Method of preventing intrusion of toxic vapor into indoor air

Abstract

Methods of preventing intrusion of toxic vapor into a building's interior air space. Contaminants operative to diffuse through a building's foundation and contaminate a building's interior air space are first determined. Once identified, the building's foundation, typically formed of concrete, will first be prepared for surface treatment followed by an application of at least one coating of a material suitable for imparting chemical resistance in the concrete. Such material may include novolac, vinyl novolac and related resin-based epoxy coatings. Such coatings, once applied, provide a protective barrier from commonly encountered contaminants, including a wide variety of volatile organic compounds. Such coatings are further expected to last the life of the building, or until physical wear requires repair or replacement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for preventing intrusion of toxic contaminants into the interior air space of a building built upon a concrete foundation through which said contaminants permeate and contaminate the interior air space, the method comprising the steps:
 a. detecting the presence of contaminants within the building's interior air space or in nearby soil or groundwater;   b. preparing the top surface of the building's concrete foundation for receiving a topical application of a material;   c. applying a first layer of material upon said top surface of said concrete foundation and allowing said first layer to dry;   d. applying a second layer topcoat upon said layer formed in step c), said first and second layers reacting with one another to define a material operative to form a barrier preventing said contaminants from permeating through said foundation and into said interior air space of said building.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step a) and d), said materials applied to said concrete foundation chemically resistant two-part epoxy coatings. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said chemically resistant two-part epoxy coatings are selected from the group consisting of novolac and vinyl novolac. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first layer is applied to have a thickness from between 5-20 mil and said second layer is applied to have a thickness from between 10-40 mil. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said material applied for said first and second layers is selected from the group consisting of novolac, vinyl novolac, Bisphenol A resin-based epoxy coatings, and Bisphenol F resin-based epoxy coatings. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step a, said contaminant is identified as being a contaminant selected from the group consisting of tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, dichloroethylene isomers, vinyl chloride, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene isomers, and other chlorinated and petroleum VOCs (volatile organic compounds).