Mould Investigation. Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School 101 Mason Boulevard North York, Ontario

Transcription

1 Mould Investigation Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School 101 Mason Boulevard North York, Ontario Prepared for: Toronto Catholic District School Board Prepared by: Stantec Consulting Ltd Derry Road West, Suite 300 Mississauga, ON L5N 0B3 Project No.:

2 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION SCOPE OF WORK LIMITATIONS OF SURVEY INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES INVESTIGATIVE METHODOLOGY ASSESSMENT SAMPLING SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT FINDINGS GENERAL CONDITIONS INTERIOR INSPECTION SURFACE SAMPLING AIR SAMPLING RECOMMENDATIONS CLOSURE... 7 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Summary of Inspection... 3 Table 2 Tape Lift Sample Laboratory Analysis Results... 4 LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX A LABORATORY ANALYTICAL REPORT... A.1 Project No.: i

3 1.0 Introduction Stantec Consulting Ltd. (Stantec) was commissioned by Toronto Catholic District School Board to conduct a Mould Investigation at the building located at 101 Mason Boulevard in North York, Ontario. It is our understanding that water intrusion occurred in Room 110 of the school and musty odours have been noted by staff. The primary purpose of the assessment was to check if visible deposits on surfaces were mould growth, as well as to provide recommendations for the remediation if necessary. Michael Shortt and William MaddenMacavelia of Stantec conducted the limited mould assessment on September 23 and 24, This report outlines the findings of the assessment. 1.1 SCOPE OF WORK The following scope of work was undertaken: A visual inspection of suspect mould growth on surfaces; Collection of air samples (2 samples indoors, 1 outdoor reference) for submission to an independent laboratory for analysis; and Collection of two (2) bulk/tapelift samples of building materials exhibiting suspect mould growth within the subject areas for submission to an independent laboratory for analysis to identify the mould forms present in the sample submitted. 1.2 LIMITATIONS OF SURVEY The information and observations contained within this report are based on visual assessments of the interior surfaces of the building (i.e., walls, ceilings and floors), as well as laboratory analysis. The conclusions given in this report are based on data obtained during the assessment and can only be extrapolated to an undefined limited area surrounding the sample locations. This assessment does not constitute a building envelope/building systems assessment, which would include an intrusive investigation to assess the internal condition, potential moisture sources, and expected remaining service life of the various components and systems comprising the envelope of a building. Therefore, conclusions made in this report will offer observed and/or potential sources of moisture leading to observed suspect and/or confirmed mould growth and water staining within the subject areas. These conclusions will not necessarily provide the only sources of moisture within the subject areas leading to suitable conditions for mould growth. Project No.:

4 2.0 Industry Standards and Guidelines The scope of work and assessment are based on the recommendations provided in the following documents: Mould Guidelines for The Canadian Construction Industry, Canadian Construction Association 82, 2004 Mould Abatement Guidelines, Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario, Edition 2, 2010 Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environment, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, November 2008 Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), 1999 Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: Health Effects and Investigation Methods, Federal Provincial Committee on Environmental and Occupational Health, 2004 Field Guide for the Determination of Biological Contaminants in Environmental Samples, American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), 1996 CleanUp Procedures for Mould in Houses, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), 2004 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration IICRC S500, Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, 2006 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mould Remediation IICRC S520, Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, / Investigative Methodology 3.1 ASSESSMENT An inspection of the accessible surfaces of the subject areas was completed by Stantec to identify areas where suspect mould was most likely to proliferate (i.e., areas where water damage/staining was visible on building material surfaces). Tape lift sampling was undertaken in selected areas to assess the presence and extent of mould growth on the material where the sample was collected from (refer to Table 1 for findings). Air sampling was also conducted to identify the presence of suspected mould amplifiers within the subject area. 3.2 SAMPLING Samples were analyzed by Sporometrics Inc. of Toronto. Sporometrics has been accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Accreditation Program and participates in the AIHA Environmental Microbiology Proficiency Analytical Testing (EMPAT) Program. Sporometrics analysts are certified by the PanAmerican Aerobiology Certification Board. Project No.:

5 The tape lift sample was collected using an optically clear tape. Approximately 5 cm of tape was pressed firmly against the surfaces showing evidence of suspect mould growth. The tape lift was then affixed on the interior side of a separate labeled plastic bag that was sealed and submitted for analysis to the laboratory. Individual air samples for analysis of fungal elements were collected over a fiveminute period, using an SKC Quick Take TM 15, air sampling pump (calibrated to operate at 15 litres per minute) with an AllergencoD TM Air Sampling cassette. This sampling device impacts airborne particles onto a glass slide contained within the cassette housing called the trace. The cassette housing is designed to distribute and deposit the airborne particles equally on the trace. The results are airborne mould spore counts expressed in spores per cubic metre (spores/m 3 ) for each of the identified organisms. The AllergencoD TM method of air sampling is better suited for measuring fungal elements that may be underestimated or missed through viable sampling methods (such as Stachybotrys). 4.0 SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT FINDINGS 4.1 GENERAL CONDITIONS It is our understanding that musty odours as well as potential water intrusion have occurred in Room 110 of the school. The area of concern includes Music Room 110, specifically underneath the hatch of a sump pump. Stained ceiling tiles were observed in the corridor and change rooms, however, suspect water damage or fungal growth was not observed above ceiling spaces. 4.2 INTERIOR INSPECTION A summary of observations made during the assessment of the subject areas is presented in Table 1 below, including site photographs. Table 1 Summary of Inspection Room Observations Photograph Music Room 110 Distinct damp smell to the room Stream runs alongside exterior of the windows Windows have flaking paint, but no indication of mould growth No indication of flooding from pipes above ceiling Project No.:

6 Room Observations Photograph Music Room 110 Entrance 10 sq m of tiles replaced 7 months ago near room entrance due to reported flooding No stained tiles observed Sump Pump Sump pump used to keep stream from flooding when it rises Moisture was observed along the underside of the hatch 4.3 SURFACE SAMPLING Two (2) tape lift samples were collected. Results of the analysis are noted in Table 2, below: Table 2 Tape Lift Sample Laboratory Analysis Results Sample No. Location Microscopic Observations Rating 101T01 101T02 Underside of North Floor Hatch Window of Earth Wall (Music Room 110) Alternaria mycelia NOS Alternaria spores NOS Aspergillus / Penicillium mycelia NOS Aspergillus / Penicillium spores NOS Cladosporium mycelia NOS Cladosporium spores NOS Alternaria mycelia NOS Alternaria spores NOS Aspergillus / Penicillium mycelia NOS Aspergillus / Penicillium spores NOS Cladosporium mycelia NOS Cladosporium spores NOS tr Growth Indicated Y Y Project No.:

7 Key: + = not observed; tr = elements in total; 1+ = elements in each of ~ 25% fields; 2+ = elements in each of ~50% fields; 3+ = elements in each of ~75% fields; 4+ = >75% fields obscured; Possibility of fungal growth in situ based on microscopic observations; Y = yes; N = no;? = ambiguous. 4.4 AIR SAMPLING Two spore trap samples (2 samples indoors, 1 outdoor reference) were collected. Results of the analysis are noted in Table 3, below: Table 3 Spore Trap Sample Laboratory Analysis Results Sample No. Location Fungal Identification 101M01 Outside Alternaria NOS 101M02 101M03 Music Room #110 North Side Music Room #110 South Side Ascospores NOS Aspergillus / Penicillium NOS Basidiospores NOS Cladosporium NOS Hyphal fragments, pigmented Myxomycete / smut spores NOS Polythrincium NOS Rust spores NOS Alternaria NOS Ascospores NOS Aspergillus / Penicillium NOS Basidiospores NOS Cladosporium NOS Hyphal fragments, pigmented Myxomycete / smut spores NOS Polythrincium NOS Rust spores NOS Alternaria NOS Ascospores NOS Aspergillus / Penicillium NOS Basidiospores NOS Cladosporium NOS Hyphal fragments, pigmented Myxomycete / smut spores NOS Polythrincium NOS Rust spores NOS TOTAL TOTAL (Raw Count) (elements/m 3 ) (1) 260 (4) 1100 (89) (7) 1800 (tr) tr (tr) tr (3) 230 (104) 7800 (1) 75 (tr) tr (2) 110 (14) 740 (51) 2700 (3) 160 (1) 53 (tr) tr (tr) tr Project No.:

8 Key: tr = observed outside of enumerated transects = not detected Total elements / m 3 expressed at two significant digits Negative bias increases with increasing background rating NOS = Not otherwise specified Background ratings: 0+ = no particulate matter detected, 1+ = >0 to approx. 5% 2+ = approx. 5% to 25% 3+ = approx. 25% to 75% 4+ = approx. 75% to 90% 5+ =>90% Aspergillus/Penicillium was not in the outdoor sample, but was identified in the sample collected at south side of Music Room 110. The profile and concentration of mould species detected in the air samples are consistent with the mould growth identified on the floor hatch. A copy of the laboratory Certificate of Analysis is provided in Appendix A. 5.0 Recommendations Based on the findings and conclusions made during the assessment, Stantec recommends that mould impacted materials (North floor hatch and window of earth wall in Music Room 110) should be removed or cleaned following procedures outlined in the Canadian Construction Association document Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry During the removal, additional inspection of the materials should be conducted to determine the extent of mould growth. Project No.:

9 6.0 Closure This report has been prepared for the sole benefit of Toronto Catholic District School Board. The report may not be used by any other person or entity without the express written consent of Stantec Consulting Ltd. and Toronto Catholic District School Board. Any use which a third party makes of this report, or any reliance on decisions made based on it, is the responsibility of such third parties. Stantec Consulting Ltd. accepts no responsibility for damages, if any, suffered by any third party as a result of decisions made or actions based on this report. Some of the information presented in this report was provided through existing documents and through interviews. Although attempts were made, whenever possible, to obtain confirmatory sources of information, Stantec Consulting Ltd. in certain instances has been required to assume the information provided is accurate. The information and conclusions contained in this report are based upon work undertaken by trained professional and technical staff in accordance with generally accepted engineering and scientific practices current at the time the work was performed. Conclusions presented in this report should not be construed as legal advice. The conclusions presented in this report represent the best technical judgment of Stantec Consulting Ltd. based on the data obtained from the work. The conclusions are based on the site conditions encountered by Stantec Consulting Ltd. at the time the work was performed at the specific inspection and/or sampling locations, and can only be extrapolated to an undefined limited area around these locations. The extent of the limited area depends on building construction and conditions, weather, building usage and other factors. In addition, analysis has been carried out for mould on a limited number of samples, and it should not be inferred that other mould species are not present. Due to the nature of the assessment and the limited data available, Stantec Consulting Ltd. cannot warrant against undiscovered environmental liabilities. If any conditions become apparent that differ significantly from our understanding of conditions as presented in this report, we request that we be notified immediately to reassess the conclusions provided herein. We trust that the above is satisfactory for your purposes at this time. Should you have any questions or concerns, or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at your convenience. Project No.:

10 This report was prepared by Christopher Benedetti and reviewed by Rob Robinson. Regards, STANTEC CONSULTING LTD. Christopher Benedetti, B.Sc. Hons. Technician Phone: (905) Fax: (905) Rob Robinson, P.Eng. Principal Phone: (905) Fax: (905) CB/RR/mh \\cd1216f06\work_group\01691\active\ \reports\ _rpt_cb_2014sep29_tcdsb_final.docx Project No.:

11 Appendix A Laboratory Analytical Report Project No.: A.1

12 Sporometrics Inc. 219 Dufferin Street, Suite 20C, Toronto, ON M6K 1Y9 t f RESULTS OF LABORATORY ANALYSES: JOB NO To: Katherine Spence Date of report: 2014/09/27 Company: Stantec Consulting Ltd. Mississauga, ON Date of sampling: 2014/09/24 Client Project: Analyst: Yordanka Gonzalez Guardiola Client Address: Derry Road West, Mississauga, ON L5N 0B3 Date Received: 2014/09/26 SPORE TRAP SAMPLE NO.: a 101M01 101M02 101M03 Location: Outside Music Room #110 North Side Music Room #110 South Side Serial #: Expiry date: 2015/ / /08 Volume (L): Magnification (x): Background (rating) b : No. of transects enumerated: FUNGAL IDENTIFICATION c : COMPOSITION (raw count) approx. elements / m 3 d Alternaria NOS (1) 260 (tr) tr ascospores NOS (4) 1100 (3) 230 (2) 110 Aspergillus / Penicillium NOS (14) 740 basidiospores NOS (89) (104) 7800 (51) 2700 Cladosporium NOS (7) 1800 (1) 75 (3) 160 hyphal fragments, pigmented (tr) tr myxomycete / smut spores NOS (1) 53 Polythrincium NOS (tr) tr rust spores NOS (tr) tr (tr) tr SUMMARY DATA e : TOTAL (raw count) LOD (elements / m 3 ) TOTAL (elements / m³) 27,000 8,100 3,700 AIHA LAP, LLC LAB NO: Samples were received in satisfactory condition and tested in accordance with SOP These results relate only to the samples tested. a Analysis compliant with ASTM D Standard Test Method for Categorization and Quantification of Airborne Fungal Structures in an Inertial Impaction Sample by Optical Microscopy. Note that samples with excessive spore counts or background (4+ or higher) are unsuitable for ASTM compliant analysis. b Rating (amount of trace occluded with particulate matter): 0+ = no particulate matter detected, 1+ = >0 to approx. 5%, 2+ = approx. 5% to 25%, 3+ = approx. 25% to 75%, 4+ = approx. 75% to 90%, 5+ = >90%, Negative bias increases with increasing background rating. c Identification to genus level, taxonomic group or morphological category, where appropriate; NOS = Not otherwise specified. d Evaluated in Nomarski Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) microscopy; tr = observed outside of enumerated transects; = not detected. e Total elements / m 3 expressed at two significant digits; LOD = Limit of detection; NFEO = No fungal elements observed. SPOROMETRICS PAGE 1 OF 4

13 Sporometrics Inc. 219 Dufferin Street, Suite 20C, Toronto, ON M6K 1Y9 t f RESULTS OF LABORATORY ANALYSES: JOB NO To: Katherine Spence Date of report: 2014/09/27 Company: Stantec Consulting Ltd. Mississauga, ON Date of sampling: 2014/09/24 Client Project: Analyst: Yordanka Gonzalez Guardiola Client Address: Derry Road West, Mississauga, ON L5N 0B3 Date Received: 2014/09/26 BULK / TAPELIFT / BIOTAPE SAMPLE NO.: 101T01 101T02 Location: Underside of North Floor Hatch Window of Earth Wall (Music Room 110) Serial #: Expiry date: 2020/ /01 FUNGAL IDENTIFICATION: a ELEMENTS: MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS b (RATING c ): Alternaria NOS mycelia spores tr Aspergillus / Penicillium NOS mycelia spores 2+ Cladosporium NOS mycelia OTHER OBSERVATIONS: spores background rating FUNGAL GROWTH INDICATED? d : Y Y AIHA LAP, LLC LAB NO: Samples were received in satisfactory condition and tested in accordance with SOP These results relate only to the samples tested. a NOS = not otherwise specified. b Mounted in lactofuchsin / lactic acid, or other medium as required, with fields examined in bright field microscopy at 400x magnification. c = not detected; tr = elements in total; 1+ = elements in each of ~25% fields; 2+ = elements in each of ~50% fields; 3+ = elements in each of ~75 fields; 4+ => 75% fields obscured. d Possibility of fungal growth in situ based on microscopic observations; Y = yes; N = no;? = ambiguous. For explanation please refer to the final page of this report. SPOROMETRICS PAGE 2 OF 4

14 Sporometrics Inc. 219 Dufferin Street, Suite 20C, Toronto, ON M6K 1Y9 t f RESULTS OF LABORATORY ANALYSES: JOB NO To: Katherine Spence Date of report: 2014/09/27 Company: Stantec Consulting Ltd. Mississauga, ON Date of sampling: 2014/09/24 Client Project: Analyst: Yordanka Gonzalez Guardiola Client Address: Derry Road West, Mississauga, ON L5N 0B3 Date Received: 2014/09/26 END OF REPORT Examined By Released By Yordanka Gonzalez Guardiola, MSc Analyst Mike Saleh, MHSc Analyst SPOROMETRICS PAGE 3 OF 4

15 Sporometrics Inc. 219 Dufferin Street, Suite 20C, Toronto, ON M6K 1Y9 t f RESULTS OF LABORATORY ANALYSES: JOB NO To: Katherine Spence Date of report: 2014/09/27 Company: Stantec Consulting Ltd. Mississauga, ON Date of sampling: 2014/09/24 Client Project: Analyst: Yordanka Gonzalez Guardiola Client Address: Derry Road West, Mississauga, ON L5N 0B3 Date Received: 2014/09/26 Guidance on the interpretation of microscopic findings Samples of bulk materials as well as tape lift samples from potentially contaminated surfaces may be examined microscopically to assess the potential of these materials to be supporting fungal growth and serving as indoor fungal amplification sites. Guidelines on indoor microbial contamination proposed by Health Canada (HC Indoor air quality in office buildings: A technical guide. FederalProvincial Advisory Committee on Environmental and Occupational Health. Ottawa: Environmental Health Directorate 93EHD166 rev.) state unambiguously that indoor, active fungal growth sites are unacceptable regardless of the extent to which these amplifiers impact on the indoor airborne sporeload. Fungal spores are commonly borne on air currents and settle on flat surfaces as a matter of course. Thus, the observation of fungal spores alone is insufficient to characterize a specimen as a growth site. This judgment primarily requires the microscopic visualization of fungal filaments ("hyphae", or en masse, "mycelia"). Additionally, the identification of different kinds of fungi usually requires the observation of spores (e.g. conidia, ascospores, etc.) along with the organs responsible for their production (e.g. conidiophores, ascomata, etc.). However, the latter rarely persist long after the spores have been produced, making definitive identification difficult or impossible in aged specimens. The rating system used by Sporometrics to score the frequency of structures observed microscopically is based on a 5point assessment of microscopic fields, usually taken at 400 x magnification. This system uses the following rating criteria: Descriptor Criteria (based on fields) Interpretation of growth in situ according to observations: Spores alone Spores and sporebearing structures or mycelia tr 10º10¹ elements in total growth not indicated growth not indicated 1+ 10º10¹ elements per ~25% fields unclear growth indicated 2+ 10¹10² elements per ~50% fields growth indicated growth indicated 3+ 10²10³ elements per ~75% fields growth indicated growth indicated 4+ > 75% fields obscured by elements growth indicated growth indicated SPOROMETRICS PAGE 4 OF 4