New building designed to eliminate mold problem

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New building designed to eliminate mold problem

College Heights Herald,KY*

nne Hale

Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News

http://media.www.wkuherald.com/media/storage/paper603/news/2008/05/01

/News/New-Building.Designed.To.Eliminate.Mold.Problem-3360021.shtml

An unwelcome resident makes its home in Tate Page Hall. Recognized

by its musty odor, it can wreak havoc on the health of the

building's inhabitants.

The intruder is mold, and it's one of the big reasons for the

planned move to the new College of Education and Behavioral Sciences

building, said Sharon Hartz, building coordinator for Tate Page.

Construction on the building will begin in August and will be

completed in 2010, said Doug Ault, director of planning, design and

construction.

The new building will employ technology more suited to today's

teacher education program, Hartz said.

It will have a more environment-friendly design that will help ward

off the presence of mold, she said.

The mold has been an ongoing problem for Tate Page, she said.

It's existed in the building for more than 20 years, said Sam ,

dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Science.

But being more aware of it during the past five or six years has

helped keep the mold issue under control.

Environmental Health and Safety does regular testing on the building

to ensure that mold doesn't reach an elevated level, said.

If it reaches an elevated level, the team works to enclose or remove

the mold, he said.

The outdated HVAC system causes mold in Tate Page, he said.

The air conditioning units sweat, increasing the potential for mold

growth.

Evaluating ventilation systems helps control mold, said Mark

Pendley, director for Environmental Health and Safety.

Workers cleaned ductwork and replaced filters in Tate Page,

said.

Tate Page has addressed the mold issue in big parts of the building

through two major eradications, he said.

Other work was done on smaller areas too.

Tate Page isn't the only campus building with mold. It's been found

in at least one dorm, said Kuster, director for Housing and

Residence Life.

Last spring, mold was found and removed in one of the dorm

bathrooms, he said. Kuster said he didn't remember which dorm it was

in.

Housing and Residence Life tries to reduce the presence of mold by

cleaning cooling units in dorms that could contain mold, he said.

Mold isn't just found indoors though; it can be found found

anywhere, Pendley said.

It can cause nasal congestion, eye and skin irritation, wheezing and

fever, he said.

Some people are more sensitive to mold than others, said.

Mold by itself usually doesn't cause illness, Pendley said.

The spores through which mold reproduces land on damp or wet places,

grow and can cause irritation.

Pendley expects to hear more about the presence of mold as the

summer approaches because of the increasing humidity, he said.

Mold sightings can be reported on the Environmental Health and

Safety Web site.

Reach nne Hale at news@....