Illness of employees has increased tremendously in the past few years. It has resulted in reduced productivity and profits. Indoor air quality is one of the most important factors affecting the worker's well-being and general health and is directly related to efficiency and productivity. The quality of indoor air is highly influenced by the environmental control system installed in the building. Efforts must be made to control air pollution, eliminate corrosion damage and minimize energy consumption of all environmental control installations.
 
 

Many components of air handling systems are vulnerable to corrosion. Aggressive environments will cause accumulation of pollution on the installation which will eventually attack the metals. For example: As much as 80% of the sulfur in the outside-air can accumulate in the filter compartment and form aggressive acids. Bare metals as well as poorly coated metals will deteriorate rapidly as a result of exposure to these high concentrations of chemicals. Inadequate coatings will start blistering rapidly. The corroded components will harbor moisture, pollution and micro-organisms, which will cause the acceleration of the corrosion process.
 

Air conditioning systems are ideal locations for the development of bacteria, mould, yeast and fungus. The presence of pollution and moisture combined with the right temperatures will result in the formation of thin layers of pollution and different micro-organisms, called biofilm, on the surfaces of the installation. This biofilm will initiate corrosion and therefore affect the material. The building's occupants will be exposed to "fresh air" that passes through these contaminated surfaces at high velocities. Consequently the "fresh air" becomes contaminated. Examples of contamination that can occur are: legionella in humidifying sections, Penicillium fungi on walls and filters and Aspergillus fungi in cooling coils. Results vary from irritation to severe illness, allergen and bad smell.

Corrosion, pollution and deterioration negatively affect the efficiency of many critical components of the air handling installation.

• Pollution causes high-pressure drops over the heat exchangers and filters.
• Corrosion reduces the heat transfer capability of the heat exchangers.
• Rough surfaces increase the resistance of airflow.
• Pollution affects the air-transport of fans and makes them vibrate.

15-30% of cases of building-related illness have been associated, if not directly linked, to indoor fungal or bacterial contamination. Certain fungi produce VOC's and odors, from which long-term exposure can result in impaired health or contribute to sick building syndrome (Godish 1995, Lacey and Crook 1988, Samson 1994).

In addition to human health problems, damage to building and installation materials can occur from mold and bacteria growth. Asthma can be aggravated or even induced by exposure to certain fungal species. Allergic rhinitis can occur in sensitive individuals who are regularly exposed to both fungal and other agents such as pollen, dust mites, and animal dander.

The air-sided part of the HVAC installation serves as a perfect place for microbiological growth. Examples of organisms that are regularly found in HVAC installations:

Diagnostics
Like other installations, climate installations must be monitored on condition and performance. Visual inspections, microbiological analysis and corrosion analysis before and after Blygold measurements will provide information about effectiveness of Blygold activities.

Preventive Maintenance
By implementing an effective preventive maintenance program, a maintenance friendly climate control installation can be assured. Applying chemical and scratch resistant coatings and corrosion free materials eliminates corrosion. Surfaces treated with Blygold hygienic coatings resist pollution and micro-organism adhesion. The resulting surfaces are smooth, dirt repellent and chemical resistant and thus require minimal routine corrective measures.

Maintenance Products
In addition to preventive maintenance, regularly scheduled corrective measures are necessary. Due to the generally polluted and otherwise contaminated outside air, climate control installations will always be exposed to unhealthy compounds. Application of Blygold's cleaning and disinfecting procedures will ensure a clean and hygienic installation so that these installations are always operating at optimal conditions, providing a high quality supply of air. Blygold also provides cleaning and disinfecting chemicals for installations that are treated according to the Blygold Preventive Maintenance Program.