Handling Post-Remediation Complaints

Post-remediation complaints can include residual and unpleasant odors and negative health effects due to secondary issues that are unexpected. Odors can stem from new materials off-gassing at a high rate or interactions between materials, activities, or changing conditions. Sealers can be helpful in preventing odors from leaking through light fixtures and electrical sockets. A similar situation occurs with spray foam insulation when the temperature, mixture proportion, flow rate, thickness, or light exposure are outside acceptable parameters. It is not really feasible to effectively seal spray foam insulation so complete removal is the only option, and since it is not meant to come out, this can be a challenging undertaking. Meanwhile, almost any symptom or condition can arise from or be exacerbated by poor indoor environmental quality. Firms should consider low or no volatile organic compounds and re-examine ventilation configurations. A very tight building with minimal air turnover that uses the lowest emitting materials possible will likely still have a sizable indoor air problem, while a looser building that has higher emitting materials may actually have better indoor air quality. Restoration firms can address these post-remediation complaints by having a good understanding of how the various pieces interact so that inevitable problems can be addressed quickly and effectively.

Restoration & Remediation (01/30/19) Alice Delia