The New York City Housing Authority completed its roof fan replacement project as part of a series of initiatives to reduce and address root causes of mold. Between 2020 and 2022, the Authority replaced 6,188 roof fans, which are designed to exhaust air out of bathrooms and kitchens via horizontal ducts, and engineers deemed an additional 2,248 roof fans fully functional and safe. “Completion on this roof fan project is the culmination of two years of complex work involving many partners and will result in better ventilation to residents, potentially preventing moisture in bathrooms and kitchens,” said NYCHA Interim Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “It is going to mean real changes for residents in reducing mold and is a major accomplishment for NYCHA.” High indoor moisture and humidity are two of the leading root causes of mold within NYCHA’s residential buildings. NYCHA estimates that 51 percent of all the buildings in its portfolio have at least one building line that relies on mechanical ventilation for either the bathroom, kitchen, or both. This mechanical ventilation, which includes roof fans, does not function as HVAC systems (which exchange or introduce air flow) and does not circulate the airflow amongst various units (as central air systems do). NYCHA installed the roof fans in three phases: · Phase 1 – 1,308 roof fans were installed and 249 were retained; · Phase 2 – 4,288 roof fans were installed and 1,672 were retained; and · Phase 3 – 592 roof fans were installed and 327 were retained. Press release: https://www.nyc.gov/site/nycha/about/press/pr-2022/pr-20221122.page #CleanVentsIntiative #RoofFans #NYCHA #MoldBusters