PowerPoint Presentation

Building 8 Gas Project

Issues with theold gas mainIn 2015, while performing HVAC work, we discovered that the gas main on the ground floor of Building 8 required repair. We immediately called in experts who made necessary repairs. The experts recommended a total replacement of the ground floor gas piping.

Gas Main (Ground Floor):Why replace the gas main instead of repairing it?Management takes a proactive approach:A repair of the horizontal gas main would require:A total building gas shutdown while joints are repaired.The project would take many months to complete.Replacing the gas main involves:No interruption of gas service (old line remains active).The larger gas pipes (3 or more inches) are welded, not threaded (new code).

Building 8 Gas ProjectDivided into 3 Phases:

Phase I: Install new horizontal gas main on the ground floor (completed).

Phase II: Pre-testing the gas risers.

Phase III: DOB tests/signs-off work; risers are connected to the new gas main.

Our Expert Team:Engineering:Lawless & Mangione, Architects & Engineers, LLP

Plumbing:F.W. Sims / Botto Mechanical Corp.

Phase I: Installing theNew Gas Main on the Ground FloorIn early December, our plumbing contractor began installing a new gas main parallel to the active existing one.

Phase I:Installing the new gas mainThe new gas main must be inspected and signed off by the DOB.The DOB must witness a pressure test on every gas riser before connecting them to the new gas main.Our plumbers will pre-test each gas riserthis is Phase II.

Phase II:Gas Riser Pre-testing

Phase II:Reasons for pre-testing the risersTypically, doing gas work on a building this large (378 apartments) would mean no gas service for six months to 1 year.Our goal in pre-testing the gas riser lines and making repairs now is so that they pass the pressure tests when the DOB inspectors come. This will avoid a prolonged interruption of gas service.

Phase II:Pre-Testing DurationWorkdays begin at 8am and end approximately at 5pm.Our plumbing contractor, JMBotto, and Penn South employees need access to an entire line of apartments for the duration of the pre-testing and repair phase. This is expected to last 8 to 10 business days per riser line.

Phase II:Access to ApartmentsAccess to your apartment is a MUST. Maintenance and Security are conducting a survey door-to-door. Please confirm how you will provide access.As with the HVAC project, we can enter your apartment using the bottom lock. Leave your top lock unlocked.

Phase II:Dont Lock Your Top Lock!

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Phase II:Tasks Involved in Pre-TestingFirst, our plumbing contractor will turn off gas service to the riser line.

Beginning at 8am, Penn South Security and Maintenance crews will knock on doors, disconnect stoves, and move them away from the area of the wall by the gas riser line.

Phase II:Moving the StoveLet us know where you want us to move your stove.It will stay there until pre-testing is completed (8-10 business days).

Phase II:Penn South work crews will also set up work tents around the work area

Phase IIThe plumbers will replace old gas valves with new valves.

Phase II:Air Pressure TestingAir (not gas) is pumped through pipes at levels twelve times higher than is required for normal gas service.This can stress the joints and create leaks at the threaded couplings that were not leaking prior.Leaks must be repaired before gas service can be restored.

Phase II:Air-Pressure Testing

While air is being pumped through the pipes, plumbers will spray the pipes with a foaming detergent on all fittings to determine integrity. If air is leaking, the foaming agent will bubble.

Phase II:Repairing LeaksWe cannot predict the location of leaks. To speed up leak-detection, we will open the wall around the tee connection approximately one-foot by one-foot for proper visual inspection.

Phase II:Wall Opening Exposing Tee Connection

Failed Tee Connection Bubbles Forming at Top of Tee

Bubbles Formed During Testing On Coupling

Whats Involved in Pre-TestingIf a leak is detected on the gas riser, MRH crews will need to open the wall large enough around the leaking joint in order to make the repairs. The plumbers will immediately perform repairs once the wall is opened.

Phase II:Riser Repairs If the pipe connection within an apartment is leaking, we will open the wall large enough to perform a pipe replacement.

Dust Mizer cutting machine

Tee Connection Repaired

Dust MitigationBefore creating or enlarging holes, tents will be constructed around the work area (on both sides of the wall) to mitigate dust traveling through the apartment - similar to the HVAC project.

Dust MitigationOur protection is very effective. However, its not possible to prevent all dust from escaping the work area.

Dust Mitigation

Whats Involved in Pre-TestingIf the riser does not pass the pressure test, the 11th floor wall around the gas tee will be opened and the plumbers will install test gauges.

Whats Involved in Pre-TestingTwo tests will be performed, one for the section of the riser between the 11th and 21st floor; the other from the 11th floor going to the ground floor.

Whats Involved in Pre-TestingMaking the repairs requires opening a hole in the wall. This process has already occurred in the A and B lines of Building 8A.

Whats Involved in Pre-Testing

Making the repairs requires opening a hole in the wall. This process has already occurred in the A and B lines of Building 8A.

Phase II:How Long Will Pre-Testing Last?Until we perform tests, we cannot know how much work will be required on a particular riser line. In the A-line and B-line risers, work took between 8 to 10 business days per riser.

Phase II:Whats Involved in Pre-TestingOnce the riser holds the required pressure of three pounds for an entire hour, we will be ready for Phase III.

Communication:Appointment Notices

Earlier today, a notice was distributed with a description of tasks involved in Phase II.When we are ready to work on the next set of riser lines, we will notify the shareholders in those apartments.

Communication:How will you know which line is next?This is not a construction project; its a test-and-repair project. The schedule will be dictated by the number of leaks, and their locations.We cant provide the specific appointment dates with advance notice, as we could with the HVAC project.The sequence of pretesting risers is chosen by Management and our plumbing contractor in an effort to expedite the work.

Communication: Status Reports to CooperatorsAt the end of each workday, if further work is required we will hand out notices or tape them to apt doors indicating that work will continue and access will be needed the next day.In addition, a Cooperator Liaison staff member will be stationed in the lobby to answer questions and provide updates on a daily basis.

How to contact the Gas ProjectCooperator LiaisonBy e-mail: Building8GasProject@pennsouth.coop

In-person: Lobby of Building 88am noon, 1pm 5pm

Mr. Bayo Boboye

Phase II:Clean-upThe hole will be covered with a plastic board called Corex at the end of each day, until the entire gas project is completed.Permanent wall repairs will be the last task (in case further tests or inspections require access to pipes).

Phase II:Plastic Board of Corex Installed

Do Not Lean Anything Against This Temporary Covering!

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Phase IIAs soon as the gas riser passes the pressure test your stoves will be reconnected and a new flex hose will be installed.Note: During Phase III it will be necessary to disconnect and retest the risers in front of DOB inspectors.

How Long Will Pre-Testing Last?Once a riser line passes a pressure test (holding three pounds of pressure for a full hour) and the walls are covered with Corex board, the plumbers will install new gas cock valves at the wall, and new flexible hose to your stove, and gas service will be turned back on to the riser line.

Phase III: Connecting the New Gas Main

Phase III:Whats Required to Connect the Risers to the New Gas Main?Gas service to certain risers will be turned off and tested. If they pass the pressure tests, they will be connected to the new gas main and gas service will be permanently activated. Stoves will be reconnected.Our licensed plumber will schedule the DOB inspectors and perform tests as required.

Whats Required to Hook Up theNew Gas MainThe Department of Buildings (DOB) must witness a pressure test on each riser.The tests may involve DOB inspectors accessing individual apartments if they require.Once the risers pass the tests, the plumbing contractor will contact Con Edison to request authorization to restore gas service to each riser line.

Phase III:What We Dont KnowThe method of connecting the new gas main to the riser will be dictated by the DOB.Phase III requires agency oversight. The process will not be entirely under our control. That is why management has taken the proactive step of pretesting the risers to minimize the interruption of gas service.

Phase III:What We Do Know:The DOB must witness pressure testing of the risers.If risers dont pass tests, the plumber will need to search for a leak once again and repair it until the DOB is satisfied that the system is sealed tight.

What We Know:We hope that by pre-testing and making repairs now, the risers will all pass the tests. However, pressure-testing stresses the joints and can cause leaks at the joints, so its possible that additional repairs will be required through the testing process. That is why we are waiting until the project concludes before walls are repaired.

What We Dont KnowWe cannot provide a work schedule for the final phase of the work at this point. We are proactively reaching out to explain our situation to senior officials at both the Department of Buildings and Con Edison.

Full Cooperation Is RequiredOur success requires full participation.Any delay in getting access to apartments could lead to a longer interruption of gas service, and a higher cost.We are making every effort not to not interrupt gas service to your building for a prolonged period.

Full Cooperation Is RequiredIf we are required to shut gas service to the entire 378 apartments in the entire building, we will require approvals from the Department of Buildings and also from Con Edison before service is restored.

Questions?