Concern: Longfellow Elementary School: December 9th, 2019 (CXLOES2019000132)

Location
Administrative Office
Date of IEQ Report Form
Date of Report
Concern
An odor was reported to the Office of the Environment by Building Services (Plumbing) on June 6, 2019. Apparently, odors had been reported by Administrative staff. An IEQ Concern form was not submitted. The date specified on the form (December 9) is incorrect. The form should be dated June 6, 2019.
IEQ Investigation Process

Identify deficiencies that may impact IEQ and/or sources of odor concerns. Typically includes the following depending on the nature of concern, but not limited to:

  • interview/questionnaire of concern individual(s)
  • inspection above drop ceiling (condition of roof deck, pipe insulation, return air plenum)
  • inspection of ventilation system (operation of variable air volume box and outdoor air dampers, check controls, measurements of carbon dioxide, temperature and relative humidity, sources near outdoor air intake, measure return and supply air volume, cleanliness of coils, liner and condensate pan)
  • inspection of exterior
  • inspection below drop ceiling (housekeeping, sink and floor drain traps, signs of past and present moisture concern via visual and/or moisture meter, mold growth, ensure connection of current and capping of abandoned sanitary vents, odorizers, excessive plants and fabric items, identify potential pathways, and measure volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and lighting)
Findings

Date(s) of Assessment: June 7, 2019 and August 14, 2019

June 6, 2019

Building Services (Plumbing) had been investigating the odor. There is a crawl space underneath the Administration Office.

Building Services (Plumbing) had identified dried sewage and some uncapped pipes within the crawl space. The dried sewage was believed to have occurred from a sewer back-up that occurred in 2015.

Building Services (Plumbing) walked Administration with real-time hydrogen sulfide detector. No hydrogen Sulfide was detected.

Building Services (Plumbing) indicated that the crawl space was serviced by two exhaust fans to control humidity. The Office of the Environment requested Building Services (HVAC) to adjust the controls of the exhaust fan so that it would run continuously to negatively pressurize the crawl space. This was done to reduce the potential for odors to migrate into the Administrative Office.

June 7, 2019

The Office of the Environment entered the crawl space. No odors were identified. No hydrogen sulfide was detected.

The Office of the Environment contacted an environmental consultant to perform a full review of the crawlspace. The scope of work was to delineate the area of dried sewage, identify any uncapped piping within the crawlspace, and to create a work plan for an environmental contractor to perform cleaning and capping of pipes.

Corrective Actions
July 31st, 2019

A board-approved environmental contractor began cleaning the crawl space on July 31, 2019. Work was completed on August, 1, 2019. The work was completed in general accordance with the work plan created by the board-approved environmental consultant. Work included capping the exposed pipes, removal to the sewage debris, and disinfection of the floor.

The Office of the Environment re-inspected the area on August 14, 2019. No further action appears warranted. 

Closed
Yes
Tracking Number
CXLOES2019000132