CSC performed an Indoor air quality inspection of mold, ACM, smoke and other related contamination of a 110-room hotel property located in Southern California to determine the presence or absence and concentration of particulates including soot, char, ash, asbestos-containing materials and combustion by-products related to a fire that occurred in one of the hotel rooms.
The main objective of the investigation was to determine the presence or absence of contaminants potentially emitted during the fire in one of the second floor rooms. Chemicals of concern included:
- Smoke particulates (e.g., soot, char, ash and metal fume)
- Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Other related contaminants investigated included asbestos debris from asbestos containing building materials potentially spread by various activities before, during and post the fire within the hotel and, if present, attempt to quantify the concentration of particle deposits.
Finally, through visual observation and limited bulk and tape lift sampling, fungal growth was investigated.
Schedule: CSC inspected the site within 24-48 hours of receiving the “go-ahead” from the client for both the initial visit and the follow-up visits. The reports were issued one week after the receipt of the last laboratory data. Also, the client was informed each day of the status of the job site by telephone communications and follow-up e-mails.
Project Outcomes: CSC findings were as follows:
- CSC sampling indicated asbestos contamination all floors of the building. Controlled decontamination will be required for exposed surfaces and contents under controlled conditions. In addition, personnel should not access the building unless they have proper personal protective equipment (i.e. Tyvek® boots/coveralls, shroud and half face piece respirators with HEPA filters).
- Combustion by-product samples all showed either non-detect or very low surface contamination concentrations for all contaminants. All cleaning requirements should be addressed in the asbestos and mold decontamination and remediation work plans.
- Visible mold was only observed on the second floor hallway walls. Rooms were not observed to have visible mold growth. The two areas sampled on the second floor confirmed the presence of mold. The vinyl wall covering (used throughout the facility) held moisture resulting in the growth of mold. In addition, CSC observed moisture condensing and running down the walls on much of the second floor hallway that had been smoke-contaminated during the fire. This area would require a controlled remediation.
Based on the visual observations and the results of the laboratory analyses, CSC concluded and submitted the following findings and recommendations:
- Remediation is necessary to decontaminate and clear the hotel of asbestos fibers released by the fire and to remove mold from damaged wall surfaces in the second floor hallway.
- A Procedure 5 Plan would be required prior to clean-up any disturbed ACM resulting from damage caused by fire, explosion, or natural disaster – R1403(d)(1)(D)(ii)(I).