NYSERDA Residential Baseline

Health and Safety Key Considerations for Baseline Project

Overview

•  Comprehensive Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) testing is not required

•  CO levels and noticeable odor of natural gas leak are key concerns that can trigger specific protocols

•  All other health and safety concerns are primarily following the visual / sensory portion of BPI health and safety standards

•  Your background in building science should alert you to any urgent health and safety problems

•  Communicate basic health and safety concerns and alert occupants/building staff to adverse conditions when they are identified.

•  Ask: Does this present a health concern? •  Use notes section and take photographs in Tool

•  We will review together the following protocols •  Carbon Monoxide Protocol

•  Gas Leak Safety Protocol

•  These are in your binders and in the Baseline Tool

•  Takeaways •  What are trigger points

•  When and who to call

•  When to terminate the inspection

•  Impact on incentive

Baseline Reporting Protocols

Carbon Monoxide Protocol

•  Please review along with your handout at end of section 6 or in iPad

Carbon Monoxide Protocol continued

Carbon Monoxide Protocol continued

Carbon Monoxide Protocol continued

Carbon Monoxide Protocol continued

Gas Leak Safety Protocol

Gas Leak Safety Protocol continued

Gas Leak Safety Protocol continued

•  Test for CO levels throughout •  Record these CO levels in Tool

•  Single-Family Home •  Main Home •  Mechanical Room/CAZ •  Kitchen

•  Multi-Family •  Individual Dwelling Units •  Mechanical Room •  Common Facilities

•  PSD staff inspectors are using wearable digital CO detectors

CO Testing

If you experience even

mild CO poisoning symptoms, immediately

consult a physician

•  Mild Exposure •  Slight headache •  Nausea •  Vomiting •  Fatigue •  Flu-like symptoms

•  Medium Exposure •  Throbbing headache •  Drowsiness •  Confusion •  Fast heart rate

CO Symptoms of Exposure

•  Extreme Exposure •  Convulsions

•  Unconsciousness

•  Brain damage

•  Heart and lung failure followed by death

Effects of CO Exposure

Visual Inspection: Combustion Equipment

•  Evidence of flame rollout •  Scorch marks near the burner on

outside of water heater, boiler or furnace

•  Evidence of poor flue gas venting: •  Vent is not disconnected or missing •  Vent is damaged, rusted out •  Vent is incorrectly installed

•  Vent is disconnected or missing, or does not terminate to the outdoors

•  Evidence of backdraft / corrosion

•  Flame Roll-Outs •  DHW----à

•  Furnace

•  Combustibles near ignition sources •  Verify presence of CO alarms and smoke detectors

Visual Inspection: Other

•  Moisture - Signs of moisture problems or mold

Other Things to Document

•  Pests - Pest problems identified by visual inspection and/or occupant complaints shall be documented

Other Things to Document

•  Lead (Pb) - take care not to disturb existing lead-containing materials during the site visit.

Other Things to Document

•  Fire Hazards –Dryer Vents can be a source of fire hazard.

Other Things to Document

•  Asbestos -Take care not to disturb asbestos-containing materials. If asbestos (or vermiculite) are present, proceed with data collection, however do not perform air infiltration testing.

Other Things to Document

Open Electrical Junction Boxes Knob and Tube wiring

•  Electrical – Inspectors shall identify presence of knob and tube wiring and other visual observations of electrical components such as frayed wiring, open junction boxes

Other Things to Document

•  CO Leak Protocol •  Gas Leakage Protocol

Handouts