ASTM Subcommittees D22.05 on Indoor Air and E06.41 on Air Leakage and Ventilation Performance are pleased to announce the workshop, “Investigation and Laboratory Analysis Techniques for ‘Black Soot’ Phenomena,” to be held Monday, Oct. 23, 1:30-5:30 p.m. at the Omni Rosen Hotel, Orlando, Fla.

The workshop will be held in conjunction with the Committee Week meetings of D22 on Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres, and E06 on Performance of Buildings. Attendance is cost-free and open to non-members. Registration is required; pre-registration is advised.

In recent years, numerous complaints have been received on the unexpected appearance of soot-like material in new or newly renovated residential and commercial buildings. These stains form around ventilation grilles, on carpets, walls, plastic objects, and other materials. The workshop will provide a forum for discussion of investigations and laboratory analysis of “black soot” samples to assess the state-of-the-art methodologies used for field and laboratory investigations. Standardization needs will also be examined.

A tentative agenda at this time includes:
--Possible mechanisms to explain “black soot” phenomena;
--Overview of on-site investigation methodologies;
--Techniques and results of laboratory analysis of “black soot”;
--Methodologies, results, and the status of standardization; and
--Concluding comments and discussion.

Workshop co-chairs are Niren Nagda, Ph.D., ENERGEN Consulting, Inc., Germantown, Md., the technical vice-chair of ASTM Committee D22 on Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres, and David Ensor, Ph.D., Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle, N.C., member, ASTM Committee F01 on Electronics.

Registration ends Oct. 3. For general workshop details including hotel accommodations, contact director George Luciw, ASTM (610/832-9710). Technical questions may be directed to Dr. Niren Nagda, ENERGEN Consulting, Inc., Md., (301/540-1300).

Copyright 2000, ASTM