Can You Live in a House That Has Smoke Damage?

Smoke damage from a fire can have long-lasting effects on a property and the health of its occupants. Whether you can live in a house that has experienced smoke damage depends on several factors such as In this blog post, we will explore the dangers of smoke damage, the types of damage it causes, and…

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Air Quality in Newly-Built Homes

VOCs and paints

Residential construction in New Zealand is at levels not seen since the 1970s. The number of consents granted has been increasing since 2011. Since the 1970s, much has changed: Building codes have tightened (insulation, double-glazing etc.) Solid Rimu framing has been replaced by treated timber or steel Materials containing asbestos are no longer commonplace The…

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Car Air Quality: Risks to Health and How to Improve It

Kid's science experiment to measure CO2 levels in cars

Carbon dioxide over 700ppm (parts per million) can affect your cognitive ability.  Sleeping in a car without ventilation creates concentrations of carbon dioxide that can have a detrimental effect on your health (More info on CO2 and cognitive function). Background on High Carbon Dioxide High carbon dioxide (CO2) levels may indicate poor air quality and…

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Indoor Air Pollution and COVID-19

Circulate clean air into the home

What’s happening? Many people around the world are currently being forced to stay at home to ease the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The only current permitted outdoor ventures consists of a trip to the local supermarket or pharmacy for essential supplies, or for a brief foray of solitary exercise. In New Zealand on April…

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Gas Heaters in Homes

Open flame gas heaters are a problem in the home

Every time I see one of these heaters I get a sudden urge to find my sledge hammer and beat it to death. In fact, the existence and use of these heaters in New Zealand totally mystifies me because of the following reasons: They have a detrimental effect on air quality in the home. Moisture…

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Crystalline Silica from Concrete Dust

Silica and Concrete Dust Concrete dust contains crystalline silica, which is often referred to as silica. Technically, they are different, but for simplicity, it will only be referred to as silica in this blog post. If you want to understand the difference, please see our web page on silica testing. The Problem with Silica Dust…

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Air Quality in Childhood Centres

Indoor air quality in the classroom

Auckland Air Quality in Childhood Centres The Auckland region has over 100,000 children aged four and under. Around 40,000 of them are in early childhood centres for an average of 21 hours per week. As their lungs are still developing, children are often more susceptible to health risks caused by airborne pollutants. The Auckland regional…

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