Sierra House update: Tests come back negative for asbestos

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The air quality test conducted at Sierra House Elementary on Friday has come back negative for asbestos.

Friday afternoon those working to clean up the school after the November 11 fire that destroyed a part of the school found a door in the contained burn area that tested positive for asbestos. This door was damaged by the fire department when entering the building according to Steve Brennan, Lake Tahoe Unified School District's environmental engineer and the Recovery Project Manager for the current Sierra House project. The door was removed.

As a precautionary measure, air testing was ordered to ensure good air quality throughout the school building. They took samples from the Multi-purpose Room, Staff Room, Lower Pod and Upper Pod.

They took an Asbestos Fiber Analysis by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) Performed by EPA 40 CFR Part 763 Appendix A to Subpart E. No asbestos types were found and zero types of fiber structures.

As soon as the asbestos was found in the door, notification posters were visible on the zippered doorways into the containment area to keep students and staff away from the possibly affected area. These posters had to remain in place until the contained area has the subject door removed and the air in all spaces have been cleared. The contained area, which has been completely enclosed since the incident, is under negative air pressure and is being filtered through a HEPA filter.

These are standardized procedures required by the EPA and OSHA who have been notified and who will be visiting for inspection and clearance next week according to Brennan

On Friday, November 30 at noon, air quality sample canisters that test for detailed Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) were used to collect test samples. The testing used the EPA Air Method: Toxic Organics -15 (TO-15) which is designed to look for 74 different VOCs (Target Compounds List or TCL) using analysis by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GCMS). If a spike is detected in the GCMS study that does not match with one of the 74 VOCs in the TCL (unknown compound), the lab will work to identify the air component regardless. The testing is expected to identify any VOC, not just those on the TCL. A full report of all detected VOCs, their levels and acceptable limits (if applicable) will be provided to the district.

The results are expected Sunday evening.

A further soot test was ordered but results are delayed due to recent wildfires in California. On a best case scenario the school district expects results back by the end of next week.

When more details and results are made available, South Tahoe Now will carry them.