Odour Issues at Karin Kampus Caused by Material Deviation and Incorrect Installation Method – Material Replacement to Begin in Summer
News
Odour-related issues have been detected in some areas of the Karin kampus since the building was taken into use. The issue has occurred, for example, in offices, lobby areas and staff social facilities. Investigations have not identified any deviations exceeding guideline values for indoor air quality, but further studies have been carried out.
The cause of the odour issue has been identified as a quality deviation in part of a carpet material delivery batch, along with an incorrect installation method. As a result, the textile carpets at the Karin kampus will be replaced. The material replacement will be carried out during the summer in cooperation with the contractor and the material supplier.
The City has been monitoring indoor air quality at the campus and has conducted several studies, including air, fibre and material sampling. No exceedances of health-based guideline values have been identified. However, users’ experiences of the odour issue have been taken seriously, and the underlying causes have been thoroughly investigated.
The City’s Facility Services have examined the matter in cooperation with the contractor, material suppliers and expert consultants. In addition to sample analyses, factors related to the materials, manufacturing process and installation of the carpets have been assessed.
Carpet Replacement to Begin in Summer in Cooperation with the Manufacturer and Contractor
Based on the investigations, two main causes of the odour issue have been identified.
– A production-related quality deviation was detected in part of the textile carpet batch delivered to the Karin kampus. According to the manufacturer, this issue has since been corrected. In addition, the carpets were installed in a manner that deviated from the manufacturer’s instructions, as they were permanently glued in place, which may have affected the performance of the material. We have therefore initiated the planning and implementation of corrective measures together with the contractor and the material manufacturer, says Kimmo Salminen, Construction Manager at the City of Rauma.
Corrective actions include the removal of defective or damaged materials, necessary new installations, and the verification of indoor air quality with the support of experts. The work will be carried out during the summer wherever possible, once final implementation solutions have been confirmed and operations allow. In the first phase, carpets will be removed and replaced in areas where odour issues have been reported most frequently. The total floor area of the Karin kampus is approximately 23,000 square metres, of which textile carpet has been installed in an area of 1,350 square metres.
The aim is to restore the facilities to normal use as quickly as possible and to minimise disruption to users.
– We would like to thank the Karin kampus staff for their patience and cooperation during the investigation process. Now we can focus on corrective measures together with the contractor and the material manufacturer, Salminen says.
