Flood in Grace Hall leads to mold, relocates team

[Guest guest]

Flood in Grace Hall leads to mold, relocates team

Lehigh University The Brown and White - Bethlehem,PA*

By a Russial

10/15/2007

http://www.bw.lehigh.edu/story.asp?ID=20968

Facility services discovered mold in Grace Hall on May 29 after a

leak in the building's heating, ventilation and air conditioning

system caused water to flood the floor of the Leeman- Arena in

Grace Hall.

" The leak had caused numerous floor boards to warp and buckle, " said

Falasca, director of facility services and head of the Grace

Hall construction project. " In an attempt to save the floor,

perimeter baseboards were removed around the floor and fans were run

for one week to remove any excess moisture. "

A similar procedure was used to preserve the floor in Gym

after a leak.

However, even after the perimeter baseboards in Grace Hall were

removed, the floor did not improve.

" After a week with no improvement to the floor, a repair crew from

the company who installed the floor was brought in to begin removal

of the damaged boards, " Falasca said. " During the removal process,

mold was discovered on the bottom side of the plywood sub floor. "

Precautions were taken to protect students and staff after the mold

was discovered.

" Lehigh's director of environmental health and safety was brought in

to take air samples, which tested positive for mold, " Falasca

said. " These positive samples required the space to be closed for

use until the cleanup was completed. "

Because of the construction in Grace Hall, the volleyball team has

been moved to Gym.

" Facilities have worked with athletics on this issue, " Falasca

said. " The athletics staff has handled the affected teams. "

Cristianson, '11, a member of the women's varsity volleyball

team, has only played games in Gym, and has never played in

Grace Hall.

" I'm a freshman, so I haven't experienced playing in Grace Hall, "

Christianson said.

According to Falasca, this project is being managed for facilities

services by Assistant Director Kasten, who is the building

manager assigned to Grace Hall.

" Kasten is working with athletics staff and the two contractors, as

well as Lehigh's environmental health and safety staff, " Falasca

said.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency,

molds are a part of the natural environment.

According to the EPA Web site, molds have the potential to cause

health problems.

Molds produce allergens, irritants and, in some cases, potentially

toxic substances called mycotoxins.

The Web site also details the possible symptoms of mold allergies

and says that while they are common, they are generally not

dangerous.

Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic

reactions in sensitive individuals.

Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as

sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rash-dermatitis, the Web

site said.

However, Falasca said students are not in great danger because of

this mold problem.

It is being dealt with quickly and efficiently and should be

completed within the next few weeks, Falasca said.

In order to finish this project quickly and with as little

inconvenience as possible to students and sports teams, Falasca said

he began looking at ways to get rid of the mold in an efficient

manner.

" A plan was devised to remove the wooden flooring until no more mold

was found, " Falasca said. " Unfortunately, the mold was widespread,

resulting in the removal of the entire floor. "

The floor removal and mold remediation was headed by ACM Mold and

Asbestos Abatement Contractor and Associates in town.

The floor removal project was set to be finished on Oct. 8.

The flood had visibly been plastered in some areas, but no new

flooring had been installed.

" Installation of the new floor will begin shortly after this, with a

completion target date of October 28, " Falasca said.

A renovation of this extent is expected to be relatively expensive,

but Falasca said facility services does not know what the actual

cost will be in the end.

" At this time, final costs are unknown, but will be significant, "

Falasca said. " An insurance claim has been filed, but no

determination has been made as yet to the extent of coverage. "