Air Date: 5-11-2012| Episode: 247
Michael W. (Mickey) Lee is currently a private consultant providing consulting, training, research and writing services in the fields of property damage restoration, psychrometrics, drying science, mold remediation and structural drying after water intrusions…
Full Description:
Michael W. (Mickey) Lee is currently a private consultant providing consulting, training, research and writing services in the fields of property damage restoration, psychrometrics, drying science, mold remediation and structural drying after water intrusions. Mr. Lee retired from the Munters Corp (US) in 2011 after serving in various roles for over 20 years. At various points Mr. Lee was Vice-President – Global Technology & Sustainability for Munters AB – MCS and Global and National Technical & Training Manager for Munters Corp (US). He was responsible for training program development, curriculum writing and course facilitation in addition to managing projects for structural drying and restoration of commercial buildings. He also has extensive experience in application of air treatment technology in restorative drying projects, corrosion-control methods, mold mitigation and humidity control in commercial and industrial facilities while working with Munters Corporation – Moisture Control Services Division.
Recognizing his vast experience in water damage restoration the IICRC asked him to lead the development of their Commercial Drying Specialist certification. This program completed its’ full roll-out in 2009 and continues to be a popular offering. Mr. Lee continues to serve as committee chair for the Commercial Drying Specialist Certification program and also serves on the IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration revision committee.
Z-Man’s Blog:
How dry I am
Michael “Mickey” Lee is widely acknowledged as an authority in the science of materials drying. Mickey, who openly admits to having a curious mind, learned the trade of moisture control and materials drying in his 20+ year career with, Munters, the Swedish global leader.
Nuggets mined from today’s show:
· Air is suspended as a gas. Water vapor behaves like other gases.
· Why does moisture behave differently in air than it does in materials? I guess the answer is because it does.
· Most memorable project, R.M. Clayton sewage treatment plant in Georgia. Combination of technical and human relations challenges. hazards, customer communication, 45 materially interested parties, multiple floors underground. Perhaps it was the smell?
· Evangelista Torricelli, “we live submerged at the bottom of an ocean of air”
· Vapor press sure is the driving force for moisture movement through materials.
· Materials drying requires getting energy into materials
· Does air contain water or does air hold water? “According to Georgia Stae University’s Professor C. R. Nave, “nothing in air attracts moisture” checkout his website: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hph.html
· Energy = heat. Energy causes phase change liquid to gas. A loss of energy results in condensation
· Latent heat is hidden heat, as opposed to sensible heat which can be felt.
· Advocate of forced air drying, pressurizing interstitial spaces to promote drying.
· Restorer must move moisture to the surface and then move it out.
· Capillary action is much more efficient than vapor diffusion.
· Free water, encountered at the outset of a drying project, is most efficiently removed by maximizing differential of vapor pressure, heat is not beneficial at the beginning of a drying project. When capillaries in materials are dry and the challenge is bound water, use of heat is beneficial.
· Heat, energy, airflow and humidity control are the dynamics that can be manipulated by a restorer during the drying process.
· Materials drying involves moisture migration + evaporation
When people who know him, talk about Mickey Lee they usually use two adjectives to describe him, an “n” word and a “k” word; the “n” word is nice and the “k” word is knowledgeable.
Today’s music: “Oy. it’s so humid” by 2 Live Jews
Z-man signing off
