Is Collaboration How We’ll Make Air Duct Cleaning Top-of-Mind in the IAQ Conversation? We Think So!

In mid-August, NADCA’s very own Michael McDavid and Brooks Ingrassia attended the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s (GBAC) inaugural Air Symposium in Chicago. The event focused on improving the quality of indoor air in non-healthcare settings (such as convention centers, hotels, and stadiums), and featured presentations by many heavy-hitting scientists and leaders in air quality, including a keynote with Dr. Deborah Birx, a world-renowned medical physician, infectious disease expert, and diplomat; John Lowe, PhD, an Associate Professor who serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health Security Training and Education, Director of Research for the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit and National Quarantine Unit, and Executive Director of Training for the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; Dr. John McKeon, medical entrepreneur and CEO of Allergy Standards Ltd (ASL), an international standards and certification body; as well as Dr. Mark Hernandez, PhD.

These influential speakers communicated best practices, advances in innovations, programs, and processes, and how the implementation of each will make facilities safer, not only during a pandemic, but after the current crisis is way behind us as well.

You may be asking what’s important about Michael and Brooks attending? The answer is quite simple! Not only did the coronavirus pandemic change our lives tremendously — it also turned everyday conversation about indoor air quality (IAQ) on its head. Sure, before the pandemic, there were discussions about IAQ to a certain degree, but the pandemic made IAQ top-of-mind around the world, and unfortunately, all too often, the IAQ conversation doesn’t include even the slightest whisper of air duct cleaning.

As we move forward post-pandemic, and companies continue to bring staff back to the office and students have finally returned to the classroom, everyone is talking about filters, ventilation, and UV lighting, as well as all sorts of new (often unproven) technologies. While these are all very important pieces of healthy IAQ, there’s certainly not enough mention of air duct cleaning. We’re left scratching our heads, wondering why it isn’t a bigger part of the conversation, and how we can change the perceptions of HVAC system cleaning and restoration. 

Michael and Brooks, who are both members of NADCA’s Board of Directors, and long-time volunteers, attended the event on behalf of NADCA. They showed support of the GBAC mission and became part of the conversation for how the industry is responding to IAQ challenges, as well as took the opportunity to collaborate with others in the IAQ industry. They shared ACR, The NADCA Standard, and garnered some attention because, “Wait, you guys have a standard for what you do? I want to know more!”

Michael was interviewed during the event, and discussed the importance of collaboration between NADCA and other organizations focused on indoor air quality to enhance the future of our health. Watch the interview here: https://youtu.be/fKhAaQeh65U.

Board member attendance at the event is just one way NADCA is focused on collaborating with others in the industry. We’ve been working continuously to put air duct cleaning front and center of the IAQ conversation. In fact, we’re on a quest for science-based evidence to legitimize our industry and support the need for duct cleaning (our Scientific Committee, chaired by Michael McDavid, is leading the effort). 

We recently partnered with the GBAC on an air guidance document, and we continue to nurture and build upon our shared efforts with the members of the Allied Industry Partners, including: the American Bio Recovery Association (ABRA); the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH); the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA); the Basement Health Association (BHA); the Environmental Information Association (EIA); and the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA). 

We believe it's partnership and collaboration with these like-minded organizations that will help make air duct cleaning part of the broad IAQ conversation. 

It’s an exciting time for NADCA as we work to forge new, innovative partnerships and strategies to validate the HVAC system cleaning industry and drive business to our members. We’ll continue to focus on innovation and validation for our industry, and we’ll keep pushing duct cleaning into the larger indoor air quality and HVAC arenas. That’s our promise to our members!

Learn more about the 2022 GBAC Symposium here: https://gbac.issa.com/events/gbac-symposium-2022/