If
possible, schedule the following types
of remodeling work for times when the
building is unoccupied:
- dusty
operations, such as interior demolition,
sanding and ceiling tile removal
- operations
releasing volatile chemicals, such
as gluing, applying paints and finishes,
and caulking
- operations
releasing fibers, such as installing
or removing insulation
Operations
releasing volatiles should be planned
to allow as much curing time as possible
before occupants return. For example,
work done on Friday evening before a
long weekend provides an effective curing
period for many liquid finishes if ventilation
is adequate. Work done at night, but
completed just before opening hours
in the morning, may not protect occupants
at all, but rather expose them to peak
levels of air pollutants.
Schedule installation of high-emission
interior wet products such as adhesives,
paints and caulking as early as possible
to allow curing time before installing
adsorptive materials and prior
to occupancy. Provide excess ventilation
during application and for two to five
days after to reduce residual vapors
from volatile products. Dust clean-up
requires far less time than volatiles
curing. Exposure to dust may be minimal
only one hour after dusty operations
if air exhaust, filtration and clean-up
are effective.
Delay
installation of adsorptive materials
such as carpet, porous ceiling tile,
fabric, fabric-covered panels and upholstered
furniture. This minimizes the amount
of pollutants remaining in the space,
which these materials adsorb and later
re-emit.
Cautions
- Volatiles
exposure may still be high several
days after application of some products.
- On
some types of projects, scheduling
is very tight and there is little
room to shift these operations.
- Careful
attention to safe materials selection
can reduce exposure. Emissions strength
