This was checked out and determined to be smoke from someone's fireplace in the neighborhood.
12/7 around 12pm the locker rooms started to smell like dirty water/ sewage. Smell was stronger in boys locker room.
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 of Assessment: December 8, 2022.
A physical site assessment was performed along with reviewing blueprints.
Staff indicated no past issue with odor. However after the recent school renovation, liquid/sewage came out the center floor drain in the boys locker room. The line was clogged with miscellaneous materials.
The investigation was performed around 10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Staff indicated the boys locker room had a slight odor the morning of the investigation. At the time of the investigation, the inspector did not detect an odor within the boys locker room. A perfume and/or deodorant aroma was sensed in the girls locker room. The mechanical room adjoining the boys locker room did not have an outstanding odor. The exterior storage room housing mowing equipment located after the mechanical room had a gasoline odor.
Floor drain traps were inspected within the locker rooms and the mechanical room. With exception of the girls gym office shower stall, all traps appeared to have water in them. Dry traps may allow sewer odors to backflow into interior spaces.
The locker room ceilings are solid (drywall) with some access panels located in gym offices and restroom area.
The locker rooms share an Energy Recovery Unit (ERU-1) located on the roof of the mechanical room mentioned above. The ERU does introduce outdoor air. No odors were detected within or surrounding the unit. All of the ERU's condensate lines drain to the exterior, thus eliminating a dried condensate trap within the ERU tied into an internal line (i.e. waste or storm water) from being an odor source.
What appears to be a sanitary vent is approximately 17 feet away from the ERU's outdoor intake (guidelines recommend at least 10 feet away). The day of the reported odor, weather was foggy and damp which may have allowed any odor generated from the pipe vent to linger instead of quickly dissipating. At the time the odor was noted, the wind speed was calm to 3 mph from the southwest, thus moving air away from the ERU outdoor air intake.
Four exhaust fans are in the vicinity of the ERU's outdoor intake. Two (closets to ERU) are associated with the mechanical room while the other two serve the electrical room and gym storage. If the mechanical room had an odor and exhausted, it could be drawn into the ERU's outdoor air intake and distributed into the locker rooms.
Ensure the floor drain in gym office shower stall of the girls locker room is filled with water.
Custodial and/or physical education staff is to ensure water is in the all the floor drain traps within the gym offices and locker rooms. Recommend pouring water within each drain once a month until a sheen of water can be seen within the drain trap. Custodial is to ensure the mechanical room floor drain traps are maintained. If the odor occurs again and all traps have water in them, then contact the Office of Environment as soon as possible. If available, the Office of Environment will immediately make a site visit in attempt to catch the odor and track a source.
If odor occurs in the future, the drains traps have water in them, and the Office of Environment is not able to confirm the source, the Office of Environment will then consider creating a work order to extend the sanitary vent pipe and/or recommend Building Maintenance Plumbing Shop have a contractor perform a peppermint odor test of the sanitary vent lines to ensure no leaks or connection issues as a result of the latest renovation.