Green buildings have been in the works for quite some time now, especially in facilities run by the Government Services Administration, the largest real estate manager in the world.

So-called “Green Lease paragraphs” date back to executive orders of 1998 and 1999, promoting greening the government. In July 2000, PX-2000-02 was issued. This provided GSA realty specialists with leasing, energy, and environmental business practices, as well as the SFO language needed to comply with the executive orders.

It also supplied instructions on how to apply correct green language, based on the individual nature and type of procurement.

A GSA document, filename SFO_8-29- 08.pdf, is a template that GSA can use on behalf of all agencies, as a Solicitation for Offer for leasing office space. This is a 60-page document that sets out many standards.

Of special interest is paragraph 9.6- A…, which says the Lessor shall control contaminants at the source and/or operate the space in such a manner that the GSA indicator levels for carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and formaldehyde (HCHO) are not exceeded. The indicator levels for office areas shall be: CO 9 ppm time weighted average (TWA 8 hour sample); CO2 1,000 ppm (TWA); HCHO 0.1 ppm (TWA).

There are several issues with this paragraph that will be addressed in subsequent numbered items. Measurements of CO and CO2 in commercial occupancies, for HVAC control, are generally done with in-duct detectors, such Greystone or GE Sensing.

GE Sensing provides the Telaire lowcost infrared CO2 unit—priced at under $500. Vaisala also provides an in-duct infrared CO2 unit. AirTest Technologies is yet another supplier of in-duct infrared CO2 units. Note that these units are also available in wall-mount configurations, from all suppliers. Greystone provides separate units for both CO and CO2, presumably priced in the same range.

All commercially-available CO2 units mentioned above will accommodate the 1000 ppm requirement, at least in that this value is well within the usual 0-2000 ppm measuring range. However, any calculation of TWA would have to be done by the building management system.

Initial inquires to Andover Controls (now TAC) suggest that while such reporting could certainly be accomplished, it is not standard at this time. To be sure, they have done much work with the pharmaceutical industry, whereby logs of temperature and humidity—with peaks and some averaging—are required.

CO measurement is another matter. The typical HVAC-configured CO monitor does not have sufficient sensitivity to meet the 9 ppm requirement. For example, the Greystone unit has a range of 0-300 ppm with accuracy of ±10 ppm or ±5 percent of reading—whichever is greater.

Let me tell you about mechanical engineering consultant Rick Ritner’s sticker shock when he found out what our formaldehyde monitors cost, compared to the typical HVAC stuff. Imagine how he would like to buy a Gas Filter Correlation CO unit, which is really the only technology recommended for low CO measurements.

I suppose we could look at our own stuff, with extra signal conditioning— since the word “maintenance” does not seem to exist in these applications.

What was GSA Thinking of Here?

As to HCHO, everything said about CO would apply, but even if price were no object, there is really not a suitable unit for this application. We had recommended to Ritner—and I have already mentioned to GSA—the use of a portable unit for intermittent survey work, or in response to tenant complaints.

I suppose the same course could be recommended for the low CO requirement.

Contacts at GSA seem to think that the levels stipulated in Section 9.6-A of the SFO are “suggestions,” but many people are already calling us looking for equipment that can actually monitor for compliance.

We have to reach GSA and the HVAC types involved to put some common sense into this thing. They will NEVER be able to monitor CO at 9 ppm or HCHO at 0.1 ppm for the price they are used to paying. ❑ Michael D. Shaw is executive VP and director of marketing for Interscan Corp., a provider of gas detection solutions. For more, go to www.gasdetection. com. To ask him a gas detection or industrial hygiene related question, email him at mike@fsmmag.com.