The scope and extent of potential environmental abatement, mitigation or remediation during renovation is predicated upon the scope of renovation activities proposed. As generally only hazardous materials that will be impacted, disturbed, damaged or replaced during the renovation process will be included in the environmental design scope, the communication and coordination between the Architect of Record (AOR) and the Managing Environmental Consultant (MEC) is required at the earliest opportunity to allow for sufficient time and project understanding for the MEC to perform a proper environmental assessment of the building to develop the environmental design documents required by the planned renovation.
All renovation projects, regardless of size, scope, or age of the building, require an environmental assessment by the MEC to determine any existing hazardous materials within the renovation or demolition areas. The AOR must provide the MEC with the information needed to understand the scope and location of the planned renovation activities to allow the proper areas to be reviewed, assessed and tested by the MEC. In addition to those areas directly impacted by the renovation (e.g. classrooms, libraries, science rooms, etc.), it is essential that the AOR communicate the potential impact at any support areas (electrical closets, MDF rooms, mechanical spaces) that may also be impacted by the renovation for Mechanical, Electrical or Plumbing (MEP) connections, including any areas requiring selective demolition along the path of construction. It is also important for the MEC to survey exterior items that may be impacted by the renovation activities.
The MEC should review existing documentation, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Order of Magnitude (OM) scope document
- Renovation design plans, as available
- Environmental inspection and design activities will generally begin at or before the 60% milestone
- As-built plans
- Asbestos Management Plan
- Three-Year Re-inspection Report (most current)
- Previous asbestos, lead based paint (LBP) and other hazardous building material reports as available from the following sources:
- E-Builder
- Facility Inquiry (EAC)
- MEC archives
- Google Drive
- Facility Records
Upon completion of document review, a project specific survey must be completed by the MEC of all areas of the building to be renovated prior to preparing the abatement design plans. The survey should be intrusive, and may involve selective demolition as necessary to thoroughly investigate all areas. Areas wherein access is not available should be specifically documented. The survey should serve to determine location and quantity of each type of hazardous building materials that will be affected by the proposed renovation work.
The MEC should always consider the scope of the proposed renovation in conducting their survey to insure that specific building materials and/or areas are evaluated. Examples of this include the following:
- For Toilet Room renovations, the MEC should evaluate wet walls and pipe chases for concealed thermal system insulation (TSI) that may be ACM;
- Science Rooms should be evaluated by the MEC for the following items:
- TransiteTM (cement asbestos sheeting) fume hoods;
- Lab table tops and countertops containing asbestos;
- P-traps in lab sinks that may contain chemical or Mercury residue;
- Chemical storage including waste chemicals, as well as chemicals that are expired, restricted or forbidden.
- Roofing Projects may encounter the following areas requiring evaluation by the MEC:
- Roof drain insulation that may be ACM;
- Animal excrement, primarily bird and bat droppings, within mechanical equipment and ductwork.
- Where Chimney Stacks are being impacted, the MEC should evaluate the following:
- Inner linings of the stack for the presence of asbestos-containing insulation;
- Debris at the base of the stack for the presence of heavy metals per Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA):
- Where warranted by the findings, the design for debris removal should require contained areas, post-removal encapsulation and wipe clearance sampling for contaminant(s) of concern.
The MEC should provide a list of hazardous building materials in a report that exist within the renovation areas, and are anticipated to be impacted by renovation activities. Cost estimates should be prepared by the MECs for hazardous material abatement, mitigation, and removal or remediation work impacted directly by the renovation work. The MEC should also provide estimated cost analysis and economic benefits to CPS to determine whether there is added value in eliminating ancillary environmental hazards identified during the course of the project inspections. CPS will determine whether abatement of such materials should be included in the environmental scope. For example, during a site inspection, an MEC identifies a painted wall not impacted by the scope of renovation, however, it is in disrepair in a Pre-K. CPS would make the decision to add that scope onto the capital improvement or to mitigate the LBP issue as part of an asset project independent of the capital scope of work.
Based upon the findings of the document review and the project specific surveys, the MEC should prepare design specifications, plans and scope sheets that provide appropriate response actions (remove, repair, mitigate, etc.) for hazardous building materials in accordance with applicable local, state and federal regulations, and in a manner that protects human health and environment. Note that asbestos abatement design plans must be signed and sealed by an Asbestos Project Designer licensed by Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). At minimum, the plans shall:
- Depict location and description of all hazardous building materials present in the building using distinct hatching, notes or symbols for each material.
- Color alone should not be used as a distinguishing feature as drawings cannot be guaranteed to be printed in color.
- Hatchings and symbols shall also include a legend describing the materials to be impacted as part of the renovation scope of work.
- Describe requested and/or approved variances from regulatory agency regulations that may impact the work, particularly IDPH Asbestos Regulations.
- Identify special requirements for hazardous building materials to be removed prior to renovation.
- Drawings should indicate areas requiring selective demolition for access, if any. Responsible party should be indicated (abatement contractor, general contractor, etc.)
- Locked cabinets, rooms, or building areas requiring specialized access.
- Use the followings title sheets, as applicable:
- Asbestos Abatement Plan – (Location), the sheet number should be ASB-1, ASB-2, etc., for Location use First Floor, Second Floor, etc.
- Lead-Based Paint – (Location), the sheet number should be LBP-1, LBP-2, etc. for Location use First Floor, Second Floor, etc.
- All Others, such as PCBs equipment, universal waste, chemical containers, etc. use Building Abatement Plan – (Location), the sheet number should be BA-1, BA-2, etc., for Location use First Floor, Second Floor, etc.
- Environmental Abatement Plan – (Location), the sheet number should be ENV-1, ENV-2, etc., for Location use First Floor, Second Floor, etc.
- Where feasible and in support of providing the most efficient design planning, multiple disciplines (ACM, LBP, etc.) may be included on the same plan.
- Show location and type of barriers and/or mini-containments to be used during asbestos abatement activities, location of worker and equipment decontamination stations, location where negative air machines to be exhausted, location of waste-out, location of dumpster, and other design components as needed.
- Comment on the availability of water and/or electricity during site abatement / renovation activities.
- Identify HVAC equipment to be isolated and locked out during removal.