1648 (787) 568-8880 carlos@iec-pr.com Immediate Past President Matt Mongiello, ASCS Interior Maintenance Company 45 Scottdale Road Lansdowne, PA 19050 (610) 626-1300 matt@imc.cc
NADCA Headquarters 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 Toll Free: 855-GO-NADCA Phone: 856-380-6810 Fax: 856-439-0525 www.nadca.com
NADCA STAFF Jodi Araujo, CEM Executive Director Kristy Cohen Assistant Executive Director
Elizabeth Cooke Membership & Certification Coordinator Robin Geary Senior Meeting Manager
DucTales • July/August 2013
F E A T U R E
By Erik Caplan
A
lmost every duct cleaning company has encountered (or will encounter) one of these disreputable competitors at one time or another. They reach the local consumers via flyers sent through direct mail, or they spread the word online. They advertise duct cleaning at outrageously inexpensive rates, sometimes as low as $99 for an entire four-bedroom home. It sounds too good to be true because it is—every legitimate duct cleaning company knows this kind of service can’t be done correctly or profitably at that rate. The consumer gets ripped off or up-sold on additional services, and the ducts are given a cursory cleaning at best. In short, it’s a rip-off, and it damages the consumer pool for honest duct-cleaning companies in the area. In the industry, these fly-by-night companies are often referred to as “blow and go” cleaners and other, lessprintable names.
“Whenever someone calls about an estimate, explain the process in depth—tell them exactly what you are going to do. For example, explain that you cannot clean a typical house system in less than two hours. Explain that you will be cleaning the entire duct system, including the blower, coils and registers, in addition to the ductwork. Explain to the potential customer that you do not spray chemicals into the ductwork and that you use source removal methods. Explain the importance of NADCA certification, and try to explain and show these concepts in your advertising. You may want to say you only clean one to two residences in a day, not five or 10 like the competitors who are in and out of the house in an hour.”
Short of catching one of the charlatans in the act and chasing them out of town with pitchforks and torches, how does a legitimate duct cleaner deal with this situation?
“I don’t battle the ‘blow and go’ folks,” Benito explains. “We’re looking for the educated consumer. They’re willing to pay for the job done correctly. We, as NADCA members, need to stop worrying about these companies and their ads. We can’t control ads, and we can’t keep people from falling for something cheap—even if it’s ultimately a waste of money. When we get a call from a
“Work on educating your marketplace,” says Matt Mongiello, NADCA’s immediate Past President.
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Bill Benito, NADCA’s President, agrees, and he has additional advice about keeping potential clients aware of the value to be found in NADCA-certified cleaners.
DucTales • July/August 2013
F E A T U R E
customer who saw a flyer and has questions about the process or what we do, we tell them to Google ‘duct cleaning scam’ and check out NADCA.com to read about the work they should expect from a certified duct cleaner. After that, they can make an informed decision.” Indeed, low-ball offers from the “blow and go” companies should set off alarms in the heads of even minimally informed, practical consumers. As we know, reputable companies charge $400 to $1000 to clean the ducts in a typical 2,000-square-foot house.
at least they’ll all know there should be a standard for the work they want done in their home. Tell customers to check out NADCA.com and pick the company that makes them feel the most comfortable. More often than not, they’ll call you back because you gave them good advice. If they don’t, who better to get the job than another NADCA member?” Mongiello says sometimes the “blow and go” companies can be a blessing in disguise.
“Try not to compete with the low-ball companies,” Mongiello says. “Explain to your potential customers that your service and the other company’s service are two entirely different cleanings. If they want the ‘fast food’ of duct cleaning, they can go with the $100 service.”
“In some instances, these low-ball companies will help your business because they will advertise a lot and get people to start asking about duct cleaning,” he says. “If you can communicate the value of your service, you will convince a good percentage of the end-users to use your company instead of the ‘fast food’ company.”
Both Benito and Mongiello believe spreading the word about the way a real duct cleaning company does the job is the key to making sure consumers will be properly educated and informed to make the right decision about cleaning their systems.
In the end, both agree that, while disreputable companies can be bad for the image of the duct cleaning industry, the real path to overcoming this sort of adversity is still the same as it ever was—hard, solid, honest work.
“You’re not going to get every job—that’s just a fact,” Benito says. “But if you educate your consumer base,
“Do a good job—be honest and fair,” Benito says. “You’ll get the work, and the word will spread.”
DucTales • July/August 2013
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F E A T U R E
Identity Theft: The New Financial Nightmare
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By Bart A. Basi and Marcus S. Renwick
he incidence of identity theft is nearly doubling each year. Access to information, credit through machines and anonymous sources had lead to this new financial problem. Often the effects of identity theft are devastating on the victim. The victim cannot get credit, will receive countless phone calls until late hours of the night and will have their entire financial lives turned upside down for years. Identity theft is often frustrating and difficult to handle. Not only can it cause years of frustration, it can cost valuable time and money. The best way to deal with identity theft is by taking preventative measures before it starts. However, there are also ways to fight back once it has begun.
Prevention Prevention can best be described in four words: Protect, View, Hide and Destroy. If you can remember these four simple words, you can prevent identity theft from happening to you and your clients. You can protect your information and identity. Identity thieves not only access your information through machines, they can also access your information through means as simple as your trash can or mailbox. Accordingly, make sure you prevent identity thieves from gathering or viewing your information before it even comes into your hands. Obviously, when it comes to your computer and telephone, be safe! Never give out your computer passwords, credit card numbers, social security number, address or any private information about yourself to an unsolicited email. Have your virus software updated frequently. One cyber security expert even recommends purchasing an inexpensive computer specifically for bank transactions and nothing else. Currently there are millions of spam emails trying to get people to give out information to identity thieves. Often identity thieves will send emails offering great products at to-good-to-be-true prices in order to obtain credit card numbers. They also send emails impersonating the social security office needing to verify your social security number. Scam artists will use any method possible to get your identity. Remember to protect your mailbox. It is always best to have a post office box or locked mail box. However, be
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sure to never leave any mail in the mailbox overnight. Thieves can get credit card information from mail, and they can possibly obtain social security numbers as well. If you have any accounts using your social security number as an identifier, ask if that number can be changed. Children and parents can also be an information leak. Educate children and parents to avoid inadvertently handing information to anyone. Often children and parents know substantially more about you and have greater access to your records than anyone else. Educate them to never hand out numbers or files on credit card numbers to anyone. Remember to view your information in a private manner. Low-tech thieves have come up with ingenious ways to view your information. Sometimes they’ll try looking over your shoulder when you have information opened on your computer, peek when you swipe your credit card through a machine or listen in when you read a credit card number or social security number over the line. Locate your computer away from public viewing areas and windows, and your machine should be turned off when not in use. Do not walk away from your computer when you have a critical document open. Also, use passwords and screensavers requiring passwords to regain access to your documents. When using a credit card, be careful when you display it. Cell phones can take high-resolution photos now. Be sure to cover your credit and social security cards when using them. Even if you don’t see telephones around, cover your numbers when the card is out, and never leave it in a public area. Hide your information. No—not under the couch. Keep all critical documents and cards in a secure location after and between viewing them. No system of hiding is foolproof, but naming computer files something other than “All the Information You’ll Ever Want to Know About Me and My Customers” or “My Credit Report,” is a good start. Name the files something you would know to look under, such as your dog’s name or something else non-specific. Keep paper documents under lock and key. Often, in a break-in, your identity is more valuable than anything else in your house. If a thief were to get a hold of your credit card statements, your credit report or your bank books, DucTales • July/August 2013
the idea of losing a television purchased 10 years ago doesn’t seem like much of a loss when compared to losing all of your or your customers’ financial data. Therefore, it is well worth your time to spend time hiding your identity and information. Destroy your information. Trash cans can be a gold mine to thieves. Credit card statements, social security statements, bank statements, customer files, etc can all be very valuable to a thief. Invest in a shredder. Striptype shredders are really insufficient for the job. Invest in a cross-hatch shredder, which makes the shreds tiny. Thieves will invest the time to put papers back together. For computer files, be sure to know where the information is, and remember to destroy it as you no longer need it. But wait, there’s more. When you are done with the computer, destroy all of the information on the hard drive. Just because that 1997 Packard Bell is obsolete to you and your business operation, it is not obsolete to a thief who wants the information found in its drives. Bring your computer in to a technician and have the hard drive erased or removed before recycling the computer. It is easy to prevent identity theft. Just be sure to religiously Protect, View, Hide and Destroy your vital information. Though this is not an all-inclusive list of tactics, these are very useful strategies in preventing identity theft.
How to Determine If Your Identity Has Been Stolen Two words will guide you here. They are “seek” and “watch.”
Seek One thing many people neglect is to monitor their credit report. Credit reports are available either online or through the mail with the three major reporting bureaus. They can be provided to you once a year at no cost to you. Even if you do not suspect identity theft, it’s a good idea to get and view your credit report each year. In doing so, you can check to see if anyone else is using your social security number, and you can have erroneous items removed.
Watch Look for any suspicious activity. Do you receive your bills late? Are there any erroneous or fraudulent charges on your credit card? Are your bills coming at all? Do you have excellent credit, but get denied credit? Has the IRS stated that your income is higher than what you reported? If so, it is possible and even likely that your identity has DucTales • July/August 2013
been stolen or contains substantial errors. If any of this happens, it is time to get on the ball and seek out the problem. It could be an error, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
What to Do If Your Identity Is Stolen Report and Counter First, once you have established your identity has been stolen, report it immediately. Don’t let a thief enjoy the fruits of your labor and make your life miserable. First, contact all of your credit card companies. The credit card companies will know what to do. Also, have them send you a credit card statement so you can determine what is correct and what is not. Then, contact all three credit bureaus and have a security hold placed on your account. Then, contact the local police and Federal Trade Commission. In the event you received information through the Internal Revenue Service, contact them and explain your story. These organizations will aide you in stopping the thief from getting any further. Once you receive your credit card statements and report the incident, get your side of the story out to all interested parties. Tell them what happened, what is correct and what has been stolen. Doing this will not be easy, but if you want your credit back, you must. You should expect credit card companies, collection agents and attorneys to contact you threatening to collect the debt. Always be patient with them. Tell them your identity was stolen, and you are working to remedy the process. It may be wise to hire an attorney to represent you during this difficult time. Though an attorney cannot wave a magic wand, an attorney can be someone in your corner who knows how to deal with this situation best and prevent it from recurring.
Conclusion Identity theft is an unfortunate fact of life in America and the world around us. With a little effort on your part, the worst can be prevented. Don’t be a victim who finds out too late, and don’t give up. Dr. Bart A. Basi is an expert on closely held enterprises. He is an attorney, a Certified Public Accountant and the President of the Center for Financial, Legal and Tax Planning, Inc. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Tax Committees on Closely Held Businesses and Business Planning. Marcus Renwick is an attorney and the Director of Research and Publications with the firm.
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F E A T U R E
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ducation and training for all levels of HVAC inspection, maintenance and restoration technicians is coming to the Sheraton Gateway
Atlanta, September 26-28, 2013. Pre-conference training includes NADCA’s ASCS to the ACR Standard Training Course and the Certified Ventilation Inspector (CVI) Training Course.
Three general session presentations for all attendees will include: •
ACR 2013
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Air Scrubbers—Benefits and use during air duct cleaning/remediation projects. Presented by IAQA.
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Vertical Lift Training and Certification Class. This training prepares an individual to understand the hazards involved in operating aerial lifts. Course includes classroom and hands-on instruction.
Concurrent tracks will present attendees with an opportunity to select the level of training they receive while in attendance.
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The Technician Track includes: •
Basic Overview of HVAC Systems.
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Ventilation Maintenance Technician Training Course.
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Customer Service.
The Advanced Track includes: •
Air Compressors (types, use, maintenance)
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How Clean Is the Air You Are Using? (How to filter air)
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CFM vs. PSI (high volume, low pressure–high pressure, low volume). Can’t get a compressor to the site? Come to Fall Tech and find out what to do!
Hands-on activities will include Aerial Lifts (don’t forget to purchase your safety harness at deeply discounted prices–only available to Fall Tech registrants), small and large compressors, high-volume cleaning tools and more. Networking lunches will provide ample opportunity for members to talk and chat about new and exciting industry products. Between sessions, products and services will be on display by exhibitors and NADCA Associate Members. Don’t miss this exciting event! Visit www.nadca.com to register!
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DucTales • July/August 2013
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hen asked to contribute to DucTales for in-slab and under-slab, it brought back a nightmare of a memory I had from 2003, as a renter. The property I rented was a duplex in Kansas, and it had in-slab ductwork. I always thought there Dana Brown was a musty odor around. It was much less noticeable in dryer times. Then it happened— we found nasty water in the ductwork system. The main sewer stack for both sides of the duplex finally gave way, and sewer water was under the slab and running through about every crack and imperfection in the structure, including filling up the ducts in the slab. The solution was expensive for the property owner: tunneling under the slab (on my side, of course)! They jack-hammered the concrete, digging out enough soil to get a man in there with piping, tools and a large enough area to maneuver to affect repairs. That was just to fix the sewer pipe—the ductwork was never addressed, even after the sewer leak was fixed! All that was done to address the ductwork issue was to suck the water out and run the HVAC to dehumidify. I moved out two months later.
However, the problems and solutions of in- and underslab ductwork is not the focus of this article, rather, I’m here to talk about the Job Hazard Analysis for the proposed solutions and the hazards that go along with applying those solutions. Many times we can do an “on the fly” hazard analysis and mitigation. For example, regarding roofing work, the main hazard is falling off the roof. But when we look at the interior of the structure, whether commercial or residential, most assume a relatively low hazard, especially when addressing in- or under-slab ductwork cleaning, mitigating, sealing or removing. However, there are hazards. Think about the hazards in the sewage problem above, what are the hazards to the employee doing the work? Underslab work would involve a worksite with excavation and confined space hazards, physical hazards such as cuts and lacerations, sewage, blood-borne pathogen hazards and whatever chemicals and drain cleaners were dumped into the sewer to unclog. Add in cleaning and coating materials and the ingredients applied to solve the problems. Complicated? Yes, but not when you take a systematic approach to the hazard evaluation. When mitigating an environmental, asbestos, lead or mold and moisture problem, we are “eating elephants.” How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Chew and repeat until it’s all gone. Enjoyment has nothing to do with the task. article continues on page 16
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DucTales • July/August 2013
F E A T U R E Job Hazard Analysis article continued from page 14
What Is a Job Hazard Analysis? From the OSHA website on Job Hazard Analysis (JHA): “A job hazard analysis is a technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to identify hazards before they occur. It focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools and the work environment. Ideally, after you identify uncontrolled hazards, you will take steps to eliminate or reduce them to an acceptable risk level.” Look around at the particular job and job site. What are you doing? What are the all the potential hazards, and in what order they should be ranked? What tasks are involved, and how likely are they to result in problems for employees? For in- and under-slab ductwork tasks, I have identified a list of possible hazards while mitigating in- or under-slab ductwork problems. Hazards: Condensation, rodents, corrosion, excavation, confined space, remodeling, sewage, critters, radon, asbestos cement duct, interior and exterior asbestos insulated/lined duct, mold, bacteria, insects. Tasks: Inspection, cleaning, replacement, removal, abandonment, re-lining, re-coating.
Identifying Workplace Hazards When addressing the workplace hazards, there is some investigation to be done. Analyze the particular job with a goal of identifying hazards, reducing or mitigating the hazards and then provide proper effective personal protection. Identifying the hazards could be as easy as the “falling off the roof” example, but as the job tasks become more complicated (like going from a simple recoating operation to tunneling under the slab) hazards may change. These two tasks not only complicate the project, but also the hazard analysis. How many times have you heard: “What could possibly go wrong?” In a re-coating operation the hazard may be inhalation of the re-coating material or overspray of re-coating materials all through the house. In the under-slab tunneling task, there could be a risk of excavation cave in. What is the likelihood of inhalation of the re-coating materials in that operation? What about the cave-in with the under-slab tunneling task? Are there other contributing factors? A full freezer has no impact on the re-coating or cleaning operation, but how does that weight affect the under-slab tunneling? How likely is the hazard to occur? If you have answered those questions, you have done a Job Hazard Analysis. The rest of the Job Hazard Analysis is much
easier—reduction of the hazard and provision of personal protective equipment. Sometimes the controls used in the reduction of hazards can even lead to a cleaner, more desirable end result for the client as well.
Reduction of Workplace Hazards by Engineering Controls We reduce or mitigate hazards by the use of engineering controls. These include substitution, process modification, enclosing or confining operations or the worker and ventilation. Substitution would be using a less hazardous material in the re-coating compounds or with less volatile carrier propellants in order to reduce the risk of VOC inhalation or flammability. Rather than using process modifications, tunnel under the slab using a re-lining or abandonment, or, in the case of asbestos ductwork or asbestos-lined ductwork, employ a less aggressive method with the lowest amount of disturbance of the asbestoscontaining materials. In using the “tunneling under the slab” task example, using ventilation to get clean air into the workspace and displacing the contaminated air would mitigate many airborne hazards. However, just because one hazard is mitigated does not mean another in the same task is “fixed.” Continuing with the “tunneling under the slab” example, even though the ventilation did take care of the air situation, there still exist excavation or cave-in hazards. That ventilation fan is not a structural support. Fortunately, tunneling under or sawing out sections of the slab to remove or replace the ductwork is usually the last resort. More commonly it would be cleaning, re-lining, recoating or abandonment. In most of these situations, the identified hazards could be mitigated by ventilation and isolation of the process. During a cleaning or re-coating operation, sealing up the register boots, pushing air in one way (spray application) and pulling air out of the terminal area would mitigate and address many of the inhalation hazards. In this case, the engineering controls also give a value-added benefit to the client as the tasks are separated from the “occupied area,” and that impact is minimized, if not eliminated. There is also less clean-up adding to the bottom line. The result to the application of ventilation might be that the worker may need no respiratory protection during application, and they may need only gloves and spill protection during the mixing and clean-up of application equipment. article continues on page 18
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F E A T U R E Job Hazard Analysis article continued from page 16
Personal Protection Equipment “We wear respirators and suits at all our jobs, so it doesn’t matter.” What?! I have heard that more often than I care to admit, and it makes my jaw drop every time. A half-face APR and a Tyvek suit are not a cloak of invincibility. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), such as suits and respirators, are selected for the particular hazards a worker is likely to face. If you select the wrong glove for a chemical, it may be like not wearing a glove at all. Same with respirator cartridges—HEPA or P-100 filters do not take out VOCs! I have seen painters and other coating applicators suiting up and putting on respirators with mechanical filters for applying epoxy and other exotic coatings. Read your MSDS or SDS, and know what is in your coatings. Select compatible PPE. The second issue is not just “what” but “how much.” Have you conducted an “exposure assessment?” Have you measured the amount of asbestos, lead or whatever is in the air at the worksite? Lack of samples does not mean you have clean air. Sometimes terra cotta tiles were used for in- and under-slab ductwork applications, and some were produced with high lead content, and these may abrade easily. We also have asbestos, which has clear workplace-monitoring requirements under the OSHA Asbestos Construction Standard, even at a residential worksite. There will always be molds, critters and critter feces, all allergens at the very least, and they can be pathogenic at worst. These will require some level of protection. The third part is training. Workers are not going to know the “what or how” of hazards or process operations unless the employer effectively communicates those expectations in the workplace by effective training. Possessing a certification or taking a class does not necessarily mean the person is trained, knowledgeable or, most importantly, capable. I prefer the OSHA take on training—it is performance-based. Merely holding a certificate doesn’t equal training if the employee does not know the fundamentals of the PPE they are using. Other training, such as the training involving the EPA’s work with asbestos and lead, are specific in nature, and in residences there is the “Certified Renovator” training under the Lead Repair, Renovation and Painting Rule.
Conclusion Many different hazards can plague a job site or project simultaneously. It is imperative any analysis start with a determination of the most prominent hazard, the best respirator for the task, proper times for ventilation and isolation, etc. Slow down, take a deep breath and
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remember—you are “eating elephants” one bite at a time. Identify the hazards, prioritize the hazards in severity and likelihood, reduce or mitigate the hazards and then protect the worker from the remaining hazards by use of PPE and training. Safe job completion requires a process. It requires commitment, perseverance, diligence and vigilance. This is not to say changes in the workplace or the particular tasks will not or can not be made. Change will happen either by innovation or economics. The plan must be rigid enough to ensure continuity but flexible enough to adjust the procedures to changing hazards or severity of those hazards or to reduce protective measures when the hazard is mitigated. In short, the process from Job Hazard Analysis to provision of PPE is as follows: 1. IDENTIFY hazards pertaining to the job and the specific tasks. 2. ANALYZE the hazards and tasks to determine the nature, severity and likelihood of each hazard. 3. REDUCE the hazards through substitution, process modification, ventilation or isolating the process. 4. PROVIDE PPE specific to each hazard, and train the employee on the tasks and the PPE. 5. RE-EVALUATE your jobs, tasks and worksites periodically to ensure hazards are continuing to be addressed. A Job Hazard Analysis is an essential part of any project. It is not a difficult thing to do, but it does require knowledge of current safety practices, understanding the specific process (i.e., cleaning or re-lining) and a commitment to doing the job right. A properly conducted JHA will take the input of the employer, the employee, the distributor or manufacturer of the materials or tools and perhaps a safety professional. After all, if you are going to eat an elephant, don’t you want as much help as you can get? For further guidance on conducting Job Hazard Analysis, please visit http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3071. pdf. Dana Brown is training manager and instructor at GEBCO Associates in Hurst, Texas. GEBCO Associates provides training courses for Asbestos, Lead and Mold certifications, as well as OSHA 10and 30-hour Construction Safety, DOT HAZ MAT and HAZWOPER.
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F E A T U R E
AIHA, AIHA Registry Programs and IAQA to Develop Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Body of Knowledge and Registry MONTREAL--(Marketwired - May 21, 2013) - On Monday, May 20, the American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA), the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) and AIHA Registry Programs, LLC, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will lead the way toward joint development of a registry for qualified indoor air quality (IAQ) practitioners. IAQA President Donald M. Weekes, CIH, CSP, AIHA President Allan K. Fleeger, CIH, CSP, and AIHA Registry Programs Managing Director Mary Ann Latko, CAE, CIH, CSP, QEP, signed the MOU during the AIHA IEQ Committee meeting, which took place at the 74th annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo (AIHce) 2013 in Montreal. IAQA, AIHA, and AIHA Registry Programs, LLC, will define the skills and knowledge a competent person should possess and be able to demonstrate in the area of indoor air quality practice. A team of subject matter experts from IAQA and AIHA will collaborate to develop the body of knowledge for the registry program. AIHA Registry Programs will be responsible for the longterm administration and maintenance of the program while IAQA and AIHA will provide educational opportunities for those interested in qualifying for listing in the registry. “An AIHA Registry is a listing of individuals who continually demonstrate their competency in a specialty area within the practice of industrial or occupational hygiene, environmental health or safety. Through the application and competency assessment process, AIHA Registry Programs verifies an individual’s knowledge and abilities and identifies a level of quality performance among professionals, technicians and operators in a specialized area of practice,” said Latko. “IAQA is thrilled to partner with AIHA and AIHA Registry Programs, LLC. While there are a myriad of ‘IAQ certifications’ in the marketplace, few of them provide consumers with a strong basis upon which to determine if a consultant or professional is qualified. This registry program will fill that void and I believe members from both organizations will benefit,” Weekes added. According to Fleeger, “AIHA Registry Programs LLC provides recognition for individuals who have developed skills and expertise in a single or limited number of the industrial/occupational hygiene profession’s core competencies. These registries fill a credential gap for specialized professionals, technicians, and operators for which a broad certification is not currently applicable. I am very pleased to see the IEQ committee moving forward with the MOU to help develop the body of knowledge around indoor air quality practice.”
For more Information About AIHA, AIHA Registry Programs, LLC, and IAQA Please visit: www.aiha.org, www.aiharegistries.org, and www.iaqa.org
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M E M B E R
S P O T L I G H T
Cool Zone Inc. Naples, Fla.
C
• (239) 513-9199 • www.coolzoneinc.com
ool Zone Inc. has been helping folks throughout the Naples area enjoy indoor air comfort in their homes and businesses for more than 30 years.
What made you want to become involved in the duct cleaning business? As indoor air quality has increased in demand, we, as a company, wanted to be more diversified and able to provide our clients with one-stop shopping in our area. We have always been a well respected company in Southwest Florida, and we wanted to make sure our clients received the best service available.
How did you get started? We began offering this service to our existing residential clients in hopes our superior workmanship and professionalism would spread throughout the area.
What is the strangest thing you’ve encountered on a job? This strangest encounter happened to involve one of the owners of our company (JD Thompson). We were issued a contract to clean a large building for a school over a four-day weekend. The school official was to notify the local police that we would be working long hours and very late nights to meet the deadline. We were on our last night of the job, and, at about 2am, we happened to set of the silent security alarm. JD went to the end of the building in the courtyard area to take a breather and unprop a door we had opened as we were cleaning up. All of the sudden he hears a man yelling at him. “Get down! Get down on the ground now! Put your hands up! Spread your legs!” He dropped as instructed on his back and saw laser lights pointed at his chest.
How did you become aware of NADCA and get involved?
He screamed, “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! I’m cleaning ducts, man! Don’t shoot me!”
We had been providing residential cleaning for a large building contractor in our area. The contractor eventually told us we needed to get involved with NADCA and become ASCS Certified if we wanted to continue working for them. As we continued our research about NADCA, we felt our involvement in NADCA would become a large benefit for our business growth, educational advancement and workmanship.
After the officer had a conversation with him on the ground, he allowed JD to walk him to the other side of the building, where all of our trucks were parked, to get identification. We were in the clear after proving we were supposed to be there. But, I have to say, as it all was done, I have never seen that man so scared of something. He was in tears.
Where do you see the industry headed in the next 10 years? Duct cleaning service is currently carrying somewhat of a bad rap. There are many consumers who believe it is a scam. As we educate clients and prospects, the industry will continue to grow. We, as a company, are in the process of educating the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) about the need of regulation for this segment of our industry. If performed properly, as many know, duct cleaning can be a very effective and beneficial. As it has rapidly grown over the past five years, I believe the industry will continue to grow as long as the honest contractors provide the proper educational tools to clients. NADCA and its members must continue to press forward for proper growth.
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We were 20 hours into our day when that went down. Beat up, tired and freaked out. What a memory!
What is your biggest accomplishment as a business in the industry? Our biggest accomplishment was when we had the opportunity to expand our duct cleaning services into its own division. We are now in charge of cleaning systems for the local school district of more than 57 schools and more than 20 additional buildings. Our growth as a division from where we were five years ago is unmatched by any contractor in our area and unheard of in our industry. We are the largest duct cleaning contractor in Southwest Florida. This is an opportunity we would have never had if it weren’t for NADCA and our ASCS Certifications.
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A S S O C I A T E
M E M B E R
A
merican Caddy Vac is one of NADCA’s long-time associate members. Donna and Mac Mattoon have 40 years in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and air duct cleaning industry. They also own an air duct cleaning business by the name of B&F Power Vac, Inc., which was established in 1971. The company’s unique location (Lewiston, Idaho, is a sea port), allows it to easily service the United States, Canada and overseas.
How did American Caddy Vac get its start? In the ‘70s and ‘80s, we operated with a fleet of power vac trucks. They required a lot of maintenance, so like any business, we were looking for better equipment to do the service. B&F Power Vac now uses a fleet of the Caddy Vac cleaners daily; therefore we understand the importance of a quality built cleaner.
S P O T L I G H T
What led your company to join NADCA? We wanted to connect with other professionals and keep up with changing technologies. We were looking for the best equipment available on the market to efficiently do our service and make a profit. We have built many lifelong friends by belonging to NADCA.
What are your flagship products, and how do they fit in with NADCA’s members and the industry as a whole? The Caddy Vac truck-mounted furnace and air duct cleaner has proven to be the leader in the duct cleaning industry. Caddy Vac was one of the first companies to develop a body unit constructed of galvanized steel sheeting. The galvanized steel has been specially treated, and, while protected with the painted surface, should remain rust-free for many years of service. Caddy Vac’s DynaProbe line of tools has remained popular over the years.
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A S S O C I A T E
What is your view of the HVAC industry from a supplier’s perspective? This industry has brought changes to a new level of efficiency, thus the need for these systems to be kept clean has also been brought to a new level.
What is the biggest change you’ve seen in the industry since your company became involved? The regulations becoming more detailed, giving air duct cleaners uniform standards.
What upcoming products are on your horizon for the HVAC industry? Our engineers have a series of new tools coming out this fall and in the spring of 2014. We custom-design the
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M E M B E R
S P O T L I G H T
Caddy Vac for our customers’ individual needs. This is only one of the reasons the Caddy Vac is the most userfriendly furnace and air duct cleaner on the market today. The Caddy Vac has easy compressor access for checking oil and replacing the air filter. Adjustment of belts is made easy with the very accessible compressor compartment for both the compressor and the cleaner main drive.
Please share some thoughts about what you hope to gain from your NADCA Associate membership. Meeting the new needs of our Caddy Vac customers is our goal. Each and every day we talk with air duct cleaners helping them to efficiently do their service and to make a profit. The NADCA annual meeting is a great opportunity to talk with new and existing members and accomplish this goal.
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C O M M I T T E E
S P O T L I G H T
Certification Committee
T
he Certification Committee, led by Chairman Stradford, wants you to know it’s not too late to meet the VSMR requirement to maintain your ASCS Certification. As you know, NADCA has merged the Ventilation System Mold Remediator (VMSR) certification into the new Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) Certification. Here is what this change means for you.
How do I meet the requirements of this new ASCS Certification? Current ASCS certified individuals who took the former ASCS exam prior to the VSMR being merged with the ASCS, will not be required to take the new ASCS exam. However, they will be required to establish the gap in knowledge between the old and new certifications. There are two ways to do this.
4 VSMR Bridging Exam Available Online
If you are an ASCS who does not have a current VSMR (or equivalent), you are required to pass the VSMR Bridging Exam. This 50-question, open book exam is available online at www.nadcatesting.com at a cost of $75. The exam counts for 2 CECs toward ASCS renewal.
Upon passing the VSMR Bridging Exam, ASCS certified individuals will have fulfilled the requirement of the new ASCS certification and will just need to renew their ASCS certification as usual.
4 Certified VSMR or Equivalent
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If you are an ASCS who also has a current VSMR (or equivalent) in good standing, you will automatically be enrolled into the new ASCS certification. VSMR equivalent designations are as follows: •
CMR: Certified Mold Remediator*
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CMRS: Certified Mold Remediator Supervisor*
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CIE: Certified Indoor Environmentalist*
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CIEC: Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant*
•
State Mold Remediator Licenses*
*If you currently hold any of these above equivalent designations you will need to simply submit a copy of your certification information to NADCA staff for verification purposes. Additional instructions for submitting this information is available at www.nadca.com. All ASCS certified individuals who hold any of the above current VSMR (or equivalent) certifications will have fulfilled the requirement of the new ASCS certification and will just need to renew their ASCS certification as usual. They will NOT be required to take the VSMR Bridging Exam.
When will I receive my certificate for the new ASCS certification? If you have fulfilled the requirements of the new ASCS certification, you will receive your updated ASCS certificate when you complete your ASCS certification renewal. Your updated certificate will state that in addition to the ASCS certification, the certificate holder also qualifies as a Ventilation System Mold Remediator (VSMR).
Education and Safety Committee Webinars NADCA’s Education and Safety Committee is responsible for developing educational programs to promote industry best practices and quality through knowledge. Under
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the leadership of co-chairs Michael White and Rick MacDonald, the committee has established a new webinar format that will provide NADCA members with more convenient, affordable webinars valid for continuing education credits throughout the year. Two recent examples include the NADCA Position Papers, Use of Chemicals in HVAC Systems/Ozone Applications in HVAC Systems Webinar (2 CECs) and the HVAC Cleaning and Mold Remediation Webinar (2 CECs). In addition, NADCA will maintain traditional 6 CEC webinars as well, including the popular BluePrint Reading, Estimating and Project Management webinar. For more information on webinars and other training opportunities, please visit the Member Resources section of www.nadca.com and select “Training.”
VMT Online Training NADCA offers a Ventilation Maintenance Technician (VMT) Online Training program designed to help new HVAC cleaning technicians develop high quality of experience and skills consistent with NADCA’s standards. The VMT is delivered online, making it convenient for
technicians who wish to work at their own pace. By eliminating the need for travel, the VMT program is also cost-effective. Best of all, the VMT program content is consistent with NADCA standards and guidelines, ensuring your technicians will learn how to do the job right. The VMT program consists of five modules that cover the following topics: •
HVAC Ductwork and Access Openings: Covers types of ductwork and how to create/seal access openings.
•
Basic Safety: Topics include PPE, energy source lockout, ladder safety, small tool safety, etc.
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Containment - Level 1: The proper methods of creating basic work area/HVAC system containment.
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Cleaning Methods: The basic HVAC cleaning methods used for commercial/residential projects.
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Equipment: Covers a variety of tools, including collectors, air compressors, wet/dry vacuums, pressure washers, brushing/agitation tools, etc. article continues on page 33
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Congratulations New NADCA Members New NADCA Members: AdvantaClean of North Central NJ Chatham, NJ AdvantaClean of North York Mount Joy, PA
Consumer’s Choice Carpet Cleaning dba Consumer’s Choice Specialty Cleaning Pompano Beach, FL
Sav-Mor Cooling and Heating Inc. Southington, CT
Ductz WA & ID Federal Way, WA
SJ Investments, LLC dba ADVANTACLEAN of Metro New Orleans New Orleans, LA
Engineer Ahmed Almazrouei Est Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
Alpha Air Corporation Blaine, MN
Lagoon Restoration Services, Inc Dba Servpro of Manahawkin Barnegat, NJ
BDV Ventilation Thunder Bay, ON Canada
NorthStar Restoration Services Wausau, WI
Better Air South Windsor, CT
SaniAir Cantley, QC Canada
Wolfe Air Duct Cleaning Columbus, OH New Associate Members: Robotics Design Montreal, QC Canada Sunbelt Rentals Fort Mill, SC
Congratulations New ASCSs New ASCSs: Grant Anders Doc’s Super Vac, Inc. Fort Collins, CO Thomas Bahen Servpro of Chesterfield Midlothian, VA Chris Burch Servpro of Chesterfield, Tri-Cities, Plus & Newport News Midlothain, VA Aaron Cain Hi Tech Duct Cleaning Hamilton, OH Michael D’Iorio Core Mechanical Contracting & Engineering Pennsauken, NJ Evan Garrity AdvantaClean New Orleans, LA Victor Gorgy GM Climate Control, Inc Saugus, CA
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Khaled Hamadeh Engineer Ahmed Almazrouei Est Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates Jason Harvey Sav-Mor Cooling & Heating Inc Southington, CT Ian Horowitz AdvantaClean of North Central NJ Chatham, NJ
Brady O’Dell ABC Cleaning Inc. Chuluota, FLA Jaime Powers AdvantaClean of North York Mount Joy, PA Darren Reinert Core Mechanical, Inc. Pennsauken, NJ
Frank Leszczynski Core Mechanical Contracting & Engineering Pennsauken, NJ
Joey Richards Servpro of Chesterfield, Tri-Cities, Plus & Newport News Midlothian, VA
Daniel Myers Servpro of Dothan Dothan, AL
Charles Tucker Servpro of East Memphis Cordova, TN
Josh Norton NorthStar Restoration Services Wausau, WI
Derrick Werner DuctKings Lowell, MA
Carlos Ospina Mechanical Services Inc Orlando, FL
Stanley Wiafe Better Air South Windsor, CT
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N A D C A
Annual Meeting Co-Chairs: Matt Mongiello Michael Vinick
Tommy Gwaltney Peter Haugen Rick MacDonald Jimmy Meyer MJ Palazzolo Keith Reynolds Terri Reynolds Meg Walker Cindy White
By-Laws Policies Procedures Chair:
Dan Stradford Richard Lantz Pierre Laurin Ronald Nichols
Certification Committee Chair:
Dan Stradford Bill Benito Brad Kuhlmann Richard Lantz Pierre Laurin Greg Long Rick MacDonald Mike McDavid Vito Moscato Todd St. Ores Tom Yacobellis
Sub-committee: CVI Job Analysis Chair: Bill Benito
Education & Safety Committee Co-Chairs: Mike White Rick MacDonald
Bill Benito Tommy Gwaltney Richard Lantz Kehau Mendes Ronald Nichols Robert Rizen Dan Stradford Bill Tyrell
Sub-committee: Training Programs Chair: Richard Lantz Sub-committee: White Paper Task Force Chair: Dan Stradford
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C O M M I T T E E
Sub-committee: Safety Program Review and Update Chair: Dan Stradford Sub-committee: Regional Technical Advisory Committee (RTAC) Chair: Rick MacDonald Mike White Richard Lantz Kehau Mendes Mike McDavid Bill Tyrell
A S S I G N M E N T S
International Affairs Chair:
Matt Mongiello Carlos Gonzalez-Boothby Peter Haugen Pierre Laurin Rick MacDonald Travis Tassey
Regional Coordinators
Ethics Committee
United States Northwest - Vito Moscato, Bill Tyrell Southwest - Matt Kelly, Kehau Mendes Northeast - Rick MacDonald Southeast - Tommy Gwaltney, Perry Bagley
Chair:
Canada Region 9 - Gary Lapstra Region 9.5 Quebec - Pierre Laurin
Richard Lantz Pierre Laurin Ron Nichols Dan Stradford
Finance Committee
Oceania-Australia Region 11 - Jeremy Stamkos
Chair:
Italy Region 12 - Chair: Giorgio Ziragachi, Past President of AIISA; Andrea Casa, President of AIISA
Michael Vinick Bill Benito Richard Lantz John Line Al Sutton April Yungen
Industry & Public Relations Committee Co-Chairs: Bill Benito Richard Lantz
Jim Castellano Chad Cowan Peter Haugen Clayton Ivany Matt Mongiello Chris Wilson
Sub-committee: Energy Research Study Task Force Chair: Mike White Bill Benito Sub-committee: EPA Website update Task Force Chair: Rick MacDonald Sub-committee: Editorial Committee Chair: Bill Benito Richard Lantz Sub-committee: Social Media Chair: Richard Lantz Bill Benito
China Region 15 - Robert Nicholson Central & South America Relations Chair: Carlos Gonzalez-Boothby Richard Lantz
Membership Chair:
Michael Vinick Nelson Constanza James Cooke Peter Haugen Matt Mongiello MJ Palazzolo Kevin Uilkie Mark Zarzaczny
Leadership Development Committee Chair:
Bill Benito
ACR Standards Committee Chair:
Bill Lundquist Bill Benito Brad Kuhlmann Richard Lantz Greg Long Rick MacDonald
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F E A T U R E
IAQA Online Classes Approved for NADCA Continuing Education Credits
I
AQA is pleased to make available to members of NADCA a bundle of 10 one-hour online education classes intended for those preparing for ASCS certification testing, as well as for those seeking continuing education credits toward ASCS renewal. The classes are offered at an exclusive discount available only to NADCA members in good standing. The following online classes are included:
MOLD (class# CONT 101) Goal: Understand the fundamentals of mold and how it affects the indoor air quality. •
Lesson 1: The Fundamentals. Objective—Classify mold, describe its main components and identify its requirements for growth.
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Lesson 2: Groupings. Objective—Identify several ecological and taxonomical groupings of mold and understand their implications on indoor air quality.
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Lesson 3: Health Effects. Objective—Identify the major categories of health effects and understand their potential synergistic effect.
effects and regulations. •
Lesson 4: Ozone. Objective—Describe how ozone is formed, how it reacts with other compounds and how it affects health.
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Lesson 5: Particulate Matter. Objective—Define particulate matter, identify common sources and describe its health effects.
RESIDENTIAL HVAC SYSTEMS (class # HVAC 101) Goal: Understand common residential HVAC systems and their effect on indoor air quality. •
Lesson 1: Cooling systems. Objective—Go into a home and identify what type of cooling system is installed. We’ll be describing the following: Split Systems, Heat Pumps, Packaged Units, Sleeve and Window Units and Mini-splits.
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Lesson 2: Evaporative Coolers. Objective—Become familiar with some of the indoor air quality implications of these systems.
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Lesson 3: Heating systems. Objective—Identify common heating systems and potential indoor air quality problems they may cause.
IAQ CONTAMINANTS (class# CONT 108) Goal: Understand the important indoor air quality contaminants of environmental tobacco smoke, asbestos, lead, ozone and particulate matter. •
Lesson 1: ETS. Objective—Describe the composition of environmental tobacco smoke, its health effects and control strategies.
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Lesson 2: Asbestos. Objective—Define asbestos, describe its properties, identify products containing it, explain its health effects and related regulations.
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Lesson 3: Lead. Objective—Describe products that may contain lead, identify activities and scenarios that may cause an exposure and describe its health
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COMMERCIAL HVAC SYSTEMS (class# HVAC 102) Goal: Become familiar with different types of HVAC equipment and systems and understand how they affect indoor air quality. The focus of this class is on commercial and institutional buildings and excludes single-family homes and industrial buildings. •
Lesson 1: Components. Objective—Identify the major components of commercial HVAC systems; understand the role they play and how they can affect indoor air quality. DucTales • July/August 2013
F E A T U R E •
Lesson 2: Distribution systems. Objective—Identify the major components of commercial HVAC systems; understand the role they play and how they can affect indoor air quality.
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Lesson 3: Prevention. Objective—Identify how filters and ultraviolet lights may be used to prevent equipment and components from getting dirty in the first place.
VENTILATION (class# HVAC 105)
ASSESSING MOISTURE (class# ASMT 105)
Goal: Understand the benefits of ventilation and identify the different equipment and controls associated with common methods of ventilating.
Goal: Understand how to use equipment correctly to identify moisture sources and determine the extent of moisture problems.
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Lesson 1: Overview. Objective—Define some of the key terms related to ventilation and describe its benefits.
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Lesson 1: Moisture Meters. Objective—Describe the different types of moisture meters and identify the surfaces best suited for each type.
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Lesson 2: Equipment and Controls. Objective— Identify both basic and advanced systems that mechanically ventilate buildings.
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Lesson 2: Thermal Infrared Cameras. Objective— Describe how thermal infrared cameras should (and shouldn’t) be used during a moisture assessment.
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Lesson 3: Moisture Assessments. Objective—Find the source of moisture problems, characterize its quality and determine the extent of damage.
VENTILATION STANDARDS (class# HVAC 106) Goal: Become familiar with commercial and residential ventilation standards from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). •
•
Lesson 1: ASHRAE Standard 62.1. Objective— Become familiar with all the sections of ASHRAE, Standard 62.1 and be able to assess a commercial building for compliance with several key provisions. Lesson 2: ASHRAE Standard 62. Objective—Apply several key provisions of ASHRAE Standard 62.2 in order to improve the indoor air quality of low-rise residential buildings.
INTRODUCTION TO MOLD REMEDIATION (class# REME 101) Goal: Learn the fundamentals of mold remediation and become familiar with important guidance documents to help standardize the work. •
Lesson 1: Overview. Objective—Define remediation, identify the parties involved and describe the remediation process from start to finish.
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Lesson 2: Guidance Documents. Objective—Identify the important standards and guidelines to follow when remediating mold.
HVAC MAINTENANCE AND HYGIENE (class# HVAC 108)
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (class# REME 102)
Goal: Understand the critical areas of the HVAC system that must be inspected, cleaned and maintained to ensure good indoor air quality.
Goal: Understand the role personal protective equipment plays in reducing exposure to mold during remediation activities.
•
•
Lesson 1: Inspection and Maintenance. Objective— Describe the minimum frequency for the inspection and maintenance of several HVAC system components. Lesson 2: Cleaning. Objective—Describe key cleaning procedures for heat exchangers, ductwork and cooling towers.
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Lesson 1: The Equipment. Objective—Identify the different types of respirators and other personal protective equipment used in mold remediation.
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Lesson 2: The Requirements. Objective—Describe the US regulations governing the use of personal protective equipment.
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Lesson 3: Selection and Usage. Objective—Select an article continues on next page
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NADCA IAQU Class Bundle continued from previous page
appropriate level of personal protective equipment based on recommendations from guidance documents and become familiar with some key work practices related to the use of PPE on mold remediation jobs.
How to Purchase and Register for the NADCA 10 Class Bundle 1. If you are an IAQA member or if you have already registered on the IAQA website, visit http://www.iaga.org/onlinestore to log in by entering your email and password. 2. If you are new to the IAQA website, you will have to create a New Visitor Registration. 3. Once you have filled in your information, click on “Online Store” in the left menu bar. 4. Enter “NADCA” into the “Search for” field and click the “GO” button. 5. Once you see the “NADCA – 10 Class Bundle” displayed on the screen, click on the icon. 6. Follow the instructions on the screen to get to the checkout area. 7. In your shopping cart, you will be able to add a discount code. If you are an IAQA member, enter “IAQAMEM-NADCA.” If you are not a member of IAQA, enter “IAQANONMEM-NADCA” into the field and click Apply Discount. The amount should change to $325. 8. Finish purchasing the bundle and submit your payment via credit card. You will receive a receipt by email. 9. Once a bundle is purchased, the IAQA University Registrar will send the purchaser their unique access PIN number within one business day of purchase. Classes purchased after 3pm (CST) on Friday will be processed on Monday.
President’s Message continued from page 5
Go through NADCA’s and IAQA’s online training, webinars and self-guided training. Find the courses appropriate for your employees. You can even have a meeting with half your techs one week and the other half the next. Attend NADCA’s Annual meeting and take the “Train the Trainer” courses. Go back to your company and present what you learned. “Train the Trainer” isn’t just for getting CECs for your ASCSs, it’s for helping you raise the knowledge and quality of all your workers. Better techs, better work, better profit. Have at least one or more of your deserving techs attend the Fall R-TEC conferences geared to the technicians with a basic and an advance track. This year’s theme is “Coming Up For Air,” and it will teach your techs how to get air and use air to increase productivity and job quality. If your guys don’t know the difference between PSI and CFM Principles of Air Movement, this is the course for them. Take a look at the brochure online or in this publication. By now you will have invested a year or more in your technicians. You will see an improvement in their attitude and ability. This is when you get them on the ASCS track to becoming certified. NADCA has training for that, too. In the past, ASCS was only available at our meetings. Now the ASCS Online course is available 24/7. They don’t even have to leave home! Go to our Members Only section, sign in and see all the options. Throughout the past year we started reviewing cost and pricing, with my ultimate goal of having more affordable ASCSs so every member has the ability to put one in every truck. When you have well-trained technicians on every job, you will sleep better. Remember, if you think education (training) is expensive, try working with ignorance!
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If need assistance, please e-mail info@iaqa.org or call 301-231-8388.
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Committee Spotlight continued from page 27
Each module runs about 15-30 minutes, with questions mixed into random areas of the content. If a question is answered incorrectly, the technician is re-directed within the module to cover the material again. A quiz concludes each of the modules, and technicians must score at least 70 percent in order to move to the next module/finish the program. Upon successful completion of all five modules, technicians receive a VMT Certificate of Completion. This certificate can be used to market and promote your company’s commitment to training and professionalism. Technicians receive one hour of real-time access for each module. This gives technicians enough time to complete the module and even revisit the program for periodic review. Show your technicians you want them to succeed—make the VMT a part of your company’s training program today! To register for the VMT online training program, please visit the Member Resources section of www.nadca.com, click on “Training” and select “VMT Program.”
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CALENDAR I N D U S T R Y
C A L E N D A R
To include your event, please contact NADCA Headquarters at 1-855-GO-NADCA, or email publications@nadca.com. For additional information and current calendar of events, please visit www.nadca.com.
NADCA Events NADCA 2013 Technical Conference September 26-28, 2013 Atlanta
NADCA’s 25th Annual Meeting & Exposition March 3-6, 2014 San Antonio
Related Industry Events SMACNA Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association
Restoration Industry Association Convention & Industry Expo
October 20 – 24, 2013 Maui, Hawaii
April 9-11, 2014 Orlando World Center Marriott Orlando, FL
IAQA 17th Annual Meeting
IKECA Annual Conference
March 17-19, 2014 Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Nashville, TN
April 23-26, 2014 Golden Nugget Casino Las Vegas, NV
ACCA
March 17-20, 2014 Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Nashville, TN
Call For Submissions Do you have an interesting story to tell? Discovered a new technique? We want to hear from you! If you are interested in submitting an article, please contact NADCA Headquarters to discuss the current submission schedule and writing criteria. Call (856) 380-6810 or write to info@nadca.com.
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