Building bake-out:
Effective or a quack?
By Michael Pinto & Gregory Redmond<br>
Most people in the environmental industry have heard of the terms 'sick building syndrome" and "indoor air quality" (IAQ), but a much smaller number understand the concept of "building bake-out." The technique has a checkered history of acceptance or derision among IAQ control professionals.
In its essence, a building bake-out is a process where the inside temperature of a building is elevated for a period of time in an effort to speed the curing of paints, mastics or other finishes, or to accelerate the off-gassing of residual volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Since there are no formal procedures, a wide range of techniques have been employed.
The process, which takes about 32 hours, is often implemented by maintenance or custodial personnel. First, the exterior doors and windows are closed and the heat inside the building is raised to its highest attainable temperature (85°F to 95°F in most cases). The building is kept sealed and allowed to "bake" for 16 to 24 hours. Then the building is re-opened and vented. This is done by directing the air (using industrial size fans) out of each room or area into the .....
|
