7.17.2013

PECK PLACE FACILITIES UPDATE

INTRODUCTION

The following slides walk you through the timeline and specifics regarding the environmental issue we are currently facing at Peck with common mold.We have experienced a ‘perfect storm’ of conditions, and are in the process of two diff erent strategies:1. Professionally drying and cleaning the

Peck building.2. Developing a plan to prevent the

‘perfect storm’ from occurring again.

INTRODUCTION

The molds found through new testing at Peck are two of the 300,000 commonly-found species.

Aspergillus penicillium and Cladosporium – the types found outside and inside our homes.

They stay dormant, unless ‘excited’ by moisture, dirt, or food.

All of those conditions combined in the days following Peck’s closing.

They are non-toxic, but could affect people who have mold allergies.

Late May - Early June 2013:Extreme high temps and humidity cause

condensation to collect on the floors.

Friday, May 31st -- “Travel Agency Day.”

We called in Facility Support Services, LLC; and they tested 8 classrooms and the outside air.

No air-quality problems; no classroom safety issues.

By the following week, the classrooms were cool and dry.

EVENT TIMELINE: DATE

TEMP

Wed.5/29 73

Thurs.5/30 86*

Fri.5/31 87*

Sat.6/1 85*

Sun.6/2 82

Mon.6/3 77

Tues.6/4 76

Wed.6/5 72

Thurs.6/6 69

Fri.6/7 62

Why was Peck Place safe in June?

EPA recommends -- as a ‘remediation’ tactic –that ‘dampness is mopped and/or dry-mopped within 48 hours’.

Following the heat wave, we were able to keep up with the moisture.

We ran fans.

Rooms were monitored and floors were well mopped and maintained.

WHY? DATE

TEMP

Wed.6/5 72

Thurs.6/6 69

Fri.6/7 62

Sat.6/8 77

Sun.6/9 79

Mon.6/10 73

Tues.6/11 79

Wed.6/12 76

Thurs.6/13 62

Fri.6/14 71

Most significantly…

The temperature and humidity dropped for the remainder of the school year.

DATE

TEMP

Wed.6/12 76

Thurs.6/13 62

Fri.6/14 71

Sat. 6/15 80

Sun.6/16 77

Mon.6/17 82

Tues.6/18 80

Wed.6/19 77

Thurs.6/20 77

Fri.6/21 81

Early July 2013: July 5, Principal, Eric Carbone

reported he didn’t like the way some of his classrooms looked at Peck. Classrooms were extremely hot and

humid. Chairs, which had been tipped over on

the desks, were ‘sweating’ onto the floor.

The floors and carpets had some suspicious areas he wanted checked out.

EVENT TIMELINE:DATE

TEMP

Mon. 6/24 88

Tues. 6/25 90

Wed. 6/26 85

Thurs. 6/27 78

Fri. 6/28 83

Sat. 6/29 82

Sun. 6/30 80

Mon. 7/1 80

Tues. 7/2 83

Wed. 7/3 86

Thurs. 7/4 89

Fri. 7/5 91

Sat. 7/6 92

Sun. 7/7 93

Mon. 7/8 98

Monday, July 8, 2013:We met with Facility Support

Services, LLC. Questions:

What is causing this ongoing problem? What can we do to prevent it? Has anything changed? (i.e. are the

classrooms still safe?)

EVENT TIMELINE:DATE

TEMP

Mon. 6/24 88

Tues. 6/25 90

Wed. 6/26 85

Thurs. 6/27 78

Fri. 6/28 83

Sat. 6/29 82

Sun. 6/30 80

Mon. 7/1 80

Tues. 7/2 83

Wed. 7/3 86

Thurs. 7/4 89

Fri. 7/5 91

Sat. 7/6 92

Sun. 7/7 93

Mon. 7/8 98

Monday, July 8, 2013:Set up three ‘testing areas’ per

directions from Facility Support Services, LLC .

Opened all windows 1” -- with fans blowing out – and, secured all windows.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013:Facility Support Services, LLC.

tested 9 classrooms using two methods: Air-quality testing Scratch tests of specific areas in the

classrooms Report = minimum of 5 days

EVENT TIMELINE:DATE

TEMP

Mon. 6/24 88

Tues. 6/25 90

Wed. 6/26 85

Thurs. 6/27 78

Fri. 6/28 83

Sat. 6/29 82

Sun. 6/30 80

Mon. 7/1 80

Tues. 7/2 83

Wed. 7/3 86

Thurs. 7/4 89

Fri. 7/5 91

Sat. 7/6 92

Sun. 7/7 93

Mon. 7/8 98

Thursday, July 11, 2013:Per recommendation of Facility Support

Services, LLC . (supported by EPA* research), worked with Town to have exterior underground ducts rototilled.

Made arrangements to rebuild one of the exterior drains and its underground duct-work. That work to begin the week of July 15 th.

*EPA = Environmental Protect ion Agency

EVENT TIMELINE:DATE

TEMP

Mon. 6/24 88

Tues. 6/25 90

Wed. 6/26 85

Thurs. 6/27 78

Fri. 6/28 83

Sat. 6/29 82

Sun. 6/30 80

Mon. 7/1 80

Tues. 7/2 83

Wed. 7/3 86

Thurs. 7/4 89

Fri. 7/5 91

Sat. 7/6 92

Sun. 7/7 93

Mon. 7/8 98

Background: “Mold contamination is present in a building when the total mold spore concentration per cubic meter is above 10,000.”

Significantly higher values of total fungi were reported in exterior (outside) areas of the school than noted for the interior classrooms and hallway. 

FSS’s investigation found total spore concentrations inside Peck Place School of up to 1,860/m3, well below the 10,000/m3 level – (See chart).

JUNE TEST FINDINGS:FACIL ITY SUPPORT SERVICES, LLC3 0 - PA G E R E P O RT

Area Count  (per m3)

Room 303 1,080

Room 302 580

Room 301 520

Hallway 1,860

Room 101 710

Room 102 430

Room 103 640

Outside ** 18,820

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JULY TEST FINDINGS:FACIL ITY SUPPORT SERVICES, LLCP R E L I M I N A RY R E P O RT F I N D I N G S

Area Count  (per m3)

Air-sampling for non-viable mold (dead and alive – viable mold would have taken 11

additional days)

Outside 3,970

Room 501 5,600

Room 101 24,190

Room 102 2.500

Room 103 1,100

SWAB tests were IDs of evident discolorations

(30 tests were completed.)

Room 303 (floor) High

Room 302 (floor) High / Low

Room 301 (floor) Medium

Room 401 (floor) High

Room 201 (floor) High

Room 102 (floor) Low

NEW laboratory results indicated a significant change at Peck. This time there were higher values of total fungi inside than found outside. The same ratios apply: mold contamination is present in a building when the total mold spore concentration per cubic meter is above 10,000.  FSS’s investigation found total spore concentrations inside Peck Place School of up to 24,190/m3 level (See chart).

In hot, humid weather, Peck Place is operating like a greenhouse. The ceiling tiles, which are designed to ‘breathe,’ have a layer

of insulation above them. TBD: How do we remove insulation?

The classroom uni-vents were turned off several years ago because of ‘white noise’. NOW: All are repaired and running.

Closing the windows and using commercial-grade fans only blows the same humid air around without giving it an exit point. NOW: We are running commercial grade, industrial de-humidfi ers.

We need cool, dry air circulating at Peck.

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED:

1. “Repair all leaking ceilings and pipes.” – not an issue.

2. “Check exterior drainage.” We checked the curtain drains. TBD: How, and if, to

repair curtain drains? Overgrown in some areas; covered with bark mulch in

others. We rototilled over-grown, blocked ducts out to the

parking lot. NOW: Open and flowing. Have arranged to rebuild collapsed drain and duct in

lawn (by large maple tree). SOON: Open and flowing.

EPA RECOMMENDS:

3. “Improve air-flow and increase air circulation.” OUTSIDE:

Rhododendrons and shrubbery are overgrown. Hedges block air-flow in front of windows. Cut back hedges to improve air-circulation around the

exterior of the building. Do not remove shrubbery because root systems help

with drainage. SOON: Hedges will be trimmed back from windows

EPA RECOMMENDS:

3. (cont.) “Improve air-flow and increase air circulation.”

INSIDE: Open windows, if outside air is cool and dry. NOW: Windows can now be opened 1” and still be secure. Dehumidify, if the outside air is hot and humid. Maintain interior humidity below 60%.

TBD: How? Dehumidifiers in rooms? Air-conditioning?

EPA RECOMMENDS:

4. “Maintain rooms by cleaning and dry-mopping any moisture right away (‘within 48 hours’).”

Once the building is professionally cleaned and re-inspected, we can accomplish this.

Higher level of diligence to these areas, as we had in June.

All classroom spills to be reported and cleaned immediately.

EPA RECOMMENDS:

5. “Where there is a frequent condensation, do not install carpeting.”

All area carpets have been removed from classrooms.

Children will use mats.

Carpeting in library is not an issue as the core is air-conditioned.

Teachers will keep paper and paperback books on higher shelves and plastic bins on the lower shelves.

We are professionally cleaning all wall-to-wall carpeted areas and replacing the library carpet.

EPA RECOMMENDS:

Professionally dry and clean the Peck School. J.P. Maguire has been contacted to fulfi ll this service.All areas will be cleaned.The product is ‘Benefect,’ a thymol-botanical cleaner. Investigate ‘Benefect’ HERE.Some porous materials in the classrooms will be

catalogued (for replacement) and discarded.With the experts, we will develop protocols for on-

going maintenance.

IMMEDIATE REMEDIATION: CLEANING

#1: Rebuild drain and underground duct in lawn -- in process.

#2: Trim back shrubbery to improve air-circulation around building -- next step.

#3: Repair curtain drain around building -- research.

#4: Research and Discuss:

How to remove ceiling insulation?

Possibility of air-conditioning Peck within Bond?

Possibility of stand-alone air-conditioners in these classrooms?

Dehumidifiers in these classrooms?

REMEDIATION STEPS: FACILITY

#1: Professionally clean classrooms and halls -- next step.

#3: Discard materials per professional directions -- next step.

#4: Develop protocols for on-going maintenance -- next step.

#5: Develop protocols for classroom teachers – next step.

REMEDIATION STEPS: CLASSROOMS