UH library's $685,500 roof flawed
By Jim Dooley
Advertiser Staff Writer
A new $685,500 roof being installed on Hamilton Library at the University of Hawai'i has serious construction flaws and must be replaced, meaning months more inconvenience for library users trying to obtain rare and valuable materials from the library's fifth floor.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
The project was about two-thirds complete when university officials ordered work stopped on May 31. After university officials inspected the new roof, they "determined that the installation of the roofing material did not meet the technical specifications and requirements in the contract and would need to be removed and replaced," UH Vice President Paul Costello said yesterday.
Hamilton Library's fifth-floor collection has been protected in plastic for months, and may have to remain that way until a flawed roof is redone.
Costello said contractors would have to do over the work at their own expense. It is unclear when the work will be completed.
Alan Meier, principal of the roofing subcontractor, M&M Pacific, Inc., said the problem could be attributed to bad design, faulty material or a "smoke elimination" apparatus the university required him to use on the job to burn off noxious vapors from heated asphalt.
"We're confident it's not a workmanship problem" Meier said.
Eric Soto, president of the general contractor, PER, Inc., said he's working with the roofing materials manufacturer on a plan to remedy the situation.
Since March, the special collections section of the library that contains the Hawaiian, Pacific, Jean Charlot and rare collections, has been swathed in plastic sheeting to protect the books. Librarians declined comment yesterday on the roofing problems.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
The original roofing subcontractor on the job, Leeward Roofing, Inc., was replaced by M&M Pacific "as a result of a dispute between PER and Leeward," according to Costello.
Construction materials lie in wait. Contractors will replace the roof at their own cost, UH says.
M&M began the re-roofing work in March and there were several incidents which "raised safety concerns" including "flash fires" in the asphalt heating kettle, Costello said.
"There's speculation that the asphalt was overheated or underheated or defective," Meier said.
Costello said the university won't pay more for the extra work.
"All costs related to removal and re-installation of roofing materials would be the responsiblity of PER as the general contractor," Costello said.
So far, PER has been paid $423,000 of the $685,000 contract price. Although it's primarily a roofing job, other work, including air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, painting, waterproofing, sheet metal, and carpentry has also been performed, Costello said.
The library contract was not awarded under a new, expedited procurement system instituted by UH President Evan Dobelle last year after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Costello said.
Reach Jim Dooley at jdooley@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8447.
