Please review the Investigation Memorandum and feel free to contact us with any questions.

Transcription

1 October 18, 2017 Kenston Local Schools Board of Education Snyder Rd. Chagrin Falls, OH Attn: Nancy Santilli, Superintendent Re: Kenston Middle School Roofing Dear Mrs. Santilli, On Wednesday, October 4, 2017, NV5 was requested to meet with Kenston administration to discuss recent issues associated with the ongoing roofing replacement project at Kenston Middle School. NV5, in association with our roofing consultant, Adam Bradley Enterprises, Inc., reviewed the Middle School roofing replacement project field progress and also reviewed a series of submittals that were prepared by the roofing contractor, Campopiano Roofing. The attached Investigation Memorandum outlines our findings and identifies recommendations moving forward. Please review the Investigation Memorandum and feel free to contact us with any questions. Sincerely, NV5, Inc. Brian J. Stewart Project Director Attachment 300 Park Place Chagrin Falls, OH Office Fax CONSTRUCTION QUALITY ASSURANCE - INFRASTRUCTURE - ENERGY - PROGRAM MANAGEMENT - ENVIRONMENTAL

2 ADAM BRADLEY ENTERPRISES, INC. ROOFING, WATERPROOFING AND BUILDING FAÇADE CONSULTING 9967 EAST WASHINGTON STREET CHAGRIN FALLS, OHIO PRELIMINARY ODOR INVESTIGATION MEMORANDUM Project Name: Kenston Middle School Date Inspected: 10/4/17 Location: Bainbridge, OH Time: 2:30 PM Client: NV5 Weather: Cool, Overcast Attention: Brian J. Stewart Prepared by: Thomas Case Prepared on: October 12, 2017 Background At approximately 1:00 pm on Wednesday October 4, 2017, Adam Bradley Enterprises, Inc. (ABE) received a call from Brian Stewart of NV5 to inquire whether or not ABE would be able to perform a preliminary inspection of a roof project at Kenston Middle School that same afternoon to investigate a serious odor issue that had occurred. Tom Case of ABE subsequently met with Brian, several members of the Kenston School District administration and facilities staff and the Geauga County Prosecutor s Office at 2:30 pm. A brief meeting was held prior to inspecting the site conditions and then a site review was performed, from which the following general information was obtained: 1. A roof project has been in process for a number of weeks with the following basic information being reported: a. Campopiano Roofing is the roofing contractor with RoofTEC being the School District s consulting firm that is providing full time inspection and project management. b. Roof removal is restricted to off hours c. The roof system being installed is a fully adhered EPDM membrane over isocyanurate insulation adhered in foaming adhesive over deck substrates that consist of concrete, gypsum and steel. This roofing system is composed of materials and substances that are component parts of an industry standard roofing system. d. Based on later observations, it was determined that a vapor retarder was installed on gypsum areas. It was not determined if one was installed on the concrete or metal deck areas. e. Rusted metal deck is being cleaned and primed with rust inhibitive paint. Both latex and oil based rust inhibitive paint was observed on site. f. During the inspection, a fuel container was found on the roof in the vicinity of the work, that was not properly sealed.

3 2. On Tuesday morning 10/3/17 a severe odor issue arose that resulted in a number of students and staff being taken in for medical treatment. There were also odor complaints the morning of Wednesday 10/4/ The building was reported to be a negative pressure environment. This means that outside odors can be drawn into the interior through any openings in the building envelope. 4. MSDS sheets, roofing specifications and daily field reports are available but copies have not yet been provided to definitively determine what precautions (if any) were actually specified, if such precautions were adequate within normal industry standards and who would be responsible for ensuring that those precautions were followed. A packet of information was obtained and consisted of product data information sheets that had been submitted and stamped by Campopiano Roofing. No other stamps were on the submittal. a. Several of the product data sheets have specific precautions printed on them that include the specific statement that, During application, efforts must be made to prevent fumes from entering the building via ventilation ducts. Do not place open containers near fresh air intake units. When possible, shut down or seal off the closest units. 5. The HVAC unit closest to the work being done on the metal deck area over the library (identified as Unit 6 by the facility staff) was apparently not shut down by pulling the breaker and was not tarped during the application of the roof system during the evening of 10/2/17 - early morning 10/3/17. General Comments The roof system being installed utilizes solvent based adhesives that can and do result in relatively strong odors and they are commonly installed on occupied buildings. As a result, it is necessary to implement odor control procedures as indicated on the product data sheets (see paragraph 4a above) to minimize odor entry into confined interior spaces. These procedures typically include some combination of the following; 1. When possible, install roofing during hours when the building is unoccupied. 2. Shut down air intakes and tarp openings to prevent odor entry. 3. When shut down is not practical, install redundant charcoal filters on intakes and minimize the frequency and duration of unit operation as much as possible. 4. Warn building occupants that some odor may enter the building and that if this occurs to evacuate the affected space until the air can be recycled. ABE stated both during the meeting and after the roof inspection that no definitive conclusions can be drawn from a simple interview and visual inspection but that reasonable assumptions can be made about the probable causes of the odor issue based on past history of similar events and the general conditions observed. Observations / Findings A brief visual inspection of the roof areas and of the interior conditions inside the library and the two lower level classrooms and a class room adjacent to the dumpster location impacted by the reported odor issues was conducted by personnel from ABE, NV5, Kenston Schools and the Geauga County Prosecutor s Office. While all under construction roof areas were inspected, the focus was on the roof area over the metal deck, directly above the library. This area is also in the closest proximity to the HVAC unit (identified as Unit 6) that services the affected lower level classrooms. Based on the nature of the products being used and the conditions observed it is, in our opinion, reasonable to assume the following: Page 2 of 8

4 1. Metal decks contain numerous large and small openings that could allow odor to enter the library, particularly in a negative pressure environment. This odor could also be spread through what appears to be an open return air plenum in the ceiling above this space (this condition was not definitively confirmed). a. The metal deck was being primed with rust inhibitive paint. The odor from this drying paint could have been drawn down through openings in the deck into the library space below as it dried. b. In addition, the bonding adhesive used to adhere the EPDM membrane could have contributed significantly to odor entry through the metal deck substrate as it cured out. This is particularly possible since the fumes from this product are heavier than air. c. Odor in the library was reported to be less severe than in the two lower level classrooms so it is not unreasonable to assume that odor entry through the metal deck was the primary source of the issue in the library space. 2. Odor entry was most severe in the two lower level classrooms with minimal to no odor in enclosed areas on the floors directly above. Since the HVAC unit (identified as Unit 6) closest to the roof area being installed at the time also directly services the two lower level classrooms and since temperatures were near 80 that day, it is reasonable to assume that the air conditioning kicked on and pulled in the fumes from the bonding adhesive (and/or other solvent based products being used) during the course of work on the roof. If open containers were in close proximity to the intakes at the time, this would have also contributed to the fume levels. 3. In the classroom next to the dumpsters, some odor was reported when the through-wall air conditioner was turned on. Containers of adhesive that had previously been used had been placed into the dumpster and are the likely source of this odor report. Recommended Corrective Action Continue all work only on weekends when the building is unoccupied in order to get the partially re-roofed areas water tight and serviceable for the winter. Another option includes changing the system on the metal deck from fully adhered EPDM to mechanically attached EPDM to minimize the use of solvent containing adhesives and primers. Move dumpsters or prevent window air conditioners from being used in the classrooms in the proximity of the dumpsters The work hours that were discussed were from 4:00 pm on Friday to midnight on Saturday. This would leave Sunday to check rooms for air quality and ventilate any areas that might have an odor. Shut down and tarp the HVAC units during work and restart the units on Sunday to recirculate and test the air. The gypsum deck area without any insulation installed may be a bit more problematic to winterize for the following reasons: 1. The area may hold significant water since the tapered insulation is not yet installed to provide positive drainage. A significant level of ponded water could also result in significant leakage as standing water can create considerable head pressure on vulnerable laps and seals. 2. Without insulation, the interior underside of this roof deck area can reach its dew point temperature which can result in condensation severe enough to resemble leakage under the entire affected deck area. The only remedy for that is to raise interior temperatures or lower relative humidity or both, until the completed roof system is installed. 3. Installation of sump pumps on this roof area is good insurance to minimize ponding water, until the final roof system is installed at a later date. Page 3 of 8

5 Once suitably winterized, re-start and complete the roofing project at the end of the 2016/2017 school year or when the building is unoccupied for extended periods. LIMITATIONS: Services performed by ABE for this project have been conducted with the level of care and skill ordinarily exercised by members of the profession currently practicing in this area. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made. ABE reserves the right to make changes to its position if additional information becomes available Page 4 of 8

6 PHOTO DOCUMENTATION: Image #1 Overview of Middle school work area Image #2 Overview of roof over metal deck over library. Image #3 Metal deck as viewed from under a loose laid corner tie in. Page 5 of 8

7 Image #4 HVAC unit that services the two classrooms that were affected. Note the proximity to the library roof area Image #5 Solvent based bonding adhesive that is used to glue the EPDM roof membrane to the insulation. Image #6 Solvent based seam primer that is used (in much lower quantities than the Bonding Adhesive) to prepare seams to be adhered together. Page 6 of 8

8 Image #7 Acrylic red oxide primer used to prime the metal deck Image #8 Oil based metal primer used to prime rusted metal deck Image #9 Gravel area still needs to be replaced to winterize the roof. Switch to mechanically attached system and off hours weekend work to minimize any potential odor issues. Page 7 of 8

9 Image #10 Area with no insulation that could have drainage and condensation issues through the winter. Page 8 of 8