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)
Date(s) of Assessment: March 5 and 15, 2019
Air Handling Unit 7 (serves gym) had a few random dust balls on the face of the heating coils. The return section (between wall air return grill and prior to air filters) of the unit is housing dislodged pieces (large) of sound liner and dust balls (not unusual for gymnasium units).
Air Handling Unit 4 (serves girls gym office and related arts area) had scale / rust accumulation within the condensate pan which during the cooling season can allow condensate to become stagnant or clog the drain allowing condensate to possibly over-flow. An access panel was not properly closed thus drawing air in from within the mechanical room.
The fan coil unit serving the girls locker room was acceptable and appeared to be working as designed.
The mechanical room housing units 4 and 7 has a dried out floor drain near a hot water heater which allowed for the back flow and detection of a sewer odor within the area.
The dryer vent is disconnected above the solid ceiling in the room between the boys and girls locker rooms.
The floor drains in the shower areas of the girls locker room and gym office are not accessible (items stored in the way or on top of) to allow custodial staff to pour water down them to keep drain traps from drying out thus allowing sewer gases to back-flow into occupied space.
Mold growth was not observed on inspected materials.
The condition and housekeeping of the gym (including bleachers and storage) are comparable to other gyms within the school system.
The microfiber dry mop in the gymnasium appears to be used, but possibly not changed out enough since it was overloaded at the time of the inspections.
The floor scrubber (wet cleaning method) is not used due to difficulties with equipment (i.e. broken).
The gym office supply air diffuser was providing 50 cubic feet per minute of air volume as specified on mechanical prints.
The carbon dioxide measurements (used to evaluate ventilation system's introduction of outdoor air to dilute body odors and avoid sense of stuffiness) were acceptable.
A data logger was placed in the gym office to collect temperature readings from March 15 - 28, 2019. During school hours the temperature ranged from 69 - 74 degrees F. The temperature appeared to stay between between 71-72 degrees the majority of the time. Guidelines for winter time if 68 - 70 degrees.
Particle screening was conducted using TSI Aerotrak Particle Counter on March 15, 2019 to have a general understanding of particle count representing the ventilation system. The measurements were compared to outdoors,National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guidelines.
Screening completed over short duration to get an understanding if further particle data would be useful. A ½ Liter sample was collected over 10 seconds for each sampling point.
Location PM 3 (ug/m3) PM 10 (ug/m3)
Outdoors 9 24
Boys Locker Room 2 7
Boys Gym Office 2 12
Girls Locker Room 2 14
Girls Gym Office 2 16
Gymnasium 2 12
Cafeteria 5 19
Notes:
- PM3.0 is used instead of PM2.5 due to instrument limitations. PM3.0 would potentially overestimate PM2.5.
- The gym partition was down.
- Gym class was not in session.
- One student was playing basketball on the locker room side of the gym during sampling collection.
- Ventilation operating under normal conditions
- Particulate was less than outside in each sample collected.
- Indoor particulate was less than NAAQS (limitations to this as well - based off of annual mean averaged over 3 years). NAAQS – PM2.5 = 12 ug/m3 & PM10 – 150 ug/m3
- ASHRAE has similar recommendations, but PM10 is to be below 50.
- Screening did not indicate further testing of airborne particulate matter would be necessary as it relates to the ventilation systems serving the subject areas.
Per Custodial Services Office, high dust cleaning was performed in cafeteria and gymnasium on January 31, 2019. Work order 98036 indicated gym entry high cleaning. Based on previous investigations, the elevated surfaces of the gym were cleaned in 2010 and 2015.
The access panel of Air Handling Unit 4 was properly closed at the time of the finding.
Building Services (HVAC) is to clean condensate pan in Air Handling Unit 4 prior to the cooling season, clean Air Handling Unit 7 return air section and coils, review operation (damper opening sequence) of fan coil unit serving girls locker room, and review thermostat and variable air volume box serving the girls gym office.
Building Services is to reconnect dryer vent.
School administration is to inform custodial and teaching staff not to store items in gym office shower or locker room shower area that obstruct floor drains or access to them. Custodial staff are to periodically pour at least 5 gallons of water down the drain to ensure drain traps do not dry out.
School administration is to inform custodial staff to pour water down the floor drain near the hot water heater tank in the mechanical room (beginning of related arts hallway) housing the gym ventilation unit. All floor drains are to be periodically checked in this penthouse.
Per Custodial Services Office, guidelines for gym floor maintenance and bleachers:
- Dry dust mop with microfiber in the morning and afternoon at a minimum. Custodial and physical education staff should work together to ensure floor is cleaned before and after school activities and between classes.
- Change out dry dust mop heads as necessary to ensure effective cleaning.
- Auto wet scrub at least twice a week ensuring scrubbers are cleaned, and use fresh clean water before each use.
- If not able to auto wet scrub, damp mop the floor three times per week changing out water as it gets dirty.
- Frequency of cleaning under bleachers depends on use and how often pulled out. It is suggested in this situation to clean when they are opened for activities and/or at least quarterly.
- Cleaning the exposed side of bleachers (benches, aisles, and steps) same as the previous bullet point.
If staff is concerned with housekeeping of the gym storage, it is recommended that physical education staff remove and clean their items so that custodial staff can clean shelving and floor. Using custodial HEPA filtered vacuums would be the preferred method to clean items for those having allergies.
Administration is to ensure Custodial Services cleans the angled blue caps / ledges around the mid-level of the gymnasium walls periodically.
Custodial Services Office will do another high cleaning for dust upon a request from the school. Please provide a detailed scope of work within the submitted work order.