Airborne Mould Spore Assessment and Inspections

Transcription

1 Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. Suite Mainland Street Vancouver, B.C., V6B 5L1 (t) (f) Airborne Mould Spore Assessment and Inspections Sungod Recreation Centre th Street, Delta, B.C. Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. Project #: Presented to: The Corporation of Delta 4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent Delta, B.C., V4K 3E2 Attention: Greg Scott, Deputy Director-Development March 18, 2014 Indoor air quality Mould, Occupational Hygiene Hazardous materials

2 Sungod Recreation Centre, Delta Page INTRODUCTION Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. (Sterling IAQ) was retained by The Corporation of Delta to carry out an airborne mould spore assessment, tape lift sampling and visual inspections of the Sungod Recreation Centre located at th Street, Delta, BC (subject building). In September of 2013, a building envelope assessment was conducted of an exterior parapet wall located above the pool area (subject area) by RDH Building Engineering Ltd. and their report was delivered on October 22, In their report, recommendations were offered to address the parapet wall that was heavily damaged and rotted. Sterling IAQ was originally contacted on March 12, 2014 to discuss the assessment of mould and how this exterior mould issue could potentially affect the indoor environment. On March 13, 2014, a formal request was made to Sterling IAQ to conduct a mould assessment of the indoor environment and the parapet wall. On the morning of March 14, 2014, Sterling IAQ was on site for the assessment. 2.0 SCOPE OF WORK Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. conducted the following activities within the subject area: 1. Collection of airborne mould spore samples (4 indoor samples and 3 outdoor samples); 2. Environmental surface tape-lift sample on the parapet wall area to determine the presence and the type of mould; 3. Inspection of the subject area to determine extent of mould issue; 4. The submission of all gathered samples to a qualified independent laboratory for analysis; 5. Preparation of a complete written report including lab results to the Corporation of Delta; 3.0 METHODOLOGY Air sampling for mould spores was conducted with a Zefon Bio-Pump calibrated to 15 litres per minute. This pump was configured to draw air through an Air-O- Cell sampling cassette for a period of 5 minutes. The Air-O-Cell is a unique airsampling cassette specifically designed for the rapid collection of a wide range of airborne aerosols including mould spores. The Air-O-Cell collects both viable and non-viable mould spores, which provide a much broader overview of potential allergens & contaminants than conventional viable sampling techniques.

3 Sungod Recreation Centre, Delta Page 2 In order to provide a comparative reference values, outdoor air sample were also collected. For this assessment, there were 3 outdoor samples collected. One was collected from the parking lot area to represent a typical outdoor sample. Another outdoor sample was collected from the roof area ½ way between the subject area (damaged parapet wall) and the main air-handling unit for the building. A third outdoor sample was collected along the tree line near the parking lot to represent outdoor conditions near plants, trees and other rotting organic materials. Upon completion of our site investigation, all Air-O-Cell sample cassettes were forwarded to Kitospore in Surrey for analysis. Their laboratory report is attached. 4.0 INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINES MOULD GUIDELINES In the province of British Columbia, WorksafeBC through the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation enforces workplace health and safety. Within this Regulation, there are no specific provisions for how to assess potential mould contamination in buildings nor are established permissible levels for mould in air presented. However, WorksafeBC has formulated Guidelines for Section 4.79 of the Regulation entitled - Moulds and Indoor Air Quality. Air sampling data interpretation Since individual response to mould spores in air varies dramatically between persons and between different geographical regions, there are various guidelines available across North America for acceptable levels of mould spores in air. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) suggests that the concentrations and types of airborne mould indoors should be similar to or lower than outdoors. The same is suggested by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Since the ACGIH/OSHA guidelines depend solely on outdoor concentrations and because outdoor levels are affected significantly by time of year, time of day, weather conditions, etc., it is suitable that other guidelines be presented in some situations. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology / National Allergy Bureau have established a set of atmospheric total mould spore concentrations presented below.

4 Sungod Recreation Centre, Delta Page 3 Table 4.1 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology / National Allergy Bureau Mould Spore Guidelines 2002 Total Mould spore concentration (spores/m 3 ) Ranking (risk) Symptoms Absent Zero No symptoms 1 4,224 Low Only individuals extremely sensitive to mould spores will experience symptoms 4,225 7,799 Moderate Many individuals sensitive to mould spores will experience symptoms 7,800 24,999 High Most individuals with any sensitivity to mould spores will experience symptoms > 25,000 Very High Almost all individuals with any sensitivity at all to mould spores will experience symptoms. Extremely sensitive people could have severe symptoms. spores/m3 mould spores per cubic meter of air 5.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION INSPECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS This assessment was triggered by concerns that the rotted areas of an exterior rooftop parapet wall over the pool (subject area) that contains mould posed a risk to the guests and/or workers of the subject building. In Appendix B, we have presented an aerial view of the site with the yellow rectangle showing the location of the parapet wall. Our exterior inspections found that there was notable wood rot issue along the entire exterior wall sheathing of the parapet wall. Between this exterior rotted sheathing and the wall that adjoins the pool deck was a void space. On the actual wall that adjoined the pool deck, visible rot or mould growth was not observed as the rot and mould was only observed on the exterior sheathing.

5 Sungod Recreation Centre, Delta Page 4 Photo 1 exterior of parapet wall Photo 2 Roof level, showing air sample location M2 NOTE: this sample shows the main air-handling unit in the background and sample M2 was collected ½ between subject area and this building air intake

6 Sungod Recreation Centre, Delta Page 5 Photo 3 Indoors showing air sample M3, Staff offices centre Photo 4 Indoors showing air sample M5, Pool Deck, directly below subject area Airborne Mould Spore Sampling The results of the airborne mould spore samples collected are presented in Table 5.1. The laboratory report from Kitospore is attached in Appendix A at the end of this report.

7 Sungod Recreation Centre, Delta Page 6 Review of the total mould spore results (bottom row of Table 5.1) found the indoor levels to be generally below all the various outdoor levels measured and therefore were considered acceptable. The outdoor sample total mould spore results from the roof between the subject area and the main air-handling unit were very low (385.7 spores/m 3 ) and two of the indoor total mould spore results were actually higher than this amount (offices spores/m 3 and reception/snack bar 532 spores/m 3 ). However, indoor mould spore results are influenced by many factors as air enters through doorways and windows and sometimes tracked in on clothing. So when we look at the indoor total mould spore results as a whole and compare to the 3 different outdoor results, we can conclude that indoor results were consistent with outside and therefore considered acceptable. The total indoor mould spore levels fell within the low-risk range for allergy and asthma sufferers as denoted in table 4.1 of this report. In this low-risk range, only individuals extremely sensitive to mould spores could experience symptoms. Review of the individual mould spore results found indoor moulds to be consistent with or lower than outdoor results. The primary concern was that mould from the rotted parapet wall was adversely affecting the indoor air quality of the pool and recreation centre. So if we review the results of the tape lift sample collected from the worst part of the rotted parapet wall, we see the results (from the lab report in Appendix A) included the following: Dirt/dust/debris 90% Cladosporium herbarum 10% This tape lift result suggested that although the wall was severely rotted, not much actual mould growth was present. Furthermore, the mould detected on the parapet wall was the most commonly detected mould in air samples common both indoors and outdoors. If we specifically look at Cladosporium air sampling results, our outdoor average between the 3 samples was spores/m 3. Our indoor Cladosporium results ranged from 26.6 spores/m 3 to spores/m 3 and averaged 83.1 spores/m 3. Therefore, we can conclude that indoor Cladosporium results had not been adversely affected by the observed outdoor source (rotted outdoor parapet wall).

8 Sungod Recreation Centre, Delta Page 7 Table 5.1 Airborne Mould Spore Sample Results March 14, 2014 Sungod Recreation Centre, th Street, Delta Mould Taxa Found M3 Staff offices M4 Reception snack bar M5 Pool deck M6 Gym and day care M7 Outdoors parking lot M2 Outdoors roof near air intake M1 Outdoors near trees and leaves Alternaria Arthrinium Ascospores Aureobasidium Basidiospores Bipolaris/Drechslera gp Botrytis Chaetomium Cladosporium Curvularia Epicoccum Fusarium Myrothecium Nigrospora Other Colorless Penicillium/Aspergillius Pithomyces Rusts Smuts,Peric.,Myxomy Stachybotrys chartarum Stemphylium Torula herbarum Ulocladium Unknown Zygomycetes Background Debris* Total Spores/m³ All results in spores per cubic meter of air (spores/m 3 )

9 Sungod Recreation Centre, Delta Page CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The following conclusions are offered: 1. The rotted parapet wall was located on the exterior of the building. 2. A tape lift sample collected from the most heavily damaged area of this parapet wall showed the following results which demonstrated that very little mould was actually present: a. Dirt/dust/debris 90% b. Cladosporium herbarum 10% 3. The main air-handling unit for the building was located approximately 20 meters away from the rotted parapet wall. 4. On the actual wall section that directly adjoined the pool area, no mould or rot was observed. 5. Indoor airborne mould spores results demonstrated that concentrations were within industry standard guidelines and that the indoor air quality was not adversely affected by the rot/mould observed on the exterior parapet wall. Despite there being no issue observed that affected the indoor air quality of the subject building, the following recommendations are offered: 1. When the repair work for the parapet wall is being planned, efforts should be taken to ensure particulate from that work (wood dust, mould spores, etc.) does not affect the indoor environment. This may be accomplished by using poly sheeting on the interior wall that adjoins the pool area to seal that wall section. 2. Additionally, demolition work on this parapet wall should be done in such a way as to ensure particulate (wood duct, mould spores, etc.) does not get entrained into the air intake, which is located approximately 20 meters away.

10 Sungod Recreation Centre, Delta Page GENERAL STATEMENT OF LIMITATIONS Sincerely, This report is intended and restricted for the sole use of The Corporation of Delta (The Client). Any use, interpretation or reliance upon this report/assessment by anyone other than The Client is at the sole risk of that party, and Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. shall have no liability for such unauthorized use, interpretation, or reliance. Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees as to any given sample (whether it be obtained by Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. or by (The Client) being representative of any given contaminant, handled, or otherwise managed by The Client. With regard to site assessment work, Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. make no representations, warranties, or guarantees that the points selected for inspection are in any way representative of the entire site. All liability is limited to the fee charged. We trust that this report meets with your requirements. We thank you for the opportunity to be of service and if you have any questions, please contact the undersigned at (604) Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. Per: Michael Glassco, ROHT President michael@sterlingiaqconsultants.com

11 Appendix A Laboratory Results - Mould Indoor air quality Mould, Occupational Hygiene Hazardous materials

12 nd Street Suite#315 Surrey, B.C V3R 8X8 Ph:(604) Fax:(604) Kitospore Enterprises Environmental Mould Specialists Certificate of Laboratory Analysis Client: Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. Lab ID #: A Client ID: Ster C.O.C.#: E Date: March 17, 2014 Project #: Sample Type: 75L & Tape Lift Submitted by: Bob Date and Time Submitted: Mar.14/14-4:30PM Results comply with the following: Standard Test Method for Categorization and Quantification of Airborne Fungal Structures in an Inertial Impaction Sample by Optical Microscopy ASTM International Committee on Air Quality May 1, 2009 Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environment, New York City Department of Health, Bureau of Environment & Occupational Disease Epidemiology, April Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: A Guide to Recognition and Management, Federal-Provincial Committee on Environmental and Occupational Health, June Indoor Air Quality in Office Buildings: A Technical Guide, Report of the Federal Provincial Advisory Committee on Environmental and Occupational Health, Sampling and Identifying Allergenic Pollens and Moulds -Grant E. Smith-Blewstone Press, San Antonio Texas. Illustrated Dictionary of Mycology The American Phytopathological Society-2000 Moulds-their Isolation, Cultivation and Identification - David Malloch, University of Toronto Press And those offered by the McCrone Research Institute of Chicago. Health Canada Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: Health Effects and Investigation Methods. Kim Tomms B.Sc. Disclosure comment: This report has been prepared for the sole benefit of Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd.. This report may not be relied upon without the express written consent of Kitospore and Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd.. Any use that a third party makes of this report, or any reliance on the decisions made based on this report, are the sole responsibility of that third party. Kitospore accepts no responsibility for damages, if any, that are suffered by any third party as a result of decisions made or actions taken based on this report. The conclusions that are presented in this report are to the absolute best judgement of the certified analyst. It should not be inferred that other potential contaminants are not present. Page 1 of 5 Confidential *All samples are completed using slit sample techniques while enumerating 100% of each samples trace. Detection Limit is 13.3

13 Kitospore Enterprises Client: Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. Lab ID #: A Client ID: Ster C.O.C.#: E Date: March 17, 2014 Project #: Sample Volume (liters): 75L Attn: Mike OUTSIDE-Tree Line Roof Top Staff Offices Raw Ct % Spores/M 3 Raw Ct % Spores/M 3 Raw Ct % Spores/M 3 Alternaria 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Arthrinium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Ascospores 12 11% % 0 0 0% 0 Aureobasidium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Basidiospores 38 34% % % Bipolaris/Drechslera gp. 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Botrytis 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Chaetomium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Cladosporium 31 28% % % Curvularia 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Epicoccum 6 5% % 0 0 0% 0 Fusarium 1 1% % 0 0 0% 0 Myrothecium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Nigrospora 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Other Colorless 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Penicillium/Aspergillius 16 14% % % 93.1 Pithomyces 1 1% % 0 0 0% 0 Rusts 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Smuts,Peric.,Myxomy. 5 4% % % 0 Stachybotrys chartarum 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Stemphylium 2 2% % 0 0 0% 0 Torula herbarum 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Ulocladium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Unknown 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Zygomycetes 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Background Debris* Total Spores/M % % % Skin Cells 0 Skin Cells <1 Skin Cells 3+ Out/Supply Vent Dust Out/Supply Vent Dust Out/Supply Vent Dust Very Low Low Low Mycelial Fragments/M 3 Mycelial Fragments/M 3 Mycelial Fragments/M or 79.8/M 3 9 or 119.7/M 3 Page 2 of 5 Confidential *All samples are completed using slit sample techniques while enumerating 100% of each samples trace. Detection Limit is 13.3

14 Kitospore Enterprises Client: Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. Lab ID #: A Client ID: Ster C.O.C.#: E Date: March 17, 2014 Project #: Sample Volume (liters): 75L Attn: Mike Reception Area Pool Deck-Central Gymnasium Raw Ct % Spores/M 3 Raw Ct % Spores/M 3 Raw Ct % Spores/M 3 Alternaria 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Arthrinium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Ascospores 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Aureobasidium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Basidiospores 24 60% % % Bipolaris/Drechslera gp. 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Botrytis 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Chaetomium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Cladosporium 6 15% % % 66.5 Curvularia 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Epicoccum 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Fusarium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Myrothecium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Nigrospora 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Other Colorless 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Penicillium/Aspergillius 10 25% % % Pithomyces 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Rusts 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Smuts,Peric.,Myxomy. 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Stachybotrys chartarum 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Stemphylium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Torula herbarum 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Ulocladium 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Unknown 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Zygomycetes 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 0 0% 0 Background Debris* Total Spores/M % % % Skin Cells 4+ Skin Cells 1+ Skin Cells 1+ Out/Supply Vent Dust Out/Supply Vent Dust Out/Supply Vent Dust Low Low Low Mycelial Fragments/M 3 Mycelial Fragments/M 3 Mycelial Fragments/M 3 8 or 106.4/M Page 3 of 5 Confidential *All samples are completed using slit sample techniques while enumerating 100% of each samples trace. Detection Limit is 13.3

15 Kitospore Enterprises Client: Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. Lab ID #: A Client ID: Ster C.O.C.#: E Date: March 17, 2014 Project #: Sample Volume (liters): 75L Attn: Mike OUTSIDE-AMB-Parking Lot Raw Ct % Spores/M 3 Alternaria 0 0% 0 Arthrinium 0 0% 0 Ascospores 17 15% Aureobasidium 0 0% 0 Basidiospores 44 38% Bipolaris/Drechslera gp. 0 0% 0 Botrytis 0 0% 0 Chaetomium 0 0% 0 Cladosporium 29 25% Curvularia 0 0% 0 Epicoccum 3 3% 39.9 Fusarium 2 2% 26.6 Myrothecium 0 0% 0 Nigrospora 0 0% 0 Other Colorless 0 0% 0 Penicillium/Aspergillius 14 12% Pithomyces 2 2% 26.6 Rusts 0 0% 0 Smuts,Peric.,Myxomy. 6 5% 79.8 Stachybotrys chartarum 0 0% 0 Stemphylium 0 0% 0 Torula herbarum 0 0% 0 Ulocladium 0 0% 0 Unknown 0 0% 0 Zygomycetes 0 0% 0 Background Debris* Total Spores/M % Skin Cells 0 Out/Supply Vent Dust Very Low Mycelial Fragments 0 Pollen 166 Page 4 of 5 Confidential *All samples are completed using slit sample techniques while enumerating 100% of each samples trace. Detection Limit is 13.3

16 Kitospore Enterprises Client: Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. Lab ID #: A Client ID: Ster C.O.C.#: E Date: March 17, 2014 Project #: Sample Type: Tape Lift Attn: Mike The Following Mould Spores were Observed by Tape Lift: T-1 Inside Exhaust Plenum-Roof 1) Dirt/Dust/Debris (90%) 2) Cladosporium herbarum (10%) No other mould spores were found. Page 5 of 5 Confidential *All samples are completed using slit sample techniques while enumerating 100% of each samples trace. Detection Limit is 13.3

17 Appendix B Site Plan subject area noted by yellow rectangle Indoor air quality Mould, Occupational Hygiene Hazardous materials