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Home My WebLink AboutMoisture Level - COM Inspections - 1/16/2007 Jan 25 07 08:34a p.2 •J'A. 22. 2007 5: IIFM Novicki Environmental Services No. IM N. 2/1 NOWICKI January 15, 2007 WMVIRONMFMAL Hood Canal School District 11 l N State routes 106 Shelton, WA 98584 Attn: Ron Zier— Superintendent Gary Larson—Galco Engineering I performed another inspection of the site last Friday with Gary Larson and Steve Brennan. Overall the moisture levels are down and the building now has a roof. Treated portions of the building had lower moisture levels than the partially or non- heated portions of the building. Dimension lumber was generally below the 15% moisture content as recommended in my previous inspection. Oriented Strandboard (OSB)was below 15% in the south facing walls and the middle partition walls. Walls on the north side of the building in the heated zone still had some readings of 17%or greater. Unheated or partially heated areas that were just covered have many areas that are above 17%moisture content. Without heat these areas will take some time to dry out. OSB sheeting and engineered lumber have the highest moisture readings. Colored Timbor fungicide was being sprayed on all moldy, wet or discolored surfaces. This work was nearly complete in the heated areas and was planned for the unheated areas. • It is recommended to continue with the work plan as being executed. • As previously recommended cover when walls when the walls are 15%moisture or below. • Continue to use heat and fans. It is recommended to blow air directly on problem areas. Check each area and move the heat source or fans as needed to evenly bring down the moisture. Sincerely, Aacs Robert IF, Simons Inspector cc: Steve Brennan 34004 9th Avenue South Suite 12 Federal Way, Washington 980M Phone: (253)927-5233 / Fax:(253)924-0323 Jan 25 07 08:34a p.2 Jan..22. 2007 5: IIFM Novicki Environmental Services No. Ib4d N. 1/2 NOWI CKI t January )5, 2007 WXVTR0NMFX1 kL Hood Canal School District 111 N State routes 106 Shelton, WA 98584 Attn: Ron Zier— Superintendent Gary Larson—Galco Engineenng I performed another inspection of the site last Friday with Gary Larson and Steve Brennan. Overall the moisture levels are down and the building now has a roof. Heated portions of the building had lower moisture levels than the partially or non- heated portions of the building. Dimension lumber was generally below the 15% moisture content as recommended in my previous inspection. Oriented Strandboard (OSB)was below 15% in the south facing walls and the middle partition walls. Walls on the north side of the building in the heated zone still had some readings of 17%or greater. Unheated or partially heated areas that were just covered have many areas that are above 17%moisture content. Without heat these areas will take some time to dry out; OSB sheeting and engineered lumber have the highest moisture readings. Colored Timbor fungicide was being sprayed on all moldy, wet or discolored surfaces. This work was nearly complete in the heated areas and was planned for the unheated areas. • It is recommended to continue with the work plan as being executed. • As previously recommended cover when walls when the walls are 15°10 moisture or below. • Continue to use heat and fans. It is recommended to blow air directly on problem areas- Check each area and move the heat source or fans as needed to evenly bring down the moisture. Sincerely, Robert F. Simons Inspector cc: Steve Brennan 34004 9th Avenue South Suito 12 Federal Way, Washington 98003 Phone: (253)927-5233 / Fax:(253)924-0323 (1/17/2007) Debbera Coker- Hood Canal School WSU Energy program response.doc Page 1 December 21,2006 Debbera Coker Mason County Building Dept. Debbera: I reviewed the report from Nowicki Environmental concerning mold issues at a school under construction in Mason County.The report was from Robert F. Simmons, Inspector and was dated December 19,2006. 1 generally agree with the report recommendations and have the following comments: 1. Remove the polyethylene vapor retarder and the insulation to allow the walls to dry out. Also,the report noted the slab is still fairly green and it will continue to add moisture to the space until cured. 2. Make sure the building is weather tight and dry before re-insulating.The comment in the report regarding the Tyvek being used as a vapor retarder is incorrect.You are aware of the moisture physics involved and the proper locations of a vapor retarder and moisture barriers. Moisture movement from weather barriers is commonly misunderstood. It was thought that all building wraps stopped bulk water from entering a wall cavity and also allowed vapor to escape from the inside.This is only true with some building wraps. Tyvek manufactured after 2001,Typar manufactured after 2004,Weathermate Plus, Gorilla Wrap, and Weather Smart are some of the products I am aware of that allow vapor movement to the exterior. 3. When the building is enclosed and heat is introduced do not use propane heaters as they generate more moisture than they will remove. Consider using electric space heat in combination with de-humidifiers. 4. Avoid using 6 mil polyethylene as a vapor retarder. Using a perm rated paint or a"smart vapor retarder"is a better choice. Certainteed makes a product with a variable perm rating depending on humidity levels within a wall cavity. htto://www.certainteed.co m/Certai nTeed/Pro/Contractor/Insulation/Prodindex/Residential/ MemBrainProdl ndex.htm 5. Verify that the exterior finish is installed so that it will be durable and in a way to minimize moisture damage. If a stucco finish is the finish material look at the attached detail and make sure some sort of drainage plane is incorporated into the cladding.This may accomplished with a simple system using two layers of felt paper or can be something more elaborate. This mold situation is not uncommon but can be easily avoided with some common sense.We have been harping for 20 years about not using wet lumber(like cover your lumber package on a jobsite), dry the building before insulating, and make sure the window flashing will repel rain water. Sincerely, Gary Nordeen,WSU Energy Program (1/17/2007) Debbera Coker-Text.htm Page 1 Hi Gary, To my knowledge our office has not heard anything since December 21. Has there been additional reports prepared since our last e-mail? Debbera Coker Mason County Building Department Lead Plans Examiner Phone: (360)427-9670 ext 510 FAX: (360)427-7798 e-Mail: dlc@co.mason.wa.us >>>Debbera Coker 12/28/2006 10:30 AM>>> Debbera Coker Mason County Building Department Plans Examiner Phone: (360)427-9670 ext 510 FAX: (360)427-7798 e-Mail: dlc(a)co.mason.wa.us >>>Debbera Coker 12/21/2006 4:21 PM>>> As a follow-up to our conversation concerning mold mitigation at the Hood Canal School. Please plan on handling the mitigation issues as a special inspection with all reports sent to the Mason County Building department. In addition the mold report prepared by Nowicki Environmental specified that there may be structural concerns on shear walls covered with OSB. Where structural concerns exist the engineer of record,or their authorized representative should issue a report concerning repairs. Washington State Energy Code, Section 1313 specifies that a vapor retarder is required. Approved vapor retarder can be poly,paint or another approved method. Mr. Gary Nordeen,a representative of the WSU-Energy Program reviewed the mold mitigation/vapor retarder report and offered comments. The Word document attached to this e-mail contains his comments. Please contact me if you would like to discuss further. Please arrange to mail,fax,or e-mail reports to me at the following: Mason County Building Department Attn: Debbera Coker PO Box 186, Shelton,WA FAX(360)427-7798 E-mail: dl�co.mason.wa.us (1/17/2007) Debbera Coker-Text.htm Page 2 Debbera Coker Mason County Building Department Plans Examiner Phone: (360)427-9670 ext 510 FAX: (360)427-7798 e-Mail: dlc(a-),co.mason.wa.us >>>"Ray Mow"<ray@ericksonmcgovem.com> 12/21/2006 8:33 AM>>> Debbra, Last week there was a discovery of some surface mold growth on the framing at the hood canal project. In discussions with Larry(sorry I did not get his last name)with Mason County,we decided that the best course of action was to get our environmental consultant,Nowicki and Associates to field evaluate the condition and provide all parties with a report that includes the method for corrective actions. That report is attached and the contractor has diligently followed through with those actions. There have been issues raised with the contract and code requirements of having a vapor retarder on the warm side of the insulations. The concern is that the vapor retarder will trap moisture in the exterior wall cavity,creating the potential for further problems. The 2004 Washington State Energy Code, Section 502.1.6,requires that a vapor retarder be installed on the warm side of insulation(see also attached). The product being used is a 6 mil polyethylene film that has a vapor permeation rate of.12 which makes it a class II vapor retarder per ASTM E-96.(Product information attached). Nowicki's report recommends against using a vapor'barrier'(actually it is a vapor retarder,vapor barriers allow vapor to escape.). Code requires a vapor retarder. We request two responses from Mason County: 1.Please confirm that a vapor retarder is required per the Washington State Energy Code. 2.Please review and provide comment to Nowicki's report. Please contact me if there are questions. Thank you,