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Maine Indoor Air Quality Council (MIAQC) provides resource information for Maine Facilities

The Maine Indoor Air Quality Council (MIAQC) has shared the following opportunity for a FREE credentialing program for healthcare building managers, along with two upcoming webinars that may be of interest to MHCA members. 

Badge (Microcredential) Program: Free Credentialing Learning Opportunity 

The Maine Indoor Air Quality Council, in partnership with Eastern Maine Community College and Maine Quality Centers, recently created and published two on-line microcredential (badge programs) on “Introduction to IAQ Management to Reduce COVID-19 Exposures” and “HVAC Basics for COVID-19 Readiness”.  These microcredential sessions 1) introduce users to the basic approaches to reduce virus exposures when indoors; and 2) introduce users to the various types of HVAC systems, the role of ventilation and filtration to reduce viral exposures, and basic operations and procedures to ensure system function. 

Following successful completion of the programs and post program quizzes, users receive a digital badge for placement in their e-mail signature, on a resume, or on their professional web page.  These badge sessions are free.  You can access registration
here.

Upcoming Free Webinars

Using CO2 to Assess Ventilation: Thursday March 11, 2:00pm
Details and registration available
here.
 Thanks to COVID-19, facilities managers and owners have become acutely aware of the need to ventilate indoor spaces to virus reduce exposures. Knowing whether or not adequate ventilation is available is critical.  You cannot “see” ventilation in indoor spaces, because air and air movement are invisible.  But you can measure it.  One of the easiest methods to assess ventilation is by measuring CO2.  Because CO2 indoors is generated by people exhaling into an indoor space, measuring how much CO2 is present can indicate whether or not there is sufficient ventilation indoors to exhaust CO2 and other airborne pollutants, thus reducing virus exposure.   Measuring CO2 isn't as simple as waving a magic wand (a hand-held CO2 meter) or installing a magic box (electronic controls for an HVAC system). It's important to know when, where, and how to measure CO2 properly, so that users can be accurately informed on their ventilation strategies. This one-hour webinar will briefly discuss various methods to use CO2 measurements to assess ventilation, and will discuss specifics of where, when, and how to properly measure CO2 to accurately inform users of ventilation options.  Presenter is Greg Marles, President of Thayer Corporation and former school and municipal facilities manager.

HVAC Basics: Wednesday March 24, 2:00pm
Details and registration available
here.
This free, one-hour webinar will present the content of our “HVAC Basics” badge microcredential in a live, webinar format.  The presenters include Richard Rollins, PE, developer of the badge microcredential, and Bill Hansen, PE, Facilities Director for RSU 14.  Topics addressed include: 
  • An understanding of mechanical systems within a building that have significant impact on  indoor air quality and our health. 
  • An understanding of the role of ventilation air in minimizing risk of airborne disease transmission.
  • An understanding of the role of filtration in minimizing risk of airborne disease transmission.
  • Recommended practices for operating and improving HVAC system to minimize risk of airborne disease transmission.
Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org