A builder completing a residential high-rise in downtown Manhattan identified odor fade in the building's gas system. The new piping was stripping odorant from the gas, meaning gas could reach appliances without enough odorant to reliably signal a leak. The building could not be turned over in that condition, and the density of the surrounding neighborhood ruled out any corrective method that released odorant to atmosphere. The builder brought in MRR.
Approach
MRR confirmed the fade through detectability testing, then conditioned the building's gas piping to saturate the surfaces absorbing the odorant. Conventional venting during conditioning would have released odorant across downtown Manhattan and generated leak calls to the local utility. MRR instead used controlled incineration, combusting the conditioning gas so no uncombusted odorant was released to atmosphere during the work. Detectability was verified throughout the building as conditioning progressed.
Outcome
The project ran two weeks from mobilization to completion. Odor fade was eliminated and detectability verified throughout the building, with no odor complaints from the surrounding area during the work. The builder received documentation of the testing and conditioning results, and the building's gas system was ready for turnover.
