Founders Hall Renovation - 10/16/18
Posted October 16, 2018
The renovation is moving along and great progress has been made both outside and inside the building. First and foremost, while the contractor is completing steps necessary to isolate the bottom two floors for heating this winter, the sudden drop in temperatures this week have resulted in lower temperatures in the building than what we would like. While the cross-over is on-track to be completed by the end of this week, in the meantime we have undergone the following steps to try to improve the situation:
- Facilities has authorized overtime for the mechanical contractor to finish the cross-over of heating more quickly. Additionally, SIUE plumbers are working to bring up the heat on the air handlers (normally the building is heated by the radiant heat only). This backup heat, which has not been operational for years will provide supplemental heat to keep the building warm through the winter;
- The contractor is currently working to improve the “buttoning up” of the building to reduce heat loss in the occupied space;
- Adjustments to cold air intake have been made, and we are opening up the tunnel between Alumni and Founders (along with increasing Alumni’s heating operating hours) to share heating;
- We have supplied additional heaters at point of use for those areas in the building experiencing the coolest temperatures.
Additionally, Facilities asks that occupants leave their lights on and computers running this week, which will also help with temperature levels.
Construction Progress
The drilled piers to support the seismic towers are moving along at a great pace, currently averaging just over two a day which puts them on or slightly ahead of schedule for completion. The southeast stair tower is halfway down, and excavation for the northwest tower continues. Inside, most of the second and third floors are gutted.
Air Testing
Emergency Management and Safety and Farmer Environmental Services, LLC, are continuing to conduct air quality in the building. Results from the air testing completed by Farmer Environmental Services for Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, and total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) fell well below safety standards set by OSHA. Hydrogen Sulfide and LEL (combustibles) were not present at the time of testing. Oxygen levels were found to be normal. Facilities intends to retest these again as the project progresses and new materials enter the building.
| Safety Standard | Test Result | |
|---|---|---|
|
Oxygen |
20.9% |
20.9% |
|
Carbon Monoxide |
50 ppm |
6 ppm |
|
Carbon Dioxide |
1,000 ppm |
0 to 400 ppm |
|
Hydrogen Sulfide |
20 ppm |
0 ppm |
|
LEL (combustibles) |
0 ppm |
0 ppm |
|
Total VOCs |
0.5 ppm |
0 to 0.4 ppm |
Testing for Formaldehyde has been contracted through Farmer. This test will be completed tomorrow, with results in approximately 10 days. Additional testing for Silica is currently be conducted by the contractor, with results by the end of the week.
Particulate matter testing is being completed by SIUE Emergency Management and Safety on a weekly basis. Results have been published showing a safety standard of 10,000 ppm, which although is not a published standard by OSHA, has been used by SIUE in the past to show a “Baseline” condition for determining if additional testing for hazardous materials is needed. It should be noted that OSHA is interested in prolonged exposure over an eight hour period. This testing is a snapshot. The table below shows the results of Indoor air testing:
| Date | Reading | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
09/18/2018 |
271 to 3,060 ppm |
|
|
09/24/2018 |
162 to 1,760 ppm |
|
|
09/28/2018 |
1,930 to 14,300 ppm |
Two locations above 10,000 ppm (Both common spaces) |
|
10/01/2018 |
1,210 to 2,070 ppm |
|
|
10/05/2018 |
106 to 25,700 ppm |
One location above 10,000 ppm (Elevator, while plywood was being applied to walls) |
|
10/10/2018 |
863 to 7,800 ppm |
It should also be stated that outdoor particulates tested during this period were as much as five times the indoor levels. Additionally, those three locations that tested above our screening standard of 10,000 all returned to levels below 10,000 ppm on retest, and none are permanently occupied spaces. We will continue to monitor the levels, and address any negative trends as they arise. However, with the completion of the barrier to the second and third floors in the atrium, we anticipate levels to remain low.
Next Week
Heat crossover will be complete. Construction on the drilled piers will continue and the southwest corner pier drilling is anticipated to be complete. Demolition of the rest of the Southeast corner stairwell be complete.
