Update August 9, 2011 3:47 p.m. Baxter Elementary School Wiring "A Crime"
Aluminum wiring was spliced with copper wiring, the copper placed on the ends, and the conduit pipe hid the fact that much of the wiring was aluminum, he said. "This was criminal, and anybody who would do this should be put in jail," Lane told the board.
Update August 10, 2011 1:02 p.m. What are the dangers of aluminum wiring?
Aluminum does not make as good of a wiring material in a house or any building as copper, which is used for most electrical wiring. Aluminum is a softer metal than copper, meaning it can become damaged more easily by over-tightening a screw when making connections for a light switch, for example. The damaged aluminum wire will come apart, leading to arcing and the potential for a house fire.Why take the risk to save a few bucks? Aren't our kids worth it? It IS "for the children." Didn't the SB already apologize once to the Fire Department?
Update August 12, 2011 5:14 p.m. The Aluminum Wiring Information Website More warnings plus photos.
Like so many other misrepresentations about the HS by the SB & Admin, we were told repeatedly during the entire design and cost estimating process...2009 - 2011...that the design had been thoroughly "value engineered" to contain/constrain costs to the minimum....and we now have 197 cost reduction possibilities ? And we...the public, including the Lebo Zoning Hearing Board, Planning Board & Commission....were told that everything associated with the then final design was "NEEDED" for the programatic requirements for a 21st. century education. Obviously that was also not true !
ReplyDeleteThese people have neither credibility nor integrity.
Bill Lewis
Here are two safety issues that are not resolved.
ReplyDeleteFire Protection: #96 Under review, no suggestions to date, and
#103 Delete individual gas meters at boilers.
Safety issues are potential personal liability issues for school directors.
These issues need to be addressed to eliminate the personal liability issues and to increase the safety for children and staff.
Other issues that need to be revisited for personal liability and safety reasons are the plenum vs. non-plenum issues especially those that use the more toxic issues PVC piping during a fire.
John Ewing
John, under Electrical: Replacing copper with aluminum scares me too. It is a fire hazard. I spoke to a retired electrical engineer who did this very thing for a living. He said, "What idiots came up with this nonsense?" Manufacturers will not manufacture this garbage because of liability. They were sued too many times in the past." The retired engineer asked, "Show me where this is being done in the US. With ALCOA being located here, THEY wouldn't even recommend it!"
ReplyDeleteOne safety hazard they addressed was eliminating the $20,000 bike racks.
Elaine,
ReplyDeleteDid you speak with school director Ed Kubit? Isn't he an electrical engineer?
I couldn't ask him myself because he was AWOL from last night's meeting.
We need to expect more answers from the experts on the board.
David Huston
I heard back from the retired electrical engineer. He is really worked up because these revisions are not safe.
ReplyDeleteAlso, what is with the check to Celli? I thought this was going to be on his dime?
I think the School Board needs to step down. They are consistently making bad decisions and now compromising on safety and quality. Remember, "It's for the children."
David, I know he is. Ed is not approachable. He wouldn't even talk to me outside of Foster School during the Primary.
ReplyDeleteThis retired electrical engineer worked with Tom Celli's father and designed schools and universities, along with hospitals. I believe this guy knows what he is talking about.
Elaine, under the item Fire Protection: #96 "Under review, no suggestions to date."
ReplyDeleteDo you remember Remely saying the Board could sue the Muni because they classified the HS as a high-rise building? But they haven't sued them as far as I know and the Muni Code has specific recommendations for fire protection in high-rise buildings. Apparently, the District, under the leadership of the Superintendent who is expecting a raise, is once again ignoring Municipal Code just like they did on the Zoning, the inspection fees, the storm water fees, and now the Fire code has produced, "no suggestions to date."
Once again the School Board has lost integrity and credibility and they appear to be willing to build a fire-trap for children and staff so they can beat the referendum requirements. The Board and the Superintendent need to resign.
John Ewing
I just have to remind folks of this interview.
ReplyDelete“That information is not public information. We are a private company and there is obviously information that we do not make public. It is not information that we share,” said Jo Posti, of Pennsylvania American Water.
Read more: http://www.wtae.com/news/26094036/detail.html#ixzz1UXgNP557
The Groucho quote was not directed at Mr. Ewing, but rather some of the principal actors on the high school project.
ReplyDeleteI leave it up to each resident to guess which one to assign it too.
I'll leave one more quote and then I'm done with blogging Mr. Wilson, hope you enjoy the high school when its done.
"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five."
— Groucho Marx
- Giffen Good
Giffen,
ReplyDeleteI know that you were going to stop blogging here, but many folks find you to be a factual contributor to this blog. I hope you reconsider.
When people start to question the messenger, instead of the message, you know there is something wrong.
Elaine
There are what 20,000 residents that live in and pay Mt. Lebanon taxes. Time for them to get involved rather than asking who I am!
ReplyDeleteSo longm, fare thee well, Lebo.
- Giffen Good
Is this methodology still baked into our high school renovation design? David Huston
ReplyDeletehttp://cfbarchitects.com/blog/letter-to-the-editor/
08-APR-2010
"We will not ‘out-calculus’ India or China – they are much too disciplined- so we must learn to out-create them! How do we do that? We do it by setting a curriculum that grows out of the interests of the students. Engage them. Do not lose them. Delivered wisdom from a teacher in front of a class has a role to play but so do ‘blogs’ of user-generated content, social networking techniques and recognition that today’s students learn from images, not from words. Delivered content is being replaced by hands-on, project-based learning. We need spaces that can accommodate these different requirements.
Social spaces for casual interaction between and among students and between faculty and students need to be scattered throughout the building so impromptu conversations that result in real learning are encouraged. College administrators indicate that 65% of any student’s learning on a college campus comes from peer to peer interaction, not from the classrooms. Are high schools so different?
When a student enters school we tell them to turn off the cell phone- immediately, alienating them from authority and distancing them from their support network. Why not have all the students in an English class take out their cell phones and use texting to teach English? I bet that SAT scores in English will go up as will the quality of text messages." - Thomas C. Celli, architect
To avoid any confusion, go to http://cfbarchitects.com/blog/letter-to-the-editor/
ReplyDeleteThen search for April 2010 in the archives on the left. There is only one letter listed. Thanks for finding this, David.
Elaine
Don't leave us, Giffen :)
ReplyDeleteI'm confused - which part am I supposed to enjoy? The monumental edifice to hubris, or the massive tax increase?
An email I received included these points:
ReplyDeleteEvery single one of the changes is a reduction in the quality of the overall project...All of these things are the little things that would have made the building very comfortable and long-lasting...these changes will all reduce the quality and longevity of the high school...they are even removing a bunch of ADA items like...elevators. Why does the one elevator only go to the 5th floor of B building? So kids will take an elevator to the 5th floor then get out and walk stairs to the 6th?
I understand why this list was posted just minutes before the Architect's Update. It is ridiculous.
Yes, these people have neither credibility nor integrity.
I think it was the June 2009 meeting (Mr. Allison's last meeting) that Sue Rose said, "The Board has lost the public's confidence and trust."
ReplyDeleteSue was right then and she is still right today - over two years later. You would think she would have the decency to resign!
John Ewing