A Guide for Conducting Facilities Condition Assessment Surveys
Chimneys
Chimneys must be inspected and cleaned on a routine basis and should be inspected during a condition survey, if possible. The facilities engineer should ensure that a certified chimney sweep performs regular inspections and that the chimney has been cleaned as required. Sweeps certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (http://www.csia.org/) follow NFPA chimney inspection guidance. Some local fire departments also conduct courtesy chimney inspections. Firewood Firewood storage is a common issue in Forest Service buildings. The year's supply of firewood should not be stored in basements or against buildings. Firewood can harbor insects that will chew on wood buildings.
Firewood storage is a common issue in Forest Service buildings. The year's supply of firewood should not be stored in basements or against buildings. Firewood can harbor insects that will chew on wood buildings.
Propane is commonly used in remote locations where natural gas or electricity is unavailable. Because propane is heavier than air, it is recommended (and mandated by law in some States) that gas plumbing, water heaters, and furnaces not be located within walls, in basements, or under buildings. Propane can accumulate in low spots and closed in buildings where it can displace air, possibly causing asphyxiation, or ignite. Along with the plumbing, appliances should be checked for leaks and proper maintenance. NFPA 54: National Fuel Gas Code (http://www.nfpa.org/catalog, search for fuel gas), and the 2003 International Fuel Gas Code, (http://www.iccsafe.org/Store/Pages/Product.aspx?id=3600X03) are good references when inspecting gas and propane installations. When in doubt, call in a mechanical engineer or local certified propane installer or supplier to inspect the system thoroughly.
Generators typically run on propane or diesel fuel and should be checked to ensure proper operation. Spill control and secondary containment (described in section III of the Everyday Hazmat User's Training Guide) should be in place for any potential fuel spills or leaks. Any fuel spills should be cleaned up promptly and appropriately, whether associated with a generator or not. Neither materials incompatible with the fuel nor other flammable or combustible materials should be stored near the generator or in a building housing the generator. Guidelines on incompatible hazardous materials can be found in section III of the Everyday Hazmat User's Training Guide. Electrical connections and wiring associated with a generator should be in good repair.
Among the most common complaints of building occupants is that the temperature is not comfortable. Although the problem may lie with the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, occupants may have created their own problems. Boxes or furniture may be blocking registers, floor-to-ceiling partitions may be cutting off air flow, and windows may be open during the heating or cooling season. It's best to check for such problems before assuming something is wrong with the HVAC system.
When these problems are discovered, it's a good idea to ask the building occupants whether these actions were an attempt to solve another problem, such as drafts or stuffiness. A person who prefers very cool temperatures may share office space with a person who prefers warmer temperatures. In such cases, thermostat wars can be solved by shuffling office assignments so that occupants have similar temperature preferences.
Many older offices have only one thermostat and one heating/cooling supply system for the entire building. It is difficult to balance these single-zone HVAC systems to provide consistent temperatures throughout the structure, especially if the south and west sides of the building gain a significant amount of heat from the sun during part of the working day. When existing single-zone HVAC systems for buildings over 5,000 square feet reach the end of their useful life, it is almost always beneficial to replace them with a multizone system.
Potable Water Systems and Wastewater Systems
Even "simple" potable water systems and wastewater systems have plenty of "parts" and are governed by complex regulations. They must be maintained to the highest standards to provide safe drinking water for employees and visitors and to prevent contamination of lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. When surveying water or wastewater treatment buildings, facilities engineers often check to make sure that system records are complete and up to date. While a facilities condition survey does not include an in-depth sanitary survey of water or wastewater systems, facilities engineers should be aware of drinking water and wastewater issues so they can note any apparent discrepancies. Obvious system deficiencies might include water sources that are open to surface water or animal contamination, leaky lines, malfunctioning controls, iron or other mineral deposits on fixtures, storage of hazardous materials in treatment buildings, corroded electrical connections or floats that do not function properly in water storage tanks, water storage tank lids that are not sealed and secured, and cross connections.
Cross connections are connections between a tank, line, or fixture that contains potable water and something that contains contaminated water. Should the pressure of the potable water supply suddenly drop, contaminated water can be siphoned back into the potable water supply, with disastrous results. The appendix of Inspecting a House describes cross connections in detail. Because fire hydrants are designed to drain back into the surrounding soil as they are shut off, cross connection potential is particularly high when fire hydrants connected to drinking water supply systems are used to fill fire tanker trucks. Stock watering tanks (figure 5) are at risk of cross connection if they do not have an air gap shielded from contact by animals between the potable water supply and the watering tank. Backflow commonly occurs when pesticide or fertilizer dispensers are connected to garden hoses. This is why vacuum breakers should be installed on all exterior hose bibs. Any potential cross connection is an extreme health hazard that should be corrected immediately.
Figure 5—This stock tank water supply is a cross-connection
disaster waiting to happen.
Every USDA Forest Service unit is required to have a confined spaces plan, but compliance with this requirement has been somewhat inconsistent among units. Section 38.2 of the Forest Service Safety and Health Code Handbook 6709.11 (https://fs.usda.gov/wps/myportal/fsintranet/!ut/p/c5/) details USDA Forest Service requirements for confined spaces. For their own protection, inspectors should be aware of potentially hazardous confined spaces, such as lift stations, storage tanks, utility vaults, and the basements of composting toilets. They also should note modifications that may be necessary to provide forced ventilation or other measures that may be needed for safe access by employees.
Septic tanks and drain fields are common features at many smaller USDA Forest Service stations. Septic tanks usually need to be pumped every 2 to 5 years, depending on sludge buildup. The level of solids should be checked during condition surveys. Drain fields should be kept free of trees and shrubs whose roots might damage the drain lines. If the system uses two drain fields, the condition survey should include a check to make sure that discharge from the septic tank is properly rotated between the two drain fields to prevent one field from becoming saturated and failing. The report, How To Operate and Maintain Septic Tank/Soil-Absorption Systems (8271–4302–SDTDC), available at http://fsweb.sdtdc.wo.fs.fed.us/pubs/pdfimage/82711302.pdf, explains how to take care of septic tank and drain field systems, including how to measure solid waste buildup in the septic tank.
Sewage lift stations, while necessary at many sites, provide more than their share of work for maintenance personnel. Lift stations should be checked for signs of deterioration or other problems during condition surveys. Check for corroded electrical wires and connections, and make sure that both pumps work.
Regional or zone environmental engineers can help when you are inspecting water or wastewater systems or whenever questions arise. They often are involved in sanitary surveys of water and wastewater systems. In-depth 9 Knowledge, Skills, and Tools inspections of water and wastewater systems are required by Forest Service Manual 7421.13 and by many States. Another source of information regarding regulations, requirements, and other issues affecting Forest Service drinking water and wastewater systems is the USDA Forest Service Washington Office Engineering Forest Service Web page available at http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/eng/programs/water/index.htm.
A condition survey provides a good opportunity to note items in older buildings that should be brought up to current code standards, particularly those that could affect emergency egress from sleeping quarters. Facilities engineers should check egress from bedrooms, especially in basements (figure 6) and on upper stories (including fire lookout towers). Make sure the means of escape is adequate and that windows can be opened and are the correct size and in the proper locations. Chapter 10 of the International Building Code and chapters 24 and 26 of NFPA 101: Life Safety Code Handbook, describe the specific requirements for primary and secondary means of escape for one- and two-family dwellings and lodging or rooming houses. Check all smoke detectors to see that they are functioning and that they comply with the code.
Figure 6—This basement egress window at the
Bitterroot National Forest's Darby Ranger
Station
meets code requirements.
