Source: http://www.tampabay.com, September 1, 2016
By: Megan Reeves
A handful of blunders by Tampa Bay area contractors nearly 10 years ago have caused a moldy mess in the attic of East Lake Fire Rescue, officials say, and repairs could cost as much as $350,000.
The department, 3375 Tarpon Lake Blvd., is suing three companies they say are at fault: Edward C. Hoffman, Jr. Architects of Tarpon Springs, Peter R. Brown Construction, formerly a Tampa-based business that has since been acquired by a Fort Lauderdale company, and B.C.D. Air Conditioning and Heating of Clearwater, which has since gone out of business.
“We never wanted to take it to the point of a lawsuit, but we are looking at a lot of money,” Fire Chief Tom Jamison said. “We just want to recoup some of the costs of the damage.”
He says the department’s attic has suffered severe mold and mildew damage because of missteps made in the design and construction processes, allowing humid Florida air to continuously seep inside since the 7,685-square-foot building’s 2007 completion. Unbeknownst to fire officials until now, the increased heat and moisture have caused the condition of the space to steadily decline and become a breeding ground for bacteria.
The suit claims each of the companies were negligent and violated state building codes. It also charges the architecture and construction companies with breach of contract. None of the companies returned the Tampa Bay Times’ calls for comment.
A forensic investigation of the department’s attic by St. Petersburg-based Holmes Engineering Group confirms the space does not meet state building codes. Findings show the architect’s plans never included an air barrier, so builders subsequently omitted one during construction.
The problem first came to Jamison’s attention when a crew member noticed discoloration in some of the ceiling tiles. But once it was checked out, the damage had been going on for years and was fairly developed.
Now, the officials estimate the department will have to fork up between $300,000 and $350,000 to pay for professional cleaning, project engineering and repairs, which will involve replacing insulation and ceiling panels and using foam to permanently seal the space.
“We have done continual mold sampling in living spaces where firefighters spend the most time while they are on duty,” Jamison said. “Fortunately, it has been confined to the space overhead.”
Although there will be no major demolition, the fire station will be unusable for up to two months, displacing both firefighters and administrative employees, Jamison said. Depending on the exact repair timeline, the department will pay between $10,000 and $20,000 to lease space in a temporary location on the property. He said repairs can begin once permitting and the new spot are secured.
“We want to stay on the premises, because we want to be able to respond from the same location,” he said. “This situation will not affect our response times or our service to the community.”