40-20 Stay White

Fungicidal protective coating for improved indoor air quality

The EPA has long identified that indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of the top environmental health risks. This is not surprising given that the indoor pollutant levels are 2-5 times more concentrated than for outdoor air. Nearly 50% of IAQ problems are related to the air handling systems.

Given the fact that people spend 90% of their time indoors, breathing contaminated air it is not surprising that sick building syndrome (SBS) and building related illness (BRI) have become common features. Headaches, sore throats, eye irritation, asthma are steadily on the rise and result in a substantial loss in productivity.

Mould growth on any surface within a building can be a serious health hazard that needs to be addressed. A court case in the US has led to a US$32 million insurance pay out due to a neglected toxic mould contamination of a mansion in Texas. Incorrect building materials, insufficient ventilation / heating and water leakage can easily lead to mould contamination sometimes not visible, within the building construction. We have all come across the innocent looking black spots, washed them off only to see them come back again. Little are we aware that mould is a serious contaminant of indoor air quality and should be addressed if we value our health. The first step is for investigations to be carried out by experts. The results should specify the type of mould, the extent of the contamination and the source. Decontamination is also a job for experts following health and safety procedures and preventing the risk of further contamination.

If the contamination comes from inside the room and is superficial a low cost solution may well be cleaning and a 20-40 Stay White coating. This registered EPA product will not support mould, mildew, fungus, legionella and odour causing bacteria growth. The coating is easy to apply and very suited for walls and ceilings in humid areas such as bathrooms and basements. In fact 40-20 may well be applied as a preventive measure.

Buildings with mechanical ventilation have many hidden sources of contamination. In the past it was common practice to line the interior of air ducts with insulation increasing thermal and acoustic properties. These linings, however, also collect dirt, debris and air pollutants providing an ideal environment for growth of microorganisms. Removal of the dirt is only solution provided the lining is still in good condition. If the lining is damaged it will need to be removed, often leaving some adhesives used to attach the linings. These adhesives if exposed may become food for mould growth. Once the cleaning or removal has been accomplished the application of a fungicidal protective coating has proven to be a long term solution.

Case studies over long periods of time in the US have clearly proved 40-20 Stay White to be very effective. The State of Minnesota for example promotes 40-20 Stay White in its standard "guidelines for managing indoor air quality."