Strafford County staff recommend pausing extra HVAC work, seek inspector sign-off to close $1.4 million roof project

Strafford County commissioners and staff reviewed a consultant report on building ventilation and debated whether to pursue a previously specified target of six air exchanges per hour for an ongoing facilities project, saying the choice affects completion and sign-off of a roughly $1.4 million roof replacement paid with ARPA funds.

The discussion centered on a Design Day report that presented four courses of action, including keeping the original six air exchanges requirement, removing that requirement while meeting the International Mechanical Code (IMC), or closing the job as-is and seeking final inspection. County staff said the pandemic-driven six‑exchange target is no longer universally required and that many areas of the building already meet lower exchange rates.

County staff explained that engineers calculate required exchanges by room size and occupancy, and that the building has been balanced three times without consistently reaching six exchanges in all areas. Staff said two rooftop units were recently replaced and that interior balancing and ductwork changes have been performed repeatedly. Design Day recommended sealing supply air ducts (aero‑seal type products were discussed), but county staff said vendors told them the extent of leakage would not be cured by that method.

Officials tied the ventilation decision to completing related tasks needed to close out the roof project. Staff said Design Day would put its recommendation in writing and that the county needs inspections and system balancing sign-offs before final acceptances and payments. County staff recommended “option 3” from the consultant memo — removing the six‑exchange target, meeting IMC where applicable, and allowing the inspector to require additional balancing if necessary — as the pragmatic way to finish the work and avoid further repeated vendor billing.

During the meeting the commissioners and staff also discussed related follow-ups: removing obsolete rooftop radio equipment so antennas can be relocated, contracting a firm (Murphy) that won a bid to cut metal fittings, and scheduling the final communications‑equipment moves once sign‑offs are obtained.

The county recorded no formal ordinance or binding vote on a change to ventilation targets during this discussion; staff said they would request a written letter from Design Day and pursue the inspections/clearances needed to officially close the project.

County next steps include obtaining Design Day’s written recommendation, completing required building inspections and balancing where inspectors require it, and scheduling antenna relocation and metal‑fitting work already awarded to a contractor so the roofing award can be closed out without risking the ARPA-funded amount.

Ending: Staff asked that the consultant letter and inspection outcome be placed in the record so the commissioners can confirm whether further work is needed before final payment and project closeout.