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Home My WebLink AboutCS-X 1981-05-27 Community Services Committee TOWN OF NEWCASTLE TO: Councillor Maurice Prout, Chairman and Members of the Community Services Committee FROM: Thomas A. Fanning, R. D. M. R. Director, Department of Community Services DATE: May 27, 1981 SUBJECT: Durham Regional Health Unit Report Re: Carbon Monoxide (CO) Levels in the Police and Fire Building, Church Street, Bowmanville Please find attached a Report from the Durham Regional health Unit regarding exhaust fumes from thc, Fire Station entering through the Council Chambers ventilation system. TAF/sa cc: Mayor G. B. Rickard D. Oakes, Town Clerk' K. Degroot, Treasurer J. Hayman, Fire Chief G. Gray, D/Clerk V. Cadney, Services Accounts Engineer, M.C.C. Powers P. Boots, Labourer J. Caruana, D/Director -H E ;ti t i µ ( gg THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM I DURHAM REGIONAL HEALTH UNIT-HEADQUARTERS:301 GOLF STREET,OSHAWA,ONTARIO L1 402(416)723.63621 'i INSPECTION REPORT 1981 05 22 TO: Mr. H. R. Robinson, Acting Director �. Environmental Health Services FROM Mr. R. Malanczyj , Staff Public Health Inspector RF1 Carbon Monoxide (CO) Levels in the Police and.Fire Building, Church Street, Bowmanville INTRODUCTION This office conducted a follow--up investigation, due to a reported incidence of exhaust entering the courtroom through the ventilation system. The report stated that three people experienced symptoms, which are typical of a minor degree of carbon monoxide poisoning. A preliminary inspection was conducted on April 23, 1981, with the following' persona present: Mr. J. Hayman, Vire Chief Mr. . J. Caruana, Deputy Director, Community Services Mr. D. L. Trumbley, Senior Public Health Inspector Mr. R. Malanczyj , Staff Public Health Inspector A second inspection was arranged on May 12, 1981 , with the purpose of examining the heating and ventilation system in greater detail. The following persons were present: Mr. T. A. Fanning, Director - Community Services Mr. V. Cadney, Service Accounts Engineer, M.C.C. Powers Mr. D. L. Trumbley, Senior Public Health Inspector Mr. R. Malanczyj , Staff Public Health Inspector CO readings were taken during both inspections, using "Gastec" direct reading detector tubes and a piston-type volumetric pump. The results are listed in Appendix A of this report. continued-Page 2 Inspection Report - Page 2 FINDINGS The air conditioning system, consists of two units. One unit supplies air to the police station and is located in the boiler room, in the basement. The other unit supplies air to the courtrooms and is located in the basement, in a room adjacent to the boiler room and fire hall kitchen. Neither unit supplies air to the fire hall. The air supply ducts for courtroom #1 run along the ceiling of the fire hall garage. CO gas could possibly enter the building, by the following means: 1. Fresh .Air Intake for the air conditioning unit; 2. Fresh Air Make-up for boiler room; 3. Vehicle Emissions within the fire hall garage . The fresh air intake for the air conditioning unit is located in the: north- west corner of the roof. The intake is remote from sources of CO gag, and is in an area of considerable air turbulence. It is therefore, unl Aely that any significant levels of CO would enter the building through this opening. The intake grill for the fresh air makeup for the boiler room is located by the police entrance, from the west parking t is possiblethaOgas may enter the basement of the building, roug. this certain conditions (ie. vehicles backed into parking spaces, engines running, proper wind conditions etc.) . CO gas is produced within the fire hall garage, when the vehicles are warmed up each morning and whenever the Fire Department responds to an emergency call. The garage is equipped with an exhaust ventilation system, however the adequacy and 'efficiency of this unit is questionable (see attached letter from V. Cad.ney to R. Malanczyj , May 13, 1981, and CO Readings) . DISCUSSION CO is being emitted within the garage, and may also enter the boiler room from the parking lot. The CO level will build up dramatically, if the gas is not diluted and exhausted quickly. The air conditioning unit recirculates most of the air within the system (i.e. only 20% to 30% is make-up air from the roof intake) . Should CO gad seep into the unit or the supply ducts, it would take considerable time to disipate. CONCLUSIONS 1. Based on the findings, there are two possible ways that Carbon Monoxide (CO) gas could have entered the courtroom through the air supply grills: (a) by entering the air conditioning unit from the outside air, through the fresh air intake on the roof; (b) by seeping into the air intake supply ducts from within the building. 2. The incident which occurred on April. 8, 1981 is considered to be remote, however could reoccur. continued -- Page 3 i Tnsoectiori Repot - Page 3 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The system and methods of ventilating and exhausting vehicle emissions, within the fire hall garage, should be improved In to: hall, (a) reduce the amounts of Co gas iasaseeping pinto ns the in air conditioning (b) reduce the possibility of CO g I system. The recommendations made by Mr. V. Cadney of M.C.C. Powers (letter attached) , concerning improvements to the exhaust system, should there- attached) , be considered. 2. The air intake supply ducts and the seams around the air supply grills, should be inspected closely, and repaired where necessary. 3. If possible, vehicles in the vicinity of the police entrance (le. by the air intake grill) , should not be backed into parking spaces, and should not be left running. These recommendations are made with partial reference to Section 132 of the occupational Health and Safety Act, 1.975 and Regulations for Establishments. R. Malanczyj , $.E.S. , C.P.H.-I, (c) Public Health Inspector RM/dc cc: Mr. T.A. Fanning, Director Community Services, Town of Newcastle CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) READINGS April 23. 1981 LOC�ATION CO COMMENTS 9:40 a.m. courtroom Ill (witness stand) Oppm 10:30 a.m. fireball (reception counter) 100ppm one fire vehicle was started then shut off after approximately 2 minutes of operation 10:35 a.m. fireball (reception counter) C25ppm exhaust fan on for 5 minutes and front door open 10:40 a.m. courtroom Ill (witness stand) Opp"' Mav 12, 1981. 9:LO a.m. fireball (reception counter) 25 to fire vehicles were warmed 50ppm up at approximately 8:00 a.m. •- exhaust fan was not turned on and outside door. closed 9:15 a.m. courtroom 111 (air supply very grills, north-east corner low of room) reading 9:30 a.m. fireball (reception counter) l/25ppm exhaust fan on for 20 minutes and door closed 10:05 a.m. fireball (reception counter) <25ppm exhaust fan on for 50 minutes and door closed - a • I !ja POWERS � +C I// � v. t vvJ MAY 1 MLALTH rya's ,�a,/I Ft►::��64(�{�)— May 13 , 1981 Durham Regional Health Unit Division of Environmental Health 11 Lambert St. S . Bomanville, Ont. ATT: Mr. Roman Malanczyj Dear Roman: Upon Completion of our inspection of the Dire and Iblice Station Building in Bomanville on Tuesday May 12th, 1 have comlAled a list of recomendations . These recomendations are based only upon a brief inspection of the Building. However, T feel they should solve the problem of carbon monoxide seepage into The Court Room Area, We both deduced that the CO was coming from the Fire Station Garage when the fire vehicles are started for the daily warm up. The exhaust fans seem incapable of exhausting enough air to dilute the CO concentration quickly. If the exhaust fan is not operated during the warm up period , the CO level builds up dramatically, and thisz-ppears to be the time when seepage of CO into the court room occurs . Based on the above information I recommend the following : a. The installation of a second Exhaust Pan . b. Rol.ocate the .intake grill on the existing Exhaust Fan Duct System to avoid obstruction of the air flow. C. Ensure that the Exhaust fans are run at all times during warm up of the trucks . Since the trucks are warmed up at about the same time every morning, it would be adventagious to install a time clock to stop and start the fans on a predetermined schedule. This will eliminate the possibility of human error. MCC POWERS A UNIT OF MARK CONTROLS LIMITED 150 Skyway Ave„ nexdele, Ontario M9W 4Y9 (416)675-3944 IN-WATS 1-600-268-4690 • 2 � May 13, 1981 Page Page I In the effort to get this report out quickly, I was unable to spend the time. to locate the ventillation code requirments for garage exhaust. If you do decide to j install a second Exhaust Fan , we will be more that sizing of the Fan. happy to assist you in the selection and I Sincerly yours M.C.C. powers Vaughn W. Cadney Service Account Engineer VC:DW i