Starting on Oct. 1, South Carrick Hall will undergo a remediation process due to an increase in mold — or humidity — related maintenance requests from residents.
The remediation process will include removal of the HVAC fan coil units, cleaning of units with an antimicrobial and anti-fungal agent, complete replacement of all insulation within each unit with mold and microbial resistant insulation, and replacement of the cleaned fan coils.
Third-party private contractor and certified microbial remediation company, Belfor Property Restoration, will be doing the remediations.
After several residents reported finding mold in their rooms, UT Housing’s maintenance crew inspected and tested several rooms suspected of having mold. UT Environmental Health and Safety collected air samples that were later analyzed by an independent lab. UT Housing’s notice stated that the results indicated that “while mold growth was found in the mechanical components and insulation of the HVAC units of some student rooms, air quality testing did not indicate significant levels of airborne mold spores or other pathogens.”
The report didn’t name the mold found in some rooms at South Carrick, but noted that the mold was determined to not be “Stachybotrys chartarum,” more commonly known as “black mold,” and that the actual mold found in the rooms is common in the region where South Carrick is located and “(poses) no wellness risks to individuals with healthy immune systems.”
Residents in South Carrick will receive individual emails with the time scheduled for remediation work in their rooms and instructions on how to prepare their rooms for the work to be done. With the work requiring a “sealed and negatively pressurized environment,” students will not be allowed to be in their rooms during the process. The notice suggested a few places students could go while the work is being done, such as the hall’s study rooms and common areas.
The report did not stipulate how long Belfor would take to finish the remediation work for the whole building, but stated that during the month of October, the contractor will complete half a residential floor per day, Mondays through Saturdays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
“It is our commitment as well as Belfor’s to complete this work with minimal interruption to your daily routine,” UT Housing’s report stated. “We apologize for the inconvenience this presents and request your patience.”
