Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

PAUL MITCHELL

Last updated07:32, July 5 2017

MURRAY WILSON/FAIRFAX NZ

Jillian Sinclair is looking for a new home after a pool of water was discovered under her rental property. From left, Kaleb Beaven, 10, Jillian Sinclair, holding Hayden McKinley, 1, and Ethan Beaven, 9.

The rapid growth of mould so prolific thattwo dehumidifiers couldn't keep it at bay tipped off a Palmerston North woman something was wrong with her home.

It would take anotherfew weeks, when contractors came to installunderfloor insulation, to find out what the problem was a 10-centimetre deep pondof stagnant water, pooledunder the house.

Jillian Sinclair, a single mother of three special needs children, said she had been having issues with cold and damp in the rental house, on Russell St, since she moved in a few years ago.

SUPPLIED

The backyard of the property after heavy rain in 2015.

A pair of dehumidifiers had kept anymould issues at bay, until May, when not even they could keep up with it.

READ MORE: *The cause of the billion dollar price tag for NZ's next big health epidemic: Leaky buildings and hidden mould *Students make great tenants, property insiders say *Manawatu Tenants Union demands more state housing and affordable rents *Tenancy Truths: Dampness, cockroaches and rats drive family from uninhabitable HNZ property *[VID] Tenant abandoned property leaving huge piles of rubbish

When the contractors arrived, "they couldn't even start the installation because there was a lake under there", she said.

SUPPLIED

Mould growing on the walls of the house.

Professionals, which manages the property, wasn'taware of the issue until contractors found the pool,property manager Bev Fletcher said.

It hadmoved quickly to deal with the problem, clearing the house of mould, pumping out the pond and improving drainage.

By the end of June,a sump and pump system had been installed to stop any future poolingand the situation would be monitored during the next heavy rain. Once it was dry enough, the underfloor insulation would go in, she said.

Palmerston North City Council eco-design adviser NelsonLebo, who inspected the house, said it satbelow street leveland on a slight slope.

He believed the pool, which he thought to be about 10cm deep, formed during a heavy bout of rain in April.

"Standing water under a house is a red flag.

"It contributes to a large level of moisture inside the houseand makes it much more likely to have mould, which leads to bad health effects on the tenants."

Despite the efforts to fix the problem, Sinclair was concerned about the health of her children andfuture damp and mould problems, and is looking for a new home.

Professionals hasagreed to waive her notice period, so she can move as soon as she findsa new home.

Sinclair has also taken her concerns about the home's dampness problems to the Tenancy Tribunal.

Lebo said rising damp and mould was a big problem in Palmerston North.

The city was wet, flat and many neighbourhoods, like the area around Russell St where Sinclair lived, had poor drainage.

Even under normal conditions, when the soil felt dry, 40 litres of moisture a day could get into an unprotected home, causing issues with mould and rotting.

Lebosaid landlords could reduce the risk with a"ground moisture barrier" alayer of polyurethane down over the soil under their houses.

"In the short term, it's good for thetenants' health, and in the long term, it's good forthe landlords and reduces theirmaintenancecosts."

-Stuff

See the original post here:
Pool of water found under house forcing tenants to flee - Stuff.co.nz

Details 03 Jul 2017 by Keti Sidamonidze and Ludovig Girod, EXPERTO CONSULTING in OP-ED

The FINANCIAL -- Stereotypes are lazy thoughts: we do not need to listen or observe as we feel we know all about that topic already; except we do not we just have a head full of prejudices.

And yet, there are some notions that are never disputed. For instance, the fact that swimming is a life skill that opens the doors to not only a healthy lifestyle but to a lot of fun stuff as well! Now that we have established that, we can dive into the swimming pools topic and unveil the players on the Georgian market and beyond. After all, the long-awaited summer heat wave has finally hit Tbilisi and we do need to cool our thoughts down somehow.

But before we do start presenting the players, let us state that prior to splashing out money on a private backyard or indoor swimming pool, you need to be reminded that just like anything else, swimming pools come in all diverse types, designs, sizes, shapes and are used for various purposes. Budget, available space size, local rules and availability of materials will all factor in to what type of pool you will eventually decide to install on your property.

Experto has approached practically all swimming pool providers in Georgia but we will only focus on three main players on the local market. Our first respondent, Mr. Vakhtang Meskhi is the Director of AQUALINE, established back in 2006. Our main activities are the design and construction of swimming pools, saunas and SPA zones, as well as the installation of water treatment technologies stated Mr. Meskhi. Since the establishment, they have implemented many projects in both private and public sectors: Gained experience, our professional staff and the utilization of high quality products of leading swimming pool producers worldwide are the determinant factors of elevated level of trust our customers reward us with.

AQUALINE closely observes the latest global trends in the construction of basins and water treatment technologies. We try to make those innovative technologies available to the Georgian consumers in the shortest possible time. 97% of the products we offer to our customers is imported about 72% from the European countries and 28% from Turkey., revealed Vakhtang to Experto. AQUALINE represents many world leading brands in Georgia; besides, they have exclusive representation rights for: PROCOPI (France), PAHLEN (Sweden), MAYTRONICS (Israel), EMEC (Italy), CDECK (Portugal), DINOTEC (Germany), DAB (Italy), HASERV (Estonia), GEMAS (Turkey), SENTIOTEC (Austria), ECOSOFT (Germany/Ukraine). AQUALINE also offers the aftercare service to their consumers.

When asked about the size of the swimming pools market in Georgia, Mr. Meskhi told Experto that unfortunately, we do not have any overall market stats, but if we look at our own numbers, there is a notable growth trend for sure. What concerns us the most is the shortage of qualified staff for the post-sale market. Taking care of a swimming pool requires very specific knowledge. That is one of the reasons why AQUALINE decided to actively cooperate with professional technical institutions and training centers: besides this, we also regularly train and retrain our staff and take care of their professional development. He further elaborated that we constantly work with our consumers as well and explain to them the benefits of innovative technologies. For instance, if previously all our customers used service personnel for disinfection of their swimming pools, now over 37% of them use the automatic dosing system that controls water quality, dosage of chemicals and ensures water disinfection.

According to Mr. Meskhis assumptions, it will soon be trendy in Georgia as well to install pools that more and more resemble natural reservoirs and/or ponds: we already have some customers that refuse to use standard blue colored coverings and select white, sand, gray and/or green coverings. It is not only the case of colors. The director has noticed that while previously the price was the only determinant factor, now consumers are more conscious and self-aware of health-related aspects as well and care increasingly about getting the pools that comply with international safety standards: of course, the standard requirements of our business customers (hotels, spa centers, commercial pools, etc.) are higher compared to those of individuals. We find it much easier to convince our business customers to implement novel technologies as their safety requirements are stricter and they have a higher footfall, thus higher responsibility towards their respective end-users concluded Mr. Meskhi.

Our next respondent CMG Group has been operating on the Georgian market for the past five years. They offer a wide range of fiber glass products as well as a variety of composite materials needed for fiber glass production to Georgian consumers. CMG Group also produces boats, water bicycles, pools, manufacturing units and other products using fiber glass, which is an unprecedented case on the Georgian market.

Since 2015, they have been offering the Georgian brands of polyether CMG and FIBER PRO 1, produced by CMGs own formula in one of the European factories in Germany. Mr. Gela Gelashvili, Director of CMG Group revealed to Experto that we hope our products will end up being exported to Azerbaijan and Armenia in the nearest future. We have just started considering the matter. He further elaborated that this year we plan to manufacture fiberglass profiles, floors and fiber prefabricated bridges. The lack of needed investments is holding us back, even though we have the capabilities to upscale the production. CMG imports products/materials mainly from Germany, China, Turkey, and USA. At this point, their export activities are in the exploratory phase only. The Director of CMG Group also had trouble assessing the size of the swimming pool market in Georgia: besides, fiberglass pools are a novelty for Georgia. We launched the product this year only. So, it is hard for me to assess the precise demand levels for this type of pool. But the interest is definitely there. Before fiberglass swimming pools, CMG was producing tanks for fish farms, but because of lack of demand they switched to swimming pools. We are confident in the quality of our goods and stress that products made in Georgia can be good and competitive compared to the European products, with price being even more appealing concluded the CMG representative.

Our third respondent is NOKI, the winner of Golden Brand 2016. Georgias leading swimming pool designer and constructor is actively involved in establishing standards on the market, offering the highest quality services to about 1000 customers already. According to Mr. Zurab Glonti, Director of NOKI, for the past several years, they have successfully built dozens of swimming pools and managed to nurture strong customer trust thanks to their well-mannered, professional, experienced and responsible staff that deliver projects on time and within the pre-agreed budget using quality materials.

NOKI has been operating on the Georgian market for about 15 years already: we serve anyone that is interested in modern swimming pools, European standard materials and qualified service. Everything related to swimming pools falls within our competence, told the director to Experto. NOKI is the official representative of the renowned Czech Vagner Pool in Georgia. Besides this, the company cooperates closely with Berndorf Baderbau, Europes premier stainless-steel pool manufacturer; BWT, Europes leading water technology company; IPC Group, offering pool and veranda roofing systems; Maper Glas, engineering a large pool of overhead roofing systems and facades; and Speck, specialized in swimming pool pump products. Our suppliers are such famous brands as Kripsol; FIP; Saci Pumps; Pentair; Chemoform Group; Zodiac and many others, further elaborated Mr. Glonti.

NOKI takes pride in helping customers select the design of a swimming pool that is best tailored to the personal needs of each customer; They get involved in all aspects related to swimming pools: design and construction, as well as carrying out hydro-isolation and pavement activities; installation of water filtering and heating systems; installation of water attractions, supplying of all possible accessories; selection and installation of pool roofing or cover construction; supplying of chemicals that control water quality; They are one of the few players on the market that provide warranty service as well.

The second week of July Experto will be hosting the representative of a prominent and well-established French producer of swimming pools with a trusted reference brand for more than 50 years. The Export Director of Desjoyaux, Mr. Alexandre Muela will be visiting Tbilisi for the first time to explore the opportunities Georgia has to offer. Desjoyaux is a pioneer and inventor of a unique concept: the in-ground pool within everyones reach: In 1994, Desjoyaux pioneered the principle of swimming pools for all by marketing a standard model, suitable for water fun for the whole family. The private family pool has become the brands core activity, ranging basic kits ready to install to a fully equipped luxury pool, explained the Export Director. Apparently, the concept is inspired by outboard engines and the exclusive Desjoyaux system has a completely pipe-less design. This eliminates the need for long and costly buried pipe-laying work and reduces the risk of leaks: innovation makes life of our customers simpler. Our pipe-less filtration, a patented structure with no technical compartment, shoulders less risk of leaks. We offer a structure designed to be simple and safe to assemble a unique concept that leaves room for pleasure, and nothing but pleasure, elaborated enthusiastically the representative of the French company.

According to Mr. Muela, the Desjoyaux swimming pool had become popular very quickly. It continues to be successful today, thanks to its simplicity, craftsman's production values applied on an industrial scale, and the endless possibilities that it offers in terms of shapes, options, equipment, etc. Today Desjoyaux is the world's leading manufacturer of concrete in-ground swimming pools, supplying pools on all 5 continents. Over 210,000 families have already chosen Desjoyaux to design their space for holidays at home with the help of over 450 dealers in 80 countries.

Already being present in the region for 20 years in countries such as Azerbaijan and Russia, it has become relevant for us to already zoom in on Georgia just as we focused in Kosovo, Moldova, and Iraq years ago. Considering the developments in the Horeca sector and the planned/ongoing projects in Georgia, we would want seize the opportunity to find a local partner and develop our network in order to cater to the future demand on swimming pools in the country, explained candidly Mr. Alexandre Muela. He further revealed that we are currently building the first Aquapark in West Bank, working on a project of 100 pools in Bagdad Iraq.

It seems, the private swimming pools market is booming as more and more people want to be able to enjoy their holiday at home. As I am finishing the final lines of the article and before I do get a swimming pool in my backyard, I will head to the nearest outdoor swimming pool right away. Do join me but only under one very stringent condition do not forget to put on plenty of sunscreen to protect your exposed skin!

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Experto Splashes Through The Swimming Pool Industry - The FINANCIAL

The South Australian Water Corporation will install rooftop solar PV and battery storage systems to offset increasing electricity prices.

In a request for tender launched last week, SA Water says it is seeking to build a grid-connected solar system of over 100 kW.

In addition, the tender calls for a 50 kWh battery storage system and smart controls.

SA Water manages more than 27,000 km of water mains, including 9,266 km in the Adelaide metropolitan area.

The corporation says installing solar and storage systems will manage periods of high electricity prices and guarantee sustainable water supply.

The proposed system shall be behind the meter, and designed to minimise electricity costs via the ability to dispatch stored energy as required, the tender request states.

SA Water is investing in rooftop solar PV and battery storage. Image: Pixabay

The system should have the ability to smooth grid supplied energy and also to use stored energy on site or export back to the grid.

Provision of system integration with remotely operated control and energy monitoring interfaces are to be included as part of the system design.

SA Water Corporation is just one of many water and waste management utilities around the country shifting to renewables.

In the Victorian city of Portland, a water and sewerage treatment plant will soon be powered by wind, with plans for an 800 kW wind turbine revealed in May.

And in March, also in regional Victoria, North East Water launched a tender to install 43 kW of solar panels and 40 kW of battery storage at its Yackandandah facility.

Meanwhile, the REC Peak Energy solar panels installed on many rooftops are so tough they can also be used in floating solar farms.

In Queensland, the City of Gold Coast is proposing to install a series of floating solar PV arrays on its network of wastewater ponds to offset energy costs.

In addition to preserving land, floating solar panel arrays help reduce the growth of algae in dams and minimise evaporation rates.

Tenders for SA Waters solar system close 2pm on Thursday, July 20, 2017.

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Solar PV to combat high electricity costs - Energy Matters

Knowledge about air duct cleaning is in its early stages, so a blanket recommendation cannot be offered as to whether you should have your air ducts in your home cleaned. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges you to read this document in it entirety as it provides important information on the subject.

Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. This is because much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. It is important to keep in mind that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving around can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, there is no evidence that a light amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any risk to your health.

If any of the conditions identified above exists, it usually suggests one or more underlying causes. Prior to any cleaning, retrofitting, or replacing of your ducts, the cause or causes must be corrected or else the problem will likely recur.

Some research suggests that cleaning heating and cooling system components (e.g., cooling coils, fans and heat exchangers) may improve the efficiency of your system, resulting in a longer operating life, as well as some energy and maintenance cost savings. However, little evidence exists that cleaning only the ducts will improve the efficiency of the system.

You may consider having your air ducts cleaned simply because it seems logical that air ducts will get dirty over time and should be occasionally cleaned. Provided that the cleaning is done properly, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental. EPA does not recommend that the air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed. EPA does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel burning furnace, stove or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you do decide to have your air ducts cleaned, take the same consumer precautions you normally would in assessing the service provider's competence and reliability.

Air duct cleaning service providers may tell you that they need to apply chemical biocide to the inside of your ducts as a means to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold) and prevent future biological growth. They may also propose the application of a "sealant" to prevent dust and dirt particles from being released into the air or to seal air leaks. You should fully understand the pros and cons of permitting application of chemical biocides or sealants. While the targeted use of chemical biocides and sealants may be appropriate under specific circumstances, research has not demonstrated their effectiveness in duct cleaning or their potential adverse health effects. No chemical biocides are currently registered by EPA for use in internally-insulated air duct systems (see Should chemical biocides be applied to the inside of air ducts?).

Whether or not you decide to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, preventing water and dirt from entering the system is the most effective way to prevent contamination (see How to Prevent Duct Contamination).

Most people are now aware that indoor air pollution is an issue of growing concern and increased visibility. Many companies are marketing products and services intended to improve the quality of your indoor air. You have probably seen an advertisement, received a coupon in the mail, or been approached directly by a company offering to clean your air ducts as a means of improving your home's indoor air quality. These services typically but not always range in cost from $450 to $1,000 per heating and cooling system, depending on: the services offered

Duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of various heating and cooling system components of forced air systems, including the supply and return air ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans (drip pans), fan motor and fan housing, and the air handling unit housing (See diagram).

If not properly installed, maintained and operated, these components may become contaminated with particles of dust, pollen or other debris. If moisture is present, the potential for microbiological growth (e.g., mold) is increased and spores from such growth may be released into the home's living space. Some of these contaminants may cause allergic reactions or other symptoms in people if they are exposed to them. If you decide to have your heating and cooling system cleaned, it is important to make sure the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do so. Failure to clean a component of a contaminated system can result in re-contamination of the entire system, thus negating any potential benefits. Methods of duct cleaning vary, although standards have been established by industry associations concerned with air duct cleaning. Typically, a service provider will use specialized tools to dislodge dirt and other debris in ducts, then vacuum them out with a high-powered vacuum cleaner.

In addition, the service provider may propose applying chemical biocides, designed to kill microbiological contaminants, to the inside of the duct work and to other system components. Some service providers may also suggest applying chemical treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or cover the inside surfaces of the air ducts and equipment housings because they believe it will control mold growth or prevent the release of dirt particles or fibers from ducts. These practices have yet to be fully researched and you should be fully informed before deciding to permit the use of biocides or chemical treatments in your air ducts. They should only be applied, if at all, after the system has been properly cleaned of all visible dust or debris.

Note: Use of sealants to encapsulate the inside surfaces of ducts is a different practice than sealing duct air leaks. Sealing duct air leaks can help save energy on heating and cooling bills. For more information, see EPA's Energy Star website.

Knowledge about the potential benefits and possible problems of air duct cleaning is limited. Since conditions in every home are different, it is impossible to generalize about whether or not air duct cleaning in your home would be beneficial.

If no one in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if, after a visual inspection of the inside of the ducts, you see no indication that your air ducts are contaminated with large deposits of dust or mold (no musty odor or visible mold growth), having your air ducts cleaned is probably unnecessary. It is normal for the return registers to get dusty as dust-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not indicate that your air ducts are contaminated with heavy deposits of dust or debris; the registers can be easily vacuumed or removed and cleaned.

On the other hand, if family members are experiencing unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you think might be related to your home environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor. EPA has published the following publicationsfor guidance on identifying possible indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or fix them.

You may consider having your air ducts cleaned simply because it seems logical that air ducts will get dirty over time and should occasionally be cleaned. While the debate about the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that it is done properly.

On the other hand, if a service provider fails to follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more dust, dirt and other contaminants than if you had left the ducts alone. A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your ducts or heating and cooling system, possibly increasing your heating and air conditioning costs or forcing you to undertake difficult and costly repairs or replacements.

There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.g., sheet metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to understand concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:

Ducts are infested with vermin, e.g. (rodents or insects)

Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers.

Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts or go down after cleaning. This is because much of the dirt that may accumulate inside air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. It is important to keep in mind that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving around can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, there is no evidence that a light amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any risk to health.

EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except on an as-needed basis because of the continuing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning under most circumstances. EPA does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel burning furnace, stove, or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Some research also suggests that cleaning dirty cooling coils, fans and heat exchangers can improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. However, little evidence exists to indicate that simply cleaning the duct system will increase your system's efficiency.

If you think duct cleaning might be a good idea for your home, but you are not sure, talk to a professional. The company that services your heating and cooling system may be a good source of advice. You may also want to contact professional duct cleaning service providers and ask them about the services they provide. Remember, they are trying to sell you a service, so ask questions and insist on complete and knowledgeable answers.

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To find companies that provide duct cleaning services, check your Yellow Pages under "duct cleaning" or contact the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) at the address and phone number in the information section located at the end of this guidance. Do not assume that all duct cleaning service providers are equally knowledgeable and responsible. Talk to at least three different service providers and get written estimates before deciding whether to have your ducts cleaned. When the service providers come to your home, ask them to show you the contamination that would justify having your ducts cleaned.

Do not hire duct cleaners who make sweeping claims about the health benefits of duct cleaning such claims are unsubstantiated. Do not hire duct cleaners who recommend duct cleaning as a routine part of your heating and cooling system maintenance. You should also be wary of duct cleaners who claim to be certified by EPA. Note: EPA neither establishes duct cleaning standards nor certifies, endorses, or approves duct cleaning companies.

Check references to be sure other customers were satisfied and did not experience any problems with their heating and cooling system after cleaning.

Contact your county or city office of consumer affairs or local Better Business Bureau to determine if complaints have been lodged against any of the companies you are considering.

Interview potential service providers to ensure:

Ask the service provider whether they hold any relevant state licenses. As of 1996, the following states require air duct cleaners to hold special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may require them as well.

If the service provider charges by the hour, request an estimate of the number of hours or days the job will take, and find out whether there will be interruptions in the work. Make sure the duct cleaner you choose will provide a written agreement outlining the total cost and scope of the job before work begins.

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If you choose to have your ducts cleaned, the service provider should:

Open access ports or doors to allow the entire system to be cleaned and inspected.

Inspect the system before cleaning to be sure that there are no asbestos-containing materials (e.g., insulation, register boots, etc.) in the heating and cooling system. Asbestos-containing materials require specialized procedures and should not be disturbed or removed except by specially trained and equipped contractors.

Use vacuum equipment that exhausts particles outside of the home or use only high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) vacuuming equipment if the vacuum exhausts inside the home.

Protect carpet and household furnishings during cleaning.

Use well-controlled brushing of duct surfaces in conjunction with contact vacuum cleaning to dislodge dust and other particles.

Use only soft-bristled brushes for fiberglass duct board and sheet metal ducts internally lined with fiberglass. (Although flex duct can also be cleaned using soft-bristled brushes, it can be more economical to simply replace accessible flex duct.)

Take care to protect the duct work, including sealing and re-insulating any access holes the service provider may have made or used so they are airtight.

Follow NADCA's standards for air duct cleaning and NAIMA's recommended practice for ducts containing fiber glass lining or constructed of fiber glass duct board.

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A thorough visual inspection is the best way to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling system. Some service providers use remote photography to document conditions inside ducts. All portions of the system should be visibly clean; you should not be able to detect any debris with the naked eye. Show the Post-Cleaning Consumer Checklist to the service provider before the work begins. After completing the job, ask the service provider to show you each component of your system to verify that the job was performed satisfactorily.

If you answer "No" to any of the questions on the checklist, this may indicate a problem with the job. Ask your service provider to correct any deficiencies until you can answer "yes" to all the questions on the checklist.

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Whether or not you decide to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, committing to a good preventive maintenance program is essential to minimize duct contamination.

To prevent dirt from entering the system:

Use the highest efficiency air filter recommended by the manufacturer of your heating and cooling system.

Change filters regularly.

If your filters become clogged, change them more frequently.

Be sure you do not have any missing filters and that air cannot bypass filters through gaps around the filter holder.

When having your heating and cooling system maintained or checked for other reasons, be sure to ask the service provider to clean cooling coils and drain pans.

During construction or renovation work that produces dust in your home, seal off supply and return registers and do not operate the heating and cooling system until after cleaning up the dust.

Remove dust and vacuum your home regularly. (Use a high efficiency vacuum (HEPA) cleaner or the highest efficiency filter bags your vacuum cleaner can take. Vacuuming can increase the amount of dust in the air during and after vacuuming as well as in your ducts).

If your heating system includes in-duct humidification equipment, be sure to operate and maintain the humidifier strictly as recommended by the manufacturer.

Whether of not you decide to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, committing to a good preventive maintenance program is essential to minimize duct contamination.

To prevent ducts from becoming wet:

Moisture should not be present in ducts. Controlling moisture is the most effective way to prevent biological growth in air ducts.

Moisture can enter the duct system through leaks or if the system has been improperly installed or serviced. Research suggests that condensation (which occurs when a surface temperature is lower than the dew point temperature of the surrounding air) on or near cooling coils of air conditioning units is a major factor in moisture contamination of the system. The presence of condensation or high relative humidity is an important indicator of the potential for mold growth on any type of duct. Controlling moisture can often be difficult, but here are some steps you can take:

Promptly and properly repair any leaks or water damage.

Pay particular attention to cooling coils, which are designed to remove water from the air and can be a major source of moisture contamination of the system that can lead to mold growth. Make sure the condensate pan drains properly. The presence of substantial standing water and/or debris indicates a problem requiring immediate attention. Check any insulation near cooling coils for wet spots.

Make sure ducts are properly sealed and insulated in all non-air-conditioned spaces (e.g., attics and crawl spaces). This will help to prevent moisture due to condensation from entering the system and is important to make the system work as intended. To prevent water condensation, the heating and cooling system must be properly insulated.

If you are replacing your air conditioning system, make sure that the unit is the proper size for your needs and that all ducts are sealed at the joints. A unit that is too big will cycle on and off frequently, resulting in poor moisture removal, particularly in areas with high humidity. Also make sure that your new system is designed to manage condensation effectively.

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The bottom line is: no one knows. There are examples of ducts that have become badly contaminated with a variety of materials that may pose risks to your health. The duct system can serve as a means to distribute these contaminants throughout a home. In these cases, duct cleaning may make sense. However, a light amount of household dust in your air ducts is normal. Duct cleaning is not considered to be a necessary part of yearly maintenance of your heating and cooling system, which consists of regular cleaning of drain pans and heating and cooling coils, regular filter changes and yearly inspections of heating equipment. Research continues in an effort to evaluate the potential benefits of air duct cleaning.

Educate yourself about duct cleaning by contacting some or all of the sources of information listed at the end of this publication and asking questions of potential service providers.

You may be familiar with air ducts that are constructed of sheet metal. However, many modern residential air duct systems are constructed of fiber glass duct board or sheet metal ducts that are lined on the inside with fiber glass duct liner. Since the early 1970's, a significant increase in the use of flexible duct, which generally is internally lined with plastic or some other type of material, has occurred.

The use of insulated duct material has increased due:

Internal insulation provides better acoustical (noise) control. Flexible duct is very low cost. These products are engineered specifically for use in ducts or as ducts themselves, and are tested in accordance with standards established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Many insulated duct systems have operated for years without supporting significant mold growth. Keeping them reasonably clean and dry is generally adequate. However, there is substantial debate about whether porous insulation materials (e.g., fiber glass) are more prone to microbial contamination than bare sheet metal ducts. If enough dirt and moisture are permitted to enter the duct system, there may be no significant difference in the rate or extent of microbial growth in internally lined or bare sheet metal ducts. However, treatment of mold contamination on bare sheet metal is much easier. Cleaning and treatment with an EPA-registered biocide are possible. Once fiberglass duct liner is contaminated with mold, cleaning is not sufficient to prevent re-growth and there are no EPA-registered biocides for the treatment of porous duct materials. EPA, NADCA and NAIMA all recommend the replacement of wet or moldy fiber glass duct material.

Experts do agree that moisture should not be present in ducts and if moisture and dirt are present, the potential exists for biological contaminants to grow and be distributed throughout the home. Controlling moisture is the most effective way to prevent biological growth in all types of air ducts.

Correct any water leaks or standing water.

Remove standing water under cooling coils of air handling units by making sure that drain pans slope toward the drain.

If humidifiers are used, they must be properly maintained.

Air handling units should be constructed so that maintenance personnel have easy, direct access to heat exchange components and drain pans for proper cleaning and maintenance.

Fiber glass, or any other insulation material that is wet or visibly moldy (or if an unacceptable odor is present) should be removed and replaced by a qualified heating and cooling system contractor.

Steam cleaning and other methods involving moisture should not be used on any kind of duct work.

Air duct cleaning service providers may tell you that they need to apply a chemical biocide to the inside of your ducts to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold), and prevent future biological growth. Some duct cleaning service providers may propose to introduce ozone to kill biological contaminants. Ozone is a highly reactive gas that is regulated in the outside air as a lung irritant. However, there remains considerable controversy over the necessity and wisdom of introducing chemical biocides or ozone into the duct work.

Among the possible problems with biocide and ozone application in air ducts:

Chemical biocides are regulated by EPA under Federal pesticide law. A product must be registered by EPA for a specific use before it can be legally used for that purpose. The specific use(s) must appear on the pesticide (e.g., biocide) label, along with other important information. It is a violation of federal law to use a pesticide product in any manner inconsistent with the label directions.

A small number of products are currently registered by EPA specifically for use on the inside of bare sheet metal air ducts. A number of products are also registered for use as sanitizers on hard surfaces, which could include the interior of bare sheet metal ducts. While many such products may be used legally inside of unlined ducts if all label directions are followed, some of the directions on the label may be inappropriate for use in ducts. For example, if the directions indicate "rinse with water", the added moisture could stimulate mold growth.

All of the products discussed above are registered solely for the purpose of sanitizing the smooth surfaces of unlined (bare) sheet metal ducts. No products are currently registered as biocides for use on fiber glass duct board or fiber glass lined ducts, so it is important to determine if sections of your system contain these materials before permitting the application of any biocide.

Before allowing a service provider to use a chemical biocide in your duct work, the service provider should:

Demonstrate visible evidence of microbial growth in your duct work. Some service providers may attempt to convince you that your air ducts are contaminated by demonstrating that the microorganisms found in your home grow on a settling plate (i.e., petri dish). This is inappropriate. Some microorganisms are always present in the air, and some growth on a settling plate is normal. As noted earlier, only an expert can positively identify a substance as biological growth and lab analysis may be required for final confirmation. Other testing methods are not reliable.

Explain why biological growth cannot be removed by physical means, such as brushing, and further growth prevented by controlling moisture.

If you decide to permit the use of a biocide, the service provider should:

Show you the biocide label, which will describe its range of approved uses.

Apply the biocide only to un-insulated areas of the duct system after proper cleaning, if necessary to reduce the chances for re-growth of mold.

Always use the product strictly according to its label instructions.

While some low toxicity products may be legally applied while occupants of the home are present, you may wish to consider leaving the premises while the biocide is being applied as an added precaution.

Manufacturers of products marketed to coat and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that these sealants prevent dust and dirt particles inside air ducts from being released into the air. As with biocides, a sealant is often applied by spraying it into the operating duct system. Laboratory tests indicate that materials introduced in this manner tend not to completely coat the duct surface. Application of sealants may also affect the acoustical (noise) and fire retarding characteristics of fiber glass lined or constructed ducts and may invalidate the manufacturer's warranty.

Questions about the safety, effectiveness and overall desirability of sealants remain. For example, little is known about the potential toxicity of these products under typical use conditions or in the event they catch fire.

In addition, sealants have yet to be evaluated for their resistance to deterioration over time which could add particles to the duct air.

Most organizations concerned with duct cleaning, including EPA, NADCA, NAIMA and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) do not currently recommend the routine use of sealants to encapsulate contaminants in any type of duct. Instances when the use of sealants to encapsulate the duct surfaces may be appropriate include the repair of damaged fiber glass insulation or when combating fire damage within ducts. Sealants should never be used on wet duct liner, to cover actively growing mold, or to cover debris in the ducts, and should only be applied after cleaning according to NADCA or other appropriate guidelines or standards.

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Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Indoor Environments Division (6609J) 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20460

The following EPA publications are available on this web site, some can be ordered from NSCEP. (see also: Publications and Resources)

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1120 Route 73, Suite 200 Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 Phone: (855) GO-NADCA (856) 380-6810 E-mail: info@nadca.com Website: NADCAExit

Find a NADCA professional duct cleaner near you.Exit

Read more:
Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned ...

AC service and air conditioning repairs are provided by many companies in Florida. What sets Direct Air Conditioning apart from the rest is their zeal to go out of the way and help their clients. They are one of the companies that customers can approach for a quick air duct cleaning job if that is what is needed.

This press release was orginally distributed by ReleaseWire

Miami, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/05/2017 -- Time is money, and the technicians at Direct Air Conditioning are aware of that. They are thoroughly professional and for more than 20 years in the industry has taught them just as how to handle all the issues related to air conditioning units. Whether it is ac service in Coral Gables and Doral FL or AC repair in Kendall and Miami FL, they will be able to handle it all and within a short time as they have their emergency repair line open around the clock. With so many years of experience in the field of ac repair, service, maintenance and installation, this does not come as a surprise that they will resolve the problems with the wink of an eye. The technicians have industry experience working with all the leading air conditioning brands that include Trane, Lennox, York, Bryant, Carrier and more. The technicians undergo technical training from time to time so that they are on par with the ongoing changes in the industry.

As part of their extensive services, Direct Air Conditioning offers air duct cleaning for Florida homes. According to the experts, air duct cleaning is necessary if one would like to keep their family healthy. The indoor air quality depends on how clean the air ducts are. Getting them cleaned at regular intervals will ensure that the family members are hearty and healthy and the medical bills are less.

If the AC ducts have not been cleaned in years, now is the time to take action to protect one's family. The air duct cleaning specialists at Direct Air Conditioning are available round the clock, and one can call them right now at305-858-9632to schedule an initial air duct evaluation.

Call at 305-858-9632 or visit http://www.airconditioningmiami.com/ for details.

About Direct Air Conditioning Direct Air Conditioning is a recognized company that offers same day ac repair in Kendall and Miami FL. They also offer ac service, air duct cleaning, HVAC maintenance and more.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/direct-air-conditioning-includes-air-duct-cleaning-in-their-list-of-services-apart-from-ac-service-in-coral-gables-and-doral-fl-827674.htm

Read more from the original source:
Direct Air Conditioning Includes Air Duct Cleaning in Their List of Services Apart from AC Service in Coral Gables ... - Digital Journal (press...

Mr. Marlin Chatham age 82, of Mena, Arkansas passed away Monday, June 26, 2017 in Mena.

Mr. Chatham was born on December 20, 1934 in Zafra, Oklahoma to Theodore Chatham and Grace Sitten Parnell. Mr. Chatham was married to his wife Nola Chatham in 2006, who he dearly loved.

He was a drywall installation specialist by trade. He greatly enjoyed, as a hobby, gold panning. He loved to spend hours at stream looking for gold and enjoying the outdoors. He was a loving and kind husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend to all who knew him.

He is survived by: Wife:Nola Chatham of Mena, Arkansas; Brothers:Glen Parnell of Mena, Arkansas, Sisters:Betty Gentry; And many nephews, niece, and friends.

Mr. Chathum was preceded in death by: Parents, Brothers: Earl Chatham, Dale Chatham, Joe Myers, Clarance Myers; Sister: Mary Jo Paige.

Mr. Chatham was sent for cremation under the direction of the Beasley Wood Funeral Home of Mena. Memorial services will be set at a later date.

Online obituary at http://www.beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

Go here to read the rest:
Marlin Chatham - The Mena Star

Appalachia Service Project volunteers mix some fun and good times with lots of hard work while making repairs on nine homes in Johnson County this summer.

By Paula Walter

Volunteers with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) have returned to Johnson County again this year. They are making repairs on nine homes in the county during the summer months. ASP is a Christian ministry that was founded in 1969. In the past 48 years since its beginnings, ASP has sent 393,486 volunteers to help 17,866 families in 26 counties in Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and West Virginia. This year, volunteers for Johnson County came from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Oregon, along with four staffers who call Idaho, Delaware, Connecticut and Washington, DC home. According to Kira Castle, the center director, this years volunteers will be working on homes in need of various repairs in Trade, Neva, Laurel and in Mountain City. ASP picks the projects based on the needs in the county. We try to establish good relations with the county, said Castle. The main goal is to eradicate sub-standard housing in Appalachia. A huge part of the ministry is the relationship aspect and transforming the lives of those we touch. We like to call it a relationship ministry with construction on the side. There are approximately 60-65 volunteers who arrive every Sunday. The new group comes in and the old group goes home. This year, they are staying once again in the Trade Grist Mill. We are incredibly grateful, said Castle. We couldnt do what we do without them. Currently there are nine crews in the county. The volunteers each pay approximately $350 to come and work on the projects to improve the lives of others. Adult leaders head each group, and there are five to six youth per team. Applications for assistance can be found around the county, including the community center and the Johnson County Department of Human Services, and are accepted on a rolling basis. The staff goes through the applications, visits the homes, and then makes the determination of what homes ASP will be able to improve. We look for both short and long term projects so we can touch as many homes as possible, Castle said. We touch about 10-15 homes in the county. The group takes a look at their budget and the skill level of their volunteers before approving any project. This year, they are working on a variety of projects that include roofing, sub-flooring and joists, drywall, installation, siding and underpinning and putting in an entire bathroom. He had never had a bathroom in his home before, Castle said. She attributes a large part of their success to the assistance received from Johnson County. I cannot get over the community, she said. According to Castle, one of the projects in the county this year included putting in a wheelchair ramp. Castle was touched by the homeowner who expressed joy over her new wheelchair ramp because now it is possible for her best friend can come and visit her. She was the most humble person Ive met, Castle said. Our homeowners are amazing, so receptive and super thankful.

Read more:
Appalachia Service Project returns to Johnson County to make more home repairs - The Tomahawk

Sabo said the exterior of the building at 1211 N. University Drive is complete, electrical installation is finished, and plumbing will be done within the next two days. A new rooftop patio deck is set to be finished in a week or two, he added.

The Bison Turf passed inspections for electrical and heating in late June, said Bruce Taralson, Fargo inspections administrator. Plumbing will be inspected once completed, and a framing inspection for the structure will take place after that.

"Once this has all passed, they can start on the interior," Taralson said,

Sabo said inside the building, crews need to add drywall, lay down flooring and install all appliances. Sabo expects this will put the reopening of the Bison Turf off for several more weeks.

"I'm hoping for the end of July, but it'll probably be August," he said.

When Sabo's building permit was approved in January, he hoped to open for business as early as the end of March. In late March, he expected a May reopening.

Sabo said complying with the city of Fargo building codes, such as adding larger water pipes and a sprinkler system, took longer than he expected.

Once finished, the inside of the Bison Turf will be familiar for returning customers. All of the booths, tables and other furniture that were saved from the flames will be returned. Sabo said a lot of his original staff will also return.

He plans to hire more staff to help with the increase in customers he expects from added seating and a second bar on the rooftop patio.

See original here:
Bison Turf in final stages of reconstruction, owner expects August reopening - INFORUM

By Kaitlin Junod lexington@wickedlocal.com

The Lexington Permanent Building Committee and DiNisco Design met on Wednesday to discuss the progress of the construction at Clarke and Diamond Middle Schools, the Hastings School and the new preschool and community center at Pelham Road. While all projects are progressing on schedule and on budget, DiNisco presented new design elements and adjustments for the Hastings School and the Pelham Road site.

Pelham Road

Following a summit meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the School, Appropriation and Capital Expenditures Committees earlier this month, Donna DiNisco of DiNisco Design reported that the final decision at the Pelham Road project is to tear down the existing building and construct a new Lexington Childrens Place. A robust schematic design is projected to be ready to present at the fall special Town Meeting, scheduled for Oct. 16 and 18.

While the design for a brand-new LCP is moving forward, plans to devote part of the Pelham Road site to an expansion of the Lexington Community Center have been put on the back burner for now. At a summit meeting in August, committee members and selectmen will decide on the projects next steps.

We just want to continue to look at it holistically to see what makes sense from the community center aspect of it, DiNisco said. Its taking a pause and not rushing into a decision that might not ultimately be the best decision for the community center.

Hastings Elementary

The Hastings Elementary School project is officially in the design development stage, said DiNisco. The biggest change to the buildings design was the decision to shift its orientation slightly south to increase the space between the school and the bordering properties to the north and reduce the length of the retaining wall between them.

According to DiNisco, shifting the building further south would increase the distance between property lines from 30-35 feet to 60 feet in some places, but it would not affect the overall square footage of the building. The adjusted design would have some impacts on the outdoor space, reducing walkways and planted areas near the playground.

Andrew Clarke and Curt Barrentine of the Permanent Building Committee expressed concern that the students would be losing out on active play space, but DiNisco said she was confident that the total 43,000 square feet of play area could be maintained. She emphasized that the design is still in the works, and that the plans presented at the meeting were not finalized.

The only downside of shifting the building would be compromising the north-south solar orientation of the classrooms, which was the driving factor behind the old design. This means that with the shifted building, some classrooms could experience glare from the sun depending on the time of day, but DiNisco said these impacts were not major, and were outweighed by the budgetary and logistical benefits of the new design.

Clarke and Diamond

June was a productive month for the Clarke Middle School project, according to a report made to the committee. Demolition for the interior renovation began, as did preparations for relocating the gas line at the bridge. In July, permanent power will be installed, interior demolition will be completed and a pedestrian bridge will be installed. Demolition at the entry plaza and parking lot will also be completed, with the hopes of installing underlying structures and new utilities there.

At the Diamond Middle School project, drywall in the classroom addition is complete, with the prime and first coats of paint finished. Throughout June, priorities included demolishing the buildings existing boilers and starting installation of lockers, flooring and ceiling tiles. In July, the committee hopes to finish installing lockers, start millwork and have permanent power at the site completed.

See the original post:
Brand-new building pitched for Lexington Children's Place - Wicked Local Abington

Chicago Public Library Board met May 16.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

1. Approval of minutes for the April 18, 2017 meeting (action required)

2. CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only)

3. Commissioners Report (info only)

-New Director of Staff and Organization Development, Julie Morgan

-New Libraries

-All Staff Institute Day

-Harold Washington Exhibit

-STEAM Powered Saturday

-Cindy Pritzker Lecture

-CPL Events Highlights

4. Chicago Public Library Foundation Report

5. Other Business

6. Public Comment

Next Board meeting:

June 20, 2017, 9:00 a.m.

Back of the Yards Branch

2111 W. 47th Street

Open Session Minutes:

Physically Present:

Linda Johnson Rice, Christopher Valenti, Lynn Lockwood, Barbara Bowman, Jodi Block, Dominique Jordan Turner

Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference:

None

Absent:

Denise Gardner, Patricia Gaytan Perez

Approval of the minutes (action required):

The Board voted (6-0) to approve the minutes of the April 18, 2017 meeting.

CPL Capital Projects and Facilities Report (info only):

Rodney Freeman, Assistant Commissioner of Central Library Services provided an update on the progress of the Thomas Hughes Childrens Library at HWLC. Andrea Telli, Assistant Commissioner of Neighborhood Services presented the Capital Building Projects and Facilities report on neighborhood libraries.

Projects Under Construction-

-Thomas Hughes Childrens Library Scope: completion of design, bidding and delivery of construction for the 24,620 sq. ft. Thomas Hughes Childrens Library with upgrades to technology infrastructure. Current activity: (no changes) images were presented on the current status of the THCL. As a reminder, the library closed to the public on November 5, 2016 with construction beginning on December 1st. The library is estimated to be complete by April 28th and open to the public in Summer 2017. Materials and branch staff which included three staff groups (STEAM Team, Citywide Children Services and the HWLC Children Services department) will begin to move into the space in early May.

-Woodson Construction Update: Contractor Ujamaa Construction

>Scope: new terra cotta faade with metal panels in the rear of the building with matching color; new energy efficient and insulated windows, exterior doors and entrance with automatic push pads for accessibility; new curtain wall which will bring natural daylighting into lobby and 2nd floor; film with digital images applied on glass on south and southeast elevations; new energy efficient and insulated roof; new modern interior and exterior security cameras; renovation and modification to the lobby and monumental stairway; construction of two new 2nd floor study rooms.

>Current activity: roof work continues; exterior wall framing and fire proofing at the north and south facades continues; drywall installation is almost complete at the west faade; metal panel installation is complete at the east faade; small detailing components at the windows and roof remain.

Major Maintenance and Repair Projects:

-Sulzer (no changes) Phase 1: exterior work is substantially complete. Phase 2: Scope New BAS system to help control and balance temperatures in the building; interior improvements are pending funding and are being priced to include a reconfigured circulation desk, new flooring, drywall repairs, paint, lighting upgrades, staff lounge upgrade and upgrades to the community room and auditorium.

-Legler Complete: interior repairs and improvements to the childrens area for Early Learning including plaster repair and paint, new carpet crawl through bookshelf, and new flooring; talk tube installation is scheduled for May 22. Upgrade toilet rooms for ADA compliance and LED lighting in atrium lay light are pending funding.

-Mabel Manning Scope: interior renovations include build out of Early Learning Area, fire alarm replacement, ceiling tile replacement and new kitchenette millwork and plumbing. Current and upcoming activity: installation of six exterior and two interior windows in the community room to allow for daylighting into the building; work began May 11 and will continue until June 9.

-North Austin (no changes) Scope: interior upgrades include electrical power and lighting in public areas, door repairs and replacement, window seals, tuck-pointing and repairs/refresh of the circulation desk. Current and upcoming activity: pricing is under review; construction is estimated to begin in early June.

-Blackstone Scope: preliminary scope will include full tuck-pointing and repair of the masonry on the exterior of the building; roofing and window repairs, repairs to water damaged areas; HVAC upgrades; new flooring and reconfiguration/upgrade of the circulation desk. Current and upcoming activity: pricing has been approved and the contractor is preparing a logistics plan and schedule for 2FM and CPLs review. Work to begin in June.

-Chicago Bee Scope (pending funding): expansion of current landmark building; envelope repairs; new mechanical systems and BAS for HVAC; controlled lighting; early learning center; YOUmedia Digital Lab; upgrades to the fire alarm system, technology infrastructure, circulation desk, community room, restrooms, flooring and paint.

-Kelly Scope: tuck-pointing, repairs to stone entry stairs, minor landscaping, window repairs, mechanical and fire alarm upgrades; restroom upgrades; build out of an Early Learning Area and a YOUmedia space for teens; new flooring and paint throughout; upgrades to the circulation desk and additional power/data connections. Current activity: contractors are preparing final package; construction start estimated for end of June 2017.

-Austin Scope: complete roof and skylight replacement. Current activity: contractors are preparing contracts, shop drawings, schedule and logistics; goal is to begin work as soon as possible.

Projects In Planning:

-Early Learning Spaces Early Learning spaces have been completed at the West Englewood, Little Village, West Pullman and Legler and Budlong Woods branches; early learning spaces at Lozano, Austin-Irving and Toman branches are in progress for Q2 completion; for Q3, early learning spaces at Sulzer and South Chicago branches are in planning; planning is in place for early learning spaces at Thurgood Marshall, Woodson, Sherman Park and Kelly branches to be completed in Q4.

-Whitney Young Scope: Renovation and addition to the existing 10,400 sq. ft. library. Current activity: anticipate closing the branch in 4Q with fall groundbreaking.

-CPL-CHA Partnership (no changes) Reminder: new libraries are being built for the Altgeld, Northtown, Roosevelt and Independence branches. Current Activity: the design firms selected for each branch include Perkins + Will for Northtown, John Ronan Architects for Independence and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for Roosevelt. CHA will select the design firm for Altgeld, site to be confirmed at the next CHA Board meeting. Estimated completion date for all 4 branches is Dec 2018.

Commissioners Report (info only):

Commissioner Bannon highlighted the following in the Commissioners report on the following:

-CPL selected Julie Morgan as the new Director of Staff and Organization Development this week.

-A new library is in planning that will serve the West Loop community; in partnership with the Obama Presidential Center, conversations are ongoing for a new library in the Hyde Park community; CPL will also receive funding for improvements to the Chicago Bee branch located in Bronzeville.

-This years All Staff Institute Day (ASID) took place on Thursday, May 11th at HWLC where all CPL staff participated in a day of learning, training and networking. All Chicago Public Library locations were closed to the public.

-The Harold Washington: Fairer Than Fair exhibit is on display in the Congress Corridor on the ground floor of Harold Washington Library Center.

-CPL hosted STEAM Powered Saturday on Sat, May 13th at HWLC where children ages 3-11 celebrated the power of STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.

-The 2017 Cindy Pritzker Lecture and Dinner is confirmed for 6 p.m. on Mon, September 25th at the Harold Washington Library Center in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium. This years guest speaker will be David Simas, CEO of the Obama Presidential Foundation.

-Highlighted events that occurred in May include:

>Working in America Lunch Discussion with Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx on Mon, May 8th

>Mayor Harold Washington Commemorative Keynote Program: Valerie Jarrett in Conversation with Dr. Adam Green on Mon, May 15th

>Author and Historian David McCullough read from and discussed his new book, The American Spirit: Who We Are and What We Stand For on Tues, May 16th

>Working in America Lunch Discussion with Arne Duncan, Managing Partner at Emerson Collective and Former Secretary of Education on Wed, May 17th

>and lastly the 2016-2017 One Book, One Chicago season wraps up on Thurs, May 18th, with a very special appearance by Barbara Kingsolver, author of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. The 2017-2018 season of One Book, One Chicago will be announced in the fall, and kicks off October 1st.

Chicago Public Library Foundation Report (info only):

Rhona Frazin, President and CEO of the Chicago Public Library Foundation provided the Foundation report and emphasized the following:

-CPLF has covered the entire $900,000+ cost of YOUmedia programming with significant new funding from very generous corporate and foundation donors

-additional support of $25,000 from RR Donnelley and $20,000 from Cubs Care, a fund of the McCormick Foundation has been directed to the Summer Learning Challenge

-STEM programming at the Library is getting a huge boost with a $344,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to create professional development programming for children and youth librarians

-a $50,000 grant was received for Science Connections from Peoples Gas

-the Junior Boards Night in the Stacks event in late March raised a record-breaking gross total of $180,000 in cash and in-kind gifts

-CPLF is in deep planning for this years Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner on October 11th at the UIC Forum; this year we will honor Margaret Atwood and Dave Eggers, both prize winning authors of fiction and non-fiction

Other Business:

None

Public Comment:

None

Next Board Meeting:

The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at the Back of the Yards branch located at 2111 W. 47th Street.

https://www.chipublib.org/news/board-of-directors-meeting-minutes-may-16-2017/

The rest is here:
Chicago Public Library Board met May 16. - Chicago City Wire