Microbial Contamination

IN HVAC SYSTEMS
Mr Jeremy Stamkos

Managing Director Enviroair Pty Ltd

NADCA Certified Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (USA)
IAQA Certified Mould Remediator (USA)

ABSTRACT
The article Microbial Contamination in HVAC Systems has been written to inform
people as to some of the critical issues that mould in built environments present.
The occurrence of Microbial Contamination in HVAC Systems is common and is
caused by many contributing factors.
Microbial Contamination within HVAC Systems may carry with it many associated
risks from mild Building Related Illnesses up to and including death. It is not
only the detrimental effects on health that microbial contamination causes,
but it may also lead to significant system performance deficiencies and excessive
energy consumption and property damage. Litigation from cases related to
Mould Contamination within the built environment are dramatically increasing in
the USA with Australia certainly following suit.
The importance of carrying out proper remediative action for a microbiologically
contaminated HVAC System is of vital importance. The effectiveness of the
remediation works and the engineering controls implemented to facilitate the
remediation process will determine the likelihood of contamination reoccurrence.
The duty of care to ensure that a HVAC system is free from significant microbial
contamination may ultimately fall upon those responsible for the maintenance
of the system.
Likewise, ensuring that a contaminated system is remediated correctly falls
upon not only the contractor carrying out the remediative works but also those
who employ their services.

Article as published in The Hotel Engineer Vol 8, Number 1 Published by Adbourne Publishing Victoria

Microbial Contamination in HVAC Systems (cont.)

Excessive energy consumption, costly property damage, litigation and building related
illnesses are just some of the potential effects of unchecked microbial proliferation in HVAC
Systems.
Due to greatly publicized out breaks over the past few years, much attention has been given
to the control of Legionella in our buildings water systems. However, as recent case studies
in the US are revealing, litigation over other forms of microbial contamination in buildings
are attracting the attention of many building owners and Facility Managers.
Fungal and microbial proliferation within AC Systems has the ability to dramatically reduce
the systems operating efficiency whilst significantly increasing the systems operational
costs.
As fungal and bacterial growth proliferates throughout certain components of the AC systems,
airflows are restricted, pressures within the system increased and delivery of conditioned air
into the occupied areas may be dramatically reduced.
Aside from the excess operating costs of an AC system harbouring significant microbial
growth, the costs of remediating a contaminated AC system and or property affected by the
spread or fallout of contamination can be devastating. The costs to remediate an AC system
found to harbour microbial contamination may be up to ten times that of general HVAC
cleaning depending on the extent and severity of the contamination and if system components
can be remediated or need to be replaced.
The subjects of Indoor Air Quality, Sick Building Syndrome and Building Related Illnesses may
be a bane to many building owners and managers nowadays with many services providers
and sales people eager to promote their related products or services. However, when cases
of microbial proliferation occur within a building and particularly the AC systems, the importance
of these subjects have significant relevance.
Over the last few years, there have been many
successful cases of litigation against insurance
companies, building owners, managers and
service providers resulting from negligence in
dealing with microbial contamination incorrectly.
Opinions within the property maintenance
industry regarding the prevention, identification
and remediation of microbial contamination
vary greatly as very few professionals are well
versed on the subject.
The same coil after Decontamination

One thing that is for sure is that people who

have had exposure to the detrimental effects
that unchecked microbial contamination may
cause are generally great advocates of
taking proactive or preventative approach to
HVAC system cleanliness.

The Heavily Contaminated Heating Coil

Article as published in The Hotel Engineer Vol 8, Number 1 Published by Adbourne Publishing Victoria

Microbial Contamination in HVAC Systems (cont.)

Increases in Relative Humidity within an AC system may be caused by things like poor
system design, poor manufacturing/installation, damaged heating and cooling coils or outside
weather conditions. The poor design of undersized or ineffective condensate pans and drains
may contribute largely to high humidity within many AC systems.
The neglect to install adequate dehumidification especially in the more tropical regions may
also lead to high humidity within the AC System.
Pinhole corrosion and other forms of damage to coils may lead to higher than normal humidity
within the AC system. When a Cooling coil is leaking substantially, the amount of water in
the condensate tray is often more than it is designed to drain and subsequently causes
excessive water activity in and downstream of the AC plant. In several systems that had full
condensate pans, the humidity within the supply air ducts downstream of the AC plant been
measured in excess of 90% RH.
When a Heating coil has deteriorated, corroded or been damaged to the point where a water
leak develops, the probability of microbial proliferation is quite high. As heating coils do not
generally have any provision for drainage, the water may accumulate within the duct, dramatically
increasing the level of humidity. With the increase in humidity created from the leaking
water, it does not take long to create the ideal environment for mould to start growing.

Cooling Coil completely blocked

with fungal cocktail.
Negligable air was able to pass
through this coil.

Even though the most common place to find

mould growing within an AC system is on the
coils, filters and condensate pans, in severe
cases it may be found throughout the entirety
of the system. Volume Control and Fire Dampers, Rigid Ducts both internally insulated and
not, aluminium and plastic Flexible Ducts have
all been evidenced as being significantly
contaminated with fungal growth.
Microbial contamination within an AC
System at any level may have the capacity
to have costly ramifications.

<< Mould growing on

Smoke Dampers

<< Mould growing on

internal insulation

Article as published in The Hotel Engineer Vol 8, Number 1 Published by Adbourne Publishing Victoria

Microbial Contamination in HVAC Systems (cont.)

Operating Deficiencies
As key components of the HVAC system become contaminated with micro-organisms, the
operating efficiency of the mechanical plant reduces dramatically. This can lead to reductions
in thermal efficiency of the heat transfer of coils thus increasing compressor loads and
extending running cycles.
Figure 1 (below) depicts the energy required to move air through inline resistance. Coil and
filter resistance is commonly referred to as pressure drop with the Pascal being the common
measure.
An extensive study of energy efficiency in air filtration (NUTEK 1997) reports that each
1m3 /s per 1 Pa / annum at a 50% fan efficiency requires 17 kWh fan energy.
Hence the lower the average system resistance over time the less energy required. Fouled
coils can add significant resistance to the air handling system.
Fungal proliferation in air filters also adds unnecessary resistance to the system causing reduced
service life and increased fan energy requirement to maintain supply duct and conditioned space
values.

Fan Energy

kWh/m3/Pa/annum

VAV Systems

1800

1700
1530

1600

1360

1400

1190

Figure 1 >>

kWh

1200

1020

1000

850

800
510

600
340

400
200
0

kWh

680

170
17
1

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Cubic Meters/Sec

Research findings indicate that coil fouling alone can add up to 100Pa above design
specifications to the system. In a larger VAV system required to move an average
40m3/s with an artificially elevated resistance of 50 Pa this equates to $ 1,664.00 per
annum based on .10c per kWh and a 12 hours per day run time.

Article as published in The Hotel Engineer Vol 8, Number 1 Published by Adbourne Publishing Victoria

Microbial Contamination in HVAC Systems (cont.)

Property Damage
The detrimental affects of fungal growth within an AC System may range from a small component
requiring cleaning and treating to the entire building being condemned. The costs for
proper mould remediation of an entire AC System are generally quite considerable let alone
the loss in productivity or other costs associated with the remediation works.
Many types of mould that are commonly found in HVAC systems are corrosive and/or
destructive and have been found to cause considerable damage to internal metal and insulated
surfaces. In extreme cases, mould can be so severe that the operation of Dampers, including
Fire and Volume Control, and other internal components has been compromised.

Two examples of mould growth found within plastic flexible ducts

In a recent case in the Northern Territory, a building that was no more than four years old
had such severe microbial contamination, that the building was condemned whilst the remediation
works took place.
The total of the restoration bill was in excess of $1,400,000.00 of which less than 10% was
the remediation cost of the AC system. A comprehensive HVAC Hygiene program for a building
this size would not even equalled $1,000,000.00 in more than thirty years.
After severe fungal growth has been able to lay siege to a building or its AC System, many
components may need costly repairs or replacement.
In 2002, a Melbourne building that was found to harbour severe fungal growth throughout
its AC Systems on three floors. The system was a high velocity, dual duct system with
approximately twelve Mixing Boxes on each level. The fungal growth was so severe on the
internal fibreglass insulation within the Mixing Boxes and attached Attenuators, they had to
be disassembled and taken off site for remediation.
When fungal growth is this severe in components like these, generally replacing them is a
more cost effective option. Unfortunately, in this particular case, the components where
approximately 40 years old, obsolete and no replacement parts available.
The total remediation cost of the AC Systems that serviced the three levels was over
$80,000.00 compared to $18,000.00 which would have been the cost for normal cleaning if
the mould was not present.

Article as published in The Hotel Engineer Vol 8, Number 1 Published by Adbourne Publishing Victoria

Microbial Contamination in HVAC Systems (cont.)

Health Effects
Microbial spores are analytically identifiable on nearly all indoor and outdoor surfaces and
also in the day to day air that we breathe. For most of us who are generally healthy, this level
of exposure to these microbial spores has no significant impact on our wellbeing.
Certain species of common indoor moulds are known to release toxins and in high concentrations
have the capacity to cause a negative impact on a persons health.
Much research is being done at this time on the toxicity of some of the moulds commonly
found within our buildings Air Conditioning Systems.
Studies have confirmed that when fibreglass insulation materials and painted metal surfaces
become colonised, VOCs such as Hexanol, 2-Cyclohexen-1-o1, 2, 3, 4-Trimethal hexane, 2Butyl-1-octanal, 2-Pentenal, Ethanol, Acetone, methyl benzine and various other compounds
have been isolated.
As Air Handling Systems in buildings can provide an excellent environment for the proliferation
of bacteria, fungi and mould. As these micro-organisms metabolise, a range of bacterial and
fungal by products and minute organic fragments are dispersed and recirculated within the
indoor environment. These breakdown products are known to induce a range of health complaints
including allergies, immune suppression and respiratory ailments, along with low-level irritations,
headache and fatigue.
Sick Building Syndrome, as it has come to be known, affects a large majority of commercial
buildings globally. It results in many Building Related Illnesses which may cause measurable
declines in staff efficiency, increased absenteeism and reduced occupant wellbeing.
Microbial contamination within an AC System is usually identified when a diligent tradesperson
is conducting routine maintenance and brings it to the attention of the tenant or building
manager. Unfortunately, in most cases, not much action is taken unless a significant number
of the buildings occupants are claiming to suffer from symptoms caused by Building Related
Illnesses.
Building Related Illnesses are a direct result from Sick Building Syndrome which at many
times may be directly related to a Buildings Air Conditioning Systems. Many professionals
that are called in to try to identify the cause of the Building Related Illnesses dont consider
inspecting the buildings Air Conditioning Systems for the cause or source of the problem.

Mould colonisation within a HVAC Sytem

Article as published in The Hotel Engineer Vol 8, Number 1 Published by Adbourne Publishing Victoria

Microbial Contamination in HVAC Systems (cont.)

A Proactive Approach
Periodic inspections of air handling plant especially in any areas of likely moisture such as Humidifiers,
Cooling Coils, Condensate Pans and drains are recommended to identify any potential causes of
microbial proliferation. All components downstream of the filtration system should be relatively
free from any significant visual contamination.
Maintaining a high level of HVAC System cleanliness is one way to reduce the risk of microbial proliferation.
Routine cleaning of Return & Outside Air Ducts, cleaning and treating Cooling Coils and replacing
filters prior to them becoming compromised is always good practice. Most buildings that have a
highly maintained AC System rarely see significant cases of microbial contamination.
Many antimicrobial products are commercially available that claim to be able to kill or prevent
mould within AC Systems. These products range from sprays and gases to sponges and gels. Caution
and discretion must be used when considering using any of these products and treatments.
Many have associated odours with their application that may be evident throughout the manufactures
claimed effective period. Consideration must be given as to whether it is desirable to have products
that will for their life span, emit or off gas odours within the buildings ventilation systems.
Unfortunately, many of these products or treatments do not have reliable scientific data pertaining to their use in ventilation systems. Many of them will kill different types of mould on actual
contact but have been proven ineffective when installed in ventilation systems.
However, there are some highly efficient antimicrobial products available on the market specifically
designed for use in AC Systems. The most effective solutions usually come at a greater cost compared to
most of the do it yourself quick fix type products, but are very effective in killing and inhibiting
fungal growth within the AC System.
When choosing an antimicrobial product or treatment to use within an AC System, choose products
that come from a company able to provide scientific documentation to support the claims of the
products antimicrobial properties.
Only ever use products that are specifically designed for use in HVAC Systems. It is also best to find products
that will offer a residual antimicrobial protection that will not cause secondary contamination issues.
Most importantly, ensure that the persons installing or applying such products or treatments are
doing so in accordance with the manufactures instructions. Many claims are being made that
buildings today are being managed proactively however, unfortunately a large amount of the time
this does not extended to the Hygiene of HVAC Systems.
The costs of maintaining an acceptable level of HVAC hygiene is insubstantial compared to the
savings in operational/energy costs, reduced risk of costly property or plant remediation and
potential litigation.

About the Author

Mr Jeremy Stamkos is the Managing Director of Enviroair Pty Ltd. Enviroair is a company that has
been specializing in the decontamination and remediation of Commercial and Industrial HVAC
Systems since 1990. Mr Stamkos has been directly involved with the company since its conception
and in 2001, he became Managing Director.
Many years of direct employment within the HVAC Cleaning Industry starting as a Technician all
the way up to the current position as Managing Director ensures that Mr Stamkos vast experience
and qualifications in the industry are unsurpassed within the Australasian Region.
References
ANSI/ASHRAE 62-1989 : NUTEK 1997 : Crawford Adjusters Canada
Photographs supplied by Enviroair.
Article as published in The Hotel Engineer Vol 8, Number 1 Published by Adbourne Publishing Victoria