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When summer temperatures rise and individuals in a building begin to complain about musty smells, the culprit might be the building’s HVAC system if there is mold within the ductwork. As the air in the building circulates, it could blow mold spores onto documents and affect the health of the individuals inside. By knowing how mold infiltrates an HVAC system, you can act quickly to remedy the problem and prevent mold on documents.

A power plant being offline for anything other than scheduled maintenance is never a good thing. Corrosion in power plants, however, is one of the greatest risks to an operation because of the generation of steam and surface exposure to hot combustion gases. Using humidity control for protective surface coatings and the regulation of ambient conditions will keep plants online, operational costs lower and workers safer.

One of the primary sources of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and other pollutants is power plants. To maintain compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Act, preventing corrosion in power plants using temporary humidity control is necessary, particularly during the application of protective surface coatings or while plants are shut down for maintenance. While most forms of corrosion are detrimental, certain types do more damage than others.

Power processing facilities experience billions of dollars of corrosion-related damage on metal and alloy materials each year. Allowing corrosion to persist can lead to operating failures, which can have fatal consequences. Power plant lay-ups are one of the methods that plant operators use to prevent corrosion. The protective measures are most effective when applied consistently and continuously.

The reasons for employing humidity control for power plants extend beyond corrosion prevention. It’s vital for protecting the plant’s most vital assets: its workers. Operations within a plant involve radiant heat sources, high humidity, strenuous activities and protective clothing that could cause serious heat-related illnesses (e.g., heat rash, cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke) or even death. While the ideal temperature for workers varies by individual, the acceptable range for ensuring employee health is narrow.