I am posting answers to questions I have been asked about the roofing project as well as any other information that came about during the O’Brian Roof Meeting this afternoon.
Two of the glass table tops in the 3rd floor Reading Room were cracked on June 4th. The group that is responsible for the damage (Allied Environmental) will replace them. The glass will not be replaced until the 5th floor roof portion of the project is complete (around the end of August – before the start of the fall semester) because this is a heavy traffic area for those entering and exiting the scaffolding area and there is a fear that it may happen again. The cracks have been secured with tape and both of these tables have yellow caution tape around them.
On June 3rd a Law Library staff member noticed that a window was cracked on the ceiling of the 4th floor (north side) above student study desks. Project managers of this project informed the Law Library that this was cracked prior to the start of the roof replacement project and has already been checked for leakage. All of these windows will be replaced as part of the project.
It has been noted that various construction workers have been using the 2nd and 3rd floor areas as break areas or lunchrooms. Project managers for the groups involved stated that they will speak with their employees and tell them to use a designated area on the 7th floor for a break area. The 2nd and 3rd floor areas are not to be used as a lounge areas for the workers. Several project managers will also “set up shop” on the 7th floor to use for filling out paperwork, making calls, etc.
There was a concern about the wooden doors to the make-shift asbestos abatement area on the 2nd floor hallway (between the classrooms and room 211) being left open. The actual abatement area is set up in each of the classrooms that are being abated. The wooden area in the hallway is a only a pass through for the workers and the doors need to be left open because that is how fresh air is pulled in for the workers.
The emergency exit door (by the elevator, outside room 216A) is to be let open at the end of the day. Miranda has been closing this door when she leaves for the day but per request from the abatement team, please leave it open. They are using the elevator inside the library to transport materials to and from this area. They will be working until approx. 12:00 midnight each day and have taken responsibilty for closing the door when they are finished working for the day.
A question was raised as to how stable the scaffolding area is since it sounds like some pretty heavy things are being dropped at times and there can be a lot of noise coming from that area. The scaffolding has been specially designed for this project and is designed to hold up to 50 lbs./ft2. There is a 3/4″ layer of plywood on top of the scaffolding and five layers of plasic on top of that.
The HVAC system has been shut down on the 7th floor and the electrical has been isolated for abatement.
Air levels in all of O’Brian Hall will continue to be monitored on a daily basis. Miranda will be contacted ASAP if there is any concern and will inform the library staff immediately.
