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EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL EFFICACY OF AN ANTIMICROBIAL-CONTAINING SEALANT ON DUCT LINER AND GALVANIZED STEEL
Citation:
Foarde, K. K. AND M Y. Menetrez*. EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL EFFICACY OF AN ANTIMICROBIAL-CONTAINING SEALANT ON DUCT LINER AND GALVANIZED STEEL. Presented at Indoor Air 2002, Montery, CA, June 30 - July 05, 2002.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
The article gives results of an evaluation of the potential efficacy of an antimicrobial-containing sealant on fibrous-glass duct liner (FGDL) and galvanized steel (GS) as used in heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. HVAC systems become dirty to various degrees after a period of use. Depending on the amount of dirt, the material, and environmental conditions, the HVAC system may become an active growth site for microorganisms and a source of biological contamination. Current recommendations for remediation of fungally contaminated fibrous-glass duct materials specify complete removal of the materials. But removal of contaminated materials can be extremely expensive, and in-place duct cleaning may not provide adequate protection from regrowth of fungal contamination. Therefore, a common practice in the duct cleaning industry is the post-cleaning use of antimicrobial surface coatings with the implication that they may contain or limit regrowth. In some instances, the proper use of antimicrobials may be appropriate, but it is generally discouraged because little research has been conducted on the effectiveness of most products as used in HVAC systems and because of the health concerns associated with their use. Evaluation results showed that both moderately and heavily soiled uncoated FGDL and GS duct material can support fungal growth, but that GS duct was more readily cleaned. The use of an anti-microbial coating helped limit, but did not fully contain, regrowth on FGDL. No re- growth was detected on the coated GS.