Grand Design Imagine, Owner'S Manual

Page: 43 / 180

41
Occupant Safety
mildew, viruses, animal dander, and pollen, (ii) Household
products such as paints, varnishes, cleaning and disinfecting
solutions, cosmetics and hobby products, and (iii) Pesticides.
Ventilation.
To reduce or lessen exposure to chemicals from
off-gassing it is of utmost importance that you ventilate your
RV. Ventilation should occur frequently after purchase and at
times when the temperatures and humidity are elevated.
Remember off-gassing is accelerated by heat and humidity.
Open windows, exhaust vents, and doors. Operate ceiling
and/or other fans, roof air conditioners, and furnaces and use
a fan to force stale air out and bring fresh air in. Decreasing
the flow of air by sealing RV increases the presence of indoor
air pollutants.
Please also follow the recommendations contained in this
manual regarding tips to avoid condensation problems. Many
of the recommendations contained in the manual will assist in
avoiding exposure to chemicals that off-gas.
Air Cleaners.
Air cleaners are designed to remove particles
from the air. There are many types and sizes of air cleaners
on the market. However, air cleaners are not generally de-
signed to remove gaseous pollutants. The effectiveness of
an air cleaner depends on how well it collects pollutants from
indoor air and how much air it draws through the cleaning or
filtering element.
CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY
After you first purchase your new RV, and sometimes after it
has been closed up for an extended period of time, you may
notice a strong odor and chemical sensitivity. This is not a de-
fect in your RV. Like your home, there are many different prod-
ucts used in the construction of RVs such as carpet, linoleum,
plywood, insulation, upholstery, etc. Formaldehyde is also the
by-product of combustion and numerous household products,
such as some paints, coatings and cosmetics.
However, RVs are much smaller than your home and there-
fore the exchange of air inside a RV is less than a home.
These products, when new or when exposed to elevated
temperatures and/or humidity may “off-gas” different chemi-
cals, including formaldehyde. This off-gassing, in combination
with the minimal air exchange, may cause you to experience
irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat and sometimes head-