Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine November 2019

So why was the fire station closed. Well, after mold was seen on a ceiling tile, a test was conducted. The test revealed Aspergillus Penicillium at 56,000. The maximum allowable is 1,200. At 46.6 times the allowable rate of Aspergillus Penicillium, Fire Chief Gerald Ezell closed the facility to protect the men and women who work out of that facility.

further so it will take a little longer. Remember! In their business, minutes count. How does all this apply to you and all the other HVAC contractors. Well, it is obvious that this contractor made some BAD mistakes; i.e., ductwork not mechanically fastened, properly sealed nor was the vapor barrier correct. (Something not previously mentioned but included in the inspection report.) These are all contributing to condensation and the potential growth of mold. It is not the HVAC contractors fault that some method of attic dehumidification was not in the original plans and, in fact, I am not sure it was on anyone’s radar three years ago. It certainly is now and that is when you are considering this article. The Association just wrapped up 7 sessions on “Is Your Duct Work Raining”, a talk about condensation on ductwork. We all have seen baby diaper insulation, condensation, and even puddles of water under duct work. 2019 seems to have been especially bad. Not to over simplify but we are experiencing the unintended consequences of construction successes; i.e., encapsulation and super high efficiency equipment. Our goal in these programs has been to get our contractors to realize that we have responsibility, both expressed and implied, to make sure the duct does not "sweat." One contractor said, "We are not responsible for all the conditions that create the problem." My response was, "That is

Ceiling tile that started the investigation Aspergillus Penicillium discovered

The big issue here isn’t that the building is temporarily closed and personnel are inconvenienced. The big issue is that emergency dispatch in that area of town is now delayed. Maybe not by much by our standards. Only a few minutes; but, how long does it take for someone to die of a heart attack when they need immediate emergency care. Would an extra 2, 3, or 4 minutes without oxygen to the brain matter? Obviously a rhetorical question. The Maumelle Fire Department will do their very best to serve that area of town previously served by the now closed station. It is a well run department serving the citizens of Maumelle; however, the last time I checked, they are still subject to the law of physics. They have to travel