Cle Elum-Roslyn Indoor Air Quality Coalition

Transcription

Cle Elum-Roslyn Indoor Air Quality Coalition
Cle Elum-Roslyn Indoor Air Quality Coalition
Final Report and Executive Summary
Approved by the
Cle Elum-Roslyn Indoor Air Quality Coalition:
December 9, 2002
Submitted to:
Cle Elum-Roslyn School Board
Kittitas County Board of Health
Washington State Board of Health
Washington State Department of Health
Final Report Writing Committee:
Art Busch – Washington Education Association
Jennifer Breyfogle – Cle Elum-Roslyn School Board
Carolyn Booth – Kittitas County Board of Health
Nancy Goodloe – Kittitas County Health Department
Compiled by Nancy R. Goodloe
Table of Contents
Page
Executive Summary …………………………………………………………………. i
Final Report …………………………………………………………………………
Background ………………………………………………………………….
Mission/Goals/Objectives……………………………………………………
Agencies/Resources………………………………………………………….
Assessment/Findings…………………………………………………………
Remediation………………………………………………………………….
Post-Remediation Assessment……………………………………………….
Recommendations……………………………………………………………
Bibliography.…………………………………………………………………
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1
2
3
3
5
5
6
7
Appendix 1 …………………………………………………………………………..
Report #1 – Rich Prill Walkthrough Assessment
April 30, 2002
8
Appendix 2 …………………………………………………………………………. 22
Report #1 – Microlab Northwest,
Sampling & Testing
June 13, 2002
Appendix 3 …………………………………………………………………………. 33
Report #1 – P&K Microbiological Services, Report
June 28, 2002
Appendix 4 …………………………………………………………………………. 39
Results of the Student Health Assessment
Washington State Department of Health,
July 13, 2002
Appendix 5 …………………………………………………………………………. 59
Cle Elum-Roslyn School District
Proposed 3-Phase Plan for Health & Safety
June 2002
Appendices 6a & 6b ………………………………………………………………. 66
KJM Construction Management Services
6a – Remediation Documentation…………………………………………… 67
6b – Timeline for Remediation Work ……………………………………... 77
Appendices 7a & 7b ……………………………………………………………….. 78
Keathley Welsh, Inc.
7a – HVAC Assessment …………………………………………………… 79
August 15, 2002
7b – Retro-Commissioning Report ………………………………………… 82
August 28, 2002
Appendix 8 ………………………………………………………………………… 84
Report #2 Microlab Northwest Post-Remediation Testing & Sampling
August 30, 2002
Appendix 9 ………………………………………………………………………… 92
Washington State Department of Health
Walkthrough Inspection, WAC 246-366
September 3, 2002
Appendix 10………………………………………………………………………..
Rich Prill Post-Remediation Walkthrough Assessment
October 1, 2002
96
Appendices 11a & 11b …………………………………………………………….
Cle Elum-Roslyn School District Phase 3 Plan
11a – Tracking & Monitoring ……………………………………………..
11b – Health & Safety Committee Appointment …………………………
98
99
102
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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Executive Summary
During late 2001 and early 2002, in response to community concerns regarding
the health issues of students and staff at Cle Elum-Roslyn High School, the Kittitas
County Board of Health endorsed the formation of a representative coalition to address
these consents. The Cle Elum-Roslyn Indoor Air Quality Coalition was formed and held
its first meeting on April 2, 2002.
Throughout the seven-month lifespan of the Coalition, several public and private
agencies and significant human and financial resources supported an environmental
assessment of the building, a health assessment of the student body, and extensive
remediation work to address a “Sick Building Syndrome.” These agencies included the
Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the Kittitas County Health Department,
the Cle Elum-Roslyn School District, the state Office of Public Instruction, Washington
State University, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington State Board of
Health, and private environmental testing and sampling firms. Pre- and post-remediation
environmental and microbiological assessments of the building were done. DOH
personnel conducted a health assessment of the students in Cle Elum-Roslyn High School
and compared results to a cohort of students at Ellensburg High School.
The school district organized the findings and recommendations from the
environmental and microbiological assessments into a three-phase plan for health and
safety in the district {(1) assessment, (2) remediation and recommissioning, (3)
evaluation and long-term monitoring}. They hired a special consultant from KJM
Construction Management Services to oversee the remediation work on the building.
The work was supported financially by the school district and a grant from the state
Office of Public Instruction. The remediation work was extensive and exceeded the work
that was recommended by the assessments (i.e., the building’s HVAC system was
recommissioned.) Post-remediation environmental and microbiological assessments
indicated the school district’s remediation efforts were thorough and successful in
addressing the “sick building syndrome.” The recommissioning process confirmed the
HVAC system was installed and was functioning as designed and specified and was
performing within acceptable limits.
The Coalition completed its work with a review of the school district’s long-term
plan for maintenance and monitoring of the building and its environment.
The Coalition made the following recommendations to the Cle Elum-Roslyn
School Board:
The Coalition makes the following recommendations to the Cle Elum-Roslyn School
Board:
1. Educate/train students and staff so they can enhance the efforts of the custodial
staff to maintain the air quality and general hygiene of the building.
2. Implement the Phase 3 plan for long term monitoring and evaluation of the health
issues and building concerns of the district.
3. Maintain a dynamic Health and Safety Committee within the district.
4. Consider the budget for maintenance and upkeep of the buildings in the district as
a priority item in the yearly budget planning process.
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5. In light of the school nurse’s role in the monitoring of the health issues at all three
levels of the district, future consideration could be given to making this position
full-time.
The Coalition makes the following recommendations to the staff and students of the
Cle Elum-Roslyn School District:
1. Commit your time and energies to develop strong communication channels within
the district.
2. Take advantage of the “Tools for Schools” training opportunities and get involved
in helping monitor your building.
3. Work collaboratively with district administration and be proactive with problemsolving.
The Coalition makes the following recommendations to the parents and citizens of the
Cle Elum-Roslyn School District:
1. Continue to be concerned, involved parents/community members in the school
environment and strive to build on the relationships and trust that has begun here.
2. Be committed to being informed about school issues.
3. Monitor the meetings of the district’s Health & Safety Committee.
4. Rely on clear and accurate information that has been verified.
The Coalition finished its work on December 2, 2002. The final report with
recommendations was forwarded to the Cle Elum-Roslyn School Board and the Kittitas
County Board of Health.
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Cle Elum-Roslyn Indoor Air Quality Coalition
April 1, 2002 – December 2, 2002
Final Report
I Background
Circa 1995 the Cle Elum-Roslyn School District undertook a major reconstruction
project in the high school building. When students and staff returned to the newly
renovated high school, health complaints emerged. Because of the persistent nature of
these complaints, the Kittitas County Health Department formed a task force to address
the situation and was instrumental in recruiting personnel from the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to visit the campus and conduct a series of
tests. The NIOSH report1 identified some problem areas in the building and made
recommendations for remediation. The district followed with some remediation efforts.
From 1995 to the spring of 2002 the concerns about the environment of the high
school escalated. Staff from Kittitas County Health Department and the Washington
State Department of Health visited the building on several occasions, performed smoke
tests in the crawl space, and visually examined the building. Some additional testing was
conducted. A clear nexus was never established between the reported illnesses and
contamination of the building. However, certain patterns seemed to emerge, i.e.,
symptoms were better or worse depending on the season and those with symptoms
experienced a lessening or disappearance of symptoms during vacations or holidays.
During late 2001 and early 2002, community concerns escalated. In response to
these persistent complaints, The Kittitas County Board of Health held its monthly
meeting in Cle Elum on March 28, 2002 and received testimony from parents, students,
and school officials. Subsequent to this meeting, a representative coalition was formed
and held its first meeting on April 2, 2002.
II Mission Statement/Goals and Objectives
Mission
The mission of the Cle Elum/Roslyn IAQ Coalition is to enhance the communication and
foster a collaborative discussion between students, parents, teachers, school district
personnel, citizens and the Department of Health to make short and long term
recommendations that help ensure a safe and healthy learning environment in all facilities
of the Cle Elum/Roslyn School District.
Goal #1 and objectives
By April 30, 2002 establish a balanced, community-based coalition (maximum number =
24) to study the IAQ issues in Cle Elum/Roslyn School District and make appropriate
recommendation to these issues.
a. Identify the following numbers of persons from each area:
1. 4 students, one from each class at the high school
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2. 4 teachers – CEREA representatives
3. 3 persons from the administrative of the school district
4. 2 persons from PSE
5. 1 person from the school board
6. 2 persons from Clean Air Now
7. 8 members representing parents and concerned citizens
b. Appoint representation from the Kittitas County Board of Health as
consultants to the process.
c. Schedule weekly meetings through June 2002 and then evaluate this time
schedule.
d. Elect appropriate coalition members to administrative roles as the process
dictates.
Goal #2 and objectives
To find reliable/valid information that may establish a relationship between the indoor air
quality of the school and the health concerns of students, teachers, staff and parents.
a. Conduct a building walkthrough with Rich Prill, building specialist, by April
15.
b. Review results and recommendations from Rich Prill, April 30.
c. Collaborate with DOH personnel on a follow-up plan.
d. Collaborate with DOH personnel to develop and administer a health
assessment instrument at CE/R high school on May 9.
e. Administer the health assessment to a cohort of students from a control group
on May 16.
f. Review preliminary findings of health assessment with DOH personnel by
June 12.
g. Evaluate health assessment results and make recommendations, if necessary.
h. Review all data gathering efforts to date and evaluate the information in place.
i. Discuss and/or recommend additional strategies that could produce additional
information, if necessary.
Goal #3 and objectives
Enhance communication between the school district administration, teachers, students
and the community on this issue.
a. Conduct coalition meetings and invite interested persons to listen to the
deliberations.
b. Reproduce weekly Coalition minutes and make these available in the school
and at various locations within the community.
c. Coordinate with the upper county media to produce a weekly column in the
Northern Kittitas County Tribune.
d. Provide information to media at the Ellensburg Daily Record on a weekly
basis.
e. Coordinate with the school district in creating an information kiosk in the high
school.
f. Add to the Coalition agenda a monthly report on maintenance and repair
activities at the school.
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Goal #4 and objectives
Assist the school district with infrastructure building activities that will create a long-term
process for monitoring the building and any health or safety issues that might arise.
a. Encourage the school district to make Indoor Air Quality a function of the
school safety committee.
b. Discuss and send recommendations pertaining to Indoor Air Quality to the
School Board for policy consideration.
Goals 1, 2, and 4 were met. Goal 3 was partially realized.
III Agencies and Resources
Several agencies supported the work of this Coalition with their time, fiscal and
financial resources. Among these were:
The Kittitas County Board of Health supported the involvement of the
administrator of the county health department as a facilitator in the coalition process. This
represented a significant investment of staff time and department resources. The Board
heard monthly reports on the progress of the Coalition. A Board member served on the
Coalition.
The Cle Elum-Roslyn School Board provided membership on the Coalition and
heard public testimony from concerned students, teachers, and community members at
several of it meetings. The Board approved the district’s plan for health and safety and
authorized additional expenditures (microbiological testing and consulting) that
supported the remediation and recommissioning of the building and its systems.
The Office of Public Instruction provided significant funding that enabled the
remediation and recommissioning of the building ($55,000).
Washington State University, through a grant from the Environmental Protection
Agency, provided the services of an Indoor Air Quality specialist for consultation and a
follow-up report after a walkthrough assessment of the building in April 2002. This
report became the basis for the work of the Coalition. In addition, this specialist returned
to the building in October 2002 for a second walkthrough after the district’s remediation
efforts were completed.
The Washington State Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health
Assessment provided the resources to develop, implement and provide a final report to
the coalition on a student health assessment. Staff from this office also provided
significant technical support, consultation, and interpretation on the microbiological
assessment of the tape lifts and bulk samples taken from the high school building.
The Washington State Board of Health was supportive of the work of the
Coalition facilitator and consistently heard testimony from community members at its
monthly meetings.
IV Assessment and Findings
The Coalition, utilizing many resources, conducted a systematic and
comprehensive investigation process that included assessments by an Indoor Air Quality
specialist from Washington State University, a professional sampling and testing firm,
and a student health assessment by staff from the Washington State Department of
Health. Highlights of these processes are discussed below.
Upon the recommendation of Dr. Harriet Amman, State Department of Health,
Rich Prill, Building Specialist from Washington State University and the Environmental
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Protection Agency was scheduled for a walkthrough of the high school on April 15, 2002
and presented his final report to the Coalition on April 30, 2002. His full report may be
viewed in Appendix 1.
Prill noted that the building had all of the symptoms of a “sick building
syndrome”. He said there may be no single cause for this syndrome. Any attempt to
address the problems associated with the syndrome had to be comprehensive. He made
several recommendations containing suggestions for maintenance and remediation work
as well as suggestions regarding testing and sampling in the building. Some of his more
significant findings included:
a. Depressurize the crawl space and provide monitors in key hallway areas so
that everyone can monitor this depressurization on a daily basis.
b. Clean or replace the carpet in the classrooms.
c. Check potential for external wicking in noted areas
Based on Prill’s recommendations for sampling and testing, the Coalition
recommended and the school district hired Russ Crutcher of Microlab Northwest to
conduct tape lift and bulk sampling on June 8, 2002. Crutcher took numerous tape lift
and bulk samples from selected classrooms and exterior areas of the building (specific
sites determined by input from teachers in the high school). Based on his understanding
of the history of the concerns and upon the request of the Coalition facilitator, Crutcher
recommended a selection of samples for testing and analysis in his lab as well as a
microbiological testing and analysis of selected samples by P & K Laboratory in New
Jersey. Crutcher presented his findings to the Coalition on June 13, 2002. His
recommendations and findings are contained in Appendix 2.
His findings included but were not limited to:
a. Heavy particulate loading throughout the building.
b. Extremely dirty carpets throughout the building.
c. A limited fungal problem under one hallway tile near a drink machine.
d. Potential wicking of moisture in certain areas on the outside of the building.
e. One leaking heater in one of the classrooms.
f. Absence of glass fibers in the environment.
Crutcher’s remediation recommendations were to provide a thorough cleaning to
the building, clean or get rid of the carpet, thoroughly examine the hallway area where
the mold sample was identified and clean the area, and fix the leaky heater. He saw
moisture wicking at certain exterior areas of the building but found no evidence of a
fungal problem in these areas.
A second set of samples was sent to P & K Laboratory in New Jersey for a
microbiological analysis. Samples were tested based upon recommendation from Dr.
Harriet Amman of the Department of Health. This analysis included microscopic dust
characterization of selected tape lift and bulk samples and fungal/bacterial analysis
(culture method) of selected bulk samples. Dr. Harriet Amman (via phone conference)
provided an interpretation of these results for the Coalition on June 28, 2002. Dr.
Amman found that the P&K results validated and supported the findings of Microlab
Northwest. There was a limited fungal problem that was not a threat to health as well as
heavy particulate matter present in the bulk and tape lift samples. Dr. Amman indicated
that these findings supported Crutcher’s recommendation for remediation. (Appendix 3)
Staff from the Washington State Department of Health, Office of Environmental
Assessment, collaborated with Coalition members in the development of a health
assessment survey instrument. The survey was administered to students in Cle Elum4
Roslyn High school on two Thursdays in May 2002 and to a cohort of students at
Ellensburg High school on two Thursdays in May 2002. In general, symptoms were
reported two to three times more frequently in Cle Elum than in Ellensburg with several
symptoms being reported by a relatively large proportion of the students. The most
frequently reported site of onset was at the entrance to the school. A relatively large
number of students reported the location of symptom onset in classrooms and areas
scattered throughout the school, and these reports did not cluster by wing or general area.
These data can be used as baseline data to determine if reports of symptoms decline after
building remediation work (Appendix 4).
V Remediation
The school district developed a three-phase plan for health and safety and
presented the final draft to the Coalition in June 2002 (see Appendix 5). The plan
provided for a (1) planning and assessment phase, (2) a remediation and HVAC
recommissioning phase, and (3) an evaluation and long-term plan for maintenance and
monitoring
The district hired a consultant from KJM Construction Management Services in
Seattle to organize and oversee the remediation work. This work evolved during July and
August 2002. Details of this work are reported in Appendix 6 and include a checklist of
all work that was done at the school, a timeline for task completion, and a final report of
the work. The remediation checklist was extensive and work accomplished exceeded the
recommendations of Rich Prill and Microlab Northwest. As an example, Keathley Welsh
Associates conducted an assessment of the HVAC system and made several
recommendations for recommissioning of this system (Appendix 7). These
recommendations were added to the checklist, and all of these recommendations were
completed as part of the remediation work. This recommissioning process confirmed that
the HVAC system was installed and was functioning as designed and specified and was
performing within acceptable parameters.2 The remediation project ended on October 1,
2002.
VI Post-Remediation Assessment
On August 30, 2002 Microlab Northwest conducted environmental sampling and
testing, replicating several of the samples and tests that were done in June 2002. Air
sampling was included in this post-remediation assessment. Results indicated:
a. There was not a glass fiber problem in the rooms tested.
b. There was not a general fungal problem in the rooms tested.
c. The carpets had been thoroughly cleaned.
d. Horizontal surfaces had not been cleaned at the time of sampling.
e. Airborne dust loading outside the building varied dramatically and can be quite
high.
f. Airborne dust loading inside the building can be quite high even in an "at rest"
condition.
g. Discoloration of the blanket insulation in the overhead area was due to dust and
not fungal growth.
h. The exterior siding had some fungal growth on the wood but not on the waterbarrier board.
The full report is available in Appendix 8.
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On September 3, 2002 Rich Ellis and Tim Hardin, State Department of Health,
conducted an inspection of the high school per directions from WAC 246-366. Their
report indicated that no facility issues were observed that would prevent the school from
functioning normally during the school year (Appendix 9).
On October 1, 2002 Rich Prill conducted a second walkthrough inspection of the
building and indicated that all of his recommendations to address the “sick building
syndrome” had been successfully addressed by the school district (Appendix 10).
The district’s Phase 3 plan for long-term monitoring and maintenance will be
presented at the same meeting this report is presented for approval. It will become
Appendix 11 of this report.
VII Recommendations
The Coalition makes the following recommendations to the Cle Elum-Roslyn
School Board:
1. Educate/train students and staff so they can enhance the efforts of the custodial
staff to maintain the air quality and general hygiene of the building.
2. Implement the Phase 3 plan for long term monitoring and evaluation of the health
issues and building concerns of the district.
3. Maintain a dynamic Health and Safety Committee within the district.
4. Consider the budget for maintenance and upkeep of the buildings in the district as
a priority item in the yearly budget planning process.
5. In light of the school nurse’s role in the monitoring of the health issues at all three
levels of the district, consider making this position full-time.
The Coalition makes the following recommendations to the staff and students of the
Cle Elum-Roslyn School District:
1. Commit your time and energies to develop strong communication channels within
the district.
2. Take advantage of the “Tools for Schools” training opportunities and get involved
in helping monitor your building.
3. Work collaboratively with district administration and be proactive with problemsolving.
The Coalition makes the following recommendations to the parents and citizens of the
Cle Elum-Roslyn School District:
1. Continue to be concerned, involved parents/community members in the school
environment and strive to build on the relationships and trust that has begun here.
2. Be committed to being informed about school issues.
3. Monitor the meetings of the district Health & Safety Committee.
4. Make assumptions on clear and accurate information that has been verified.
With the transmittal of this report, the Cle Elum-Roslyn Indoor Air Quality
Coalition completes its work.
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Bibliography
1.
Daniels, W. & Martinez, K. Health Hazard Evaluation Report 97-0045. Cle
Elum-Roslyn High School. Cle Elum, Washington, February 1998. Cincinnati, OH:
NIOSH Publications Office, 4676 Columbia Parkway.
2.
Clint Marsh, KJM Construction Management Services, Seattle, WA. November
6, 2002.
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Appendix 1
Report #1 – Rich Prill Walkthrough Assessment
April 30, 2002
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Appendix 1
Final Report from Rich Prill Walkthrough #1
Summary of IAQ Walk-Around Findings
Prepared by Rich Prill, WSU Cooperative Extension Energy Program
Cle Elum – Roslyn High School
School District 404
2692 SR 903
Swenson
Date: 4/15/2002
IAQ Coordinator: Tom
Cle Elum, WA 98922
Operator: Tom Swenson
509-649-2292
Principal: Lee Maras
# Students: 317
Grades: 9 - 12
Year Built: 1967,
remodel in mid 1990s
----------------------------------------------------------
Guiding principles for maintaining good indoor air quality:
1) Remove and exclude potential indoor air contaminants
excluding pollutants from the building is clearly the most reliable and
effective method to eliminate exposure. Identify contaminants and remove
or contain them, develop policies and guidance to keep pollutants out in the
future.
2) Control those pollutants you can’t exclude
It isn’t possible to exclude or eliminate all potential indoor air
pollutants from schools – occupants themselves contribute moisture,
particles, volatile organic compounds (VOCs = personal care products, drycleaning compounds, etc), odors, carbon dioxide, and even mold spores.
Classroom activities include use of materials that can cause problems: dryerase markers, glues, paper particles, chalk dust, laminators and
photocopiers, art, science and shop materials, etc.
To the extent possible, use pressure controls to keep shops, science, art
areas “down wind” from other zones. Air should move from clean areas to
dirty areas: examples include exhaust fans in paint booths, dark room,
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science fume hood, and locker rooms, restrooms, kitchens, photocopy and
laminator areas.
Another important example of air moving from clean to dirty is a well-sealed
crawlspace that is maintained at a slight “vacuum” compared to occupied
zones (using a properly sized exhaust fan operated 24/7) effectively and
reliably preventing crawlspace air and any contaminants from reaching the
occupants.
3) Provide adequate ventilation
Occupied buildings need to have adequate air exchange to remove and dilute
those pollutants generated indoors from people, activities, equipment,
custodial chemicals, etc. By controlling pollutants (see 1 & 2 above) standard
building ventilation rates will be adequate. Current guidelines and standards
specify 15 cubic feet per minute of outside per-person for classrooms, and
20 cubic feet per minute outside air per-person for offices & conference
rooms. Ventilation rates can be easily and routinely checked using carbon
dioxide measurements.
4) Keep the building dry and clean
Moisture in buildings can lead to mold problems. Water incursion from rain
and snow melt, ground water, leaky or sweating pipes, spills, over-saturation
of carpets during cleaning, and high humidity from internal moisture
generation, etc. all need to be controlled to prevent mold and moisture
problems. The building must effectively shed water: roof, windows, doors,
siding, driveways & sidewalks, storm drains, etc. Ensure proper flashing and
drip caps are used, seals around windows, flashing, vents, etc. are
maintained, and surfaces slope the right direction: if it can leak, it probably
will.
Adequate ventilation with outside air (see #3 above) will dry out the building
from occupant breathing and other “normal” moisture sources even when it’s
extremely wet outdoors.
---------------------------------------------------------History of IAQ problems at Cle Elum–Roslyn High School
Remodel resulted in a variety of problems. These problems have been
documented and various studies and assessments have been conducted.
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Problems include, but are not limited to:
• Water incursion due to ice dams
• Water/moisture due to construction practices, flashing details, roof
and site drainage, plumbing, fire sprinkler system.
• Air handling equipment: ducts, fabrication, and installation.
• On-going reports of building-related health symptoms/problems.
----------------------------------------------------Findings & observations from the IAQ Walk-Through 4/15/2002
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Entry Areas, Hallways
Walk off mats in place at entryways = OK
Tile hallways = clean. Tile halls are recommended over carpet.
Observed tiles in portions of the hallway are distorted – it was
reported that the tiles are installed on particle-board flooring that
has been subjected to excess moisture.
Mechanical, Custodial, Storage
Boiler room = equipment appeared to be in good condition and
combustion air appeared adequate. No measurable carbon monoxide.
Carbon dioxide OK. No evidence of combustion gas spillage or backdrafting at gas water heaters.
Carbon monoxide detectors/alarms not present.
Custodial areas = carpet vacuum equipment uses paper filter bags
which is fairly standard in most schools. Did not observe dangerous
materials stored in these areas.
The air-handling units are located in the school attic space. These
units appeared to be in very good condition, most are fitted with
pleated filters, and the filters were clean and dated (April 2002).
Air ducts are lined with typical fiberglass duct-lining material with an
integral facing material covering the fiberglass. All air ducts are
dirty to some degree – the ducts observed during this assessment
were coated with dust and debris to varying degrees.
Air handling unit # 14 was curious: it was equipped with return air
dampers, but instead of a duct it had a sheet metal plate over the
dampers (the design intent was unclear so perhaps this unit is OK ?).
“Sawdust” was observed in the woodshop air handling unit and the
duct system.
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•
Lined ducts are difficult to “clean” compared to hard-surface ducts
with the insulation applied on the outside. Again, all ducts in buildings
contain dust and debris to some extent.
The interior of the ducts that bring outside air into the various air
handling units was not accessible for inspection.
Ventilation
Most classrooms were equipped with operable windows = 5 rooms had
at least one window open, while 12 rooms had all windows closed.
All classrooms except auto shop building were equipped with
mechanical ventilation system to provide fresh air.
The mechanical ventilation systems were operating in all rooms visited.
All rooms - except room # 200 - had carbon dioxide concentrations at
or below 1,000 parts-per-million (ppm) as measured with a calibrated
instrument. A summary of the carbon dioxide measurement results
were provided at the end of the assessment visit.
Room # 200 carbon dioxide was measured at 1,420 ppm in the
breathing zone and 1,200 ppm out of the supply diffusers, indicating
that some outside air was being allowed into the system.
Outside air carbon dioxide measurements yielded 380 ppm at 9:50 am
and 399 ppm at 2:15 pm.
The Gym and the “Commons” areas are both equipped with carbon
dioxide sensors designed to automatically control outside air based on
occupancy rate in these zones. Apparently, these sensors are faulty
and are being replaced.
Classrooms and “Portable” Units
• Classrooms were carpeted except for science, art, XXXXX
• Classrooms equipped with dry-erase white boards and marking pens – a
variety of pens were observed (some brands of pens have lower odor
than others).
• Home Ec (room # 302) was equipped with working exhaust for the
cooking ranges. Air observed coming out of sink cabinet – unknown
source of this air.
• Most classrooms were under a slight negative pressure relative to the
hallways and a slight positive pressure relative to the exterior of the
building.
• Proper airflow pattern was observed in the science classroom: air was
flowing from the science classroom into the chemical storage area.
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•
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•
•
Science teacher explained that the science classroom fume hood
works properly and is used appropriately.
Large volumes of air into classrooms from the crawlspace were not
observed.
Room 104 cooking popcorn – odor was clearly noticeable down the
hallway. The relief airflow in room 104 was minimal.
Room 201 television monitor was covered with significant amount of
dust, suggesting either a lack of housekeeping or a source of
particulate matter.
Room 300 contained a laminator – these produce VOCs when operated.
Stained ceiling tiles were observed in some classrooms.
Labs & Shops
• Auto shop heated by a “residential-type” propane furnace with ducts
located inside the conditioned space. No outside air is ducted to the
furnace.
• Auto shop paints and solvents are used either outside or near a
window with a “box fan” used to assist with fume exhaust. No carbon
monoxide detector/alarm installed.
• Wood shop is equipped with a dust collection system connected to
woodworking machines. The paint booth exhaust fan works fine.
• Dark room is equipped with a revolving door and exhaust fan – works
fine.
• Art room has fume hood – works fine.
Office, Staff & Workroom, Library, Counselor/Speech,
• Library contains sofas (potential source of asthma triggers).
• Recording room was operating at a slight negative pressure relative to
library. Air was observed going into the recording room wall – unknown
destination for this air (air into a wall is usually preferable to air
coming out of a wall unless it is known where the air is coming from).
• Credit Resources room contained a paper shredder (source of
particles) and a cook range with working exhaust. Air was observed
coming into the room from an interior wall.
• Counselor’s office contained a portable air cleaner (filtration system).
Counselor reported frequent odors from rooms 104 and Credit
Resources.
• Main office contains paper shredder (source of particles) and a
portable air cleaner (filtration system).
13
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nurse’s room contains two photocopiers (source of VOCs, particles,
heat, ozone). An exhaust grill is located at the ceiling.
Stained ceiling tiles were observed in some rooms.
Crawlspaces
A number of crawlspace locations were visited.
Damp sand/soil was observed in a couple of areas near the exterior
walls. This is typical of crawlspaces, especially after seasonal snow
melt and rain events.
No standing water or signs of excessive water intrusion was observed.
No mold or signs of excess moisture was observed on structural
materials, ducts, pipes, conduit, etc.
The crawlspace did not smell unusually musty or moldy – it smelled like
a “typical crawlspace”.
Daylight was not observed at the perimeter of the crawlspace,
indicating a minimum of outside air ventilation was being provided.
Entry hatches to the crawlspace from the occupied areas of the
school were not weather-stripped or air-sealed. However, for those
hatches that were checked, air was observed flowing from the school
into the crawlspace.
A carbon dioxide measurement of 450 ppm was collected from
crawlspace air exiting at an exterior perimeter crawlspace vent. This
indicates school air is entering in the crawlspace.
It was obvious that this is not a “typical” crawlspace:
o All the ducts had been abandoned and lay on the crawlspace
floor – with the exception of the Home Ec range hood exhaust
duct system.
o The crawlspace ceiling (underside of school floor) was
thoroughly sealed with a layer of spray-on foam.
o Additional foam sealant had been applied around ducts,
plumbing pipes, electrical conduit, wiring, and other
penetrations.
o The vapor-retarding membrane (black plastic) on the ground
had been “shredded” by the activities in the crawlspace – the
membrane material was buried under a few inches of sand.
o A “fog” machine (typical of theatrical smoke generator) was
located in the crawlspace, and is used to check the integrity of
14
the air seal between the crawlspace and the occupied areas of
the school above.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Attics
No indication of active or recent water leaks were observed.
No indication of possible mold growth.
Air handling equipment is located in the attics – an excellent practice
(many schools have air handling equipment located on top of the roof
exposed to the weather!).
Exterior & Roofs
Roof is composition shingles in good condition.
Roof drainage creates splashing onto siding in some areas, and
saturated soil in some areas.
Questionable flashing and drip-cap details were observed in a couple
of locations (example: roof at southeast corner at Home Ec room).
Roof structure contains foam insulation between shingles and the roof
decking (thus the attic is part of the conditioned space).
Reports of ice-dams.
General:
No wet or moist materials were observed or measured in the school
(suspect walls and ceiling tiles were tested with moisture meters).
Relative humidity measurements in various locations suggest the
building was between 25% and 30% relative humidity.
•
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recommendations
Based on findings & observations from the IAQ Walk-Through
4/15/2002
Priority*
To be determined by school district (and others)
1 2 3 4
Crawlspaces under the building contain open soil,
moisture, documented mold spores in the past, and a
variety of debris. Make use of the extraordinary (and
relatively thorough) air sealing at the crawlspace ceiling
15
by installing exhaust fans and ducts to depressurize this
area (“slight vacuum”) of approximately .10 to 25 inches
water column) to effectively and continuously exclude
crawlspace air entry to occupied areas of building.
The exhaust fan(s) will control pressures and thus air
flow direction: air should move from “clean” areas to
“dirty” areas and ultimately out of the building through
the exhaust stacks. Stacks should exhaust above
roofline to prevent exposure to individuals at ground level
or possible re-entrainment into open windows or doors.
Locate exhausts a sufficient distance away from air
intakes for the ventilation systems located at the roof!
Install pressure gauges - readily visible to occupants - to
monitor the crawlspace pressure to ensure continuous
and adequate pressure control. Air should be moving
from the occupied spaces to the crawlspace at all times.
1 2 3 4
Continue to use track off mats at all entrances. Trackoff systems help control entry of dust & moisture.
These should be regularly maintained and not allowed to
remain wet for more than a few days.
1 2 3 4
Suggest routine carbon dioxide measurements
throughout the facility using calibrated instrumentation.
Carbon dioxide is a convenient and relatively inexpensive
method to monitor ventilation with outdoor air. Carbon
dioxide concentrations should be maintained below about
1,000 ppm to help ensure proper air exchange (see CO2
handout for details). Only one room (# 200) appeared to
be under-ventilated during the assessment.
1 2 3 4
The buildings contain gas appliances. Install carbon
monoxide detectors/alarms with digital display and data
recording capabilities in boiler room and in a general
occupied area(s) so occupants can monitor the displayed
values. Also install carbon monoxide detectors/alarms
with digital display and data recording capabilities in the
16
auto shop, to monitor combustion gases from not only the
furnace but also internal combustions engines.
1 2 3 4
Control potential asthma triggers in the school. Asthma
triggers include volatile organic compounds (VOC),
particles, smoke, mold, animal dander, combustion byproducts.
Limit VOC exposure through the careful selection and
use of cleaning chemicals, classroom materials including
glues, paints, and the ubiquitous white board dry-erase
marking pens (some brands are much less noxious than
others), encourage perfume-free classrooms, etc.
Keep carpets clean and use high efficiency vacuum
equipment to prevent pulling allergens and asthma
triggers out of carpets and spraying them into the air.
1 2 3 4
Routinely fill all drain traps to prevent sewer gas entry
into school. Some schools add a layer with mineral oil on
top of the water in the trap to retard evaporation.
1 2 3 4
Provide effective exhaust for containment (“dirty”)
areas. Complete the evaluation and repair and/or
upgrade of exhaust fans to provide sufficient flow in
toilet, locker room, and custodial areas. Use exhaust
fans to control pressures and thus air flow direction: air
should move from “clean” areas to “dirty” areas and
ultimately out of the building through the exhaust
stacks. Fan controls and time clocks should be set to run
exhaust fans as appropriate: science chemical storage,
locker rooms, custodial closets, etc. should be kept under
negative pressure 24/7.
1 2 3 4
Regularly check exhaust function in science storage,
science fume hood, dark room, clothes dryer exhaust,
shops, etc.
1 2 3 4
Place photocopiers and laminator exhaust-only room, or
equip these with an exhaust hood and fan.
17
1 2 3 4
The interior of the ducts that bring outside air into the
various air handling units was not accessible for
inspection – since these bring in raw outside air
(unfiltered, wet/dry, etc.) inspection access doors or
panels should be installed to allow routine inspection.
1 2 3 4
Carefully inspect the air handling system for wood shop
and clean wood dust from equipment and ducts. Consider
installing filters on the return (suction-side) grills in the
wood shop to keep debris out of ducts and the equipment
– teacher and students can visually inspect and notify
facilities staff should these become prematurely loaded.
Keep door to attic space and wood shop closed.
1 2 3 4
Redesign and install proper flashing and drip caps around
the exterior of the building where improper design and
construction of these details have allowed rain and snow
melt to enter building envelope. Thoroughly inspect
behind siding and inside of walls where rain/snow melt
has entered the building envelope – look for structural
damage and potential mold growth.
1 2 3 4
Add gutters, downspouts, and other measures (splash
guards, etc) to prevent rain and snow melt from splashing
onto building, run toward building, pool, or collect near
buildings (includes auto shop building). Note that water
can wick up behind siding or other materials, and is easily
wicked by concrete.
1 2 3 4
Upgrade the filters in the air handlers where needed.
Add spacers or gaskets to ensure filters fit tightly into air handling
cabinets/ducts and there are no air bypasses around the filters.
Clean heating coils where needed to ensure proper air-flow and to
improve energy efficiency.
1 2 3 4
Air handling unit # 14 was curious: it was equipped with
return air dampers, but instead of a duct it had a sheet
metal plate over the dampers. The design intent should
be checked and modifications performed as necessary.
18
1 2 3 4
Routine monitoring for radon gas should be conducted
unless crawlspace is adequately depressurized 24/7
1 2 3 4
Consider removing carpet from the building. Many indoor
air professionals highly recommend that carpet not be
used in schools. However, this topic is hotly debated by
proponents on both sides of the carpet/no-carpet issue.
Until the carpet issue in this school is resolved, use high
quality steam extraction to thoroughly clean the current
carpet (avoid chemicals and detergents). Upgrade the
vacuuming equipment to HEPA rated machines – the
current equipment does not capture the small particles
(asthma and allergy triggers) and these can remain
suspended for hours and days.
Recommendations for Further Investigation and/or Testing
Based on findings & observations from the IAQ Walk-Through
4/15/2002
These are my suggestions only. Prior to conducting these
investigations/tests it is recommended that detailed discussion occur
with testing laboratories and consultants. Collection and handling of
samples is necessary to ensure that the results obtained are as
meaningful and helpful as possible in leading to some solutions. It should
be stressed that sampling is only a tool, not a solution. The results of
these investigations and/or samples may indicate additional sampling or
investigation is warranted.
1. The carpeting in the school is the original carpet from the remodel
in 1996. This carpet may contain dead and living mold or other
allergens that can cause health symptoms/problems.
a. Collect bulk samples of carpet:
i. suspected problem areas
ii. areas suspected to be OK.
iii. 2 square inch samples or disks (check with lab)
iv. also collect the debris from under the carpet
19
2. To help determine types of pollutants and particles present in the
school, collect “tape lift” settled-duct samples from both
suspected problem areas and some from areas suspected to be
OK.
a. 3 samples per room:
i. teacher’s area: top of desk
ii. general room area: top of chalk board, picture frame, etc.
iii. student area: top of book case, cabinet, etc.
3. Most of the air ducts contain duct-lining material. These ducts
(like all ducts) have some debris on the surface. Samples of this
duct-lining material can be collected and analyzed.
a. samples of duct material from the outside air duct(s).
b. sample of duct material from ducts serving suspected problem
areas.
c. sample of duct material from ducts serving areas suspected to
be OK .
4. Various locations at the exterior appear to allow rain and/or snow
melt to enter the building shell due to improper flashing, failed
sealants, or splash from sidewalks/ground.
a. The siding or other materials should be removed from these
areas and a thorough inspection of the building materials, wall
cavities, and extent of moisture migration or damage
determined.
b. In the event that mold growth is discovered or is suspected,
tape lift or bulk samples can be analyzed.
5. Test the textured (popcorn) ceiling material in the auto shop for
asbestos.
a. The space is currently occupied and it is good practice to
identify areas with asbestos.
b. Should the building be renovated, moved, or demolished, the
presence (or absence) of asbestos will need to be determined.
6. Background samples should be taken at the same time as the
above samples.
a. Air samples of the outside air.
20
b. Air samples in suspected problem areas.
c. Air sample in areas suspected to be OK.
21
Appendix 2
Report #1 – Microlab Northwest
Sampling & Testing
June 13, 2002
22
MICROLAB NORTHWEST
7609 140TH PL. NE
REDMOND, WA 98052
PHONE: (425) 885-9419
LABORATORY REPORT
TO: Nancy Goodloe
REPORT #: 632-02
507 Nanum
DATE: June 8, 2002
Ellensburg, WA 98926
PHONE: (FAX: (e-mail: [email protected])
SUBJECT: Particle Identification
SPECIMEN: Tapelifts From Rooms and Ventilation System, Flooring, and Siding Samples
SUMMARY
On June 1, 2002 a number of tapelift and material samples were collected from
Cle Elum High School by E. R. Crutcher with the assistance of Nancy Goodloe, Tom
Swenson, Jim Green, and Thelma Simon. All samples were collected in duplicate.
Tapelifts were collected from rooms 100, 200, 201, 203, 300, 384, the Library, the
Computer Lab, the Teacher's Lounge, and from the hallway outside Room 300. Five of
these were analyzed for this report, rooms 100, 200, 300, the Library, and the Teacher's
Lounge. Carpet samples were collected from rooms 100, 203, 300, 391, and the Library.
The interior wall was opened and a section of the wallboard taken for examination from
rooms 100, 201, 384, and from the hallway adjoining Room 300. Curled or cracked floor
tile samples were collected outside room 100, 102, 300, and the Main Office. Exterior
wall samples were collected outside Room 100, by the east building entry, and from
outside the offices near the main entry. Three of the ventilation systems were sampled.
Two of those were at intakes and one was a supply air system sample.
The analysis shows the following:
1. There is not a glass fiber problem in the rooms tested.
2. There is not a general fungal problem in the rooms tested.
3. There is a water leakage problem with the univent heater units, specifically in Room
203.
4. There is a limited fungal problem in the hallway, under the floor tiles, outside Room
100.
5. Carpet cleanliness is an issue. Food debris in the carpets needs to be controlled.
6. Water splashing onto exterior panels or being directed down exterior panels is
degrading the exterior and water is penetrating into the inside of the exterior walls at
these locations.
7. A significant source of biological material in the classroom is track-in debris from
outside.
Additional observations are provided in the body of the report and in the conclusion. A
list of recommendations is provided at the end of this report.
Signed: ________________________________________
E. R. Crutcher, Consultant
23
INTRODUCTION
On June 1, 2002, a number of tapelift and material samples were collected from Cle
Elum High School. The samples were collected in response to a number of health
complaints. The samples were collected by E. R. Crutcher of this laboratory with the
assistance of Nancy Goodloe and Tom Swenson . All sampling was witnessed and
documented by Jim Green and Thelma Simon of the "Clean Air Now" group and the IAQ
Coalition. The original plan was to collect samples from five rooms, tile samples from
the hall, exterior wall samples, and samples from the ventilation system. That plan was
followed with tapelifts from an additional five rooms collected for future reference. All
samples were collected in duplicate so that duplicate samples could be submitted to other
laboratories as both a Quality Assurance technique and to add detail to the analysis.
Photographs were taken to document the sample locations. The samples collected were
as follows:
Tapelifts
Room 100, Window At Univent Heater
Room 100, TV Center
Room 100, Table by Teachers Desk
Room 200, Teachers Desk
Room 200, Top of Picture Frames Stacked on File Cabinet
Room 200, Carpet
Room 200, Top of Computer Table
Room 200, Student Desks, 4 Contacts
Room 201, By Computer on Desk
Room 201, TV Table
Room 201, Counter Against Wall
Room 203, Univent Heater
Room 203, Top of Speaker
Room 203, Sub-flooring at Water Leak
Room 300, Top of Computer Monitor, Front Desk
Room 300, Top of File Cabinet
Room 300, Shelf of Middle Bench
Room 300, Air Handler
Room 303, Top of Printer, Front Computer Desk
Room 303, Book Shelf in Back of Room
Room 303, Table in the Middle of the Room
Room 384,
Computer Lab, Large Jet Printer
Computer Lab, Back Wall, Window Enclosure
Hall, Outside Room 300
Library, Location of Old Desk
Library, New Desk Location in Main Room
Library, Bookshelf Near Wall, Under Broken Acoustic Tile
Library, Shelf Near Network Room
24
Library, Table in the Middle of the Room
Hall, Coke Machines Near Gym
Teacher’s Lounge, Refrigerator
Teacher’s Lounge, Microwave in Corner of Room
Teacher’s Lounge, Monitor by Crawlspace Access
(Only the samples from Rooms 100, 200, 300, the Library and the Teacher's Lounge were
to be analyzed at this time.)
Ventilation System
Intake Access Panel 20’ From Exterior, Access From Shop
Intake Access Panel Near Exterior, Access From Room 384
Supply Air, Filter Access Panel, Access Near Gym
(These were collected as tapelifts from the duct liner)
Carpet
Room 100,
Room 203, Univent Heater At Teacher’s Desk
Room 300, Near Air Handler (Reported Water Exposure)
Library, Near Entry to Network Room
Room 391, Under Sink At Desk
(All of the Carpet samples were collected at locations reported by Jim Green and Thelma
Simon to have sustained water damage some time over the past five years with the
exception of Room 391.)
Floor Tile
Hallway By Room 102
Hallway By Room 300
Hallway By Main Office
Hallway By Coke Machine Outside Room 100
Interior Wall
Room 201, Under Computer Counter, Near Reported Water Damage
Mrs. Arnolds Room
Room 100, Coke Machine on Opposite side of Wall
Hallway Wall Between Coke Machines Outside Room 300
(All of the interior wall samples were collected at locations reported by Jim Green and
Thelma Simon to have sustained water damage some time over the past five years.)
Exterior Wall
Room 100, Wood Paneling and Water Shield Board
25
Counselor’s and PE Coordinators Rooms, Wood Paneling and Water Shield
Board
Near East Entry, Wood Paneling and Water Shield Board
(All of the exterior wall samples were collected at locations showing some indication of
water damage.
The tapelifts were placed on clean microscope slides and immersed in acetone for
about two hours and then removed. The slides with the tapelifts were rinsed with clean
acetone as they were removed from the immersion tank. The tapelifts were allowed to
dry for ten minutes and then mounted using a synthetic resin (Eukitt). The completed
mounts were analyzed using analytical light microscopy. The carpet samples were
sectioned and examined under the stereoscopic microscope for any evidence of
modification due to fungal or bacterial action as well as to characterize their cleanliness.
Dust samples were collected by physically scrapping the folded carpet surface held above
a collection sheet. The particles collected on the collection sheet were then examined
microscopically and micro-chemically to establish their identity. The wall materials and
tile sections were examined directly for any evidence of water damage or any associated
evidence of local fungal activity.
RESULTS
One set of tapelift samples from rooms 100, 200, 300, the Library, and the Teacher's
Lounge were sent to P&K Microbiological Services for particle analysis using their
method P&K 115. One sample of the intake air particulate matter was also sent for
particle analysis (P&K 115). Sections of all of the carpet samples were sent to P&K
Microbiological Services for fungal and bacterial analysis using their method P&K 103.
The carpet samples from Room 391 (where a water leak was detected), and room 203
along with a floor tile sample was sent for special Meso- and Thermophillic
Actinomycetes testing; P&K 107. All of the samples listed above, with the exception of
the tapelifts from rooms 201, 203, 303, 384, and the Computer Lab were analyzed by this
laboratory. The results of those analyses are presented below.
Tapelifts
The tapelifts from Room 100 contained skin flakes, clothing fiber, paper fiber, natural
minerals, lichen spores, pollens, soil, sawdust, charred wood, starch, cosmetics,
phytoliths, shoe wear, aerosol droplets, glass fiber, food debris, insect parts, plant parts,
spores, mycelium, blue spray paint spheres, perolite, pencil debris, weld spheres,
cenospheres, bird feather barbules, and diatoms. Lichen spores are the most common
airborne biological material in this sample. The dominant pollens are pine, cottonwood,
cedar, and maple. Phytoliths are siliceous particles from decayed plants. The most
common phytolith in these samples was from grass. The aerosol particle are
predominantly from road spray of tires when the roads are wet. These particles are
clusters of smaller particles typically held together by a droplet of water. When they land
on a surface they form a tight cluster of particles. In this room these clusters often
contain small tire wear particles, indicating the road as a source. The glass fiber was at a
fairly low level and came from two sources, the ventilation system and the acoustic
ceiling tile. The spores present were typical of an exterior environment though
26
Cladosporium was the most common single type. Cladosporium can grow indoors and
has been associated with allergic type symptoms. The total spore population in this room
did not indicate a fungal problem. The dust loading in this room indicates a significant
exterior, unfiltered source of air. It also indicates a heavy track-in burden of particulate
matter from the grass and soil outside the school. This track-in burden includes
mycelium, rotted plant materials, and spores along with minerals, phytoliths, and other
debris.
The tapelifts from Room 200 contained skin flakes, clothing fiber, paper fiber, natural
minerals, charred wood, soil, sawdust, toner, starch, pollens, phytoliths, shoe wear, glass
fiber, food debris, insect parts, plant parts, spores, mycelium, blue spray paint spheres,
cosmetics, tire wear, pencil debris, weld spheres, cenospheres, pink pearl erasure, lichen
spores, bird feather barbules, and diatoms. The glass fiber was at a fairly low level and
was predominantly from the ventilation system. The spores present were typical of an
exterior environment though Cladosporium was again the most common single type. The
total spore population in this room did not indicate a fungal problem. The dust loading in
this room indicates a heavy track-in burden of particulate matter from the grass and soil
outside the school. This track-in burden includes mycelium, rotted plant materials, and
spores along with minerals, phytoliths, and other debris. The carpet in this room, as in
many of the other rooms was spotted in many areas. One tapelift was taken of one of
these spots. Sugar was present in the spot along with other food debris and adhering
particles. The food debris evident in the carpets could account for the faint odor detected
on entry into the unventilated room.
The tapelifts from Room 300 contained skin flakes, clothing fiber, paper fiber, natural
minerals, insect parts, plant parts, charred wood, soil, sawdust, toner, starch, pollens,
lichen spores, phytoliths, shoe wear, mycelium, glass fiber, food debris, spores,
cosmetics, tire wear, pencil debris, weld spheres, cenospheres, pink pearl erasure, bird
feather barbules, and diatoms. Dermestid beetle larva hair was common among the insect
parts in this set of samples. The Dermestid beetles are also known as carpet beetles. The
type of carpet used in the classrooms at this school is not a source of food for these
beetles but they will eat a variety of other foods. Dermestid beetles have been indicated
as a potential cause of an allergic response. The dominant pollen in these samples was
pine. The glass fiber was at a fairly low level and was predominantly from the acoustic
ceiling tile. The spores present were typical of an exterior environment though
Cladosporium was again the most common single type. The total spore population in this
room did not indicate a fungal problem. The dust loading in this room indicates a heavy
track-in burden of particulate matter from the soil outside the school. The track-in
burden is higher in natural minerals in this room though track-in biologicals are still
common.
The tapelifts from the Library contained skin flakes, clothing fiber, paper fiber,
natural minerals, insect parts, plant parts, charred wood, soil, sawdust, toner, starch,
pollens, phytoliths, shoe wear, mycelium, bird feather barbules, glass fiber, spores,
cosmetics, lichen spores, tire wear, pencil debris, weld spheres, cenospheres, pink pearl
erasure, and diatoms. The dominant pollen in these samples was pine. The glass fiber was
at a fairly low level and was predominantly from the acoustic ceiling tile. The spores
27
present were typical of an exterior environment though Cladosporium was again the most
common single type. The total spore population in this room did not indicate a fungal
problem. The dust loading in this room includes a significant track-in burden of
particulate matter from the grass and soil outside the school. This track-in burden
includes mycelium, rotted plant materials, and spores along with minerals, phytoliths, and
other debris.
The tapelifts from the Teacher's Lounge contained skin flakes, clothing fiber, paper
fiber, natural minerals, food debris, charred wood, soil, sawdust, cosmetics, toner, insect
parts, plant parts, starch, pollens, lichen spores, phytoliths, shoe wear, mycelium, ink,
bird feather barbules, glass fiber, spores, tire wear, pencil debris, weld spheres,
cenospheres, and diatoms. Dermestid beetle larva hair was common among the insect
parts in this set of samples. The dominant pollen in these samples was pine. The glass
fiber was at a fairly low level and was predominantly from the acoustic ceiling tile. The
spores present were typical of an exterior environment though Cladosporium was again
the most common single type. The total spore population in this room did not indicate a
fungal problem. The dust loading in this room indicates a significant contribution of
particulate matter from outside the school, both airborne and track-in. This track-in
burden includes mycelium, rotted plant materials, and spores along with minerals,
phytoliths, and other debris.
Ventilation System
The air intake samples contained natural minerals, charred wood, tire wear, pollens,
spores, mycelium, insect parts, plant parts, phytoliths, cenospheres, and clothing fibers.
The most common single fungal spore was Cladosporium, which suggests this spore may
be high in the natural background in this area. There were a few particles in these
samples, such as the clothing fiber, that suggest that the airflow is reversed at times. This
is probably the result of natural drafting when the system is not in use.
The supply air sample was dominated by classroom particles. This indicates that the
make-up air volume is significantly less than the recycled volume. That is often the case
and does not indicate a problem. There is nothing in the sample to indicate that the
recycling loop is contributing anything detrimental.
Carpet
The carpet was a short pile synthetic fiber surface bonded to a solid, closed cell,
plastic foam mat backing. The short pile facilitated cleaning and the solid closed cell
backing mat acted as a barrier preventing moisture from accumulating in the carpet.
Moisture can not penetrate the carpet from below as was well illustrated by the sample
from Room 203. The carpet sample from Room 203 was collected next to the univent
heater at the teacher's desk. The univent heater was leaking and the sub-flooring under
the carpet at this location was saturated. The carpet itself was dry with the exception of a
little moisture on the adhesive layer. There was no evidence of any alteration to the
carpet as a result of the water exposure. The carpet in all rooms exhibited numerous
stains. Many of these stains were food related and constituted a nutrient for bacteria and
28
fungus. No fungus was evident but a "vinegar" odor, suggesting bacterial action, was
detected on entry to many of these rooms. The carpets were in need of at least spot
cleaning.
The particle contaminants on the carpet samples were all very much alike with the
exception of the carpet from Room 300. All of the carpets with the exception of that in
Room 300 were relatively clean outside the spotted areas. The main contaminants
included natural minerals, carpet freshener (predominantly sodium bicarbonate), sawdust,
insect parts, plant parts, plaster, and skin flakes. The carpet sample from Room 300 was
collected in an area that was hard to reach with a vacuum cleaner. As a result it was
heavily loaded with dust, about ten times more by volume than any of the other carpet
samples. Natural minerals were the most common, followed by sawdust, wear metals,
plaster, paint flakes, insect parts, plant parts, skin flakes, perolite, and carpet freshener.
There was no evidence of water damage or staining under any of the carpet samples
other than that in Room 203. The pattern of water damage on the sub-floor under the
carpet in Room 203 was consistent with its source from the leaking univent piping.
This type of carpet design is the easiest to maintain and forms a good moisture
barrier. The short pile minimizes the potential for dust mites, is not a food for any insect,
and eliminates the build-up of "deep" dust common to most carpet designs. The soiling
of these carpets with food debris represents at least a potential health hazard. Spilled
food and beverages or other "sticky" organic debris should be cleaned from the carpet
with water and detergent. Ideally, eating spaces should not be carpeted.
Floor Tile
All of the floor tile samples were collected from locations where the tile had curled.
The sample collected by the Coke Machine outside Room 100 had a number of pinheadsized fungal colonies. The floor in that area needs to be examined in more detail to
determine the extent of the mold growth and to remediate the problem. None of the other
floor tile samples exhibited any mold growth.
Interior Wall
None of the interior wall samples indicated any moisture problem inside the walls at
these locations. That included the wall interior behind the Coke Machine outside Room
100 where fungal colonies had been found under the floor tile.
Exterior Wall
Two of the exterior walls examined were adjacent to concrete drip pads around
drains. The concrete pad caused the water flowing from the roof to splash back upon the
exterior paneling of the building. These concrete drip pads were located outside Room
100 and at the front of the school outside the PE Coordinator's Office. The paneling
under the window outside the PE Coordinator's Office was water soaked and wood rot
fungus was growing in the lower four inches of the panel. Water had soaked through the
water barrier board and had stained the base plate inside the wall.
29
The exterior wall outside Room 100 showed some water checking but had not begun
to decay. The water barrier board behind it was still in tact. The base plate inside the
wall showed water staining as a result of water intrusion from the outside.
The exterior wall at the east entry was exposed to water draining from the entry roof.
Water draining down the roof ran onto the top of the lower eight foot by four foot panel
at the edge of the roof. There was some checking of the outer-most first few plies of the
plywood panel near the top of the panel. The back side of the ply board panel showed no
indication of water streaking or water damage. The water barrier board did show some
water streaking but it was not possible to determine when that had formed. The pattern
consisted of several single streaks with no evidence of pooling until the water reached the
bottom of the water barrier board.
The concrete drip pads create a water problem for the exterior paneling. A splash
guard should be added to the exterior wall at those locations to control the water
exposure. The east entry roof should have some additional flashing added to reduce the
amount of water flowing onto the exterior panels of the east side of the building.
CONCLUSION
The major sources of particles in these rooms are activities in the room, track-in
debris, and the ventilation system. The overhead ventilation system is a minor source.
The wall-mounted units may contribute much more to the total loading but that was not
tested. The track-in debris is high in biological material including rotting leaves, various
fungal mats, and humus, along with minerals and other debris. Food debris was a source
of contamination in most of the rooms. Eating in the rooms is apparently common. The
wall mounted heater units all collect exterior air near ground level. This may also
contribute to the introduction of biologicals and other materials that are less common at
more elevated sites. The chemicals in air fresheners and carpet fresheners can be an
irritant for some individuals. These materials were in evidence in these rooms.
There is no indication of a general fungal problem though there are a few specific
areas of concern. The univent heater in Room 203 was leaking onto the floor. All of the
univent systems should be inspected for leaks and repaired if any are found. An
examination of the area around the leak in Room 203 did not indicate any fungal activity
at this time. The floor tile in the hall outside room 100 is a problem. There is an active
fungal colony under the floor tile in front of the Coke Machine. The flooring here should
be removed and examined for any other growth and the Coke Machine should be checked
for any release of moisture. Examination of the interior of the wall behind the Coke
Machine did not indicate any fungal growth or water damage in the wall. There was no
indication of fungal growth or water damage inside any of the interior walls inspected.
The exterior walls exhibited some water damage and in one case, the paneling outside the
PE Coordinator's Office, there was some wood rot fungus.
There was no indication of a glass fiber problem. Glass fiber was present in all of the
samples but at very low levels. Acoustic ceiling tile and ventilation duct liner were both
30
sources. At this time there is no evidence for a glass fiber problem in the areas tested.
The type of acoustic ceiling tile used in these rooms can be a problem if disturbed. These
tiles are easily damaged and can become a problem if they are manipulated. There is
currently no evidence that they or the space above them is contributing significantly to
the environment. Removing the tiles to clean them may cause more problems than it
might solve. This is mentioned only because it had been overhear as a possible plan
during the sampling. In some schools where this has been done the resulting glass fiber
exposure was much worse than the original problem had been.
The lack of a specific particulate irritant in these environments suggests that the cause
of any building related health problem is either a total particle loading problem or a gas
phase irritant not related to a particle source. A volumetric air sample collected when the
rooms are occupied would give an indication of the total particle exposure. The rooms
tend to be a bit cluttered, which inhibits thorough cleaning. There are ample sources of
particles available for resuspension in these rooms that could significantly increase
particle exposure if these surfaces were disturbed. The gas phase irritant could be as
simple as a low room volume air exchange rate. Exchange of air with the crawlspace
under some of the rooms could be a problem but there was no indication of a significant
influx of spores that might be expected with that source.
At this point a number of obvious potential causes of health problems have been ruled
out for the rooms sampled. There are some clear action items that are listed below under
RECOMMENDATIONS. The first three of these should be done regardless of any other
action. The fourth item, the health assessment, is reportedly being completed now.
Based on the outcome of the health assessment the final four items should be considered
along with other more specific actions.
Photodocumentation of the results presented here will be provided as a separate file.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The extent of mold growth in the hallway outside Room 100 should be determined
and remediated. The source of the moisture supporting the mold growth should be
identified and controlled.
2. Splash guards and additional flashing should be installed to reduce the water
exposure of exterior paneling.
3. A general thorough cleaning of the carpets and the rooms is needed.
4. A formal health assessment needs to be made in order to target specific potential
agents in specific areas.
5. Airborne particle samples should be collected during a class session to quantify the
total particle exposure.
6. Background airborne particle samples should be collected outside the building.
7. Carbon dioxide measurements should be taken in problem rooms toward the end of a
class to assess the adequacy of the fresh air volume provided.
8. An attempt should be made to find better storage or to provide storage cabinets in
order to reduce the clutter in the classrooms.
31
Thank you for this opportunity to be of service. If I can provide any further assistance
please contact me.
Signed: ________________________________________
E. R. Crutcher, Consultant
32
Appendix 3
P & K Microbiological Services Report
June 28, 2002
33
34
35
36
37
38
Appendix 4
Results of the Student Health Assessment
Washington State Department of Health
July 13, 2002
39
Appendix 4
Washington State Department of Health
Office of Epidemiology
Summary of Data Collected on the Cle Elum – Roslyn High School Health Survey
Prepared by Jim VanDerslice, PhD, Juliet VanEenwyk, PhD, and Harriet Ammann, PhD,
DABT, Washington State Department of Health
July 2002
For more information, contact Jim VanDerslice at (360) 236-3183 or
[email protected].
1. PURPOSE
In response to requests from the Kittitas County Health District and the Cle Elum-Roslyn
Indoor Air Quality Coalition, the Washington State Department of Health (WSDOH)
conducted a survey of health symptoms among students at Cle Elum –Roslyn High
School. The WSDOH stated that such a survey could provide information about
ƒ
the number and percent of students reporting symptoms and
ƒ
the places in the school where the symptoms occur.
Additionally, the survey might be useful as a baseline to determine whether health
improves after environmental remediation. The survey could not answer questions about
what was causing the symptoms.
2. METHOD
The survey was developed by the WSDOH in consultation with the Cle Elum – Roslyn
Indoor Air Quality Coalition. WSDOH administered the survey on two Thursdays in May
2002. For comparison, WSDOH also administered the survey on two Thursdays in May
at the Ellensburg High School. We used several different statistical tests to determine
whether differences between Cle Elum and Ellensburg were statistically significant.
While we do not report on the statistical significance in the data shown below, in general,
differences were statistically significant. Additional detail on methods is available upon
request.
40
3. SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDING
3.1 Symptom onset in the previous three days
ƒ
In general, students at Cle Elum – Roslyn High School reported experiencing
symptoms in the last three days two to three times more frequently than students
in Ellensburg.
ƒ
Excluding those who also reported colds, the symptoms reported most often were
abnormal tiredness (60% in Cle Elum versus 29% in Ellensburg), headache (59%
versus 29%), and itchy eyes (44% versus 16%).
ƒ
The Cle Elum survey asked where the student was when the specific symptom
began. About one-fifth of the time the student gave no specific location. When a
location was provided, “when I entered the school” was the most common
response. Classrooms in which at least 20 students reported symptom onset were
scattered throughout the school and so symptom onset does not appear to cluster
by wing or specific area.
3.2 Conditions with statewide comparison data
ƒ
43% of students in Cle Elum reported depression in the last year compared to
22% in Ellensburg and 30% statewide.
ƒ
20% of students in Cle Elum reported having ever been told by a doctor or other
health care professional that they had asthma compared to 15% in Ellensburg and
21% statewide.
ƒ
12% of students in Cle Elum reported having had an asthma attack or using
asthma medication in the past year compared to 10% in Ellensburg and 15%
statewide.
3.3 Other conditions
ƒ
61% of students in Cle Elum reported menstrual irregularities in the last three
months compared to 24% in Ellensburg. Differences persisted when adjusting for
grade. There were no patterns in the specific type of irregularity.
ƒ
About twice as many students in Cle Elum reported unexplained bruising (24% in
past three months) compared to Ellensburg (12%).
ƒ
19% of students in Cle Elum reported lumps that developed since September and
lasted for at least one month compared to 6% in Ellensburg.
ƒ
Fewer students in Cle Elum (35%) reported being told by a doctor or other health
care professional they had allergies compared to Ellensburg (41%).
4 CONCLUSIONS
In general, symptoms were reported two to three times more frequently in Cle Elum than
in Ellensburg with several symptoms being reported by a relatively large proportion of
the students. The most frequently reported site of onset was at the entrance to the school.
A relatively large number of students reported the location of symptom onset in
classrooms and areas scattered throughout the school, and these reports did not cluster by
41
wing or general area. These data can be used as baseline data to determine whether
reports of symptoms decline after environmental remediation.
42
5. DETAIL
The following section provides detailed information on most of the questions asked on the survey. The
Washington State Department of Health can provide additional detail upon request.
Who Responded?
The completion rate measures the number of students who took the survey in relation to the number of
students in the school. When completion rates are low, we are concerned that the data might not provide a
good estimate of the true picture. For example, if a lot of students missed the survey because they were ill
and not in school, we would likely underestimate the proportion of students experiencing different
symptoms. For this type of survey, completion rates of 70% are generally considered adequate. Table 1
shows that completion rates were very high in both Cle Elum and Ellensburg (87% and 89% respectively)
and consequently, if there are inaccuracies due to non-completion, they are most likely small.
Table 1: Survey Response
Cle Elum
Enrollment*
Completed surveys
Completion rate
Ellensburg
300
225
260
260/300=87%
201
201/225=89%
4
2
6
0
1
25
2
0
0
0
11
0
12
1
Refused
Opt out by parents
Absent, taking different test
Absent, senior day/work out of school
Absent, sick
Absent, unknown
Couldn’t code survey
* This is the number of active students (i.e. not suspended) in the classes surveyed. For Cle Elum this also
includes the students who were not enrolled in a history class. These students were surveyed on the makeup date.
Table 2 shows that the proportion of female and male respondents was about the same in Cle Elum and
Ellensburg. There were relatively more students in the older grades in Ellensburg than in Cle Elum.
Because the frequency of some symptoms varied by grade, we analyzed each symptom reported in the last
three days by grade. We did not find substantive differences in our conclusions when we analyzed these
symptoms by grade and when we combined all grades. For this reason, we have reported only the analyses
in which we combined all grades.
Table 2: Gender and Grade of Respondents
Cle Elum
Ellensburg
Gender
Female
Male
123
137
47%
52%
104
97
52%
48%
Grade
9
10
11
12
72
52
74
62
28%
20%
28%
24%
12
22
86
81
6%
11%
43%
40%
TOTAL
260
201
43
Summary of Reported Symptoms
Table 3 summarizes the frequency of symptoms reported by students in Cle Elum and Ellensburg.
Questions 4 – 16 asked about symptoms that started in school in the last three days (Monday through
Wednesday). Some of these symptoms often occur when someone has a cold. We excluded those who
reported the symptom and reported having a cold from Table 3. We did this because the most likely reason
for these symptoms was that the student also had a cold. The results do not change substantively when we
include students with colds.
Questions 17 – 24 and question 27 asked about symptoms over different time periods. For these symptoms,
a three-day period did not seem clinically meaningful. For the uestions on depression and asthma, we used
questions from a statewide school-based health survey conducted in 1999 so that we had statewide
comparison data. More information on this survey is available at
http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/Epidemiology/NICE/publications/YRBS99.PDF
Students in Cle Elum reported most symptoms two to three times more frequently than students in
Ellensburg. The most commonly reported symptoms are abnormal tiredness, headache and itchy eyes. We
had not heard complaints about diarrhea and diarrhea is generally not associated with indoor air quality. We
included it on the questionnaire as one way to assess whether students were over reporting symptoms (i.e.,
just answering “yes” to all symptoms without giving the question much thought). The fact that diarrhea was
the least frequently reported symptom is an indication that the students were attempting to give thoughtful
responses.
Table 3: Summary of Reported Symptoms
Cle Elum
Ellensburg
(n=260)
(n=201)
Symptom starting while at school
during the last 3 days
Trouble Thinking
112
43%
41
20%
Dizziness
79
30%
26
13%
Nausea
62
24%
19
9%
Wheezing
63
24%
10
5%
Rashes
32
12%
2
1%
Nosebleeds
20
8%
9
4%
Diarrhea
11
4%
3
1%
Cold
86
33%
34
17%
Symptom starting while at school during
the last 3 days, excluding cold
symptoms for those that had a cold
(n=174)
(n=167)
Abnormal Tiredness
104
60%
48
29%
Headache
102
59%
48
29%
Itchy Eyes
77
44%
26
16%
Stuffy Nose
66
38%
25
15%
Cough
54
31%
8
5%
Sore Throat
27
16%
6
4%
Table 3: Summary of Reported Symptoms (continued)
44
Cle Elum
Ellensburg
(n=260)
(n=201)
Other symptoms
Depression (2 straight weeks
in past 12 months)
112
43%
44
22%
Lumps under skin (1 month
anytime since September)
48
19%
12
6%
Ever diagnosed with asthma
52
20%
30
15%
Asthma attack or taken asthma
medication (past 12 months)
31
12%
19
10%
Used inhaler (past month)
33
13%
13
6%
Ever diagnosed with allergies
91
35%
83
41%
Bruising for no apparent reason
(the last 3 months)
62
24%
24
12%
Menstrual irregularities
(past 3 months)
75
(n=123)
61%
25
(n=104)
24%
Table 4 shows the responses to question 26 that asked about symptoms in the last three days that began
while the students were not in school. For five of the symptoms, an equal percent of students in Cle Elum
and Ellensburg reported symptoms beginning outside of school. For other symptoms, some were reported
more frequently in Cle Elum and some in Ellensburg. These findings may indicate that there were not large
differences in the outdoor environments of Cle Elum and Ellensburg during the weeks the survey was
administered that were related to the symptoms on the survey. For example, if pollen counts had been
substantially higher in one location than in another, we would have expected that itchy eyes, stuffy nose,
wheezing and cough to be consistently higher in one area than the other.
Table 4:Summary of Reported Symptoms in Last 3 Days Developing Outside of School
Symptom
Cle Elum
Ellensburg
(n=260)
(n=201)
All students
Trouble Thinking
34
13%
29
14%
Dizziness
45
17%
25
12%
Nausea
35
13%
25
12%
Wheezing
33
13%
13
7%
Rashes
15
6%
4
2%
Diarrhea
14
6%
6
3%
Excluding students with colds:
(n=174)
(n=167)
Abnormal Tiredness
34
20%
37
22%
Headache
60
34%
64
38%
Itchy Eyes
30
17%
45
27%
Stuffy Nose
49
28%
57
34%
Cough
35
20%
12
7%
Sore Throat
36
21%
33
20%
45
Number of symptoms reported
Table 5 shows the number of symptoms beginning in school in the last 3 days reported by each student in
answering questions 4 – 16. We wanted to assess the extent to which reports of these symptoms reflected
many students reporting a few symptoms or a few students reporting many symptoms. About two-thirds of
the students in Cle Elum reported four or fewer symptoms. In Table 5, those who only reported colds and
cold symptoms are categorized as “none.”
Table 5: Number of symptoms reported
Number of symptoms reported
Cle Elum
number
of students percent
Ellensburg
number
of students percent
None
33
13%
72
36%
1
43
17%
51
25%
2
38
15%
32
16%
3
37
14%
20
10%
4
18
7%
11
5%
5
31
12%
6
3%
6
20
8%
4
2%
7
12
5%
2
1%
8
11
4%
2
1%
9
6
2%
0
0%
10
8
3%
0
0%
11
3
1%
1
<1%
Location in school where symptoms begin
If students reported symptoms that started in school in the last three days, they were asked to describe
where they were when the symptom started. Table 6 on the following page shows the locations reported by
the students. If a student reported more than one symptom beginning in a particular location, that location
was counted only once for that student. Thus, “number” in Table 6 is the number of students reporting
symptom onset in a specific location. “Percent” shows that number as a proportion of the 260 respondents.
Many students reported more than one location for each symptom. Some rooms were reported more
frequently than others, but it is difficult to directly compare the number of reports because each room has a
different number of students visiting it each day. For example, every student enters the school each day, but
not every student spends time in each classroom. Without knowing how many students are in each room
each day, we do not know what proportion of students in a classroom experience symptom onset in that
room. Classrooms in which at least 20 students reported symptom onset were scattered throughout the
school and so symptom onset does not appear to cluster by wing or specific area.
46
Table 6: Locations reported at least once by a student
Location
Number
Percent
‘When I enter school’
64
25%
Miller
36
14%
Basterrechea
35
13%
Commons
33
13%
Bender
32
12%
Briggs
28
11%
Gym
27
10%
Nevills
25
10%
Wilson
23
9%
Other
21
8%
Hill
20
8%
Rusho
19
7%
Hamel
16
6%
Hutchins (Computer room)
14
5%
Muzzall
14
5%
Osborn
14
5%
Norwood
13
5%
Arnold
12
5%
Aldrich
11
4%
Cooke
11
4%
Library
11
4%
Gibson
9
3%
O'Donnell, M
9
3%
Randelman
7
3%
Capps
6
2%
Shop
6
2%
O'Donnell, T
4
2%
West wing
2
1%
Music room
1
0%
Senior wing
1
0%
47
Symptoms in the past month
In addition to asking about symptoms starting in school in the last there days, questions 4 - 16 also asked
about the frequency of the symptoms in the past month, when these symptoms usually went away and what
types of medicine the student took for the symptom. The responses to these items are shown below. As
with the reponses to the symptoms beginning in the past 3 days, reports of symptoms associated with colds
are counted as “never” if the student also reported having colds. The order of the symptoms below is the
same as the order in the survey.
The pattern of more reporting of symptoms in Cle Elum than in Ellensburg that was evident for symptoms
in the last three days was also apparent in the reports for the past month. As with symptoms occuring over
the last three days, headache and abnormal tiredness were the symptoms most frequently reported over the
past month.
We urge members of the Cle Elum – Roslyn Indoor Air Quality Coalition to review the detailed
information presented below to determine whether these results shed light on the questions the Coalition
hopes to answer. We note that taking prescription medication is one indication that the student has seen a
health care provider for the condition.
Sore Throat (Those with colds counted as “never.”)
Over the past month, how often have you had a sore throat that started in school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
When does this problem usually go away?
4
32
34
58
84
36
12
2%
12%
13%
22%
32%
14%
5%
Cle Elum
1 Later during the school day
2 After school or during the night
3 Not until the weekend
4 Other (specify): _____________
9 Don’t know
Not Applicable or missing
17
63
19
7
18
136
13%
49%
15%
5%
14%
Ellensburg
1
4
5
40
129
19
3
0%
2%
2%
20%
64%
9%
1%
Ellensburg
8
18
4
14
5
152
16%
36%
8%
28%
10%
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for a sore throat?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
10
4%
6
3%
35
13%
11
5%
8
190
6
11
3%
73%
2%
4%
5
174
2
3
2%
87%
1%
1%
48
Dry Cough (Those with colds counted as “never.”)
Over the past month, how often have you had a dry cough that started in school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
20
25
31
31
106
35
12
8%
10%
12%
12%
41%
13%
5%
Ellensburg
2
5
2
28
143
14
6
1%
2%
1%
14%
71%
7%
3%
When does this problem usually go away?
Cle Elum
1 Later during the school day
2 After school or during the night
3 Not until the weekend
4 Other (specify): _____________
9 Don’t know
Not Applicable or missing
18
37
21
12
17
155
17%
35%
20%
11%
16%
Ellensburg
8
8
2
8
9
165
22%
22%
5%
22%
24%
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for dry cough?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
5
2%
5
2%
26
10%
3
1%
6
200
10
13
2%
77%
4%
5%
0
175
6
11
0%
87%
3%
5%
Stuffy Nose (Those with colds counted as “never.”)
Over the past month, how often have you had a stuffy nose that started in school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
36
52
30
42
64
30
6
14%
20%
12%
16%
25%
12%
2%
49
Ellensburg
3
13
8
33
117
22
4
1%
6%
4%
16%
58%
11%
2%
Stuffy Nose (continued) (Those with colds counted as “never.”)
When does this problem usually go away?
Cle Elum
1 Later during the school day
2 After school or during the night
3 Not until the weekend
4 Other (specify): _____________
9 Don’t know
Not Applicable or missing
20
75
20
20
18
107
13%
47%
13%
13%
11%
Ellensburg
13
11
3
12
19
142
23%
19%
5%
21%
33%
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for a stuffy nose?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
7
3%
11
5%
38
15%
12
6%
4
198
7
6
2%
76%
3%
2%
2
168
3
4
1%
84%
1%
2%
Colds
Over the past month, how often have you had colds that started in school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
19
39
25
76
72
25
4
7%
15%
10%
29%
28%
10%
2%
Ellensburg
7
10
8
61
97
13
5
3%
5%
4%
30%
48%
6%
2%
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for a cold?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
8
3%
7
3%
56
22%
21
10%
9
175
5
7
3%
67%
2%
3%
3
163
2
5
1%
81%
1%
2%
50
Itchy Eyes (Those with colds counted as “never.”)
Over the past month, how often have you had itchy eyes that started in school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
37
47
27
37
86
16
10
14%
18%
10%
14%
33%
6%
4%
Ellensburg
2
10
9
23
141
10
4
1%
5%
4%
11%
70%
5%
2%
When does this problem usually go away?
Cle Elum
1 Later during the school day
2 After school or during the night
3 Not until the weekend
4 Other (specify): _____________
9 Don’t know
Not Applicable or missing
27
69
11
14
20
119
18%
47%
7%
9%
14%
Ellensburg
11
11
2
7
8
160
25%
25%
5%
16%
18%
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for itchy eyes?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
5
2%
7
3%
30
12%
5
2%
1
209
4
11
0%
80%
2%
4%
1
178
4
4
0%
89%
2%
2%
Headache (Those with colds counted as “never.”)
Over the past month, how often have you had a headache that started in school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
61
65
43
40
39
11
1
23%
25%
17%
15%
15%
4%
0%
51
Ellensburg
6
15
26
67
75
7
4
3%
7%
13%
33%
37%
3%
2%
Headache (continued) (Those with colds counted as “never.”)
When does this problem usually go away?
Cle Elum
1 Later during the school day
2 After school or during the night
3 Not until the weekend
4 Other (specify): _____________
9 Don’t know
Not Applicable or missing
39
113
16
8
11
73
19%
54%
8%
4%
5%
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for a headache?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
32
39
1
20
11
97
28%
34%
1%
18%
10%
Ellensburg
7
3%
4
2%
111
43%
52
26%
6
124
8
4
2%
48%
3%
2%
3
133
3
5
1%
66%
1%
2%
Nausea
Over the past month, how often have you had nausea that started in school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
10
18
27
47
126
22
10
4%
7%
10%
18%
48%
8%
4%
Ellensburg
1
1
8
32
138
13
4
0%
0%
4%
16%
69%
6%
2%
When does this problem usually go away?
Cle Elum
1 Later during the school day
2 After school or during the night
3 Not until the weekend
4 Other (specify): _____________
9 Don’t know
Not Applicable or missing
25
40
8
11
16
160
25%
39%
8%
11%
16%
52
Ellensburg
12
10
1
6
10
158
29%
24%
2%
14%
24%
Nausea (continued)
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for nausea?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
4
2%
2
1%
15
6%
4
2%
0
218
11
12
0%
84%
4%
5%
1
183
3
4
0%
91%
1%
2%
Diarrhea
Over the past month, how often have you had diarrhea that started in school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
6
2
4
15
205
14
14
2%
1%
2%
6%
79%
5%
5%
Ellensburg
0
0
0
7
179
8
5
0%
0%
0%
3%
89%
4%
2%
When does this problem usually go away?
Cle Elum
1 Later during the school day
2 After school or during the night
3 Not until the weekend
4 Other (specify): _____________
9 Don’t know
Not Applicable or missing
3
9
1
8
13
226
11%
33%
4%
30%
48%
Ellensburg
2
2
1
0
7
187
29%
29%
14%
0%
100%
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for diarrhea?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
2
1%
0
0%
4
2%
1
0%
0
234
5
15
0%
90%
2%
6%
0
190
2
6
0%
95%
1%
3%
53
Wheezing or Other Difficulty Breathing
Over the past month, how often have you had wheezing or other difficulty breathing that started in school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
25
21
25
20
143
17
8
10%
8%
10%
8%
55%
7%
3%
Ellensburg
3
0
3
8
168
14
3
1%
0%
1%
4%
84%
7%
1%
When does this problem usually go away?
Cle Elum
1 Later during the school day
2 After school or during the night
3 Not until the weekend
4 Other (specify): _____________
9 Don’t know
Not Applicable or missing
17
37
10
10
15
170
19%
41%
11%
11%
16%
Ellensburg
4
2
0
5
5
183
29%
14%
0%
36%
36%
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for wheezing or other difficulty breathing?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
16
6%
7
3%
9
3%
0
0%
2
216
8
8
1%
83%
3%
3%
0
184
3
5
0%
92%
1%
2%
Abnormal Tiredness (Those with colds counted as “never.”)
Over the past month, how often have you had episodes of feeling very tired at school even after having a
good night’s sleep?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
76
69
30
16
56
7
5
29%
27%
12%
6%
22%
3%
2%
54
Ellensburg
9
33
19
30
99
8
3
4%
16%
9%
15%
49%
4%
1%
Abnormal Tiredness (continued) (Those with colds counted as “never.”)
When does this problem usually go away?
Cle Elum
Ellensburg
1 Later during the school day
26
14%
10
2 After school or during the night
77
40%
22
3 Not until the weekend
45
24%
12
4 Other (specify): _____________
18
9%
23
9 Don’t know
12
6%
11
Not Applicable or missing
81
123
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for abnormal tiredness?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
11%
24%
13%
25%
12%
Ellensburg
2
1%
0
0%
15
6%
4
2%
1
231
5
5
0%
89%
2%
2%
0
190
4
3
0%
95%
2%
1%
Trouble Thinking
Over the past month, how often have you had a time when you had trouble thinking that started in school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
44
42
27
25
95
18
8
17%
16%
10%
10%
37%
7%
3%
Ellensburg
14
9
14
19
126
14
4
7%
4%
7%
9%
63%
7%
2%
When does this problem usually go away?
Cle Elum
1 Later during the school day
2 After school or during the night
3 Not until the weekend
4 Other (specify): _____________
9 Don’t know
Not Applicable or missing
30
41
19
6
24
139
22%
30%
14%
4%
17%
55
Ellensburg
10
12
3
5
18
152
18%
21%
5%
9%
32%
Trouble Thinking (continued)
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for trouble thinking?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
2
1%
2
1%
7
3%
1
0%
0
236
6
8
0%
91%
2%
3%
0
188
5
4
0%
94%
2%
2%
Dizziness
Over the past month, how often have you had a time when you felt dizzy during school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
15
30
33
42
118
14
7
6%
12%
13%
16%
45%
5%
3%
Ellensburg
1
6
6
28
143
11
4
0%
3%
3%
14%
71%
5%
2%
When does this problem usually go away?
Cle Elum
1 Later during the school day
2 After school or during the night
3 Not until the weekend
4 Other (specify): _____________
9 Don’t know
Not Applicable or missing
45
41
3
10
19
141
38%
34%
3%
8%
16%
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for dizziness?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
9
11
0
9
8
162
22%
27%
0%
22%
20%
Ellensburg
0
0%
1
0%
9
3%
0
0%
0
236
5
9
0%
91%
2%
3%
0
190
4
4
0%
95%
2%
2%
56
Rashes
Over the past month, how often have you had a rash that started in school?
Cle Elum
1 Every school day
2 2 to 4 days per week
3 About 1 day per week
4 Rarely
5 Never
9 Don’t know
No response
11
8
4
16
192
18
10
4%
3%
2%
6%
74%
7%
4%
Ellensburg
0
0
2
2
184
8
4
0%
0%
1%
1%
92%
4%
2%
When does this problem usually go away?
Cle Elum
1 Later during the school day
2 After school or during the night
3 Not until the weekend
4 Other (specify): _____________
9 Don’t know
Not Applicable or missing
3
3
7
18
17
211
8%
8%
18%
46%
44%
Ellensburg
0
2
0
5
5
188
0%
50%
0%
125%
125%
In the last month, have you taken any prescription medication for a rash?
Cle Elum
1 Yes, prescription medication
2 Yes, non-prescription
(over the counter) medications
3 Yes, both prescription and
non-prescription medications
4 No
9 Don’t know
No response
Ellensburg
5
2%
0
0%
8
3%
3
1%
1
232
4
9
0%
89%
2%
3%
0
187
3
7
0%
93%
1%
3%
Summary of Additional Questions
Other symptoms or health problems
Question 25 asked students to report other health symptoms that were not included on the questionnaire.
Not counting reports of menstrual irregularities that were asked about in question 27, 49 students in Cle
Elum reported at least one other symptom, but eight of these students only reported symptoms that had
been asked about previously. Eight students reported eye problems, such as watery eyes, burning or
irritation. Five students reported body aches such as muscle, joint or back aches, or general soreness; five
reported emotional problems, such as extreme anger or irritability; four reported skin problems, such as
itching or dry skin; and four reported stomach aches or abdominal pain. Other symptoms were reported
three or fewer times.
57
Menstrual irregularities
There were no patterns in the students’ descriptions of their menstrual irregularities. In Cle Elum,
approximately 30% of the students did not answer this question and another 23% stated that their menses
were irregular, but did not provide specifics. Almost 22% indicated that they did not menstruate often
enough and about 14% indicated they menstruated too frequently.
Change in symptoms in the last 2 months
Question 28 asked whether symptoms had gotten better or worse in the past 2 months. Approximately 50
students clearly stated that their symptoms had gotten worse, while about 15 clearly stated that their
symptoms had gotten better. Other students reported that their symptoms did not change, left the question
blank, stated that it did not apply to them or provided a comment that did not clearly indicate whether
symptoms were better or worse.
Cause of symptoms
Question 29 asked whether the student knew the cause of their symptoms. We asked this question, because
we thought it might be informative to exclude those with known causes from the analyses. Very few
students reported known causes and so we did not analyze the data excluding these students from the
analyses. Nine students reported reasons for headaches, including issues related to wearing glasses, not
eating, stress and lighting and eight students reported respiratory symptoms being caused by colds, asthma,
or allergies.
Other comments
Question 30 asked for additional comments. Most students did not give additional comments. Of the 44
students who made additional comments, most of them referred to the need to fix the school or gave
additional detail on symptoms. Fewer than 10 students commented that they were fine, they thought the
school was fine, they thought the survey was a waste of class time, or similar comments.
58
Appendix 5
Cle Elum-Roslyn School District
Proposed 3 - Phase Plan for Health & Safety
June 2002
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
Appendices 6a & 6b
KJM Construction Management Services
6a – Remediation Work Documentation
6b – Timeline for Remediation Work
66
FINAL 10/1/2002 - Construction Management Status Report
Cle Elum/Roslyn School District
High School Modifications
Situation
The Cle Elum-Roslyn High School remediation of building deficiencies is a threephase plan to address health concerns and implement a long-term indoor air quality
management plan.
Goals Related To The Construction Management Portion Of The Plan
1. Completion and validation of indoor air quality remediation actions that
satisfy community health concerns.
2. The return of community focus on the quality of education and management
of indoor air quality issues as an integral function of facility maintenance
operations.
Key Messages
ƒ
A safe and healthy environment is essential for quality education.
ƒ
A community partnership provides the best solutions.
ƒ
Everyone contributes to keep a building healthy.
Purpose
The purpose of the high school remediation plan is to bring the building’s
mechanical systems and structural components to the highest possible levels of
operating efficiency and structural integrity within budget parameters. This plan
addresses the aspects of the building that contribute to creating and maintaining a
safe and healthy environment for students and staff.
Validation and Verification
The progress of this plan is to be reviewed weekly by the school district and the
coalition. The coalition will confirm the successful completion of the phases of this
plan. The reviews may be less frequent if appropriate.
Status
Consistent With the Situation, Goals, Key Messages, Purpose, Validation and Verification
67
Phase 1
- Implement Recommended Actions - This phase implements the
recommendations from the IAQ assessment by Richard Prill on April 15, 2002
along with the associated testing recommendations from E.R. Crutcher that
followed the Rich Prill assessment.
Action Items
Process began July 18th, 2002.
Clint Marsh, KJM Associates, has been contracted as the remediation project consultant.
Tom Swenson, maintenance supervisor, is the remediation manager supervising the plan.
Telephone conversation with James Green on July 23rd, 2002.
July 24th, 2002 - Initial team meeting. Received the following reports:
- Rich Prill Summary of IAQ Walk-Around Findings Report - Dated 4/15/2002.
- Microlab Northwest – Report 632-02.
- P&K Microbiology Services, Inc. – P&K Report No.:020610-029.
July 25th, 2002 - Tour of building with Pete Keithly of Keithly Welsh and Tom Swenson.
Received the following reports:
- Final Report for Health Assessment from Kittitas County Health Department.
- Public Information Request from James Green for M&O documents on July, 22nd,
2002.
- District Response to PIR from Evelyn Nelson on July 24th, 2002.
- Copy of James Green Summary Report of Rich Prill Walk-thru from James Green.
July 29th, 2002 – Read all reports and edited into a checklist. Made the following contacts:
- Merle Kirkley – Beresford Company – Soft and hard-surfaces floor-coverings.
- Nancy Goodloe – Requesting Rich Prill “Power Point” Addendum for 4/15/02
Assessment.
- Kit Burns – BLRB Architects – Confirmation of “splash/ice guard design.”
- Tim Iwasaki – ATS Automation – Soliciting retro-commissioning assistance and
information on the Aircuity web-based air monitoring system.
- Dennis Turnbull – Collins & Aikman soft vinyl back floor covering representative
July 31st, 2002 – Met with Tim Iwasaki & Tom Swenson. Received Aircuity demonstration.
Established control requirements for digital display sensors and ventilation controls.
Reviewed preliminary summary work checklist and associated work schedule with Tom.
- Met with Jim Green of Clean Air Now.
August 1st, 2002 – Edited work checklist incorporating Cructher and Prill recommendations.
Generated Clean Air Now work request list from Jim Green meeting. Made the following
contacts:
- Pete Keithly – Keithly Welsh Associates – Received retro-commissioning proposal for
SD.
- Nancy Goodloe – Kittitas County Health – Requested & received CAN Three Page List.
Sent work checklist, work schedule, and CAN work request list by e-mail.
- Art Busch – Washington Education Association – Brief overall update. Sent work
checklist, work schedule, and CAN work request list by e-mail.
68
- Joe Jimenez – Jimenez & Associates – Brief overall update. Sent work checklist, work
schedule, and CAN work request list by e-mail.
- Rich Ellis – Washington State Health Advisor – Brief overall update.
- Dennis Turnbull & Merle Kirkley – Collins & Aikman/Beresford – Confirmed public
meeting with Dennis Turnbull, Regional Sales Manager, Tom Ellis, General Manager
Schools Program, and Merle Kirkley, Beresford Company Representative, at the high
school on August 8th, 2002 @ 9:00 a.m.
August 2nd, 2002 – Edited CAN Three Page List into CAN work request list. Made the
following contacts:
- Tim Iwasaki – ATS Automation – Confirmation of SD proposal for ventilation controls
and sample Aircuity reports for distribution/discussion among team members.
- Tim Holmes – ATS Automation – Confirmation of SD proposal for Aircuity
demonstration.
August 5th, 2002 – Meeting with Nancy Goodloe @ Kittitas County Health in Ellensburg and
presented overall status update.
- Met with Jack Stoner @ Northern Kittitas County TRIBUNE and presented upcoming
key events and activities in process.
- Received service support, controls, CO2 monitoring device installation, and computer
relocation quote from ATS Automation.
- Received Aircuity monitoring test and rent versus buy proposal from ATS Automation.
- Received SAMPLE Aircuity Indoor Air Quality Evaluation Report.
August 6th, 2002 – Made the following contacts:
- Received “3 Remaining Issues” power-point slides that cover discussions that were not
previously in the power point presentation to the Coalition (Jim Green request). These
have been added to the work checklist.
- Contacted Rich Prill. Brief overall update. Discussed his future scheduling availability.
He is unable to do a follow-up on the initial assessment until approximately September
15th. He will review information and reports sent him from now until then.
- Contacted Russ Crutcher. Brief overall update. Requested the last 3 slides in his
power-point presentation made to the Coalition (Jim Green request). They will be
incorporated as needed into the work checklist.
- Sent e-mail request to ATS & Keithly Welsh for schedule queuing of Cle Elum-Roslyn
High School for controls, sensor, and commissioning work.
- Made copies of all materials for August 7th, 2002 meeting.
August 7th, 2002 – Met with Mike Snow, Tom Swenson, Joe Jimenez, and Evelyn Nelson at the
Cle Elum-Roslyn High School.
- Formal approval of the following for District contracting and payment
requested & approved:
o ATS Automation – Controls & Sensor Proposal #1699521 - $5,684+WSST.
o Keithly Welsh Associates, Inc. - Commissioning Proposal - $6,080.
- Requested copy of signed KJM contract for corporate office files.
- Handed out and went over Work Schedule and Phase I Checklist.
- Confirmed Phase I Checklist work that is underway.
o Materials and parts required for project Work have been ordered.
69
o Electrical contractor scheduled for on-call work when needed.
o ATS Automation has scheduled their work for August 19th, 2002.
August 8th, 2002 – Attended and participated in the following meetings:
- 7:00 a.m. – Collins/Aikman Inc. & Beresford Company – Met with Tom Ellis (C&A
Factory-Dalton, Georgia), Dennis Turnbull, Merle Kirkley, and Joe Jimenez.
- 8:00 a.m. – Cle Elum-Roslyn School District, Collins/Aikman Inc. & Beresford Company
- Met with Evelyn Nelson, Mike Snow, Tom Swenson, Tom Ellis, Dennis Turnbull, Merle
Kirkley, and Joe Jimenez.
- 9:00 a.m. - Public Meeting on soft floorcovering @ high school library. C&A/Beresford
presented features/benefits information about the floorcovering. Question/answer
exchange ensued. Walked building discussing restorative cleaning plan. Unanimous
confirmation among those in attendance to proceed with restorative cleaning. Thelma
Simon came after the presentation, question/answer period, and building walk-thru and
expressed concern over the public decision to proceed with restorative cleaning. NOTE:
Collins & Aikman is donating a floorcovering agitator to the school district. This will
provide assistance with mechanized spot removal increasing quality and decreasing
labor.
- 2:30 p.m. – Met Lisa Messmer, Clean Air Now, doing a walk-thru of the building. She
had been requested to attend the floorcovering presentation by Jim Green. Jim had not
been told a specific time for the presentation, however, I had told him that it would be
held “in the morning sometime, at the school, in the library.”
- Confirmed Additional Phase I Checklist work that is underway.
o Scheduled Keithly Welsh Associates for building commissioning August 26th,
2002.
o Merle Kirkley contacted Servicemasters Inc. for floorcovering restorative cleaningschedule pending – Tentative schedule August 12th thru august 16th, 2002.
o Tom Swenson has staff assigned appropriately for Work in process.
o Scheduled coke machine floor exploratory for August 14th, 2002. Repair pending
coalition being present for review prior to closure.
o Schedule for exterior wall remediation and exterior splash/ice guard installation
pending week of August 26th, 2002. Installation completion pending Coalition
review prior to closure.
th
August 9 , 2002 – Updated status report, schedule, and Phase I Checklist.
o Sent electronic copies to:
ƒ Nancy Goodloe for Board of Health meeting.
ƒ Rich Prill - ongoing update.
ƒ Evelyn Nelson, Mike Snow, Tom Swenson, Joe Jimenez - ongoing
update.
th
August 14 , 2002 – Attended the following meetings:
o 9:30 - Tom Swenson – Tour of Work in process. Coke machine floor
exploratory began. Repair pending Coalition review prior to closure.
ƒ Evelyn Swenson & Mike Snow @ Cle Elum-Roslyn High School.
• OSPI Emergency Funds confirmation of $55,000.
70
•
o
o
Responded with confirmation of additional Work scope/within
budget.
ƒ Contacted Pete Keithly for Engineering & System Upgrade
Services:
• AHU#14-Damper & linkage confirmation & removal.
• Ductwork as-built modification and upgrade.
• Exhaust fans 15/16/17-Design confirmation and repair.
• Ventilation “popcorn smell” in room 104.
ƒ Larry Matlin of Servicemaster-Restorative cleaning process
update.
ƒ Follow-up with Doug Paulichug-Local Carpenters Union-Per Jim
Green request. Carpenters not needed.
5:00 – Jim Green @ Pioneer Café.
6:00 – Coalition @ Comtronics Systems Inc.
th
August 15 , 2002 – Pete Keithly conducted field visit on requested items.
August 19th, 2002 – Attended the following meetings:
o 8:00 – Teachers day/question and answer Cle Elum-Roslyn H.S.
ƒ Tour of Work status to date.
ƒ Limited Work activity due to teacher preparation.
ƒ Review schedule/budget/overall status with Tom Swenson.
o 10:30 – Dennis Turnbull/C&A/question and answer-floor covering.
o 12:30 – Mike Snow, Tom Swenson, Joe Jimenez, and Rich Ellis.
o
2:30 – Dennis Turnbull, Joe Jimenez, and Rich Ellis.
th
August 20 , 2002 – Updated status report:
o Confirmed Pete Keithly for August 27th & 28th Commissioning dates.
o Confirmed Russ Crutcher for August 30th, Re-testing date.
o Confirmed remaining schedule of Work activities with Tom Swenson.
o Confirmed and revised Remediation Budget. Sent copies to Evelyn
Nelson, Mike Snow, Tom Swenson, and Joe Jimenez.
o Follow-up e-mail to Art Busch for Coalition monitors names and phone
numbers, in addition to Jim Green per Art’s request last week.
o Left message with Glenna Green for James Green that we are starting the
remediation of the Coke machine floor and the exterior walls 8/22/2002.
o Requested and confirmed Health Department participation for Coke
machine floor replacement and for exterior wall inspection prior to close.
Rich Ellis will be on site at 8:00 a.m., Friday, August 23rd, 2002.
o Sent request to Dennis Randolph (membership) and Ken Price
(certification) for WAMOA membership and certification applications for
Tom Swenson.
August 21st, 2002 – Received necessary Coalition contact information from Art Busch
and Joe Jimenez. Made the following contacts requesting their attendance at the
remediation of the Coke machine floor and the exterior walls beginning 8:00 a.m.,
Thursday, 8/22/2002:
o Left voice message at Lisa Mesmer’s work.
71
o
Left voice message at Thelma Simon’s work. Left message with Thelma’s
husband Keith.
o Left voice message at Jennifer Betlach’s home. Left voice message on
Jennifer’s cell phone as well.
o Received call from James Green confirming that he will be in attendance
at 8:00 a.m. Friday morning prior to covering the openings.
nd
August 22 – Attended the following activities:
o Floor under Coke machine and appropriate exterior walls were opened for
inspection and left open for others to inspect. The following people were present:
ƒ Jennifer Betlach
ƒ Thelma Simon
ƒ Keith Simon
ƒ Lisa Messmer
ƒ Tom Swenson
ƒ Clint Marsh
o Per Art Busch’s request I left voice messages for Mike Muzzal and Tom
Wilson. Explained the Work in progress and that we were taking
pictures with the Health Department @ 8:00 a.m., Friday, August 23rd,
2002.
o Contacted Larry Matlin of ServiceMaster to let him know that Coalition
members were concerned about cleaners being used on soft floor
covering.
rd
August 23 – Attended the following activities:
o Toured building and took pictures of the floor under the Coke machine
and
The exterior walls that were opened for inspection. The following people
were present:
ƒ James Green
ƒ Joanie Minkee
ƒ Nan Blaum
ƒ Tom Swenson
ƒ Rich Ellis
ƒ Clint Marsh
o Coke machine floor and exterior walls were left open for others to
inspect.
o Coke machine floor and exterior walls will be repaired Monday, August, 26th,
2002.
o Splash/ice guards will be installed Tuesday, August, 27th, 2002.
o Brought crawlspace ventilation system online.
Phase I – Validation and Verification has begun - District remediation plan manager and contracted
project manager inspect completed tasks.
o Toured crawlspace to determine impact of crawlspace ventilation system. The
following people were present:
ƒ Tom Swenson
72
ƒ Mark & Tom-Maintenance/Custodial Staff
ƒ Frank-Heating Ventilation Staff
ƒ Brent Walley-ATS Installer
ƒ Clint Marsh
o Received MSDS Sheets for cleaners used in soft floor covering restorative cleaning
process from Larry Matlin of ServiceMaster:
ƒ SYON-5-Collins & Aikman soft floor covering cleaner.
ƒ FiberFresh Water Solv-A restorative cleaning solvent for spot removal.
ƒ SalvOII with Citrus-A restorative cleaning solvent for spot removal.
ƒ Larry Matlin would like to answer any questions about these products.
o Updated project status report.
o Updated Work checklist.
o Project remains on schedule.
o Sent status reports and updated Work checklist to Nancy Goodloe, Rich Prill, Mike
Snow, Tom Swenson, Evelyn Nelson, Joe Jimenez by e-mail.
th
August 27 , 2002 – Attended the following activities:
o Tour of Work status to date.
o Building commissioning with Keithly Welsh Associates.
o Exterior wall repair and reconstruction.
o Coke machine floor repair.
o Met with Farley Walker, Business Manager, and went over Work budget.
Phase II – Validation and Verification has begun – District remediation plan manager and contracted
project manager inspect completed tasks. Facility recommissioning contractor confirms building systems
are operating as designed and specified by manufacturer and appropriate IAQ standards.
August 28th, 2002 – Will attend the following activities:
o Building commissioning with Keithly Welsh Associates.
o Status meeting with Mike Snow and Tom Swenson.
o Exterior wall repair and reconstruction.
o Met with John Wolpers, Kittitas County Environmental Health Director.
ƒ Reviewed project report, Work checklist, schedule, school district
remediation plan. Gave him copies of each.
o Met with Rich Ellis, State of Washington Environmental Health Inspector.
o Inundated with attorneys, construction managers, and industrial
hygienist performing discovery activities for upcoming litigation. Work
halted. Contacted public relations consultant for Superintendent
notification.
o 4:30 – Status update with James Green.
o 6:00 – Status meeting with Coalition.
August 29th, 2002 – Received Retro-Commissioning Issues Report from KWA.
o Pete Keithly (KWA) and Brent Walley (ATS) working to rectify issues
identified in KWA report dated August 28th, 2002.
o Worked with Joe Jimenez to produce building floor plan location and
codification of remediation activities for public information distribution.
73
Associated signage is being prepared by Joe Jimenez for identification of
remediation activities within the building.
o Copies of Keithly Welsh reports sent with August 29th, 2002 status report.
ƒ KWA field visit report dated August 16th, 2002 (site visit 8/15).
ƒ KWA retro-commissioning issues report dated August 28th, 2002.
August 30th, 2002 – Phase I – Validation and Verification continues – E.R. Crutcher to conduct reassessments and inspections of implemented recommendations. Specific testing for specific reasons
conducted. Phase III – Evaluation has begun - Starts before the 2002-2003 school year begins and
continues until a long-term Indoor Air Quality Management Plan is implemented. Preliminary
verifications will be conducted before school resumes in September 2002.
o 9:00 – Met with the following people at the Cle Elum-Roslyn HS for re-testing:
ƒ Russ & Pat Crutcher
ƒ Thelma Simon
ƒ Mike Snow
ƒ Tom Swenson
ƒ Clint Marsh
• The Following was re-tested with tape lifts & air samples:
• Classrooms 100, 200, & 203.
• Home Economics.
• Library.
• Outside background air sample.
• Spot by AHU#14 (Actually AHU#10) in mechanical
space above woodshop. Requested by Nancy Goodloe.
o Splash/ice guard installation began.
o Supplied Tom Swenson with WAMOA (Washington Association of Maintenance
and Operations Administrator) membership, certification, and conference
registration information.
September 3rd, 2002 - Phase II – Validation and Verification continues - District remediation plan
manager and contracted project manager inspect completed tasks with health inspectors and school
district nurse :
o 10:00 a.m. – Meeting with Tom Swenson while health inspectors met with school
district nurse:
ƒ Mike Snow – CERSD Principal.
ƒ Rose Murdock – CERSD Nurse.
ƒ Rich Ellis – State Environmental Health Inspector.
ƒ John Wolpers – Kittitas County Environmental Health Director.
o 11:30 – Larry Matlin – ServiceMaster/floor-covering restorative cleaning update.
o 12:30 p.m. – Health inspection and tour of facility:
ƒ Rose Murdock – CERSD Nurse.
ƒ Tim Hardin – State Environmental Health Inspector.
ƒ Rich Ellis – State Environmental Health Inspector.
ƒ John Wolpers – Kittitas County Environmental Health Director.
ƒ Joe Jimenez – Management Consultant.
ƒ Tom Swenson – CERSD Maintenance Supervisor.
74
ƒ Clint Marsh – Construction Management Consultant.
o 4:30 p.m. – Crawlspace inspection:
ƒ James Green – Clean Air Now Representative.
ƒ Rich Ellis – State Environmental Health Inspector.
ƒ Clint Marsh – Construction Management Consultant.
• Due to time constraints James Green was unable to inspect the
crawlspace under the gymnasium. He will set a time with Tom
Swenson for his inspection. Note: Tom Swenson-CERSD, Brent
Walley-ATS, Clint Marsh KJM, previously inspected the
gymnasium crawlspace.
th
September 30 , 2002 – Confirmed completion of the Work and performed final
building inspection.
o Reviewed the following work for completion status:
ƒ Splash/ice guard installation.
ƒ Crawlspace vent blocking per discussions with Keithly Welsh
Associates and ATS Automation.
ƒ Crawlspace access hatch seals.
ƒ Fresh air intake duct access panels.
ƒ Flashings & caulks at various exterior locations.
ƒ Outside air duct to “residential-type” furnace in maintenance
facility.
o Toured building for final inspection with the following people:
ƒ Rich Prill - Building Science and Indoor Air Quality
Specialist/WSU.
ƒ Nancy Goodloe-Administrator Kittitas County Health
Department.
ƒ John Wolpers-Kittitas County Environmental Health Director.
ƒ Rich Ellis – State Environmental Health Inspector.
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
o
Keith Simon-Coalition Member.
Thelma Simon-Coalition Member.
Lisa Messmer-Clean Air Now.
Joe Jimenez – Management Consultant.
Tom Swenson – CERSD Maintenance Supervisor.
Clint Marsh – Construction Management Consultant.
Attended wrap-up meeting of attendees. All parties concurred that the defined
Work was satisfactorily completed within the spirit and intent of the initial
findings and recommendations.
Summary
75
Construction Management Remediation Project Complete
o Phase I – Construction Management Work Checklist - Complete
o
Phase II – Construction Work Validation and Verification – Complete
76
77
Appendices 7a & 7b
Keathley Welsh, Inc.
7a – HVAC Assessment
7b – Retro-Commissioning Report
78
August 16, 2002
Site Visit Report
Cle Elum – Roslyn H.S.
Visit date: 8/15/02
Overview:
KWA was contracted to provide a site review and recommendations in response to
several issues related to HVAC systems design and performance at the Cle Elum –
Roslyn High School. Below please find a list of these issues, a summary of our findings
and recommendations for further action.
Issue #1:
During an earlier survey of the HVAC systems conducted in the Spring of 2002, it was
noted that occupied CO2 levels in Room 203 were somewhat higher than other
classrooms, and somewhat higher than the ASHRAE recommended limit of 1000 PPM.
This room is served by a unitary wall mounted fan-coil, with a heating coil and full
economizer (motorized return air / outside air dampers) fresh air capability. In addition,
the excess air introduced into the room is relieved through a central relief air ductwork to
a remote outside wall louver. A backdraft damper was noted to be installed in this relief
air ductwork, just at the point of leaving the room. Upon a recent investigation by the
school district maintenance staff, it was noted that the return air ductwork for AHU-3 is
connected to this relief air ductwork, very near the point of exit with the building. For the
record, AHU-3 serves an unrelated commons hall and interior classroom. It should also
be noted that this ductwork connection (AHU-3 return to the relief air duct) was not
shown on the “As Built” version of the most recent ductwork design plans.
Based on our review of this situation, we are inclined to believe that in some (if not all)
situations, the AHU-3 return air duct may be actually introducing a negative pressure into
the relief air duct, relative to the outside air. This would then cause the outside air to
actually migrate back into the relief air ductwork en route to the AHU-3 return air
ductwork. While this in of itself in not of major concern, it should be noted that an
exhaust fan (EF-5) also is ducted to this common relief plenum, near the point of exit
with the building. Therefore, it is quite possible (likely) that under some conditions, this
exhaust air could be reintroduced back into the building through the AHU-3 return. We
would recommend that this union between the AHU-3 return air ductwork and the relief
air ductwork be dismantled and capped on the relief ductwork end. The return air
ductwork could either be left open (a balancing damper should be installed) to return air
from the surrounding ceiling plenum, or could be extended to return air from the space
actually served by AHU-3. And finally, it would be appropriate to install a backdraft
damper in the relief ductwork, prior to the point where the exhaust fan (EF-5) ductwork is
introduced. This would insure that exhaust air cannot migrate back into the building
79
through the relief ductwork, and would provide additional protection against cold-air
infiltration while the building is not occupied, during cold weather situations.
KWA does not believe that the high CO2 levels noted in room 203 would have likely
been related to the above issue. If the minimum outside air setting for the economisers
on the fan-coil unit serving this area was adequate (approximately 15 CFM per person),
the amount of fresh air introduced into the classroom should have been enough to
maintain CO2 levels below the 1000 PPM threshold. KWA would suggest verification of
this ventilation rate, and re-adjustment of the minimum occupied fresh air setting may be
appropriate. KWA would further suggest that a more effective ventilation method would
be through the use of CO2 monitoring sensors tied to the existing Alerton control system.
This would allow for automatic reset of these minimum fresh air setpoints based on
actual occupant demand.
Issue #2:
The CERSD Maintenance Staff also reported an on-going problem with several exhaust
fans serving the locker rooms. These fans had been tripping off on high amperage draw.
When we further investigated, it was found that these fans were rotating in the wrong
direction. When the rotation was corrected, the fans operated normally with the full load
amps slightly (1 amp) above the normal FLA rating. KWA would suggest the drive
sheaves (pulley) for these fans be reduced to the next smaller diameter as necessary to
reduce the amperage draw to within the FLA rating of the motors. Adequate CFM will
be verified during the upcoming commissioning routines.
Issue #3
It had been noted by the High School staff that the smell of roasting popcorn in one of the
classrooms was noticed in the office area immediately after the cooking had begun.
KWA and the district staff investigated this issue and could find no cross connection or
potential leaks in the ductwork serving this room. It was noted however that the relief for
this room discharged directly outside through a relief louver located in fairly near
proximity to the outside air intake grille for the Office air handling unit. Upon closer
inspection, it appears that the warm relief air is rising up under the roof eaves and then
migrating the short distance to the intake for the AHU outside air intake. While this
mixing of some relief air with fresh air poses no real serious health concerns, the transfer
of odours may be occasionally objectionable. KWA would suggest that a short baffle
could be constructed to force the relief air to travel up and over the roof edge, and thus
the relief air would not likely be pulled into the fresh air intake of the Office AHU. (Note:
there are two relief louvers located in this area that would need to be baffled)
Issue #4:
The CERSD M&O staff also asked KWA to review the outside air / return air damper
linkage for AHU-14 (serves several small rooms in the Wood Shop area). Apparently,
this unit had been designated to provide 100% fresh air to these areas, as the return air
ductwork was totally sealed shut just outside the AHU. The damper linkage to the return
80
air damper was still functioning. While this unit is most likely programmed to go to and
stay in the 100% outside air position prior to starting the fan, KWA would suggest this
operation be reviewed during the upcoming commissioning routines and confirmed as
appropriate. Also, it would not hurt to permanently disconnect the return air damper
linkage to avoid any future confusion as to the intended operation of this AHU.
Issue #5:
KWA was also asked to review the location of the stove exhaust vent for the Home
Economics room. This exhaust is vented through a recessed sidewalk louver located
outside the exterior wall. KWA would suggest a hooded ductwork extension be
fashioned for this louver to provide for better discharge of kitchen exhaust, and to avoid
this exhaust route getting restricted by snow. This should also help direct the odours
away from the building, and will eliminate the condensation occurring on the building
siding.
Issue #6:
The CERSD M&O staff also asked KWA to review the location of a new exhaust fan
designed to ventilate the crawl space where the abandoned ductwork is located. KWA
believes these exhaust fans will provide for adequate ventilation of these spaces, and
should prevent any possible air migration from the crawl space to the classrooms above.
It should be noted that in cold weather, the make-up air for these fans may cause freezing
concerns in the crawlspace. The CERSD M&O staff may want to consider sealing off all
leaks to the outside from this crawlspace and providing make-up air from the conditioned
space above. This would actually improve the negative to positive pressure differential
from the crawl space to the classrooms above, and would help to avoid freezing concerns
in the crawlspace.
Summary:
The majority of the above recommendations can be implemented fairly easily with no
actual engineering design work necessary. At the Owner’s discretion, KWA can provide
some additional details regarding our recommendations, and/or we can also assist in the
development of a written scope of work to be used in the soliciting of an appropriate
contractor to complete the work.
Pete Keithly
Keithly Welsh Associates Inc.
81
August 28, 2002
Retro-Commissioning Issues Report
Cle Elum - Roslyn H.S.
The following issues were discovered as a result of retro-commissioning procedures
conducted on the HVAC related systems at the Cle Elum - Roslyn High School on 8/27
and 8/28, 2002. After each issue description, please find our related recommendations,
our assignment of the most appropriate responsible party, and the current status of the
issue. Note; these issues have not been prioritized in any particular order.
#
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
ISSUE DESCRIPTION and RECOMMENDATIONS
ASSIGNED TO
STATUS
8/28/02: Some operating schedules for HVAC equipment may not be appropriate. Suggest
review of all current operating schedules and equipment assigned to those schedules to
determine if schedules and associated equipment are appropriate. Make changes as necessary
with input from school district staff.
8/28/02: Multiple trend logs in system. Suggest reviewing all trend logs and deleting those
that are not currently being used.
8/28/02: Sequence of Operation as provided in the ATS Automation “As-Built” drawings
does not describe the operating sequences for all equipment, nor does it provide adequate
detail describing the various control sequences currently operating. Suggest these operational
sequences be reviewed, updated and expanded as appropriate.
8/28/02: The new smoke/fire damper installed on the new AHU-3 return duct from the lobby
must be supplied with power. The school district M&O staff are aware of this issue.
8/28/02: The exhaust fan in the Health Room is quite noisy. Suggest this exhaust fan be
replaced with a quieter model, or the fan should be remotely mounted.
8/28/02: Room temperature sensor in Work Room (for AHU1 Zone 2) is mounted on wall
nearly behind a refrigerator. The heat from this refrigerator will cause the sensor to read
abnormally high whenever the refrigerator compressor is running. Suggest this sensor be
moved to a better location within this zone.
8/28/02: Many of the “Optimum Start/Stop” parameters were set up wrong in the Alerton
controllers. Function was disabled until appropriate changes can be made by controls
contractor.
8/28/02: The discharge air low-limit appeared to kick-in during the test of AHU-4, while the
unit was in mechanical cooling. Suggest the low limit be adjusted or disabled during
mechanical cooling.
8/28/02: Is AHU4 allowed to run 24/7/365? This AHU services a computer lab. Check
schedule.
8/28/02: During the full heating mode test, the discharge air for AHU1 zones 1 and 2 never
got above 80 degrees. Suggest the operation and performance of these duct coils be further
investigated.
8/28/02: It is not clear what triggers the “Building Heat Required” point. Suggest all details
of boiler control be provided in Sequence of Operation description.
8/28/02: The Micro-Set sensor for the kitchen is located too near the dishwasher. Suggest
relocating to a more appropriate spot.
8/28/02: UV-9 only put out 69 degree air in full call for heat. Found isolation valves closed.
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
CRSD M&O
Open
CRSD M&O
Open
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
KWA
Closed
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
14. 8/28/02: UV-9 heating valve responds very slowly to a call for heat. Suggest control loop for
this valve be reviewed.
15. 8/28/02: AHU-2 had a supply air temperature of 65 degrees when in a 100% OSA mode and
full call for cooling, with OSA temperature of 52 degrees. Heating valve may be leaking by.
Suggest performance of this AHU be further investigated.
82
#
ISSUE DESCRIPTION and RECOMMENDATIONS
16. 8/28/02: AHU-5 had a supply air temperature of 62 degrees when in a 100% OSA mode and
full call for cooling, with OSA temperature of 52 degrees. Heating valve may be leaking by.
Suggest performance of this AHU be further investigated.
17. 8/28/02: All controller economizer lock-out set points were set for 72 degrees. Without
mechanical cooling, it may be better to simply allow the economizers to operate regardless of
the OSA temperature. Also, this will provide better air quality. Suggest leaving lockout set
point on all controllers (except AHU4) at 125 degrees.
18. 8/28/02: Found schedule for gym, lockers and restroom (schedule #5) HVAC was incorrectly
keeping these units off on Tuesday and Weds. Corrected schedule.
19. 8/28/02: Whenever the space temperature goes above 2 degrees higher than the current
cooling setpoint, an alarm is noted at the GUI. Since there is no mechanical cooling, suggest
this range be increased, or the alarm be eliminated (or disabled when OSA is above 60
degrees?
20. 8/28/02: The “User Activity Log” indicated the last user logged in on 8/30/02. Today is only
8/28/02. Suggest ATS review this report.
21. 8/28/02: GUI indicates that the Gym and Commons have “CO” (Carbon Monoxide)
controllers. This should be changed to “CO2”
22. 8/28/02: The new CO2 sensors are providing informational data only, and are not being used
for demand ventilation purposes. Suggest that these units be programmed for demand
ventilation sequence to determine if appropriate for all locations.
23. 8/28/02: When in the “Quick View” GUI window, some colors did not seem to match the
temperature off-sets. Also, the alarms were not consistent. Suggest ATS review.
24. 8/28/02: CRSD M&O staff noticed the return air duct from AHU-3 was pulling air from the
general relief air duct. This connection was severed and capped, and the return was run to the
lobby area. Also, an anti-back-draft damper was installed near the point where the relief duct
exits the building to avoid any possibility of contamination from an exhaust fan that
discharges into a common plenum.
25. 8/28/02: Existing printer for the control system is old and slow. Suggest replacing with new
color inkjet printer.
26. 8/28/02: Boiler controls were set up wrong. Adjusted to stage boiler in 4 stages from 190
(stage 1) to 175 (stage 4) with a 3 degree differential at each stage.
27. 8/28/02: Boiler #2 failed to start on one try. CRSD M&O staff is aware of a problem with the
combustion air proof switch. Suggest this problem be resolved.
28. 8/28/02: GUI for boilers did not provide for manual run of boilers and pumps. This feature
was on original graphic. ATS to reinstate.
29. 8/28/02: Hydronic heating sequences do not appear to be appropriate for the equipment and
piping. Three-way valves won’t close below 50% when unit is running. Suggest ATS review
with KWA and revise as appropriate.
83
ASSIGNED TO
STATUS
ATS
Open
KWA
Closed
KWA
Closed
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
KWA
Closed
CRSD M&O
KWA
Closed
CRSD M&O
Open
ATS
Open
ATS
Open
Appendix 8
Report #2 – Microlab Northwest
Post-Remediation Testing and Sampling
August 30, 2002
84
MICROLAB NORTHWEST
7609 140TH PL. NE
REDMOND, WA 98052
PHONE: (425) 885-9419
LABORATORY REPORT
TO: Clinton G. Marsh
cc: Mike Snow, Principle
REPORT #:
765-02
KJM
Cle Elum/Roslyn High School DATE: Sept.
9, 2002
500 108th Ave. N.E., Suite 1000
2690 SR 903
Bellevue, WA 98004
Cle Elum, WA 98922
PHONE: (FAX: ( e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
SUBJECT: Particle Identification
SPECIMEN: Tapelifts, Air Samples, and Insulation Samples, Cle Elum High School
REFERENCE: Microlab Northwest Report #632-02
SUMMARY
On August 30, 2002 a number of tapelift, air samples, and material samples were
collected from Cle Elum High School by E. R. Crutcher with the assistance of Mike
Snow, Clint Marsh, Tom Swenson, and Thelma Simon. Tapelifts were collected from
rooms 100, 200, 203, 302, and the Library. Air samples were collected from these same
rooms and from the exterior of the building outside the Counseling offices on the
concrete drain pad (see table on page 5). Exterior wall samples were collected from the
material that had been removed from the outside of Room 100. This material was in the
back of a truck at the time of sampling. Two samples of discolored insulation were
collected in the overhead space of the building near Air Handling Unit #10.
The analysis shows the following:
8. There is not a glass fiber problem in the rooms tested.
9. There is not a general fungal problem in the rooms tested.
10. The carpets have been thoroughly cleaned.
11. Horizontal surfaces had not been cleaned at the time of sampling.
12. Airborne dust loading outside the building varies dramatically and can be quite high.
13. Airborne dust loading inside the building can be quite high even in an "at rest"
condition.
14. Discoloration of the blanket insulation in the overhead area is due to dust and not
fungal growth.
15. The exterior siding had some fungal growth on the wood but not on the water-barrier
board.
Additional observations are provided in the body of the report and in the conclusion.
Signed: ________________________________________
E. R. Crutcher, Consultant
85
INTRODUCTION
On August 30, 2002 a number of tapelift, air samples, and material samples were
collected from Cle Elum High School by E. R. Crutcher with the assistance of Mike
Snow, Clint Marsh, Tom Swenson, and Thelma Simon. Tapelifts were collected from
rooms 100, 200, 203, 302, and the Library. Air samples were collected from these same
rooms and from the exterior of the building near the Counseling offices on the concrete
drain pad. The exterior air sample was collected every half-hour, starting at 10:00 AM
and concluding at 12:10 PM. Exterior wall samples were collected from the material that
had been removed from the outside of Room 100. This material was in the back of a
truck at the time of sampling. Two samples of discolored insulation were collected in the
overhead space of the building near Air Handling Unit #10. Photographs were take to
document the sample locations. The samples collected were as follows:
Tapelifts
Room 100, Windowsill
Room 100, Univent Heater
Room 100, Teachers Desk, 2 Contacts
Room 100, Computer Station, 2 Contacts
Room 200, Windowsill
Room 200, Equipment in Boxes
Room 200, Teachers Desk, 3 Contacts
Room 200, Top of Computer Monitor
Room 201, By Computer on Desk
Room 201, TV Table
Room 201, Counter Against Wall
Room 203, Windowsill
Room 203, Top of Computer Monitor
Room 302, Top of Refrigerator, Kitchen #1, 3 Contacts
Room 302, Top of Monitor on Teacher's Desk, 2 Contacts
Room 302, Top of Monitor next to Wall
Room 302, Over Oven, Kitchen #3
Library, Location of Old Desk
Library, Career Center Teacher's Desk Monitor, 2 Contacts
Library, Checkout Desk
Library, File Cabinet
Overhead Ventilation Space
Open Discolored Insulation near AHU #10
Discolored Insulation Covered with Plastic Sheet near AHU #10
Exterior Wall
Room 100, Dark Discoloration on Wood Paneling
Room 100, White Discoloration on Water Shield Board
(All of the exterior wall samples were collected from material in the back of a truck)
86
The tapelifts were placed on clean microscope slides and immersed in acetone for
about two hours and then removed. The slides with the tapelifts were rinsed with clean
acetone as they were removed from the immersion tank. The tapelifts were allowed to
dry for ten minutes and then mounted using a synthetic resin (Eukitt). The completed
mounts were analyzed using analytical light microscopy. The discolored insulation
samples were mounted directly in resin. The discoloration on the sheet materials was
tapelifted and processed as a standard tapelift.
RESULTS
The tapelifts from Room 100 contained skin flakes, natural minerals, clothing fiber,
paper fiber, soil, phytoliths, pollens, cleaning debris, lichen spores, sawdust, charred
wood, starch, cosmetics, shoe wear, aerosol droplets, insect parts, plant parts, glass fiber,
food debris, spores, mycelium, blue spray paint spheres, perolite, pencil debris, weld
spheres, cenospheres, bird feather barbules, and diatoms. The materials present had
changed as a result of the introduction of additional particles from outside (natural
minerals, soil, phytoliths, pollens, spores, plant parts, etc) and cleaning debris from the
carpet cleaning. The carpet in the room was dramatically cleaner than when last seen on
June 8, 2002. The ventilation system was on in the building at the time of testing. The
horizontal surfaces on counters, shelves, equipment, cabinets, etc. had not been cleaned
since prior to June 8, 2002. The dusts present on these surfaces was the same with the
addition of dusts collected over the Summer. Air samples provided addition information
on the quality of the environment during this test interval.
The air sample collected in Room 100 contained skin flakes, natural minerals, paper
fiber, soil, humus, plant parts, phytoliths, clothing fiber, hyphae, spores, insect parts,
charred wood, sawdust, tire wear, and diatoms. The quality of the air is indicated by both
the types of materials that are airborne and the quantity of those materials. The quantity
is measured as the percent obscuration on the impaction plate sampler normalized to 150
liters of air. The percent obscuration is the amount of the collection surface covered by
particles divided by the total surface available for collection, multiplied by 100 in order
to express the value as a percentage. The obscuration for this sample, collected at 10:18
AM, was 10%. This was a bit elevated for a room at rest but with the ventilation system
running, which creates turbulence, and the condition of the horizontal surfaces in the
room this was not an unexpected value. Particles on surfaces are not dormant. In
turbulent air some will loft from the surface and move through the air to another surface.
That is one of the reasons it is important to keep horizontal surfaces clean.
The tapelifts from Room 200 contained skin flakes, clothing fiber, paper fiber, natural
minerals, soil, charred wood, sawdust, starch, pollens, phytoliths, insect parts, plant parts,
spores, mycelium, glass fiber, tire wear, shoe wear, toner, food debris, blue spray paint
spheres, cosmetics, pencil debris, weld spheres, cenospheres, pink pearl erasure, lichen
spores, bird feather barbules, and diatoms. The glass fiber was at a fairly low levels with
the exception of the sample from the Teacher's Desk. This area had much more glass
fiber associated with yellow phenolic resin than it did in June 2002. Glass fiber of this
87
type is typical of blanket insulation and is the same type as that used in the ventilation
system. Most of the glass fiber in this room appeared to come from the ventilation
system. The spores present were typical of an exterior environment though
Cladosporium was again the most common single type. The total spore population in this
room did not indicate a fungal problem. The dust loading in this room, as with the other
rooms, is the same for the most part with the addition of more particulate matter from
outside the school and cleaning debris from cleaning the carpets.
The air sample from Room 200 contained skin flakes, natural minerals, paper fiber,
humus, soil, plant parts, phytoliths, clothing fiber, hyphae, spores, insect parts, charred
wood, sawdust, tire wear, and diatoms. The obscuration for this sample, collected at 9:58
AM, was 18%. This was quite high for a room at rest. The types of particles and their
relative proportions were not significantly different than the sample in Room 100.
The tapelifts from Room 203 contained natural minerals, skin flakes, clothing fiber,
paper fiber, soil, pollens, charred wood, sawdust, phytoliths, lichen spores, cleaning
debris, insect parts, plant parts, spores, mycelium, tire wear, starch, shoe wear, glass
fiber, bird feather barbules, toner, food debris, blue spray paint spheres, cosmetics, pencil
debris, weld spheres, diatoms, cenospheres, and pink pearl erasure.
The air sample from Room 203 contained skin flakes, natural minerals, paper fiber,
soil, humus, plant parts, phytoliths, clothing fiber, hyphae, spores, insect parts, charred
wood, sawdust, tire wear, and diatoms. The obscuration for this sample, collected at
10:35 AM, was 13%. This was quite high for a room at rest. The types of particles and
their relative proportions were not significantly different than the sample in Room 100.
The tapelifts from Room 302 contained natural minerals, paper fiber, pollens, soil,
skin flakes, clothing fiber, insect parts, plant parts, charred wood, cleaning residues,
sawdust, phytoliths, food debris, starch, lichen spores, shoe wear, mycelium, glass fiber,
spores, cosmetics, tire wear, pencil debris, cenospheres, bird feather barbules, and
diatoms. The dominant pollen in these samples was pine. The glass fiber was at a fairly
low level and was predominantly from the acoustic ceiling tile. The spores present were
typical of an exterior environment (grass Rusts) though Cladosporium was a common
type. The total spore population in this room did not indicate a fungal problem.
The air sample from Room 302 contained skin flakes, natural minerals, paper fiber,
soil, humus, plant parts, phytoliths, clothing fiber, hyphae, spores, insect parts, charred
wood, sawdust, tire wear, and diatoms. The obscuration for this sample, collected at
11:15 AM, was 8%. This was reasonable for a room at rest with the elevated levels
outside the building (see Exterior Air Sample). The types of particles and their relative
proportions were not significantly different than the sample in Room 100.
The tapelifts from the Library contained paper fiber, skin flakes, cleaning residues,
natural minerals, clothing fiber, insect parts, plant parts, charred wood, soil, sawdust,
toner, starch, pollens, phytoliths, shoe wear, mycelium, bird feather barbules, glass fiber,
spores, cosmetics, lichen spores, tire wear, pencil debris, cenospheres, and diatoms. The
dominant pollen in these samples was pine. The glass fiber was at a fairly low level and
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was predominantly from the acoustic ceiling tile. The spores present were typical of an
exterior environment though Cladosporium was again the most common single type. The
total spore population in this room did not indicate a fungal problem.
The air sample from the Library contained skin flakes, natural minerals, paper fiber,
soil, humus, plant parts, phytoliths, clothing fiber, hyphae, spores, insect parts, charred
wood, sawdust, tire wear, and diatoms. The obscuration for this sample, collected at
11:51 AM, was 23%. This was quite high for a room at rest, even with the elevated
exterior levels. The types of particles and their relative proportions were not significantly
different than the sample in Room 100.
Exterior Air Sample
The exterior air samples contained natural minerals, soil, humus, plant parts,
phytoliths, charred wood, tire wear, pollens, paper fiber, spores, mycelium, insect parts,
glass fiber, sawdust, concrete dust, diatoms, flyash, cenospheres, and clothing fibers. The
glass fiber was from blanket insulation and was probably part of the construction residue
remaining from the work done on the exterior wall at this location. Samples had been
collected at 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, and 12:00. The respective obscurations were 6%,
9%, 36%, 24%, and 27%. The table below indicates the exterior dust loading at the time
the air samples were collected in each room. The exterior samples were collected on the
half-hour. The time the sample was started in each room is indicated in parentheses. All
air samples were collected for ten minutes at a sampling rate of fifteen liters of air per
minute.
TIME
Outside
Room 100
Room 200
Room 203
Room 302
Library
10:00
6%
10:30
9%
10% (10:18)
11:00
36%
11:30
24%
12:00
27%
18% (9:58)
13% (10:35)
8% (11:15)
23% (11:51)
Dust Loading by Time of Collection and Location
There is relatively poor correlation between the dust loading in the rooms and the dust
loading outside at the location of the exterior sample. When the sample in Room 200
was collected the outside loading was at 6% while the inside loading was at 18%. When
the outside airborne loading increased to 36% the indoor sample (Room 302) was only
8%. The dramatic change in loading outside indicated by the 11:00 AM sample may be
an actual change in airborne dust load generally or a change in wind direction that
increased the loading locally. It is possible that the loading in the rooms is a function of
wind direction relative to the position of the air intake for the ventilation system serving
that room. The fact that the airborne dust in the rooms contained significant amounts of
skin flakes indicates that the particles were not penetrating directly from the exterior.
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They could be generated by lofting in the rooms due to turbulent air flow over
contaminated surfaces or they could be from part of the ventilation system containing
significant amounts of skin flakes (the recirculation loop in the system). Pressure pulses
in the ventilation system due to wind loading on the intakes could be a contributing
cause.
Discolored Insulation in the Overhead Space
Two areas of discolored glass fiber insulation blanket were sampled. One was openly
exposed to the attic space and one was under a plastic sheet. Both were located near Air
Handling Unit #10. The discoloration was due to particles attached to the glass fiber.
These particles included natural minerals, sawdust, charred wood, paint spheres, and
insect parts. The particles were very small (0.5 to 3 micrometers) for the most part.
There was no evidence of mold growth in the insulation.
Exterior Siding Deposits
There were two exterior siding deposits of interest. One was a dark discoloration on
the back side of the exterior wood paneling. The other was a white deposit on the black
paper covering the water-barrier siding. The dark discoloration was predominantly
natural minerals, soil, plant parts, insect parts, humus, mite debris, spores, pollen, charred
wood, tire wear, and diatoms. The amount of fungal debris in this sample was low but
the high mite population indicated that there had been more fungal growth than indicated
by the tapelift. Fungus is one of the main food sources for the mites and there was more
mite debris than could be explained based on the spores seen in this sample. The
condition of the wood indicated some degradation but no excessive fungal growth at this
time.
The white deposit on the black paper was gypsum, calcium sulfate dihydrate. This
was a water related deposit in that it was the result of water extracting gypsum from the
board and the gypsum precipitating as the water ran down the barrier board. This deposit
can not be reliably dated though the path of the water was consistent with the position of
the board on the wall. There was no indication of any fungal growth.
CONCLUSION
The carpets in these rooms had been thoroughly cleaned and were in excellent
condition. The section cut out of the carpet in room 203 had not been replaced but the
carpet in that room was otherwise in excellent condition. The horizontal surfaces in these
rooms had not been cleaned and the locations of the tapelift samples collected in June
were still evident in many locations. Additional dusts had accumulated over the summer,
including debris from the carpet cleaning and other activities that had taken place.
Air sample were collected at this time to evaluate the "at rest" condition of the air in
the rooms. The air smelled fresh in the rooms though the dust loading was quite high in
room 200 and the Library and was a bit high in room 203. The types of particles present
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in the air samples were the same regardless of loading. That indicates that a local room
or specific ventilation system source was not responsible for the elevated loading. The
dust loading outside the school was also very high at times. The exterior dust loading
varied from 6% obscuration to 36% during the two hours sampled. The exterior loading
was not directly reflected in the rooms sampled. The particles typically seen in the room
samples included skin flakes and other particles generated inside the building. That
indicates that the source of the particles was air turbulence over contaminated surfaces in
the room itself or it came from the portion of the ventilation system that contained a high
burden of skin flakes, the air recirculation system.
The discoloration of the insulation blankets in the overhead space near Air Handler
Unit #10 is due to dust loading on the glass fibers. There is no indication of any fungal
growth at these locations or nearby.
The discoloration on the lower edge of the exterior wood siding did indicate some
fungal growth supporting a significant mite population. The amount of fungal growth on
the siding was not excessive and the panel had been removed because it was known to
have been exposed to water and to have some fungal growth detected during the
investigation conducted in June. The white deposit on the water-barrier board was
gypsum, calcium sulfate dihydrate, and not fungus.
Thank you for this opportunity to be of service. If I can provide any further assistance
please contact me.
Signed: ________________________________________
E. R. Crutcher, Consultant
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Appendix 9
Washington State Department of Health
Walkthrough Inspection, WAC 246-306
September 3, 2002
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Dr. Evelyn Nelson, Superintendent
Cle Elum-Roslyn School District #404
2690 SR 903
Cle Elum, WA 98922-8704
Dear Superintendent Nelson:
In accordance with WAC 246-366, an inspection of the Cle Elum-Roslyn High School was
conducted on September 3, 2002 by Richard E. Ellis and Tim Hardin of the Washington State
Department of Health, and John Wolpers of the Kittitas County Health Department.
Also present during the inspection were the school nurse, Rose Murdock, the school maintenance
supervisor, Tom Swenson, and Clint Marsh from the KJM construction management firm. Joe
Jimenez, of Jimenez & Associates, the school district consultant, observed the inspection.
This report is a summary of the inspection, based on measurements and notes taken at the site. A
set of digital pictures documenting the observations is being sent to you along with this report.
Summary:
The Cle Elum-Roslyn High School has recently completed remediation recommendations to
address indoor environment and air quality concerns reported by students and staff.
This health inspection was made to determine whether the school building environment complied
with existing state rules and the Health and Safety Guide of the Office of Superintendent of
Public Instruction and the Washington State Board of Health. Areas of emphasis included
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment; general sanitation and safety of the facility;
building condition; plumbing fixtures; and lighting.
During this inspection, the completed remediation recommendations were specifically examined
for compliance with health and safety statutes, codes, rules, and the OSPI-DOH Health and
Safety Guide.
In general, the building’s flooring, walls, ceilings and fixtures appeared reasonably clean and well
maintained. With proper routine care and maintenance, this building and its operating systems
would provide an acceptable indoor environment for the building’s occupants. There were no
facilities issues observed which would prevent the school from functioning normally during the
school year.
1. The HVAC systems appeared to be operating satisfactorily, with flow rates of 75-450
linear feet per minute recorded in all areas measured. Colored ribbons were used to verify
airflow through high-ceiling air supply units.
2. The new pleated filters and filter trays were clean and well maintained, and ceilings were
generally in good repair.
3. There did not appear to be significant physical safety hazards in classroom areas.
4. Although some construction dust was present on the air diffusers and dirt was observed
near the boys’ locker room due to football practice, these issues were resolved by the
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maintenance staff before the inspection was concluded. The dirt being tracked in by the
locker area can be addressed by walk-off mats and other means.
5. Direct observations of the crawl space were made to confirm the condition of the
ventilation depressurization system, which was operational at the time of inspection.
6. Observations of the new CO2 monitors and vacuum pressure gauges were made and
photographed. The monitors and gauges are easily visible to building occupants and others
who are charged with maintaining the facility.
7. An inspection of all air handling units and catwalks in the attic was made. The units were
working in a satisfactory manner at the time of inspection.
8. Posted records of filter changes and other routine maintenance were verified.
Food service, water supply and athletic field inspections were not performed during this
inspection.
Inspection Notes:
1. ServiceMaster of Bellevue performed carpet restoration throughout the building. There are
several areas where pieces of the floor covering will need to be replaced due to permanent
ink markers being used on it.
2. Carpet moisture measurements were taken in rooms in both wings of the school. All
measurements were 6%, which is virtually as dry as seasoned wood.
3. The woodshop office supply air vent was deliberately, visibly blocked at the time of
inspection. As of the date of this report, the vent has been unblocked as a result of school
district management action. The air vent should kept unblocked at all times during use of
the shop, since dust, vapor and fume issues can impact student and teacher health.
4. The microscope cabinet in the science room was moved, revealing a metallic stain on the
floor that needs cleaning. It was noted during the inspection that storage of chemicals in or
near this cabinet is not recommended since the return air for the room ventilation is
located there.
5. The small computer area in the library had relatively low air circulation, even though
overall ventilation needs for normal room occupancy were met for the library in general.
The school district maintenance director and facility consultant from KJM arrived at a
proposed solution to this problem (which could be addressed in a future facilities project)
which would re-direct air flow to this area.
6. The roof flashing and exterior splash guard projects need to be completed prior to winter
weather conditions. This is on the current facilities project schedule and will be verified in
a subsequent inspection this fall.
7. Four large crawlspace vents were observed. These are vented through the roof and
monitored with pressure gauges that are readily accessible to building occupants.
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8. Chipmunks, mice and other rodents on the premises have caused damage to walls and
classroom supplies. The district should review its pest control practices in the exterior
perimeter surrounding the building to eliminate burrows and other harborage.
9. Light readings in classrooms throughout the building ranged from 35-100 Foot-candles,
which is well above the minimum levels required by the regulations.
10. Exterior doors in classrooms should be kept closed during normal classroom operations in
order for the HVAC systems to properly function and filter the air. There is no need to
open exterior doors in the classrooms for comfortable temperature and air flow where
room CO2 levels are maintained below 1,000 parts per million, and temperatures and
relative humidity are maintained in the human comfort ranges specified by the
Washington State K12 Health and Safety Guide and standards of the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
11. It was noted during the inspection that the school district is developing a long-range
Indoor Environment Management Plan for IAQ issues. This plan should address the
district’s policy on purchasing and use of custodial materials and classroom products
containing chemicals, such as solvents and permanent markers.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please feel free to contact me at (360) 236-3072.
Sincerely,
Richard E. Ellis, REHS, RS, MS, JD
School Program Manager
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Appendix 10
Rich Prill Post-Remediation Walkthrough Assessment
October 1, 2002
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October 1, 2002
Cle Elum-Roslyn School District
Evelyn Nelson
Superintendent
2690 SR 903
Cle Elum, Washington 98922
Dear Superintendent Nelson:
Yesterday Mr. Tom Swenson conducted a final inspection tour of the Cle Elum-Roslyn
High School with Mr. Rich Prill, Building Science and Indoor Air Quality Specialist
from Washington State University.
Also in attendance were Mr. Rich Ellis, State Environmental Health Inspector, Mr. John
Wolpers, Kittitas County Environmental Health Inspector, Ms. Nancy Goodloe, Kittitas
County Health Department Administrator, Mr. Joe Jimenez, contracted consultant, Ms.
Lisa Messmer, Clean Air Now Representative, Keith and Thelma Simon, citizen coalition
members.
I am very happy to report that all parties concurred that the defined Work was
satisfactorily completed within the spirit and intent of the initial findings and
recommendations by both Mr. Rich Prill and Mr. E. R. Crutcher of Microlab Northwest.
This brings Phase I and Phase II of the three-phase District remediation plan to address
health concerns to completion, thereby completing the construction remediation project
conducted by KJM. Current reports are attached and please call me if you have any
questions or comments.
We wish you the very best in the Phase III implementation of a long-term indoor air
quality management plan and would like for you to think of us in the event that
facilities/construction assistance is needed in that effort or in other future efforts.
It has been a pleasure working with you, your staff, and members of your community.
Sincerely,
Clinton G. Marsh
Northwest Region
Educational Program Manager
c:
Karen Mask; Duane Mask
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Appendices 11a & 11b
Cle Elum-Roslyn School District Phase 3 Plan
11a – Tracking and Monitoring Health Complaints
11b – Health & Safety Committee Appointment
December 2, 2002
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101
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