panther run indoor air quality reports

8/2/2019 Panther Run Indoor Air Quality Reports

1/9

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OFPALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA

CHRIS M. SKERLECDIRECTOR

JOSEPH M. SANCHESCHIEF OF SUPPORT OPERATIONS

ENVIRONMENTAL &CONSERVATION SERVICES1400 N, FLORIDA MANGO ROADWEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409561-684-5154 Fax561-684-5153

MEMORANDUMTO: Pamela Strachan

PrincipalPanther Run Elementary School

OigitaUy:gne o=EnvirOnrnental corHrol,Environmental Specialist @ 7) ou=SOPBC,email",Kesta.. ..P1'. . j.m" .... mb."hk12.n.u'. ,=U$

Daul::2nll.1Ul1S:27:0H1S'OO'Environmental & Conservation Services .

DATE: November 21,2011SUBJECT: INDOOR AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT

Room 8108 and 8111 - Jonette TaubIn response to a request from Dave Trogdon of School Food Services, I conducted an Indoor AirQuality (IAQ) assessment in Room 8108 (dry food storage) and 8111 (cafeteria manager office) onNovember 17, 20 II. This assessment was prompted by concerns ofmold and water damage in bothspaces.The assessment included visual inspections; the collection of field measurements (temperature,relative humidity, carbon dioxide, and moisture content of building materials); and inspection of thesanitary condition of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Findings andrecommendations are discussed below.

Building InspectionThe rooms were inspected for signs of existing and potential sources of indoor air pollutants that mayimpact Indoor Air Quality in accordance with the School Board Indoor Air Quality Policy 7.195 andassociated Administrative Procedures and Guidelines. Some of these items include visible evidenceof water intrusion, excessive humidity, moldy odors, visible mold or mildew growth on roomsurfaces, soiled or water stained carpeting, inadequate housekeeping, improper storage of chemicals,and other items that may impact indoor air quality.Room 8108 - Dry food StorageThere were several areas with visible holes and mold/water damage on the north wall area. Staffreported that water enters the storage room during heavy rains in this location, which is immediatelybelow a large outside air intake duct. There were three additional small holes offset from the exteriorwall and located immediately below the above ceiling air handler's secondary drain pan.

PALM BEACH COUNTY - RATED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF"Home of Florida's first LEED Gold Certified School" www.palmbeachschools.orqThe School District of Palm Beach County is an Equal Education Opportunity Providerand Employer
http://www.palmbeachschools.orq/http://www.palmbeachschools.orq/


2/9

Page 3 of 3 Strachan

1) Facilities Clean and service the split DX unit in Room 8111. Notify the cafe managerServices (Ms Taub) prior to coming onsite to address her allergy concerns. Ensure that

the condensate line is sufficiently insulated so additional leaks down the wall isminimal. Flush out the condensate pump container.Room 8108 wipe down the supply diffuser and return air grill.

2) BEMP Inspect the outside air intake duct penetration above room 8J11 for waterintrusion into the

3) School Investigate the droppings above the drop ceiling for pests and treat as necessary.FoodService'

4) ECO Remove and replace damaged drywall after confirmation that leaks have beenaddressed and no pest activity is present.

Please contact this office when these actions have been completed so we can check on theimprovement to indoor air quality and maintain a record of actions taken.cc: Joseph Sanches, Chief of Support Operations

Jim Kunard, Director/ Facilities ServicesSteve Backhus, General Manager, Facilities ServicesCharlie Cromartie, Facility Administrator, Facilities ServicesNancy Patrick / Risk and Benefits ManagementLauriann Basel, Principal Liaison, Facilities ServicesJoan Sutton, Statistical Analyst, Facilities ServicesRita Angelora, Facilities ServicesStacey Marshall, Team Leader, Facilities ServicesRusty Everman, Facility Coordinator, Facilities ServicesLori Dornbusch, School Food ServicesDave Trogdon, School Food ServicesTim Woodruff, Building Envelope Management Program, Facilities Services

. " ~ " " ' ' ' ' ' ~ - ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ~ ' ' ' ' ' ~ . ~ - ' - ' ' - ' ' ' ' . ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ~ ' ' ' ' . ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ~ ' ' ' ' ' ' ~ ' ~ ' ' ' ' ~ ' ' ' ' ' ~ ' ' ............................ . PALM BEACH COUNTY ScHOOLS - RATED A" BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 2005 - 2010"Home of Florida's first LEED Gold Certified School" www.palmbeachschools.om The School District of Palm Beach County is an Equal Education Opportunity Provider and Employer
http:///reader/full/www.palmbeachschools.omhttp:///reader/full/www.palmbeachschools.om


3/9

Page 2 of 3 Strachan

The drywall below the outside air intake duct, as well as in several other random locations, was waterstained and/or had visible mold. There were no musty/moldy odors above the drop ceiling. Therewere droppings on the top of the drywall that may be rodent or other indoor pests.There were no musty or unusual odors within the storage room. There was no visible mold on theexterior of the stored items, boxes, shelving, or the door.The temperature in the storage room was 71F and relative humidity 58%. Temperature and relativehumidity are governed by Health Department requirements.Room 8111 - Cafe Manager OfficeThere was a musty odor in the office attributed to dirty condensate pan. The condensate line goesabove the drop ceiling and has resulted in visible water streaks onto the block wall within theoccupied space. There was no mold on the tops of the ceiling tiles in this area. There were no rodentdroppings on the tops of the ceiling tiles.Office 8111 is supplied conditioned air by a wall mounted Spli t OX unit. The interior of the unit wasdusty dirty. There is an external condensate drain pump with some stagnant water.The temperature (77F) was within the recommended guidelines at the time of the visit. Relativehumidity (66%) was above the recommended guideline. The split OX handheld remote wasprogrammed to 75F. Maintaining temperatures between 75F to 78F and relative humidity below60% are key to preventing mold growth.The Carbon Dioxide concentration was within the standard that the existing ventilation system wasdesigned to maintain. Carbon Dioxide, generally present due to human respiration, is consideredeffective in evaluating whether adequate quantities of fresh outdoor air are being introduced into abuilding or work area.

Conclusions and RecommendationsAlthough nothing can be done to totally eliminate exposure to common allergens, such as dust, dustmites, mold spores or pollen, certain actions can be taken to reduce this exposure. These correctionswill in no way make for a sterile environment or eliminate allergens that are ubiquitous to theenvironment.

PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS - RATED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENTOF EDUCATION 2005 2010 "Home of Florida's first lEED Gold Certified School" www.palmbeachschools.org The School District of Palm Beach County isan Equal Education Opportunity Provider and Employer
http:///reader/full/www.palmbeachschools.orghttp:///reader/full/www.palmbeachschools.org


4/9

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ARTHUR C. JOHNSON, Ph.D.OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA SUPERINTENDENTENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OFFICE1400 N. FLORIDA MANGO ROADWEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409(561) 6845154 FAX (561) 6845153

MEMORANDUMTO: Scott BlakePrincipalPanther Run Elementary SchoolFROM: Consuelo Avila-Ramsey, CIH Digitally signed by Consuela AvilaRamseyIndustrial Hygienist DN: cn=Consuelo Avila Ramsey,___ / c=US, o=School District of PalmEnvironmental Control Office (U;iI:!iZ (f Beach County, [email protected]: 2010.03.2410:30:07 04'00'DATE: March 24,2010SUBJECT: INDOOR AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT- Room 3-110/ Ms. MillerIn response to a request from Dolores DeLeon of your staff, I conducted an Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) assessment in Room 3-110 at Panther Run Elementary School on 03/22110. Thisassessment was prompted by complaints of a musty odor in the classroom.I inspected the room, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, andmonitored the temperature and relative humidity. Findings and recommendations are discussedbelow.

Building InspectionRoom 3-110 was inspected for signs of existing and potential sources of indoor air pollutants,including evidence of water intrusion, excessive humidity, moldy odors, visible mold or mildewgrowth on room surfaces, soiled or water stained carpeting, inadequate housekeeping, improperstorage of chemicals, and other items that may impact indoor air quality.There w a ~ a glue-like odor when entering the room. The odor did not resemble a musty odor atthe time of my visit.There was a large area rug, which appeared clean. There were several stuffed animals in theroom. The American Lung Association's Asthma Friendly Program requires that stuffedanimals/stuffed pillow be washed weekly in hot water or removed from the classroom.

PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS - RA TED "An BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - 2005 - 2009"HOME OF FLORIDA'S FIRST LEED GOLD CERTIFIED SCHOOL"

~ " J ~ 6 W m ; A Q j . J t l . Z , E J " J J The School District of Palm Beach County is an Equal Education Opportunity Provider and Employer
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


5/9

(Page 2.. .Blake)

The temperature and relative humidity were within the recommended guidelines at the time ofthe visit. Relative humidity should be maintained at 60% or less to prevent the growth of moldand other organisms.The Carbon Dioxide concentration was within the standard that the existing ventilation systemwas designed to maintain. Carbon Dioxide, generally present due to human respiration, isconsidered effective in evaluating whether adequate quantities of fresh outdoor air are beingintroduced into a building or work area.

Mechanical SystemsThe heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems were inspected for items relatingto indoor air quality. This room is provided conditioned-air by AHU 3-1, which was inspectedon 03/0911O.The bathroom exhaust fan had the louvers closed and was not operating. (The same conditionswere noted in the adjacent classroom). I requested that our Energy Management System check tofind out if the outside air dampers were open during my visit and we found out that there was asoftware problem. Upon restoring the outside make-up air, the bathroom exhaust fan startedoperating.

Conclusions and RecommendationsAlthough nothing can be done to totally eliminate exposure to common allergens, such as dust,dust mites, mold spores or pollen, certain actions can be taken to reduce this exposure. Thesecorrections will in no way make for a sterile environment or eliminate allergens that areUbiquitous to the environment.

1) School- Wash the stuffed animals in hot water weekly in accordance with the AsthmaFriendly Program or remove from the classroom.

2) Facilities Services- Open the louvers of the bathroom exhaust fan to allow for properexhausting of odors. Check all of the bathrooms to ensure the louvers are open(I found the same condition in the adjacent room 3-103).

3) Facilities Services- Ensure that my request dated 03/09/10 to clean the drain pan ofAHU3-1 is completed.

PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS - RATED "AU BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - 2005 - 2009"HOME OF FLORIDA'S FIRST LEED GOLD CERTIFIED SCHOOL"

J : : e , . \ J l ; 1 f l g ~ ~ ; ? , i , . j J The School District of Palm Beach County is an Equal Education Opportunity Provider and Employer
http:///reader/full/J::e,./Jl;1flg~~;?,%E3%A9%AC.jJhttp:///reader/full/J::e,./Jl;1flg~~;?,%E3%A9%AC.jJ


6/9

(Page 3 .. .Blake)

Please contact this office when these actions have been completed so we can check on theimprovement to indoor air quality and maintain a record of actions taken.

cc: Joseph Sanches, Chiefof FacilitiesMartin A. Mets, Directorl Facilities ServicesLauriann Basel, Principal Liaison! Facilities ServicesJoan Sutton, Statistical Analyst! Facilities ServicesRita Angelora/ Facilities ServicesStacey Marshall, Team Leader/ Facilities ServicesJohn Palma, IAQ Coordinator/ Facilities ServicesKathelyn Jacques-Adams, Associate Counsel for Business Operations/ Legal ServicesSharon Milne, Human Resources Technician! Risk and Benefits ManagementJennifer McKim, Facility Coordinator! Facilities ServicesFred Cahill, Facility Administrator! Facilities Services

PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS. RATED "A" BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION-2005 2009"HOMEOF FLORIDA'S FIRST LEED GOLD CERTIFIED SCHOOL"

~ 1 M g e , . ~ t l . , 1 S . 1 2 , . a ~ ~ The School District of Palm Beach County is an Equal Education Opportunity Provider and Employer


7/9

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ARTHUR C. JOHNSON, Ph.D.OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA SUPERINTENDENTENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OFFICE1400 N. FLORIDA MANGO ROADWEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409(561) 6845154 FAX (561) 6845153

MEMORANDUMTO: Scott BlakePrincipalPanther Run Elementary SchoolFROM: Consuela Avila-Ramsey, CIH Digitally Signed by Consuelo AvilaRamseyIndustrial Hygienist ON: cn=Coflsuelo Avila Ramsey.c=US. o=School District of PalmEnvironmental Control Office Beach County, ou=ECO,[email protected]

Date: 2010.03.11 15:24:38 -05'00'DATE: March 11,2010SUBJECT: INDOOR AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT- Room 3-106/Christine SalehiIn response to a request from Delores DeLeon of your staff, I conducted an Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) assessment in Room 3-106 at Panther Run Elementary School on 03/09/10. Thisassessment was prompted by complaints of a musty odor.I inspected the room, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning CHVAC) systems, andmonitored the temperature and relative humidity. Findings and recommendations are discussedbelow.

Building InspectionRoom 3-106 was inspected for signs of existing and potential sources of indoor air pollutants,including evidence of water intrusion, excessive humidity, moldy odors, visible mold or mildewgrowth on room surfaces, soiled or water stained carpeting, inadequate housekeeping, improperstorage of chemicals, and other items that may impact indoor air quality.There were no noticeable odors at the time of the visit. The teacher indicated that the odor haddiminished since first reported.This room has sheet vinyl flooring. There were three large area rugs. The housekeeping wasexcellent.

PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS. RATED "A" BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION -20052009"HOME OF FLORIDA'S FIRST LEED GOLD CERTIFIED SCHOOL"

~ 1 r : i . , ~ z . 1 ' ~ The School District of Palm Beach County is an Equal Education Opportunity Provider and Employer
mailto:[email protected]:///reader/full/2010.03.11mailto:[email protected]:///reader/full/2010.03.11


8/9

(Page 2 ..Blake)There were several stuffed animals. These can collect dust, absorb odors; and can harbor dustmites. The American Lung Association's Asthma Friendly Schools Program requests that stuffedanimalsl stuffed pillows be washed weekly in hot water or removed from occupant spaces.There was no elevated moisture on the walls. There were no signs of water intrusion.The temperature and relative humidity were within the recommended guidelines at the time ofthe visit. Relative humidity should be maintained at 60% or less to prevent the growth of moldand other organisms.The Carbon Dioxide concentration was within the standard that the existing ventilation systemwas designed to maintain. Carbon Dioxide, generally present due to human respiration, isconsidered effective in evaluating whether adequate quantities of fresh outdoor air are beingintroduced into a building or work area.

Mechanical SystemsThe heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HV AC) systems were inspected for items relatingto indoor air quality. This room is provided conditioned-air by Trane AHU 3-1 located inMechanical Room 5-191. The coils appeared clean. There was a rusty scum build-up in thedrain pan. The filters were changed on 12/22/09. According to the Preventative Maintenanceschedule, the unit was last cleaned on 01116/08.

Conclusions and RecommendationsAlthough nothing can be done to totally eliminate exposure to common allergens, such as dust,dust mites, mold spores or pollen, certain actions can be taken to reduce this exposure. Thesecorrections will in no way make for a sterile environment or eliminate allergens that areubiquitous to the environment.

1) School- The custodialhousekeeping. staff and the teacher should be commended for excellent

2) School- Wash the stuffed animals in hot water weekly in accordance to the AsthmaFriendly Schools Program. Clean the area rugs frequently, including taking themout and cleaning the floor under them.3) Facilities Services- Clean the drain pan and other parts of AHU 3-1. PM may also be needed

on all AHUs in the schooL4) School- If the odor returns and persists, contact the ECO for a more intrusive evaluation.

PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS - RATED "A" BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION-2005 2009"HOME OF FLORIDA'S FIRST LEED GOLD CERTIFIED SCHOOL"

Y ' I Y : i ' ! : l J f ' J 1 \ ' M ! : t I ; A , G J ; t , K l , f ! ' ~ 1 1 SThe School District of Palm Beach County is an Equal Education Opportunity Provider and Employer


9/9

(Page 3 .. Blake)

Please contact this office when these actions have been completed so we can check on theimprovement to indoor air quality and maintain a record of actions taken.

cc: Joseph Sanches, ChiefofFacilitiesMartin A. Mets, Director! Facilities ServicesLauriann Basel, Principal Liaison! Facilities ServicesJoan Sutton, Statistical Analyst! Facilities ServicesRita Ange10ral Facilities ServicesStacey Marshall, Team Leader! Facilities ServicesJohn Palma, IAQ Coordinator! Facilities ServicesKathelyn Jacques-Adams, Associate Counsel for Business Operations/ Legal ServicesSharon Milne, Human Resources Technician! Risk and Benefits ManagementJennifer McKim, Facility Coordinator! Facilities ServicesCharlie Cromartie, Facility Administrator! Facilities Services

PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS - RATED "A" BYTHE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION -2005 - 2009"HOME OF FLORIDA'S FIRST LEED GOLD CERTIFIED SCHOOL"

~ , p A 1 M ] ; ~ . G t l . 1 S j Z J : b J . l The School District ofPalm Beach County is an Equal Education Opportunity Provider and Employer

panther run indoor air quality reports

Documents