Fungal colonisation of porous air handling components: Evaluation of biostatic treatments for air filters and fibreglass duct liner

摘要

Several IAQ practitioners have cited porous heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) fibreglass insulation as a potentially dangerous reservoir for hypersensitising and/or toxigenic fungi in centralised air handling systems. Our laboratories have examined new and used HVAC fibreglass insulation materials for their susceptibility to fungal colonisation in environmental chambers containing over 50 diverse species of fungi. Fungal colonisation of unused fibre-glass duct liner in the environmental chamber was observed with unaided vision after about 120 days in the chamber. Acrylic latex paints containing a low solubility phosphated quaternary amine complex applied to the air stream side of the duct liner remained free of fungal colonisation during the same exposure period.