(See pdf here.)
[img]2484|right|James Wright||no_popup[/img]Moving mercurially to blunt the force of last week’s city-certified condemnation of conditions at the Culver City Ice Arena, rink officials yesterday posted a devastating counter assessment by an independent refrigeration expert that torpedoed both the authenticity and accuracy of the city consultant’s claims.
James D. Wright, P.E., principal of Wright Engineering Associates, Fullerton, is the author of a blistering 28-page report of his Monday on-site inspection, that held numerous claims were insupportable or irrelevant.
“It is my opinion that the assessment should be considered invalid,” Mr. Wright said. “The assessment should be resubmitted, stamped and signed by the author, with only his observations and opinions.
“The assessment contains flawed observations and inaccurate conclusions, overreaches its scope as a refrigeration specialty expert, has exaggerated and repeated observations.”
Responding to City Hall’s abrupt findings that the Arena was a public health hazard because of the presence of ammonia, Mr. Wright stated flatly:
“There is no ammonia or hazardous material in the arena facility.”
Charges that public health-threatening ammonia exists on the premises are utterly false, Mr. Wright said.
Citing assertion after assertion made by Alliance Industrial Refrigeration Services – whose charges are due to close the rink indefinitely by 5 p.m. Friday – Mr. Wright said the signee repeatedly violated the state code, never came to the rink himself, and consistently mischaracterized and overreached.
In contrast to Alliance’s repeated assertions that it will be necessary for the rink to be completely shut down to facilitate needed changes, Mr. Wright said the upgrades may be made while the Ice Arena actively is operating.
As an analog to these explosive new accusations, it appears that Bill Clements, the opaque refrigeration expert of proliferating opinions who is claiming loyalty to at least two, possibly three, sides in this controversy, has been muzzled by City Hall. The fear may be that speaking out could weaken its case against the ice rink.
Mr. Wright said the city-sponsored assessment “is tainted by potential conflict of interest since Alliance is a competing industrial refrigeration service contractor.”
Quoting repeatedly from the assessment by Alliance and then countering their accusations, here is a sampling of Mr. Wright’s citations:
• Alliance: “Compression tank has significant formation of exterior ice.”
Wright: “This is a brine tank – not related to refrigeration. Observation is unrelated to ammonia safety.”
• Alliance: “Gates enclosing the compressor.”
Wright: “No gate encloses the compressor. Both gates and machinery room doors have locks.”
• Alliance: “Significant floor heaving…ice under floor.”
Wright: “Not ammonia; CaCl salt brine.
“Floor condition in rink area – not related.”
• Alliance: “Post evacuation maps throughout the facility.”
Wright: “There is no ammonia or hazardous material in the arena facility.
“Exits for the arena are clearly marked, visible, known and understood.
“This is a common requirement for refrigerated cold storage and food processing areas where ammonia refrigerant is in the cooling coils of inhabited space, where Alliance does much of their business.”
Under the category “Incorrect Observations and Wrong Conclusions,” Mr. Wright listed 14 separate errors.
