Health and Safety Committee Inspection Reports
From: Tom Fusillo
Subject: Stuy Visit 8/30
I did a visual inspection this morning at 10:00 am. With the exception of
the 6th floor library, all normally occupied areas of the building have
been cleaned and passed testing. I inspected the 2nd and 1st floors,
including hallways and classrooms and several random unit ventilators, and
found them to be acceptably clean. I also observed random areas of the
corridor return ceiling plenum and observed them to be acceptably clean.
Test results for the second and first floors and basement were provided to
me during the inspection, which I have not yet completed reviewing. The
6th floor library carpet was cleaned this morning and after the carpet
dries, aggressive air testing in the library was to be conducted in the
library later today. The carpeting has been completely removed from the
auditorium and all final cleanup has been completed in the auditorium.
The new carpeting has not yet been installed in the auditorium and
installation is expected to begin shortly. The new carpeting has been
installed in the General Office. Wet cleaning of carpets and aggressive
air testing have been completed in the Principal's Office and Conference
Room.
HVAC system cleaning and general cleaning have also been completed in the
basement. Post-cleaning samples from the basement were reportedly
acceptable, with one exception. In one basement room (a gas meter room),
lead concentrations in wipe samples from a painted concrete floor
persisted above 20 micrograms per square foot after repeated cleaning.
The results of an analysis of the paint showed it to be lead-based paint.
The paint in that room appeared different than the paint in the adjacent
hallway. However, as a conservative measure, it was requested that
additional paint chip samples be collected from the basement hallway and
basement rooms for analysis of lead to further assess this finding. The
BOE agreed to perform the paint sampling later today.
Summary of Stuyvesant High School Cleaning Program
From Tom Fusillo and Howard Bader
August 27, 2002
Floor-Mounted Unit Ventilators
Floor-mounted unit ventilators were removed from the wall and sealed inside a
plastic enclosure, which was kept at negative pressure during cleaning of the
unit in order to contain the dust from the unit. The unit ventilator panels
were removed to allow access to the unit. The existing filter was removed
from each unit and the insulation inside the front and rear panels is removed
as was insulation inside the air handling portion of the unit. The
heating/cooling coil and supply fan blades were cleaned using a low volume
water cleaning system. The interior of each unit ventilator was HEPA
vacuumed, and wiped clean and dry. All areas made accessible by the removal
of the unit were also cleaned, including the exterior louvers and the area
beneath the unit. Insulation inside the electrical compartment of the unit
was HEPA vacuumed and coated with an encapsulating paint. After cleaning,
the unit was inspected for residual dust. If the unit was judged clean based
on inspection, one wipe sample for analysis of lead was collected from the
inside of the unit. If the wipe sample passed (that is, it contained less
than 20 micrograms per square foot of lead), the unit had new insulation and
filter installed, was reassembled and wrapped in plastic. If the wipe sample
failed (that is, contained lead at a concentration above 20 micrograms per
square foot), the unit was re-cleaned and retested until it passed both a
visual inspection and wipe testing. After all the units in a room were
cleaned and passed a visual inspection and wipe testing, the unit ventilators
were reconnected and reinstalled and covered with plastic sheeting. Then a
general cleaning was performed in the room and two wipe samples are collected
from horizontal surfaces in the room. If room surface samples passed (lead
concentrations less than 20 micrograms per square foot), then the plastic was
removed from the units and the room was deemed completed. If room surface
samples failed, then the room was re-cleaned and re-tested until satisfactory
test results were obtained. In addition to inspections being made by the
School Construction Authority and its contractors, the cleaning of the unit
ventilators was also inspected by consultants to the Stuyvesant High School
Parentsí Association approximately two to three times per week. Some of
those inspections resulted in recommendations to enhance the completeness of
the cleaning of the unit ventilators, which were adopted by SCA and its
contractors. A total of more than 280 wipe samples were collected from the
floor-mounted unit ventilators, of which 21 were found to have lead
concentrations above the screening level of 20 micrograms per square foot.
For those samples, the unit ventilators were re-cleaned and re-tested and all
were found to have lead levels below the screening levels upon re-testing. A
total of approximately 606 post-cleaning wipe samples have been collected to
date from room surfaces, such as floors, desks, and shelves, of which only 4
were found to contain lead at above the screening level of 20 micrograms per
square foot. Re-cleaning and re-testing of those rooms found lead levels to
be below 20 micrograms per square foot.
Ceiling-Mounted Unit Ventilators
Due to the difficulty in removing these units, the ceiling-mounted unit
ventilators were cleaned in place. Access panels were cut into the ductwork
on either side of these units and an access hole was drilled into the fan
housing. The unit ventilator was isolated from the ductwork with
polyethylene isolation barriers. An enclosure was constructed around the
unit, which was kept under negative pressure during cleaning. Fiberglass
insulation was removed from inside the unit. The unit ventilator was cleaned
using HEPA vacuuming, wet and dry wiping, and low volume water cleaning.
Following cleaning, the units were visually inspected and wipe sampled in the
same manner as the floor-mounted units. After the ceiling-mounted units
passed both the visual inspection and wipe testing, new insulation and filter
were installed in the units and the units were reassembled. The unit
ventilators were kept isolated from the ductwork until the ducts and exterior
louvers had been cleaned by HEPA vacuuming and wiping. In rooms with
ceiling-mounted units, once all unit ventilators in the room have been
cleaned and passed all inspections, a general cleaning is conducted in the
room and two wipe samples for lead are collected from each room. In addition
to inspections being made by the School Construction Authority and its
contractors, the cleaning of the unit ventilators is also inspected by a
consultant to the Stuyvesant High School Parentsí Association approximately
two to three times per week. Those inspection s resulted in a requests to
the SCA to replace the insulation from inside the supply air plenum and to
collect wipe samples from inside the supply air plenum after cleaning, which
were adopted by the SCA and its contractors. A total of 54 wipe samples were
collected from ceiling-mounted unit ventilators, of which 3 had lead
concentrations above 20 micrograms per square foot. Those unit ventilators
were re-cleaned and re-tested and were found to have lead levels below the
screening level after re-cleaning.
Central HVAC Systems
Cleaning of the central HVAC systems included cleaning of all air
conditioning/heating and ventilation air handlers; connecting supply, return
and exhaust ductwork; and supply diffusers, grills, dampers and turning
valves. The cleaning proceeded floor by floor, starting on the tenth floor.
All supply outlets and return grills were removed and cleaned using HEPA
vacuuming and wiping. Access doors were installed, if necessary, so that
each there was no more than 100 feet between access points in each duct. The
ducts were cleaned in sections, with each section of ductwork sealed or
blocked to minimize the spread of contaminants during cleaning. The ducts
were cleaned using compressed air sweep tools, rotating brushes, and/or
manual brushing systems. A HEPA vacuum was used at the downstream end of
each duct segment to collect all dust and residue. Larger ducts were entered
by cleaning workers and manually scraped and cleaned with compressed air.
Any debris that cannot be removed via HEPA vacuuming was manually removed.
Ceiling tiles in the vicinity of supply diffusers and return grills were HEPA
vacuumed and wiped. Ceiling return plenums and associated ceiling tiles were
HEPA vacuumed. Air handling units were vacuumed using a HEPA filtered dry
vacuum unit. Air filters were removed and replaced with new filters after
cleaning was complete. Coils and fans were HEPA vacuumed followed by
pressure washing, using isolation barriers as required. Any insulation that
was not be removed from the HVAC system was coated with encapsulating paint.
After duct cleaning was completed, each duct was manually inspected as well
as inspected using video monitoring equipment and was also photo documented.
In addition to inspections being made by the School Construction Authority
and its contractors, the cleaning of the central HVAC system units and ducts
was also inspected by a consultant to the Stuyvesant High School Parentsí
Association approximately two to three times per week. Those inspections
generally found the ducts to be acceptably clean. During some inspections,
areas that warranted additional cleaning were identified to the SCA. In
those cases, the SCA and its contractors re-cleaned duct interiors and
related equipment. On other occasions, the SCA and its contractors performed
re-cleaning of certain ducts and related equipment based on its own
inspections. Once the visual inspections indicate that the systems appear
satisfactorily clean, surface wipe samples were collected from air handling
units and ductwork. This sampling was not part of the original scope of work
proposed by the Board of Education and SCA. The sampling was added at the
request of the PA and the UFT. A minimum of six wipe samples per floor were
to be collected from the duct system, three from supply ducts and three from
return ducts. In addition, wipe samples were collected from supply and
return dampers in each air handling unit. The samples in the air handlers
were to be collected at similar locations to the samples previously collected
by ATC Associates before cleaning, where possible, but all air handling units
were sampled, even if they were not previously sampled by ATC. The School
Construction Authority used a screening level of 20 micrograms per square
foot for lead in wipe samples from the air handling units, and 40 micrograms
per square foot in the wipe samples from the ducts. Inspections of the
sampling locations by consultants to the PA found that all sampling locations
appeared appropriate, except that samples from the supply air duct system
were collected from vertical collars immediately adjacent to the supply
diffusers. It was recommended that samples from horizontal surfaces would be
more representative than the vertical surfaces. To date, SCA and its
contractors have continued to collect the supply duct samples from the
vertical collars. Once all HVAC system components in each of the major zones
were cleaned, inspected and tested, a final inspection was done of all HVAC
components for that zone. Then the HVAC zone was turned on and operated with
filters covering all diffusers and vents for a period of 24 hours. The
filters were then removed and aggressive air monitoring was conducted with
the HVAC system fully operating. The air monitoring included the collection
of 10 air samples per floor for analysis of asbestos and five samples per
floor for analysis of lead. The results of asbestos testing were compared
against the asbestos clearance standard of 70 structures per square
millimeter and the lead samples against the USEPA screening level of 1.5
micrograms per cubic meter.
As of August 22, a total of 30 wipe samples for lead were collected from the
air handling units after cleaning; all 30 samples were found to contain less
than 20 micrograms per square foot of lead. To date, a total of 78 wipe
samples for lead were collected from the duct systems; 5 of those samples
were found to contain more than 40 micrograms per square foot. Upon
re-cleaning and re-testing, samples were found to contain below 40 micrograms
per square foot.
Carpeting and Upholstery
Two carpet samples from the auditorium were submitted for ultrasonication
analysis for asbestos at EMSL Analytical. Results indicated 60,000 and 2.4
million asbestos structures per sq. cm. in the two samples. There are no
standards for such analyses, although one guideline suggests that levels
above 100,000 structures per sq. cm. indicates a need for abatement. Request
for replacement or testing of upholstered seats in auditorium and upholstery
elsewhere in the school was made to the Board of Education by the PA; a full
response has not yet been received. The auditorium carpeting is being
removed inside a full containment enclosure using standard asbestos abatement
procedures. The seats are being pre-cleaned using HEPA vacuums and covered
with four layers of plastic after cleaning. The carpet is being covered with
three layers of plastic prior to removal, misting the carpet with water
during the removal, sealing the removed carpet with three layers of plastic
prior to transporting it, wet wiping and HEPA vacuuming the floor surfaces,
seats, and other surfaces, and conducting air sampling outside the work area.
The carpeting in the Administrative Office has been removed. A decision has
been made by the BOE not to remove the carpeting in the Principals Office and
Conference Room and the 6th Floor Library. These carpets will be wet cleaned.
After the carpets and room surfaces†are cleaned (including the Auditorium),
the BOE will perform aggressive asbestos and lead clearance testing.
From: Howard Bader
Subject: Stuy Visit 8/27
I did a visual inspection this morning at 10:30 am. With the exception of
the 6th Floor Library and Auditorium Mezzanine, all normally occupied
areas on floors 2- 10 have been cleaned and passed laboratory testing for
lead and asbestos. I have inspected representative areas on these floors
and found them acceptably clean.
All HVAC systems (air handling units and unit ventilators) in the school
have been cleaned and tested. I inspected four different air handling
units today and found them acceptably clean (overall I have inspected 10
of the 14 air handling units at the school). Representative unit
ventilators were inspected on each floor as they were being cleaned. The
hung ceiling return plenum area in the first floor corridor is clean and
passes my visual inspection. The SCA is waiting for the test results in
this area. I had previously inspected these areas on floors 2-10 and found
them acceptable.
The carpeting in the Auditorium and the General Office has been removed.
The Auditorium is still being cleaned. A decision has been made by the BOE
not to remove the carpeting in the Principals Office and Conference Room
and the 6th Floor Library. These carpets will be wet cleaned. After the
carpets and room surfaces are cleaned, the BOE will perform aggressive
asbestos and lead clearance testing.
From: Howard Bader
Subject: Stuy Visit 8/21 as of 5:30 pm
I did a visual inspection with Chris Proctor of UFT on floors 3-6. The
areas below the hung ceiling were very clean. Taylor Environmental told me
that the results of the aggressive air testing for floors 3 thru 10 showed
no detectable asbestos or lead. They have given me a stack of results but
I have not had time to review them yet.
I inspected the 2 air handling units in the penthouse, and 4 units on the
roof above and adjacent to the 6th floor gymnasium. The units all appeared
clean. I observed some interior insulation lining in the exterior units
that was not adequately encapsulated. The contractor said they would
correct that situation immediately.
My visual inspection in the return plenum ceilings (i.e., the space above
the hung ceilings) on floors 3 thru 10 found that the ceiling support
system and mechanical component surfaces (e.g., piping, top of light
fixtures, top of ducts, etc.) were not adequately cleaned. The SCA and
Contractors all agreed with my assessment and releaning of corridor plenum
areas was to start immediately. The work is to be performed inside
containment to protect surfaces already cleaned below. The work is
scheduled to be complete by this Friday and I will re-inspect these areas
at that time. A minimum of 3 aggressive air tests will be performed in the
work area on each floor after completion.
The SCA informed me that they performed some testing in the carpeted areas
in the 6th Floor Library, 1st floor Administrative Office and the
Auditorium on 8/21 (although I was at the school from 10 am until 5:30 pm,
I was not told of this testing until it was already completed). The
testing procedures were described as follows:
- A tent enclosure was constructed in each area.
- A conventional (non-HEPA filtered) vacuum was used to vacuum the carpet
within each enclosure.
- Box fans were directed at the floor surface throughout the vacuuming
and testing period.
- For the Auditorium only, the upholstered chairs were physically
agitated (beaten with a stick?).
- Asbestos and lead air tests were taken inside and outside the tents
during the procedure.
The SCA said they will provide documentation of the procedures along with
still photographs and video. The SCA expects results of this testing today
(8/22). I am holding judgment of these testing procedures until I see the
results and supporting documentation.
From: Tom Fusillo
Subject: Stuy Visit on Aug. 14
I visited Stuyvesant High School on the afternoon of August 14 to observe
the progress of the cleaning activities. Cleaning was being performed on
the ductwork on the first floor. I inspected several corridor supply and
return ducts on the third floor and second floor, where cleaning had been
completed. All the ducts inspected appeared clean with no visible dust.
General cleaning was in progress on the fourth floor. Cleaning and
testing of 13 of the 15 major air handling units has been completed; two air
handling units remain to be cleaned.
