Mold madness

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Mold madness

InsideVandy - Nashville,TN*

Submitted by Aryeh Hillman on 03-20-08

http://www.insidevandy.com/drupal/node/7003

Freshmen in Kissam Quad — like many of their predecessors — fight

with issues of mold and mildew.

Kissam and mold. About 600 freshmen sing the same song each year,

but that hasn't done much to help the problem.

Mold growth is not new to the poorly ventilated dorms in Kissam

Quad. Freshmen and parents alike are disgusted each year by the

problem.

" It's just kind of gross, " said freshman McBride. " I know some

of our parents were kind of surprised that we were living in a dorm

where there was mold growing because it's in the majority of the

rooms in this hall. "

Though it is often difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons for mold,

it is clear that sources of water are required for its growth.

" We're in Middle Tennessee, (and there is a) very high-humidity

climate in this area, " said Jim Kramka, senior director of housing

facilities, operation and management.

" When the weather changes, when it gets colder outside, windows,

especially windows with metal frames, conduct the cold so you get

condensation, " Kramka said. " Where you get condensation of moisture

if it doesn't evaporate quickly, it can became a (place) for mold

(and) mildew to grow. "

A recent leak in an old pipe in Dyer Hall, for example, was

responsible for significant mold growth underneath the carpet in the

hallway. It was enough to revolt some freshmen who were already

leery of Kissam Quad.

" The mold caused an air bubble in the linoleum, " said freshman Leah

Vanderwerp. " I haven't had any problems with mold in my room, but

it's pretty gross. (There was) black stuff all over the metal part

of the window frame. "

Officials at Vanderbilt, including Kramka, feel there are

principally three reasons for the mold growth in Kissam Quad.

And one of those is adherence to new fire codes.

" I don't know exactly know when this happened, but a fire inspector

came through and said, `The vents in the door are a fire hazard, you

have to close them.' So we closed them, " Kramka said. " What that

(means) is that you have less circulation from the room to the

hallway, for instance. And so that can trap moisture in a room under

certain conditions. "

Secondly, they believe that the orientation of student's furniture

can contribute to problems.

" If (furniture) gets up against (walls), that can trap that

moisture, " said Kramka, who mentioned there were plans to switch out

the curtains in the rooms for blinds, which allow for more air

circulation.

Kramka also explained that, unlike residents in other dorms,

students in Kissam Quad have complete control over special

individual air-handling units. These units, in addition to

controlling air temperature, remove moisture from the air, and many

students choose to never use them. Dorms in Branscomb Quad, on the

other hand, have centralized air conditioning systems that

constantly run throughout the day.

According to Dr. Jonas Kalnas, a mold and occupational health expert

at Vanderbilt Medical Center, the configuration of air conditioning

systems are important to maintaining the correct amount of moisture

in the air.

" Air conditioning units are very important, because air conditioning

units cool the air and also dry the air, " Kalnas said.

Taken together, however, it's not entirely clear the reasons that

officials have cited for the mold problems give a complete picture

of the problem. Students in mold-free Vanderbilt/Barnard Hall, for

example, have freedom over their furniture arrangement, individual

air units and do not have any air vents in their rooms.

Moreover, the dorms in The Commons also are similar to rooms in

Kissam in that they also do not have any vents in their rooms and

have controllable air units - but no mold grows there, either.

Kramka said he still feels students who run their air conditioning

regularly and keep their bed away from the walls should be able to

prevent problems with mold.

" One, keep the fan up. My air handler runs 24 hours a day, seven

days a week, " Kramka said. " The other thing is keep bedding fabrics

away from those walls. "

Still, despite following all recommendations, students like freshman

Bates have had issues with air quality and mold.

" Our (resident advisers) in October sent suggestions to prevent mold

in our rooms, " Bates said. " They told us we should run our AC on a

medium setting, and since then I've been doing that, but when my mom

visited in February she said that she could smell the mold in my

room, which is kind of a disgusting thought. "

For now, Kramka and his team are fighting the problem on a case-by-

case basis.

" You try to address the source of the moisture, " Kramka said. " If

there's not moisture, there's not going to be growth. Identify that

process, you remediate the area through cleaning, and you're good to

go. "

— Aryeh Hillman can be reached at aryeh.b.hillman@...