Month: June 2023

Meet Aire Guardian Linda Armendariz

Meet the Aire Guardian: Linda Armendariz

In order to get a job done, especially in construction, purchasing your own equipment outright is not always the most cost-effective option. Every project requires different solutions, and contractors often benefit from renting equipment for the project’s duration. One obstacle in construction is effectively closing in an occupied space. Contractors and facility managers need a way to contain dust and prevent airborne particulates from affecting those in and around the construction area. 

One very effective solution for containment is the Abatement Technologies, Inc. modular, reusable wall system. This is known in the industry as Shield-Wall. This system can be rented through a third-party company for single project use. In order to ensure rental companies are getting the best products to provide to their customers, it’s important to find a knowledgeable partner who can be available when you need them - this is Linda Armendariz and her team at Abatement Technologies. 

Linda and her team are dedicated to assisting our rental companies in purchasing the right equipment for an array of projects. Linda came to Abatement Technologies with existing knowledge in the asbestos and remediation equipment industry, where she worked directly with the customers purchasing the equipment. This experience has positioned her to be able to easily identify customer needs and industry trends when working with rental companies.

Why Rent Equipment? 

Contractors building their inventory typically work with two types of budgets: capital and rental. Typically, the capital budget is used for purchasing equipment outright.

The rental budget is utilized by the contractor when ongoing storage for said units is limited or not available as well as other reasons. This allows contractors to “try before they buy”, or spread out the monies used to purchase one item. Reasons like these are why Abatement Technologies partners with rental companies across the country. Currently, rental companies purchase products from Abatement Technologies for indoor air quality needs, including temporary containment of construction-related dust, air filtration, and drying equipment. 

For some, renting equipment may be the best option as it can provide a work around for the lack of long term storage availability and assigning personnel to maintain equipment.

Why Should Rental Companies Work with Abatement Technologies? 

Abatement Technologies’ customer service is what sets us apart from our competitors. Known for our consultative approach, at Abatement Technologies we pride ourselves on our staff being not just a resource but most importantly, an asset to our rental partners. 

Our customer service doesn’t end once the sale is made. For example, the rental market team provides free virtual and in-person training to rental companies about Abatement Technologies’ products. Not only does this benefit them and their clients, but it also allows us to learn how we can continue best assisting our partners. 

Abatement Technologies is already a triple threat in the industry. Our high-quality products, knowledgeable sales team, and dedication to customer service sets us apart from the competition and makes Abatement Technologies the preferred vendor for many rental companies. 

Ready to learn more about Abatement Technologies? Contact us today!

Managing IAQ in Commercial Building During Wildfire Season

Managing IAQ in Commercial Building During Wildfire Season

Topic: 2023 Central Canada Wildfires

The 2023 wildfire season is here and has already had a devastating impact across central Canada. As hazy and dangerous fumes make their way south across the US border, most of the Northeast coast is experiencing serious air quality issues that are affecting millions of people. And, because smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gasses and fine particulate matter, it is highly inhalable and can cause respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. 

But, when a smoke event occurs, it can take days to weeks for air quality to improve. If not properly addressed, smoke can get inside of buildings and negatively impact indoor air quality (IAQ).  Building owners and facility managers need to know the best practices for reducing exposure to smoke inside offices, schools, and housing facilities.

Facts about IAQ

Outdoor air, including the fine particles from wildfire smoke, can enter a building in a few ways, including: 

- Natural Ventilation: Open windows and doors

- Mechanical Ventilation: Bathroom fans, kitchen fans, and HVAC systems with fresh air intake 

- Infiltration: Openings, joints, cracks

When smoke events occur, local and state health departments may issue air quality alerts notifications when specific actions are needed to protect the public. Building managers should use these notifications to know when to initiate mitigation measures in their smoke readiness plan, which should include these steps: 

1. Evaluate the HVAC Systems

To minimize occupant exposures and health impacts from smoke during wildfire events, facilities should first address any issues with their existing HVAC systems. In buildings where the HVAC system uses air-handling units that bring outside air into buildings or recirculate indoor air, facility owners and managers should follow a planning framework, like the guidelines set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).  This includes: 

- Performing maintenance on HVAC

- Upgrading filters

- Optimize system airflows 

- Adding supplemental filtration 

- Limiting areas for smoke intrusion 

- Adding the ability to monitor particulate matter

- Assessing how to create cleaner air

2. Stock up on portable air scrubbers

Additionally, those in areas prone to fires may consider purchasing equipment to improve IAQ during the duration of a smoke event. Portable air scrubbers, like  our PRED750, are self-contained air filtration devices that can be used alone or with central air filtration to effectively remove harmful particles from the air.The portable air scrubber should be equipped with a high-efficiency HEPA filter and be the right size for the room. It’s important to secure these crucial devices before a fire occurs in order to act quickly during a smoke event. In the event of emergencies, it’s important to find an air scrubber supplier that has the ability to ship orders as quickly as possible.

3. Choose the right filter 

Some air scrubbers are compatible with activated carbon filters.These filters are available for  all of Abatement Technologies’ HEPA-filtered equipment, including the PRED750 mentioned above. Activated carbon is a unique material that is often used to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odor, and other pollutants from the air, making it the optimal solution for smoke filtration. The benefits of activated carbon filters include their ability to adsorb a variety of vapor contaminants, organic molecules (especially solvents), and chemicals, as well as their large capacity to catalytically destroy ozone, a major component of smog. 

In addition to smoke, Abatement Technologies’ portable air scrubbers and carbon filters have been used to filter out a number of odors from buildings including chemicals, cleaning solvents, mildew, mold, and biohazards. 

Want to learn more about how Abatement Technologies can help protect your building during wildfire smoke events? Get in touch with one of our Aire Guardian experts. 

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