Franco Seif

Wildfires continue to increase in frequency, intensity, and impact across the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), creating complex challenges for occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals, insurance carriers, restoration firms, and building owners. This presentation provides a technical overview of best practices for conducting wildfire impact assessments, focusing on evidence-based methods used to identify, evaluate, and interpret combustion by-products—including soot, char, ash, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs/SVOCs), and metals—in residential and commercial structures.

Drawing upon the framework established in the AIHA Technical Guide for Wildfire Impact Assessments for the OEHS Professional, 2nd Edition, this presentation outlines essential elements of a defensible investigation, including visual inspection, sampling strategies, analytical methods, and data interpretation. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the time-and-distance factors that influence the fate and transport of wildfire residues; the differentiation between near-field and far-field impacts; and the role of confounding background sources that may complicate origin attribution.

The presentation also compares contrasting findings from two real-world assessment reports to illustrate how inspection timing, cleaning history, environmental conditions, and methodology influence outcomes and conclusions. Participants will gain practical insights into forensic versus exposure-based assessment objectives, establishing preliminary impact levels, and preparing restoration recommendations consistent with current scientific understanding and industry standards.

This session is designed for industrial hygienists, OEHS professionals, restoration specialists, insurance personnel, and allied practitioners seeking to enhance their technical competence and align their practices with the most current guidance available.

Robert Bennett

When there are no laws in a state that govern the technical approach and content of a mold remediation project, the contractor should use Standard Industry Care practices to complete the work.  One of the standard practices used is the Institute of Inspection Cleaning, and Restoration Certification; Standard S-520. When a contractor references the S-520 in their agreement, but fails to meet those standards, the work no longer complies with the requirements of Standard Industry Care and may not be legally defensible. 

This case study presents problems that occurred when a Consultant prepared an agreement referencing S-520, wrote an incomplete remediation protocol, and hired the remediation contractor that did not perform the work properly.  When their subcontractor finished their work, the Consultant conducted a Post Remediation Verification evaluation and concluded the property did not meet the requirements for Condition I status.  However, they did not return to the site to determine the source of the remaining contamination to complete additional remedial activities.  

We will discuss the findings of our site assessment that will include the condition of the property when we arrived, and the contractual language that was used in the agreement.  The content of S-520 guidelines that apply to this project and the laboratory data showing microbial contaminants after the work was completed.  We will also discuss how the property was later remediated, which was complicated by the contractor’s application of a heavy opaque encapsulant covering the underlying microbial contamination.       

Any IAQ consultant that reviews the work of a remediation contractor will find value in understanding the language of an agreement, understanding the content of S-520, and having the situational awareness of recognizing when the work was not completed to meet S-520 standards.  This skill set is critical in completing a post remediation site assessment to assist in the safe occupancy of a building. 

As a result of the actions by this IAQ Consultant and their subcontractor, an extensive report of findings was prepared and reviewed by the stakeholders.  Legal actions were avoided when the Consultant agreed to provide compensation to complete the second microbial remediation project.

Kevin Hutton

Indoor air quality work is filled with common practices that are widely accepted but not always well understood. This interactive session is designed for IAQ consultants and firms who want to deepen their understanding of the science behind everyday tools, methods, and controls — and to use that knowledge to improve performance, consistency, and credibility across their work.

Rather than focusing on theory alone, this session connects fundamental scientific principles directly to real-world application. Participants will gain practical insight into why certain methods work, why others fail, and how small technical decisions can significantly affect outcomes.

The session is organized into three focused learning modules.

The first module examines the effectiveness of amended water and why it should be used consistently in IAQ-related work. Participants will explore how surface tension, wetting behavior, and particle interaction influence suppression and control, and why plain water often performs poorly in comparison. This module challenges common habits and reinforces best practices grounded in science.

The second module explores how exhaust tubing length, diameter, and pathway influence airflow performance and efficiency. Through practical examples, attendees will learn how friction loss, pressure drop, and turbulence affect equipment performance and system behavior. This segment helps participants better understand how setup choices impact real-world effectiveness, not just theoretical operation.

The third module clarifies how HEPA filtration actually works, moving beyond marketing language to explain the mechanisms that drive filtration performance. Participants will learn how interception, impaction, and diffusion function in practice, and why understanding these mechanisms matters when selecting, using, and explaining filtration technologies.

The session includes hands-on, interactive demonstrations that allow participants to see these principles in action, reinforcing learning through observation and engagement. Attendees will leave with clearer technical understanding, stronger professional confidence, and practical knowledge they can immediately apply to elevate the quality of their work and the conversations they have with clients, peers, and stakeholders.

Ryan Allenbrand

Understanding the connection between health and housing is essential to addressing long standing environmental and social disparities. Housing is more than shelter—it shapes daily exposure to environmental hazards, access to clean water, sanitation, and overall safety. For children in particular, early exposure to indoor pollutants can have lasting health consequences, especially given that they spend 80–90% of their time indoors. Reducing housing related health disparities requires sustained research into exposure pathways within homes and communities, as well as investment in healthier housing design and maintenance.

Our Healthy Home Program at Children’s Mercy Hospital delivers environmental health services for children with asthma, supports safe housing for patients returning from bone marrow transplant care, and advocates for families affected by lead exposure. This presentation will outline the program’s approach, highlight key healthy housing challenges, and share practical strategies and home-based interventions that reduce environmental risks.

Dennis French

It has been estimated that between 2/3 and 3/4 of all Indoor Air Quality complaints are directly linked to the function of our Ventilation systems in our buildings.  How many inspectors or assessors truly understand how the ventilation systems actual function and the connectivity of all of the components. 

This course will outline the the basic understanding of the components of a ventilation (HVAC) system and how these components function independently as will as within a collective system to maintain building health 

If you don't understand the relationship between HVAC and the assessment process then a significant part of cause/effect relationship is being missed and the overall value to the client is being undermined.

Each component and design feature of a HVAC system is vital and the interaction of these components is intended to create a safe and healthy working or living space.

Design, selection, maintenance aspects all effect the success of the built environment. 

Michael Meyer

IAQ problems occur from airborne mold and fine particles. Both can be inflammatory. Combining both spore traps and particle meters can detect a variety of problems. In some cases, mold concerns are actually due to particle sources. Particles can include gas stoves & dryers, electric heaters, propane heaters & forklifts, large capacity copiers, cigarettes, candles, incense, forest fire smoke, dust and mold spores etc. We use both spore traps, an ultrafine meter (<0.1 um) and multi-particle meter (0.3- 10 um). 

Sporetraps, both passive and disturbed can be used to check mold problems and if adequate clean-up has occurred. The key molds are Aspergillus-Penicillium. A guideline of about 1000 sp/m3 is widely used. 

Common outdoor molds: Cladosporium and basidiospores due to open window and doors often cause high indoor levels without being a health concern. Outdoor tests should be included in warm weather. For mold clean-ups, both sporetraps and particle meters are useful. Particle meters  can check on HVAC filtration, mold clearances (HEPA air scrubbers, containments) mold and dust levels and pollution sources. Ultrafines cannot detect mold spores or dust while multimeters can detect mold spores and dust. For clean-ups, very low levels of ultrafines and/or multilevels usually means very low mold levels. While sporetraps may require a few days for lab analysis, particle meters provide instant results. Used together, sporetraps and particle meters can detect a wide variety of concerns. 

Shannon Luce

The ability to produce a scientifically defensible mold assessment report is a critical skill for environmental professionals, yet it remains a frequent stumbling block for even the most experienced inspectors. While hands-on fieldwork and technical inspection skills are essential, building owners, contractors, and stakeholders rely heavily on written documentation as the final product and record of service. This presentation is designed to bridge the gap between technical expertise and professional reporting, offering practical strategies to produce clear, credible, and comprehensive mold assessment reports.

Attendees will learn how to structure reports to include often-forgotten foundational information, including project description, context, relevant inspector credentials, inspection purpose, scope of work, and relevant background, such as building history and prior events. The session emphasizes the clear documentation of inspection methods, tools used, and references to relevant standards and guidance (e.g., ASTM, EPA), as well as detailed laboratory information. Strategies for presenting findings, supporting recommendations with data, and referencing evidence (e.g., maps, photos, lab results) will be discussed to ensure that conclusions are transparent and defensible.

The presentation also identifies common pitfalls, such as ambiguous language, speculative statements, or the use of unapproved methods. It offers guidance for including limitations sections to protect both the inspector and the client. Attendees will be provided with a customizable checklist to facilitate consistent reporting, which can be used to create a template.

This presentation will balance regulatory, scientific, and practical perspectives by drawing on case studies and real-world examples to illustrate how robust reporting procedures can withstand peer reviews, claims disputes, and litigation. Whether attendees are new to mold assessment or experienced professionals seeking greater defensibility and efficiency, they will leave with actionable tools for elevating their report quality and professional credibility. This session demonstrates that well-written reports are not just a technical requirement, but a means of long-term service, protection, and value for both clients and practitioners.