HomeMy WebLinkAboutMBC 03/07/1981Harch 79 1931
Joint Moeting with Municipal Building Comm ttue- baquct, J„
Town Counsel. Charles Mulcahy
Superintendent Robert Barbarisi, Dr. John Gorman
Architect 0, K, Fault, Herman Bouwman
`;oof:i.ng Contractor David Blacher
Regarding: Blistering at Mansfield Hugh School Poor
Barbarisi: Have received information that Robinson new addition four
is leaking and staining ceiling tiles.
Fault: Notify Bond Company immediately.
Mulcahy: Even though there has been blistering there has been no lns1_
so we cannot say that it has failed,
Barbarisi: The big problem I have is that when it fails it, Is "rohn1 '.:
going to fail in the winter.
Nault: It is not going to fail like that. it is going to he a
gradual deterioration.
Douglas: If you have a l"u" ouvclop you can
Pnintunance fuerir
certain area,
Barbarisi: The last word we had was stay off the roof, how can� ---
'* There has to be a specific determination of who is going to do Y^'t,
when and how.
Mulcahy: I don't want to get in a position where we have blown all
statute of limitations by not doing something. The roof is not 'qok _
now but we have to do sometbing before that time.
(Letter drafted by Fault, read by all, to be sent to Kopcors
for information, and assistance.)
PTault: There have been no real structural changes on the now r,e„'
Placher: Don't think you have added 2 pounds.
Vault: Code requires JP nqund live load, Think the ori innl architcc
should be cnntacted.
Mulcahy: If there ops o -L Won a substantial change in the ori_ i:=;I
I think we are safe, In the recent heavy rains with the winds was tl
any leaking?
Barbarisi: The only ;_.r( was around two air conditioning 4uc`o
by maintenance; that it: -n7 not the roof.
Mulcahy: Ae can agree that the roof is not l_aWrig. 7unt ui -n t
roof in February a.ns san evilonce or minor blistering. )i•1 rot
substantial blistering as :in the: summer time.
a
-2-
Blacher: It is moisture that vaporizes. It would be a wors<_. cend;.tio^.
in the summer time.
Hulcahy: Is this common of flat roofs.
Blacher: Bio. Poofing Association sent out a bulletin to all members
recommending that because of reports of blistering of urethane, v,lhon
using the insulation they should superimposej/)i" fiber board to act
buffer or damper. They claim there was the greatest amount of
generated, instead of the heat passing through it kept building u,-.
They felt if you put another layer the heat would be absorbed in tli>_
board. The urethane manufacturers got busy. Attended a meeting ,e'ncre
it was agreed that more research had to be done. Urethane people sa.,q
it has not been definitely proved that urethane insulation is ti:e
cause of general blistering. GSA recommended that a 1" fiber bn:arc.
be placed over the urethane. From that time most of the .roofing syste;:s
that vie encounter are now the one ply roofs. The roofing material
manufacturers never manufactured their own asphalt, they always
bought it. lith the energy shortage they would get crude oil fr^" all
parts of the world. hoofing experts have testi.£ied that asphalt r;as
not compatible with one another. There was a case where a flat roof
the whole roof slid during the summer heat. Pecause of what was
happening were offerinC.. year roof bonds. X111 the other manufacturer
have novi limited their -product to a 5 year guarantee, curing the ti -5
years if the owner wishus b> oxtend the guarant�:e another 5 year>, he
inspects the roof and telt:a him what he would charge for another 5
years. Owens_yaethey
7Yslonger going
futheir
r'a
pY. 'r-,hardlJvercoi:lcrn: sanrrofot_now thatcall--
l
hot mop _
system. Feel_ that the Kopper- Co., i'z.e "To he acid this
was no problem. L`le had blisters very soon after the roof ;ias installe=:.
I feel that the product they sell are not capable of standing up, under
the current energy demands that the owner has to maintain. The last
Koppers roof that vie installed was about 2 years ago. 1,4BTA in Charles-
town. 'ale have not heard anything about it since.
flault: This was the last Koppers roof that we did.
,ulcahy: The concern of Vansfield is that the roof will ultimately
fail. Think that you are a-,iarc of the experts that say that it will
ultimately leak within a short period of time. "shat can be done to
correct the present and wjI ] it be a. correction to -.Ireserve tr
roof for a substantial �ri_ r of time? ill_
rrorL= or sii11 tlsey pa -y fnr ter: vor;c to be done^
Blacher: Can only give you an opinion. Don't think hoppers ;,ill si,_cn;
any ,Honey until you get O'Ours-IF on record_ tt:at you have done every4,'-1
ynu can to protect yoursol.f, Don't think they ;gill do anything until_
you have a roof leak. Tlie En.tarantee is not res,onsiblc fo.r the sub-
sequent da a.- inside M,(, b1ii.1_ding. ;lould kind of couch the letter:
"':'le just :iaiit t;n vie done by one o` nnr
approved :ro,)f,_r:a. 1e ii- your :st opinion. d.on't „rant o v!ait
until it fails". 'ice i" ;:oii can't induce then, r) come down to see
if they uvi71 L_i.ve you sn., hr_lli.Just get there ,'own to talk. to ynii.
I have not seen the roof ui ncu ,Septomber 19%C. At the time we Lot a
change order to put in vc Dts. ;e thought gat ;'r had i -11 -Pi ^b
on one ofthe first urethane rno£s.
Nault: The original. specs that was changed called for a. corrnns_ti,r,,
board with 2z" urethane with lL-" Tesco board.. I;oppers state'.. they
not bond the roof it it were put on that way. They made us chan;.e "r
roof to j". We were doing it to make the urethane more stable. I
don't know where there is anything in writing for that.
Blacher: Koppers has been selling a urethane installation.
Mulcahy: The roof is not leaking and a court would be hard press(-'
with a statement that it will leak in -, 5 or 20 years. "e certain'.-,
agree that there is going to be a problem. I would have to have
expert testimony that that concept of roofing ;could lead to fai?_ur;.
Blacher: Did I send you a copy of TIational- 3oofers ;4ssociaticn.
bulletin?
Nault: Yes.
Blacher: Did I also sericl you a letter from Konpers donyi_n�- i_"
I'?ault: Don't remember t;lat.
Douglas: In your experience do you have any J —itcna.ncc roto at;_,
that the `school Department could. perforrl?
Blacher: Stay off the roof. That is the only recommendation tlat I
can give you. If Koppers ever found out that yoi_c mere removing snor
and done anytbing but maybe remove leaves from drains, your bona is oui:.
Tlulcahy: The bond is not a viable instrument right now. There is a
difference from a bond and a warranty. Aroof bond says that we
come -in and fix the roof. [ want to know about the roof bond.
Blacher: The architect i.n specifications stated I must supply the
roofing bond upon completion of viork, l?oof'purchased was of quality
design and manufactu.ere knows building is of such a size, knoeas al.l
background informa.tion. __huri.ng the _progress of the work manufact,_ir<,r
has the o-)tlop ll '.' - .�'l t: ( I ICLS 1 95»E;CtC)'"'l Y.' S't t';:.. Sit,
materials al (,, ' C] 7 liC;^-O� C1.C, s�e,i v'e send 1C t'. G]"' '^c have C
r.
the job and arc; , -; i,, '�„ ._ � x,�)�l. 'Then ; I. __o insn cl;en
see that 1t I., certifies that ". �,-1 OwrlC dine aceOr.-_—
inc to Loppers requirements than ultimately the roofing bond is
issued to the contractor. Je than Dass along after final payrient.
There is a bonding cc:rn>r_-,n,� i_nvolved with the their- that if the
manufacturer were not a:rrntndthen the bonding company steps in. nondin,;
company will not beeom(- iiiv��Ived until Koppers defaults. I believe
I sent a copy or the how' twat ne irc holding to the architect.
12
- Li -
Dou§ as: Date of the rqot bone'?
June 2?, J_977.
Mulcahy: We have not received any response from Koppers frn:
our correspondence. We have alternatives: 1. Do nothing n.
the roof does not fail and if it does call Koppers in. 2.
write the letter here this morning and see what kind of respons����..
get. 3. rale can bring an action against them on the basis of
failure. But since the roof is not leaking ..... 4. 7e can zP&I-r Vh,
roof situation and attempt to have experts come in and toll v
should be done. 5. 1lnyother suggestions you may have.
Saquet: My only question is has the roof failed or is it rroErc-c5
towards failure? What constitutes roof failure? ':mien should �, fav
known that the the roof fails? The warranties are against
if we use manufacturers yardstick the1_eakage vnuld imply f:il nl
that be recognized by the courts?
Barbarisi: The other thnu bt that 7 bad was 10a in the case. -f t7
Pinto. You don't have no wait until_ the gas tanb explcda4.Aron",
there other instances nhare the blistering hDve ultimately lead t^
failure?
Mulcahy: .'acre you knn- that there V a pntcnt_al- oC defect 0 ecc"r.
Blather: The manufacturer will Gay when you lava a nrobl m you c
us and we will _ take care of it.
Saquet: The manufacturer recognized failure to be leaking.
Barbarisi: If there is substantial evidence that the blistering is
going to result in leaking and after it does they will code and fia k'.
Do we hale to wait until it leaks?
Blather: They may say the blistering is between Ord and 4th layer an'
you still have 2 more layers to protect the .roof. Then they say lea'o,
they mean 7ator entrance into the building as a. result of one of their
components failing brought about by improper norkmanship or materials.
Saquet: If we choose litigation we should have a date of fallurq.
Could we some4no request Hap(ers tr send a`l arripaer to advise ns VP
the roof hes f:_iled nr not.
Kulca.hy: 'hen it Would to u'_; to us to shop tont it was t} ,ip cnncn--
that failed,
Saquet: IIow could we fnrcn thea to give a judgement that the roof
failed? That letter cnold he na7ily ignored. Could we insist that
respond to the blistcAr
Mulcahy: You have done Vot & the past.
Saquet:
Let
us go on
the
assumption that
the roof has not foiled.
Would it
be
worthwhile
to
bring in another
consultant?
-5-
BouwEan: (I) Want hoppers to come in here.
Blather: Hake it really easy for them to come here.
Saquct: I will re-write the letter. 4s far a_: bringing in r_,._ -n�-
side consultant to determine the cause, is that, worthnhilr
fault: if someone can pinpoint the cause he would be a_ millionir-
overnight!
Saquet: `ie do have an article in. Town l4eeting, but what can lr ti7'
us that we don't already knobs?
I-NIcaby: You just answered your won question.
Blather: Don't think we have to know what we did wrong.
Mulcahy: If we did everything that hoppers required us to Co `_t a-_
be a failure of the composition.
Blachur: The inspector krj_g ') was there e:'vnr� hour of �vn
Boutvma:n: is Koppers Cc aware o" the fact tLa.t you (Blather) are
still holding the bond'?
Blather: Uo, I wouldn't think so.
Saquet: Course of action at this point is to write to hoppers.
Fulcahy: Tho problem harbarisi has is the failure of the root. It is
my opinion that if I bring action it is going to be dismissed on a
premature basis. 7o intend to prepare a case so that ocan Cc int'')
the courts„ T an not con pl_etely confident but at least we have an
argueable no ition. Ko b3risl has to worry about whether to keen t�,-
school open.
Blather: you 7on't have an entire roof failure all at once. "on
not beflocdad out.
Gorman: In the 19?
" J —
Mulcahy: T suggest to you that a.s coon as T � f ,ne 'Ice',
bat on it. T. am not going to brinL; a nrenatur: suit.
Barba.risi: Ily major concern wo ultimately had to have some ans''r�rs
as to what we do with snow. Flake sure that everyone i
there is a problem and should be looked at and :•ito_t acts
taken. I have heard some conflict_in„ points of' vie,,.
Vault: I would be very careful about implyin to Popper l! -a".
are doing anything on that roof.
Bar.barisi: Someone has to tell me stay off the rnoF no r,iattr
even if it means the roof is going to come down.
Plault: If rou have 1973 blizzard conditions r:u 'cage to ret
the roof.
Barbarisi: 'lore you here when the structural problems occurrec'.
of the people diet t?,ere said to i;�e if'that �ar,)en
evrr,joll Fait
Sag up. t: Ir icier woru 21:1L n; to?norrow 1t the
Gverysn�)l (. C)11 Eset tl ;1�1C' !;lc.l) '.7h0
isi QUj rC)i�]l_nJSLl^7 CtE r' St 1,
talklnc about it�that it to be dnne by 11Drnc:.
Meeting adjournecl 11:30an