IAQ Radio

John T. Hull & John Lapotaire - The Moisture Mob Roofing Show Part II: Leaks, Dry-outs, Mitigation & Scammers!

On Valentine's Day 2020, IAQ Radio+ formally introduced The Moisture Mob (MM) to its growing list of loyal listeners. Since the late fall of 2019 till the present day, IAQ Radio+ has done 8 shows in the moisture mob series and has 3 more in the pipeline for 2021. The MM shows have been informative, entertaining and highly educational with an emphasis on lessons learned from case studies and years of experience in the trenches!
 
This week, Radio Joe and the Z-man will be doing a follow up show with the Moisture Mob's "Roof Guy" and build off the Part 1 show from February 14, 2020. To review the blog from that show which also introduced the Moisture Mob's historical roots and its motto of "Truth and Accuracy in Moisture Measurement...or Face the Consequences", click on this link.
 
Joining John T. Hull this week will be Mob associate and an IAQ Radio+ favorite son from Orlando John Lapotaire. John has years of practical experience doing IEQ inspections with an emphasis on moisture intrusion to the building envelope. Mr. Lapotaire has written and presented on water categorization and given interpretive opinions of industry standards for causation determination and expert testimony for the insurance claims or litigation process. Mr. Hull also a Florida resident based in Pensacola has over 4 decades experience in coatings, having worked for a leading paint and coating purveyor. As an independent roofing consultant, John T. has performed hundreds of roofing inspections in his career.
 
This week, Joe and Cliff will leverage the experience of the two John's to delve into tricks of the trade for leak origin determination, strategies for roofing dry-outs prior to repair options, techniques for mitigation and roof cover-ups after tree and wind damage and other insider tips of best practices for roofing inspections and reporting.
 
June 1st is the beginning of the Atlantic Storm season affecting the Caribbean, Eastern Coastline of the US, the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican peninsula. In hurricane prone states like Florida, Texas, and coastal areas on the Carolinas and other Southeastern states, too often opportunists and scammers look to take advantage of a vulnerable and often unsuspecting public after natural disasters!
 
Radio Joe and the Z-man will draw on the experience of the Moisture Mob's Roof Guy and his IEQ Associate for advice to avoid being victimized a second time after a catastrophic occurrence by unscrupulous companies looking to profit off disaster victims, insurance carriers and government flood coverage policies in ravaged area wide disaster zones. Join us today at noon live or download the show later either way
 
LEARN MORE about how to locate and qualify reputable roofing contractors and mitigation, drying and restoration specialists with IAQ Radio+! 

Lisa M Brosseau, ScD, CIH & Tom Peters, PhD, CIH - Going back to work and school during a pandemic

This week we welcome two ACGIH leaders to discuss their new website for COVID resources and going back to work/school during a pandemic. We will look at the resources and discuss tips and tools with the Chair of ACGIH’s Pandemic Response Task Force Lisa Brosseau, ScD, CIH and the Board Liaison to the task force Tom Peters, PhD, CIH.
 
Dr. Peters is a Professor at University of Iowa Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and a member of the ACGIH Board of Directors. He is an engineer trained in aerosol physics who applies his efforts to the study of human health as it relates to particulate exposures. Dr. Peters develops novel strategies to quantify the morphology, concentration, and size of airborne particles. He uses these strategies to understand and control contaminants in diverse occupational and environmental settings.
 
Dr. Brosseau, now retired, was a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health from 2015 to 2018, where she was director of the Illinois Education and Research Center, which supported graduate and continuing education for occupational health and safety professionals and community outreach activities. She was also director of the UIC Center for Healthy Work. Dr. Brosseau has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, delivered numerous platform research presentations, and has been an invited speaker at numerous local, national and international conferences and workshops. She has written several articles for CIDRAP focused on respiratory protection for healthcare and other workers during outbreaks and pandemics. 
 
Dr. Brosseau recently joined us for a fantastic discussion of Control Banding and COVID 19. Below is the link to that show. Join us live today at noon or download the show later either way LEARN MORE this week on IAQ Radio+.

Ralph E. Moon, PhD - ATP Use and Misuse in the Restoration Industry

This week IAQ Radio+ will be bringing back listener favorite Dr. Ralph "Bad Moon Rising" Moon, a Moisture Mob Associate. Dr. Moon's long anticipated study on the use, interpretation and viability of ATP in the restoration and remediation sector will be previewed this week as Ralph previews to the industry a presentation of his research. The study was recently published in the CIRI peer reviewed " CSQ" Journal in the latest quarterly edition and will illustrate the misuse of ATP technology by addressing common misunderstandings. https://www.ciriscience.org/ 
 
In setting up the study, performing the research, interpreting the data and traversing the road to publication through a rigorous peer review process was tedious, time consuming and performed diligently in the "Bad Moon Rising" Way. The primary focus and goal of the study was to ensure that time and resources expended , were commensurate to the useful application of the results for industry practitioners in the assessment, mitigation, restoration and remediation disciplines. The Z-man and Radio Joe will interview and question Dr. Moon as he presents his research and explains the results in the IAQ Radio+ unique "case study" format by using charts and graphs from the CSQ published article.
 
Dr. Moon asked industry historian Pete Consigli to review and comment on the initial manuscript for "restoration" applicability before the document was scientifically peer reviewed.  The Restoration Global Watchdog highly recommends that frequent ATP users call in live this week as Cliff and Joe engage the audience with Q&A after Dr. Moon offers his conclusions of the study after halftime. There may be some "Ah Ha" moments even for industry veterans and longtime users of ATP technology for project oversight and/or remediation verification criteria!
 
This week during the Round-up, CIRI Executive Director and CSQ publisher John Downey will be joining the show to comment on the peer review process and talk about some of the exciting initiatives CIRI has in the pipeline this year for the IAQ and Restoration industry! Of course, it wouldn't be a "Restoration" show in the Moisture Mob series without a Mob Consigliere weighing in, so this week's Round-up should be lively as Consigli joins Downey, the IAQ Radio+ team and the loyal group of listeners for an engaging and much anticipated show!
 
LEARN MORE this week on IAQ Radio+.
 
Past Shows with Dr. Moon
Air Date: 2-16-2018|Episode 494
Air Date: 2-1-2013| Episode: 272

Anthony “Tony” Havics, CIH, PE - A Demonstrated Layer of Protection – A Review of Antimicrobial Surface Protectant

This week on IAQ Radio we welcome back one of our favorite guests Tony Havics, PE, CIH for a look at some recent work he has cone on antimicrobial surface protectants. In conjunction with a client who provides integrated facility services to more than 600 customers in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico;  Mr. Havics, a certified industrial hygienist and engineer, collaborated in producing a thorough and leading-edge review of understanding products aimed at protecting against infection by the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19.
 
Their review consisted of selecting manufacturers of ASPs who have provided public review of their lab tests, lab studies, field studies and peer reviews. Each of the 15 products reviewed was evaluated for efficacy, applicability and potential drawbacks. The review is based on their first-hand experience with these products together with information supplied directly from the product manufacturers and summaries of third party lab tests and studies. They believe this kind of clear-eyed analysis has been missing from the industry and as a leader in the field, and saw it as their responsibility to fill that void to improve end-user understanding of various applications.
 
Mr. Havics is an Honors graduate from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a registered Professional Environmental Engineer (PE) with over 25 years of experience. He has provided front end investigation, development of plans & specifications, development of work plans, cost estimation, and oversight of numerous facilities for remediation, refurbishing, or decommissioning including a launch pad, dam gates, a baseball stadium, a tire factory with 59 buildings, a biologically contaminated L1011, a hospital, JP-6 fuel tanks, former mental institute, former military buildings, etc. In the field of microscopy, he has performed analysis for asbestos, contaminants in products, other minerals, fibers, fungi, engineering properties, and has testified in federal court as an expert microscopist. Andrew has also performed failure analysis and forensic testing on numerous building products such as roofs, windows, flooring, drywall, piping, etc.
 
LEARN MORE this week on IAQ Radio+.

Roland Vierra and Robert Blochinger - Moisture Related Issues Affecting Wood and Concrete Substrates and Flooring - Part 2

This week we look forward to Part 2 of this Moisture Mob interview with an extended show. The Mob Enforcers will complete their presentation of case studies and explain the lessons learned from years of field experience doing Third Party Moisture Related Evaluations. In Part 1 the Enforcers discussed the use, application and meaning of the term Forensic as it pertains to 3rd party inspections before diving into each of their first 2 case studies as the Z-man fielded a lively interactive Q&A with the call-in audience. Part 2 will pick up where the Enforcers left off.
 
During the wrap-up Joe and Cliff will get Roland and Bob's opinion on the various moisture meter technology and diagnostic tools used in their work and why proper training and an understanding of meter selection and application of use is critical to a comprehensive and competent inspection report. 
 
Restoration Industry Adviser and Historian Pete Consigli stresses the importance of that point, as false readings and misinterpretations of the data have far reaching financial implications while undermining the credibility of the industry with those they serve and the entities that bear the bulk of corrective action and remedial costs.
 
The Restoration Global Watchdog says, "Please join the IAQradio+ team this week as Mr. Stick and Bavarian Bob complete this unique two-part case study show on moisture related issues affecting wood and concrete substrates and flooring"! LEARN MORE this week on IAQ Radio+.

Travis West - IEQ Consulting for a Living & Texas Electric Nightmare: The Indoor Environmental Aftermath

This week we welcome Travis West of Houston, TX to talk about how things are going since the recent electric grid mess and how to make a living doing IEQ work. Travis has been doing IEQ work and making a living at it for over 30 years. He is also very active with IAQA and is a Summer Camp veteran. We are looking forward to his first person report from TX and his perspective on how to run a successful IEQ consulting company.
 
Travis West is the President of Building Air Quality, a Houston, Texas consulting firm. As an indoor air quality consultant, Mr. West has worked for 31 years on many kinds of indoor air quality issues and concerns. His primary business involves environmental investigations in commercial buildings. He has worked for the owners of multi-tenant office buildings, educational facilities, and medical buildings. For the past 15 years, he has also worked across the Southern United States on environmental health and safety issues for the regional office of the Federal Occupational Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – investigating building failures in government leased buildings. Thanks to Ice Storm Uri, Travis has kept busy chasing water damage from some of the most unusual sources he’s seen in his many years of investigations.

Delphine Farmer, PhD - Colorado State University - Indoor vs Outdoor Air Chemistry: Cooking, Cleaning and COVID

This week we welcome back Dr. Delphine Farmer of the University of Colorado at Boulder and HomeChem fame. Dr. Farmer was one of our guests at the HomeChem open house back on 6 -22-2018. This week we will provide update on HomeChem and get Dr. Farmer’s thoughts indoor vs outdoor air: cooking, cleaning and COVID. We will discuss the chemistry of indoor environments and then talk about the experiments many schools and others are performing on indoor air quality without realizing it.
 
Delphine Farmer, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Colorado State University. Her research focuses on building new instrumentation to measure reactive trace gases and particles in the atmosphere in order to understand how humans are changing our environment. She is particularly interested in the emissions from forests, and has recently taken the dive into the complex world of indoor chemistry.
 
Dr. Farmer grew up in Canada, and received her BSc in Chemistry from McGill University in Montreal. She moved to warmer climates to earn her Master’s in Environmental Science, Policy and Management and her PhD in Chemistry, both from the University of California at Berkeley. Her research focused on using laser spectroscopy to study forest-atmosphere interactions. Delphine then held a NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Colorado Boulder, working with aerosol mass spectrometers in forests in the Brazilian Amazon and California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

Steven Caulfield, PE, CIH – President at Turner Building Science & Design, LLC – Building Science, Moisture & “The Green Book” AIHA’s Recognition, Evaluation and Control of Indoor Mold

This week welcome back Steve Caulfield, P.E., CIH for part 2 in our series on the AIHA’s second edition of “Recognition Evaluation and Control of Indoor Mold” aka The Green Book. This week we discuss Building Science & Moisture with Steve and he will include some case studies to illustrate the key points.
Mr. Caulfield has over 30 years of experience in mechanical engineering, industrial hygiene and indoor air quality studies. Mr. Caulfield is skilled in the design and evaluation of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and their relationship to complex indoor air quality problems. He has provided HVAC design and commissioning services for healthcare, educational, and commercial facilities. He has conducted indoor air quality evaluations for both new construction and existing buildings.
Steve was one of the editors of the newly revised Recognition, Evaluation and Control of Indoor Mold aka the “Green Book”. He also volunteers a lot time industry organizations such as ASHRAE, MIAQC and ISIAQ.

Roland Vierra & Robert Blochinger – Here Come the Moisture Mob Enforcers: The Forensic Aspect of 3rd Party Evaluations – Moisture Related Issues Affecting Wood and Concrete Substrates and Flooring!

This week IAQ Radio+ will have a special show in the ongoing Moisture Mob series when Joe and Cliff interview Roland Vierra and Bob Blochinger in a follow up from previous solo shows with them and do a deep dive into the aspect of Forensic methodology for 3rd party inspections. A good inspector must “turn over all the rocks” to see what is lurking in the dark to determine the causation of the problem to offer viable solutions. Roland and Bob will dig deep into their archives from decades of projects and the lessons learned to identify and resolve moisture and installation related problems in concrete, and other substrates related to flooring problems. In an interactive around the horn format, culminating in “dueling case studies”, with a “I can top that” cordial spirit, live listeners will get an entertaining educational experience based on their combined years in the trenches!
Radio Joe and the Z-man will interview Roland and Bob to better define the use and meaning of the term “Forensics” which is often misunderstood and taken out of context. The show will drill down into the methodology of the “mindset” of a 3rd party investigator and the inspection and diagnostic process which often involves project oversight. Topics to be covered will include, discerning damage to finish flooring from moisture migration from substrates. Other issues addressed involve PH testing and chemical reactivity on an installation and the use of the calcium chloride testing and compliance with silica dust during drilling of concrete for ASTM moisture testing procedures.
Another issue that deserves a closer look is the importance of floor prep on slab and wood substrate materials that cause a defect in flooring installations resulting in failures. Further the IAQ Radio team will engage the Moisture Mob “Enforcers” on their opinion and criteria for the selection, use and calibration of moisture meters in forensic applications. What does the Restoration and IAQ industry professional need to know about the choice and use of the wide selection of penetrating and non penetrating moisture meters and thermal hygrometers available in the marketplace?
How important is training on meter usage and interpretation of the readings? What about the standards and protocols used for various moisture assessments that are relied upon for reports and expert witness work? The case study presentations will address many of these issues and illustrate the why and how of the inspection process to determine causation.
If you want a no holds barred opinion on these piercing questions and more, based on accurate information from years of experience that stand the test of time, then call in this week to listen live. The Global Restoration Watchdog will be calling in live from AEML Labs in Ft Lauderdale, Florida with Bavarian Bob as Mr. Stick Zooms in from San Jose, California. Join Joe, Cliff, Pete and Bob and Roland for a unique show in the Moisture Mob series this week on IAQ Radio+.

John Lovett & Mark Hernandez, PhD, PE - Leveraging a new generation of mobile bioaerosol monitors: research to practice before, during and after COVID

This week we take a deep dive into the new generation of mobile bioaerosol monitoring with two leaders of the movement.
 
John Lovett is the CEO of DetectionTek Holdings the parent company and creators of, InstaScope an air sampling technology for instant mold and air quality assessment results. Developed by the military, applied commercially for indoor air quality, InstaScope is the only optical technology of its kind on the market. Prior to founding DetectionTek Mr. Lovett was CEO of Droplet Measurement Technologies. He has a long history as an entrepreneur, CEO and founder of companies such as Lovett Ski Co. (First commercially produced fiberglass Cross Country skis in US), The Ski Co., Frank Shorter Running Gear, Allied Marine and Anchor Asset Management.
 
Dr. Hernandez attained all his engineering degrees from University of California at Berkeley. He is a registered professional civil engineer and an expert on the characterization and control of bioaerosols – both indoors and out. Based at the University of Colorado, he has 25 years of research leveraging forensic science into wide area surveillance and the design of aerosol disinfection systems for the built environment.
 
LEARN MORE this week on IAQ Radio+.