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National Flood Insurance Program %u0028NFIP%u0029
The federal program%u002C created by an act of Congress in 1968%u002C that makes flood insurance available in communities that enact satisfactory floodplain management regulations. This program is administered by FEMA.
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Natural Attenuation
The natural attenuation %u0028reduction%u0029 in concentration%u0028s%u0029 of chemicals and/or biological agents in an environment. Agents which are allowed to degrade and decompose naturally as the physical%u002C chemical and biological decay and decomposition processes proceed. Typically the term natural attenuation applies to soil remediation and occasionally it may apply to a building environment.
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Natural Ventilation
The movement of air into and out of a space through intentionally provided openings%u002C such as windows and doors%u002C through non-powered ventilators or by pressure changes and infiltration.
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NCCA %u0028National Carpet Cleaners Association%u0029
The NCCA is a British carpet and upholstery cleaners%u002C and water damage remediation organization%u002C that operates on behalf of its membership throughout the UK.
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Negative Air Machine
A machine with a fan or blower%u002C typically with HEPA and carbon filters%u002C which is able to negatively pressurize a room or area for a continuous period of time.
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Negative Air Pressure during Fungal Abatement
Negative air pressure is a differential in air pressure between the containment-unit and the surrounding space to prevent cross-contamination and fungal contamination from leaving the containment-unit abatement area. An air filtration device%u002C such as a HEPA filtered negative air machine%u002C must be used to negatively pressurize the work area.
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Negligible Residues
The amount of residues of pesticides or other agents%u002C that are considered to be acceptable on plants%u002C foods and buildings. Education Note%u003A In water damaged buildings%u002C negligible residue can mean the remaining microflora that are considered acceptable after clean-up and building material drying%u002C prior to building occupancy.
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Nematodes
Roundworms%u002C hookworms%u002C pinworms%u002C and whipworms%u002C are parasites and are pathogenic to humans and animals. a%u0029 Eating contaminated food and drinking contaminated water%u002C are some of the contributors to the disease. b%u0029 Other contributing health factors are hand-to-mouth contact with soil%u002C feces and contaminated water. See Ringworms
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Neurotoxins
Toxins from some bacteria and fungi that can be neurologically damaging to humans%u002C resulting in nerve tissue damage. Neurotoxins may cause other long-term health damage. See Aflatoxins%u002C Mycotoxins%u002C Endotoxins%u002C Toxins
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Neutral Cleaner
A mild detergent having a pH of 6 to 8%u002C that does not contain any strong alkali materials%u002C and is designed to remove soil or spills.
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Neutralize
a%u0029 The change of an acid or alkaline substance to a neutral pH of 7.0. b%u0029 The elimination of an odor or irritant substance. c%u0029 The ability to convert a substance into another chemical substance or state.
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NIDR Guidelines for Fire and Smoke Damage Repair
the National Institute of Disaster Restoration %u0028NIDR%u0029%u002C a division of The Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration %u0028ASCR%u0029 International. The NIDR guidelines for managing fire and smoke damage repair%u002C was first printed in October 1997 Edition. The NIDR guidelines incorporate the history of fire damage claims management%u002C categories of restoration to recommended restorative practices. For reprints of the NIDR guidelines contact ASCR%u002C International. See ASCR
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Noise Protection
The appropriate protection to be worn by employees for excess noise above 85 dba @ 8 hours TWA. %u002829 CFR 1910.95%u0029
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Noise Reduction %u0028NR%u0029
The difference between the average sound pressure levels of two spaces. Usually these two spaces are two adjacent rooms called%u002C respectively%u002C the source room and the receiving room.
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Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids %u0028NAPL%u0029
Chemicals that are only slightly soluble in water that exist as a separate liquid phase in environmental media. They can be less dense or more dense than water.
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Non-Bearing Wall
A non-supporting wall that has no weight bearing capabilities other than to itself.
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Non-Biodegradable
The description of organic compounds%u002C usually synthetic%u002C that are not decomposed or mineralized by microorganisms.
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Non-Biological Particles
Most often referred to as dusts and dirt%u002C and the natural deterioration of certain building materials. Yet%u002C these materials can carry with them biological elements. See Biological Particles%u002C Respirable Particles
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Non-Combustible
Building materials and contents which have a particular fire rating as being non-combustible when in the presence of a flame. Mitigation Note%u003A Some non-combustible fire rated building materials are highly porous%u002C and they may absorb water easily%u002C and some materials are susceptible to mold and decay. One of these materials include fire-retardant plywood %u0028FRT%u0029%u002C a construction material used as roof sheathing%u002C and it is subject to premature deterioration because of its hygroscopic qualities.
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Non-Conventional Pollutants
As outlined in the Clean Water Act%u002C water pollutants not listed as conventional pollutants or thermal discharges. These pollutants include ammonia%u002C chloride%u002C iron%u002C colour and total phenols.
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Non-Culturable
Those organisms that are dead or decaying and are not reproducible by attempting to grow them in a nutrient media in a laboratory. Non-culturable organisms are dead cells%u002C cell parts and hyphae%u002C which when stained and inspected under a microscope%u002C they can often be identified as to their genus%u002C or assumptions can be made about their classification. See Culturable%u002C Non-Viable%u002C Viable
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Non-Hazardous
Materials%u002C atmospheres and environments%u002C which have been pre-determined to be safe under most conditions.
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Non-Hazardous Work Environment
a%u0029 Those work environments%u002C that are under a standard level of care%u002C they do not pose any known physical harm%u002C and they provide for a safe and healthy work environment%u002C where PPE is not necessary or required. b%u0029 Those work environments which do not pose a direct or indirect risk or hazard%u002C to life or health.
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Non-Payment of Insurance Claim Debt
Non-payment of insurance claim debt%u002C is by an insured who receives payment from an insurance carrier %u005Bor a loan%u002C as a construction loan%u005D for your services%u002C and the insured does not pay you for those services%u002C or situations where the insured cashes the draft or check%u002C with the intent of using the money for other purposes. They are in violation of most state penal laws. Legal Note%u003A In California for example%u002C section 484 of the California Penal Code%u002C says%u002C ...any person who receives money for the purpose of obtaining or paying for services%u002C labor%u002C materials or equipment%u002C and willfully fails to apply such money for such purpose%u002C by either willfully failing to complete the improvements for which funds were provided or willfully failing to pay for services%u002C labour%u002C materials or equipment provided incident to such construction%u002C and wrongfully diverts the funds to a use other than that for which the funds were received%u002C shall be guilty of a public offense and punishable by fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars %u002810%u002C000%u0029%u002C or by imprisonment in the state prison not exceeding five years%u002C or in the county jail not exceeding one year%u002C or by both such fine and such imprisonment if the amount diverted in excess of one thousand dollars %u0028%u00241%u002C000%u0029. If the amount diverted is less than one thousand dollars %u0028%u00241%u002C000%u0029%u002C the person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition%u002C California Penal Code 484 says%u002C any person who submits to a false voucher to obtain construction loan funds and does not use the funds for the purpose for which the claim was submitted%u002C is guilty of embezzlement.
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Non-Permit Required Confine Space
A work space or entry which meets the confined space requirements%u002C and a space that does not have the potential to contain any hazard capable of causing death or serious physical harm. As far as atmospheric hazards are concerned%u002C a space that does not have atmospheric influences%u002C including the lack of breathable oxygen. Health and Mitigation Note%u003A Rooms%u002C buildings and substructures containing sewage%u002C harbor potential surface and airborne bacteria and viruses%u003B fungi contamination%u002C harbors surface and airborne mycotoxins%u003B and areas containing chemicals harbouring flammable%u002C explosives and toxics%u002C are all confined work spaces%u002C bordering on permit required confined space. See Confined Space%u002C Permit Required Confined Space
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Non-Persistant Pollutant
A chemical or substance that can cause damage to organisms such as sewage bacteria in soil or attached ground%u002C when added in excessive amounts to counteract the bacteria presence. The chemical or substance is allowed to degrade naturally through decay and bioaugmentation in situ%u002C and they do not pose a health concern to the ground%u002C ground water or human populations. Some chemical substances considered may include detergents and commercial peroxides.
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Non-Resident Organisms
Foreign organisms such as sewage bacteria coliforms and mold growth in buildings. Non-resident organisms%u002C especially pathogenic coliform bacteria%u002C do not belong in a clean healthy building. See Biotic Factor%u002C Resident Organisms
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Non-Viable
Dead or non-reproductive or reproducible cells and spores. See Non-Culturable
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Nosocomial
Diseases or infections that are hospital caused or contracted.
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Nuisance Dusts
Dusts which are not expected to cause adverse health effects on the lungs%u002C and they are not expected to produce significant biologic organic diseases or toxic affects%u002C when exposure levels are kept under control. Nuisance dusts are irritants%u002C and they are responsible for cause from allergic-like dust responses in some persons.
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Nutrient
Any substance which an organism obtains from its environment an energy source.
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