Carpet Airborne Particles
Airborne Particles and Maintenance Activities
Did you Know? Some flooring surfaces produce high levels of
airborne particles as a result of maintenance activities. Particle levels have
recently been linked to serious health effects. Particle levels generated from
some hard floor maintenance activities can be compared to particle levels found
in coal mines.
There are many who feel that exposure to high particle levels by maintenance
workers could become the next major workers compensation issue. It has long
been known that exposure to high particle levels can dramatically impact public
health, but few studies have been initiated to fully assess the effects of these
exposures. Some concern has recently been raised regarding exposure to particle
generation as a result of facility maintenance.
The carpet industry has recently initiated a program to quantify maximum exposure
levels for carpet care equipment and has implemented a vacuum cleaner testing
program. This program establishes maximum exposure levels at 100 µg/m3
which is an accepted indoor particle standard. This program ensures that particle
exposures as a result of maintenance activities are within acceptable indoor
standards.
Maintenance of hard flooring surfaces present problems for maintenance workers
with regard to particle generation. The graph below details results of comparison
studies when maintenance of carpeted environments and hard surface environments
have been compared. Since these particles in hard floor environments are never
fully extracted from the facility except through the ventilation system, these
particles could affect occupants as well.
In summary, particle levels should be no higher in carpet environments than
in environments with hard surfaces. In fact, based on historical data, particle
levels actually may be lower in carpet environments. Hard surface flooring systems
are not necessarily easier to maintain, just easier to neglect. Respirable dust
is far more difficult to extract in hard surface environments than in carpet
environments and maintenance of hard floors generate considerable respirable
particulate. The following points should be noted:
1. Since airborne particles are primarily introduced through the HVAC system,
outdoor particulate levels have a significant impact on indoor particle levels.
2. A poorly maintained carpet environment should provide similar airborne
particle levels when compared to a normally maintained VCT environment.
3. Carpet removal will not reduce airborne particles and will not affect
allergic reactions.
4. Regular vacuuming will effectively reduce particle levels in carpet and
may reduce airborne particulates through deposition of airborne particles.
5. Carpet does not release bacteria, fungi, allergen, or particles into the
breathing zone during typical occupant activity.
6. Maintenance of carpet should generate much lower particle levels than
maintenance of hard surface flooring materials.
Article by Michael Hilton of carpetbuyershandbook.com - the Largest Online
Source for Unbiased Carpet Information (http://carpetbuyershandbook.com)
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