1412 Oakbrook Drive, Suite #180. Norcross, GA 30093 Telephone: (770) 441-0027 Fax: (770) 441-2050 www.craworld.com January 23, 2009 Reference No. 055643 Chief Deputy Stan Copland Douglas County Sheriffs Dept. Detention 6840 Church Street Douglasville, Georgia 30134 Re: Water Damage and Mold Cause and Origin Investigation Lower Level, Douglas County Jail Douglasville, Georgia INTRODUCTION On January 15, 2009, Margaret Philbin and Christine Mayo of Conestoga-Rovers & Associates (CRA) inspected the trustee areas located in the lower level of the Douglas County Jail in Douglasville, Georgia for the purpose of determining the existence, cause and origin of reported water damage and possible mold amplification. CRA inspected the affected areas of the lower level including the following rooms: Female Trustee Bunkroom, Female Trustee Bathroom/Shower area, Trustee Bunk Room #145, Medical Restroom/Shower area and the adjoining hallways. Other areas of the jail were not inspected by CRA. Deputy Larry Samples accompanied CRA during the inspection. INTERVIEW The water damage and mold was reported to have resulted from water infiltration originating in the kitchen above the affected areas. The kitchen floor was previously routinely cleaned using a hose allowing water to infiltrate the cavity between the kitchen floor and the ceiling of the lower trustee bunk rooms. The practice of cleaning the kitchen floor using hoses has been discontinued and the kitchen floor is reportedly in the process of being replaced. In addition, plumbing leaks were discovered in the cavity between the kitchen floor and the ceiling of the lower level Trustee Bunk Room #145. The plumbing leaks were reportedly repaired. Additional comments are presented in the site observations section of this report. SITE OBSERVATIONS Trustee Bunk Room #145: All contents have been removed from the room with the exception of metal bunkbeds, metal tables and metal benches which are bolted to the concrete floor. The concrete floor was observed to have standing water originating near the center of the room expanding toward the right wall of the room. Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
January 23, 2009 2 Reference No. 055643 The water was observed to have an oily sheen likely indicating the water originated in a kitchen drain or on the kitchen floor. The walls of the bunk room were constructed of painted concrete block. No water damage or visible mold was observed on the walls. The ceiling was constructed of approximately 1-inch thick fire-rated drywall. A small section of drywall had been removed from the center of the room. Water was observed dripping from a small hole near the removed section of ceiling. A black pipe was observed above the dripping water and is the most likely source of the ongoing water infiltration. Remaining portions of the drywall ceiling were observed to have water stains and discoloration indicative of water damage and possible visible mold. All HVAC vents were covered with cardboard taped to the walls and ceilings. Medical Bathroom/Shower Area: This bathroom/shower area adjoins the Trustee Bunk Room #145. All contents have been removed from the bathroom with the exception of the fixtures and shower curtains. The concrete floor appeared intact and free from standing water. The walls were constructed of painted concrete block. The upper portion of the walls above the showers was observed to have discoloration, which was likely mold growth. All other portions of the walls appeared to be free from water damage and likely mold growth. The shower area contained two shower stalls. The left shower stall appeared to be intact; however, the corner trim molding appeared to have discoloration indicative of likely visible mold growth on and behind the molding. The right shower stall was observed to have several cracks and damage to the walls of the shower. Discoloration indicative of likely mold growth was observed on and behind the molding, cracked walls and damaged areas of the right shower stall walls. The ceiling appeared to be painted concrete. The concrete above the shower area extending approximately 3 feet into the bathroom was observed to have discoloration indicative of mold growth. All other areas of the bathroom ceiling appeared to be free from discoloration and water damage. All HVAC vents were covered with cardboard taped to the walls and ceilings. Hallway between the Trustee Bunk Room #145 and the Women s Trustee Area: This hallway appeared to be free from all water damage and discoloration indicative of visible mold. Female Trustee Common Area: This area appeared to be free from water damage and discoloration indicative of visible mold. Female Trustee Bunk Room: All contents had been removed from this room with the exception of the metal bunks which remained bolted to the concrete floor. The walls in this room were painted concrete block. The floor was concrete. The walls and floor appeared to be free from water damage and discoloration indicative of visible mold. The ceiling appeared to be approximately 1-inch thick fire-rated drywall. Water stains and discoloration were observed on the drywall surrounding an HVAC vent near the entry to the room. Minor water stains were observed on the drywall ceiling surrounding an HVAC vent near the rear of the room however, no discoloration indicative of likely mold growth was observed in the vicinity of the rear HVAC vent. Both vents were covered with cardboard taped to the walls and ceilings.
January 23, 2009 3 Reference No. 055643 Female Trustee Restroom/Shower Area: The floor in this room was concrete and free from standing water, water damage and discoloration. The walls in this restroom/shower area were painted concrete block. The upper portions of the walls above the shower area were observed to have peeling paint and discoloration indicative of mold growth. Other portions of the walls appeared to be free from water damage and discoloration. The ceiling in this room was painted concrete. The ceiling above the shower area was observed to be peeling and discolored. The ceiling in other areas of the restroom appeared to have minor discoloration indicative of minor mold growth. The shower stalls appeared to be intact with no evidence of water damage or discoloration. Hallway behind Female Trustee Bunk Room and Restroom/Shower Area: The hallway walls and floors were free from water damage and discoloration indicative of visible mold. The ceiling on the right/center portion of the hallway above the fire hose appeared to be water damaged with discoloration indicative of mold growth. All other areas of the hallway ceiling appeared to be free from water damage and discoloration. MOISTURE READINGS Moisture readings were taken throughout the affected areas of the lower level using a Protimeter Mini SurveyMaster moisture meter. Materials with moisture readings in excess of 20 percent WME (Wood Moisture Equivalent) are considered to be wet and capable of supporting mold growth. Materials with moisture readings between 15 percent WME and 20 percent WME are considered damp and are capable of supporting existing mold growth. Materials with moisture readings less than 15 percent are considered to be dry and are not likely to support mold growth. All affected areas of the lower level trustee bunk rooms and nearby areas were tested. All materials were dry (<15 percent WME) with the exception of the following area: The ceiling above the Tustee Bunk Room #145. ASBESTOS SAMPLING A total of three (3) accessible suspect asbestos-containing materials (ACM) were identified during the inspection. Suspect ACM included the following materials: ceiling drywall and associated drywall tape and mud. A total of 3 bulk samples were collected from the various suspect materials. Two samples were collected in the Trustee Bunk Room #145, and 1 sample was collected in the hallway behind the female trustee bunk room and shower area. All samples were analyzed for asbestos content using Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) with dispersion staining techniques in accordance with U.S. EPA report number 600/R-93/116 Method for the Determination of Asbestos in Bulk Building Materials (available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS); Publication # PB93-218576).
January 23, 2009 4 Reference No. 055643 The samples were analyzed by EMSL Analytical (EMSL) of Atlanta, Georgia. The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) accredits EMSL to perform asbestos analyses. A copy of EMSL s NVLAP certificate and laboratory analytical reports and chain of custody are provided in Attachment C. All samples were non-detect for asbestos fibers. CONCLUSIONS Water infiltration appeared to be continuing in the Trustee Bunk Room #145. The water infiltration into other areas inspected appeared to be controlled. The upper portions of the walls and the ceilings in the 2 shower areas appeared to have water damage and likely mold growth due to excess moisture created by showering with inadequate ventilation to remove excess humidity. The water infiltration in the Trustee Bunk Room #145 ceiling, the female trustee bunk room ceiling and the female trustee hallway has caused minor water damage and likely mold growth in the drywall ceilings. RECOMMENDATIONS The ongoing water release above the Trustee Bunk Room #145 should be identified and corrected prior to the final cleaning stage of the mold remediation. A qualified contractor should be hired to conduct a mold remediation. A mold remediation protocol is presented as Attachment B. In addition, a method to ventilate the excess moisture from the shower areas of the 2 restroom/shower rooms should be considered to prevent future water damage and mold growth. ASSESSMENT LIMITATIONS A non-destructive or semi-destructive assessment of indoor fungal growth and moisture intrusion was conducted at this site using generally accepted techniques, and was based upon the information made available to CRA representatives at the time of this assessment. CRA has analyzed and evaluated the information collected during this investigation using applicable scientific and industrial hygiene techniques and principles.
January 23, 2009 5 Reference No. 055643 It is possible that mold could exist inside wall cavities, insulation, attic spaces, or other hidden areas beyond the observations and activities conducted during this site assessment. Given the time requirements and the focused scope of work, CRA may not have observed all potential areas of moisture intrusion and resultant mold growth. In addition, biological growth and moisture intrusion will vary as a result of changes to environmental conditions and may change the condition of the property as compared to the conditions observed by CRA. Additionally, due to a lack of defined scientific standards or promulgated limits for mold, no assessment can eliminate uncertainty regarding the potential for indoor biological contamination being present at concentrations that can impair human health or affect sensitive individuals. This assessment is intended to reduce uncertainty regarding the potential for recognizable biological growth reservoirs within the property, to determine the probable cause of such growth and to develop appropriate risk management plans, other types of hazards are beyond the scope of work and were not considered. Reliance on or use of this report by any third party without explicit authorization from CRA, and its Primary Client, does not make any third party a beneficiary to CRA s contract with its Primary Client. Any unauthorized reliance on, or use of, this report, including its information or conclusions, will be solely at the third party s risk, no warranties or representations, expressed or implied in this report, are made to any third party. Please feel free to contact us at your convenience if you have questions. Yours truly, CONESTOGA-ROVERS & ASSOCIATES Margaret Philbin, ARM, CIAQM Christine Mayo, CRMI MP/kt/01 Encl.