Library builder

Introduction Construction specifications are the detailed written instructions that support architec­tural drawings. Together, the “specs” and the drawings comprise the construction docu­ments. The drawings explain the physical lay­out and appearance of the building, how it will be structured, and the choice of general construction materials. Specifications con­tain instructions that cannot be shown easily on the […]

Anderson, Nina et al. Your Health and Your House. Keats Publishing, 1995. A resource guide to health symptoms and the indoor air pollutants that aggravate them. Banta, John. Extreme Weather Hits Home: Protecting Your Buildings from Climate Change. New So­ciety Publishers, 2007. Discusses measures that can be taken to prevent or lessen the effects of […]

In 1996 E. B. was a 58-year-old man with a ten-year history of chronic sinus congestion, hoarseness, and headaches. By the time he consulted with Dr. Elliott, he had tried many forms of treatment, in­cluding nasal surgery, frequent courses of antibi­otics, decongestants, and steroid nasal drops. After removing dairy products from his diet, he noticed […]

Identifying the cause of smelly indoor air can be a complex process. The English language is not a good tool for describing smells and there is of­ten little agreement about what an odor smells like, making it difficult for a professional to iden­tify the offending substance from a description of the smell. To make identification […]

Inthe 1950s it was estimated that about Mpercent of the population suffered from allergies. Accord­ing to some estimates, this proportion at present is estimated at between 40 and 75 percent. Why the dramatic increase? Allergists in Japan pondered the same question. A hypothesis was put forth that certain chemicals act as sensitizing agents. To test […]

The process of performing a building inspection to address a client’s concerns is much more than taking instrument readings and reporting on the findings. A good building inspectorshould be part building scientist, part investigative journalist, part psychologist, and part building contractor. A nickname for the home inspector is"house doc­tor," which makes sense since the process […]

When Dori Bennett was 46 she consulted with Dr. Elliott for the sudden onset of severe asthma. She had apparently been in good health until she moved into a new home. A leak in the home was repaired prior to the move, and the house had passed inspection. After her asthma progressed to the point […]

In 1993 when Tomasita Gallegos was 37 years old she first consulted Dr. Elliott. At that time she was frightened, in a state of severe agitation, and somewhat disoriented. Her face was bright red; her mouth showed increased salivation; her eyes were watery with constricted pupils; and her skin was warm to the touch. She […]

E. Merriam is a 59-year-old woman who com­plained of frequent flu-ІІке symptoms after begin­ning employment at a new location. Symptoms seemed to recur every month and were especially severe over the winter. Conventional medications were of no benefit. After two years of watching her health decline, she discovered that the building in which she worked […]

Barbara Adler was in good health until March 1996, when she experienced the sudden onset of severe migraine headaches, loss of energy, fre­quent dizzy spells, and difficulty concentrating. She consulted with a neurologist and many other health care practitioners overthe ensuing months, but none was able to help relieve her symptoms or shed light on […]