Po Post Fire IAQ and Clean-up Issues Emergency Line 1-866-530-4086 Introduction When a disaster such as the Fort McMurray fire strikes, part of the task of restoring a property to its former use or occupancy is ensuring it is livable: damage must be repaired; contamination must be cleaned up; and air quality and other aspects of occupant safety need to be verified. Photo Source - The Canadian Press, June 3, 2016 When only a single residence or commercial / institutional structure is involved the task is manageable although daunting for the occupants/residents or commercial tenants. Time is also a factor because delaying cleanup can potentially lead to increased damage and health risks. In Fort McMurray multiple residences - single family and multiple occupancies, and multi-tenant commercial properties have been impacted by the wildfire. Consequently, the issues are magnified by the sheer number of simultaneously affected structures and the need to try and rebuild and restore them to their former condition all practically within the same time frame. Restoring the affected homes and buildings while working to ensure the property owner is satisfied with the work done, is best accomplished through a collaborative approach involving the insurance companies, brokers, adjusters, consultants, such as EFI Global, who specializes in post disaster assessment and cleanup, and the restoration contractor. EFI Global can provide professional services that address post fire concerns including: Asbestos Properties requiring anything more extensive than basic cleanup consisting of washing and vacuuming need to be assessed and tested for the presence of asbestos in materials of construction (dry wall, dry wall joint compound, roofing materials including shingles and felts, vinyl flooring, hot water plumbing and heating insulation, older wall 1 June 14, 2016 EFI Global V1
paper, etc.,) especially if the structure was constructed prior to the early to mid-1980 s. If asbestos is present in any building material or decorative finishes (> 0.1% in Alberta), and is potentially or likely to be disturbed to any degree during repairs or renovation to the structure, the asbestos containing material must be removed before the renovation/repair is initiated. Removal or abatement must be conducted by trained and qualified personnel under appropriate health and safety and environmental controls (as defined in the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, Regulations and Code). Inspection of the property and testing of the building materials before renovation should be undertaken only by qualified environmental consultants or asbestos assessors. Analysis of building material samples should only be conducted by laboratories accredited for asbestos analysis. Certain levels of asbestos abatement or projects of prescribed magnitude and complexity also require air sampling and clearance prior to re-occupancy. Such sampling and analysis should also only be conducted by qualified personnel and accredited laboratories. Asbestos abatement processes and procedures are defined and overseen by provincial health and safety authorities and must be adhered to. Ash and Soot If ash or soot are present within a property whether from a fire within the structure, or from smoke blown into the structure, as is the case for the Northern Alberta properties not completely destroyed or declared uninhabitable as a result of the Fort McMurray wildfire, the soot and residue ash should be tested and analyzed for the presence of poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and in the case of the Fort McMurray fires, because of the fire source(s) and the materials used in modern construction, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Another concern is the acidic nature of ash which almost immediately will begin to react with materials in the house. As with asbestos, sampling and analysis should only be performed by qualified personnel or environmental consultants and accredited laboratories. Clean-up of ash and soot damage is not regulated or as controlled as asbestos clean-up but should be done by trained and qualified disaster response or clean-up personnel. If ash or soot are present within a property whether from a fire within the structure, or from smoke blown into the structure, as is the case for the Northern Alberta properties not completely destroyed or declared uninhabitable as a result of the Fort McMurray wildfire, the soot and residue ash should be tested and analyzed for the presence of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and in the case of the Fort McMurray fires, because of the fire source(s) and the materials used in modern construction, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Another concern is the acidic nature of ash which almost immediately will begin to react with materials in the house. As with asbestos, sampling and analysis should only be performed by qualified personnel or environmental consultants and accredited laboratories. Clean-up of ash and soot damage is not regulated or as controlled as asbestos clean-up but should be done by trained and qualified disaster response or clean-up personnel. 2 June 14, 2016 EFI Global V1
Mould and Water Damage Another component of fire damage is the flooding and water damage that results as a consequence of the water used in fighting a fire within the structure, or by water used to protect the structure against fire impingement, development of mould is a significant and probable result. This is especially true, and almost certain, where there is, or has been, a relatively long time delay between water damage and the onset of clean-up or abatement activities. Extracting any residual water is critical and should be followed by an assessment for potential mould growth. The inspection, sampling for and analysis of building materials for the presence of mould should only be done by qualified professionals and accredited laboratories. However, if visible mould is present or if visible water damage is evident (swollen dry wall, peeling or delaminating paint or wallpaper of other surface coatings and finishes, stains on ceilings and ceiling tiles or around window and door frames) the presence of mould can be presumed and affected materials removed (after being tested for asbestos) under the control procedures recommended by the Canadian Construction Association Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry document 82-2004, in Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario (EACO) Mould Abatement Guidelines Edition 3, (2015), or, in the case of Fort McMurray properties, Best Practices Mould at the Work Site, Government of Alberta, WHS-PUB-BH019. In general mould contaminated or water damaged porous materials (dry wall, dry wall joint compound, carpeting, mattresses, etc.), which cannot be laundered, need to be removed. Non-porous materials (counter tops, hard flooring, wooden articles and furniture, un-impacted drywall, etc.) can be cleaned by wet wiping or scrubbing with soap and water, sanitization, and vacuuming. As with soot clean-up, vacuuming during mould clean-up should only be undertaken with HEPA filter fitted vacuums. It is generally recommended that mould contaminated dry wall and other surfaces be removed to a distance of 2 feet beyond the last visible mould, front or back-side, and replaced with new materials. Clearance air testing following mould abatements does not necessarily need to be conducted if the work area is visibly cleaned and all previously visible mould and water damaged materials has been removed, but generally provides a degree of comfort to occupants. However clearance testing should be conducted, when conducted, by qualified personnel and accredited laboratories only. Air sampling normally consists of sampling with battery powered sampling pumps and specialty filters in the area affected and abated, in an area of the property unaffected and unabated (unlikely in Fort McMurray) and outdoors immediately up wind of the property. Detected mould spore counts for each sample are compared one to the other: indoor affected area samples should have the same mould type (genus and species) distribution as the outdoor sample (and indoor unaffected area if such exists), and lesser individual and aggregate spore counts if the abated area is to be declared clean or properly abated. If preabatement sampling can be or was conducted, the post abatement sampling should also show significant reduction in individual and aggregate spore counts as well as comparable distributions. For Fort McMurray properties, air clearance sampling should meet the methodology and criteria defined in Fungal Air Testing, Investigation and Reporting Requirements for Extensively Mould Contaminated Buildings Alberta Health Services. General Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Another component of fire damage is the flooding and water damage that results as a consequence of the water used in fighting a fire within the structure, or by water used to protect the structure against fire impingement, development of mould is a significant and probable result. This is especially true, and almost certain, where there is, or has been, a relatively long time delay between water damage and the onset of clean-up or abatement activities. Extracting any residual water is critical and should be followed by an assessment for potential mould growth. 3 June 14, 2016 EFI Global V1
The inspection, sampling for and analysis of building materials for the presence of mould should only be done by qualified professionals and accredited laboratories. However, if visible mould is present or if visible water damage is evident (swollen dry wall, peeling or delaminating paint or wallpaper of other surface coatings and finishes, stains on ceilings and ceiling tiles or around window and door frames) the presence of mould can be presumed and affected materials removed (after being tested for asbestos) under the control procedures recommended by the Canadian Construction Association Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry document 82-2004, in Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario (EACO) Mould Abatement Guidelines Edition 3, (2015), or, in the case of Fort McMurray properties, Best Practices Mould at the Work Site, Government of Alberta, WHS-PUB-BH019. In general mould contaminated or water damaged porous materials (dry wall, dry wall joint compound, carpeting, mattresses, etc.), which cannot be laundered, need to be removed. Non-porous materials (counter tops, hard flooring, wooden articles and furniture, un-impacted drywall, etc.) can be cleaned by wet wiping or scrubbing with soap and water, sanitization, and vacuuming. As with soot clean-up, vacuuming during mould clean-up should only be undertaken with HEPA filter fitted vacuums. It is generally recommended that mould contaminated dry wall and other surfaces be removed to a distance of 2 feet beyond the last visible mould, front or back-side, and replaced with new materials. Clearance air testing following mould abatements does not necessarily need to be conducted if the work area is visibly cleaned and all previously visible mould and water damaged materials has been removed, but generally provides a degree of comfort to occupants. However clearance testing should be conducted, when conducted, by qualified personnel and accredited laboratories only. Air sampling normally consists of sampling with battery powered sampling pumps and specialty filters in the area affected and abated, in an area of the property unaffected and unabated (unlikely in Fort McMurray) and outdoors immediately up wind of the property. Detected mould spore counts for each sample are compared one to the other: indoor affected area samples should have the same mould type (genus and species) distribution as the outdoor sample (and indoor unaffected area if such exists), and lesser individual and aggregate spore counts if the abated area is to be declared clean or properly abated. If preabatement sampling can be or was conducted, the post abatement sampling should also show significant reduction in individual and aggregate spore counts as well as comparable distributions. For Fort McMurray properties, air clearance sampling should meet the methodology and criteria defined in Fungal Air Testing, Investigation and Reporting Requirements for Extensively Mould Contaminated Buildings Alberta Health Services. EFI Global s Fort McMurray Response Services EFI Global has considerable experience in dealing with disasters involving both fire and water damage and working with various restoration contractors to help ensure the needs of all involved are satisfied. EFI Global can conduct the necessary tests and provide laboratory results so that appropriate action can be undertaken. EFI Global currently has personnel on the ground in Fort McMurray with additional support being provided by personnel in our other offices including in Edmonton and Calgary. EFI Global provides 24/7 service via our website or our 24/7 Emergency Line (1-866-530-4086). If you could use our assistance or wish to discuss how EFI Global may be able to assist, please give us a call. 4 June 14, 2016 EFI Global V1
About the Authors Mr. Ian Mendes is a Senior Professional Engineer working out of EFI Global s Hamilton office. He has over 24 years of experience in the environmental engineering field. Mr. Mendes has planned and implemented many investigations for a range of industrial facilities, with a variety of contaminants of concern and at various locations. Mr. Mendes is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario and a Qualified Person (QP ESA) as defined in Ontario Regulation 153/04. Dr. Glenn A. Wood is a Certified Industrial Hygienist working out of EFI Global s Richmond Hill office who specializes in Indoor Air Quality assessments, Industrial Hygiene Exposure Assessments, Asbestos and Designated Substance surveys and oversight, management of asbestos survey and abatement oversight teams, project and facility Health and Safety Compliance Audits, Emergency Response Plan reviews, Fire Safety Plan reviews, project and facility Health and Safety inspections and Project Health and Safety Plan reviews. He possesses 13 years of experience as a corporate health and safety consultant and 22 years of experience as a health and safety specialist within the chemical industry in Canada. 5 June 14, 2016 EFI Global V1