Mold in Edens Residence Hall Being Eradicated
Additional workers have been called in to clean the ducts and vents throughout Edens 2A, which is expected to be ready for move-in on Saturday.
Monday, August 17, 2009
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DURHAM, N.C. -- Crews are working round the clock to eradicate a common form of mold found last week in a residence hall on West Campus. The mold was discovered in a localized area of the hall’s ductwork during a maintenance check last week.
Additional workers have been called in to clean the ducts and vents throughout Edens 2A. The 88 students assigned to the residence hall will be reassigned to apartments on Swift Avenue for the duration of the cleaning process. Edens 2A is expected to be ready for move-in on Saturday.
All other residence halls that are part of the Edens Quadrangle have been tested and are unaffected. The cause of the mold in Edens 2A is still being investigated.
“When we discovered the mold, we started working on the problem immediately,” said Joe Gonzalez, associate dean for residential life. “The mold is not dangerous, but the process does require crews to enter every room to make sure all vents are clean.
“The work will go much faster if we keep the spaces clear for the crews to do their work, which is why the decision was made to house students elsewhere during this process.”
Mold was previously discovered in this residence hall in 2007. At that time, the air system was cleaned and coated with paint and new equipment was installed.
“Once the current problem has been remedied, a full assessment of why this is happening will be undertaken, and additional prevention measures will be identified,” said Gary Thompson, director of facilities operations.
“This problem is not unique to Duke,” Thompson added. “It’s common to buildings throughout the South. When cool, air-conditioned air meets with hot summer air, there is condensation, which in turn can lead to mold.”
The Office of Residential Life and Housing Services has sent an email to all students assigned to Edens 2A informing them of the situation and encouraging those not already on campus to delay their return to Durham until Saturday, if possible. Students who opt to arrive before Saturday will be allowed to move their possessions into their rooms, but will not be allowed to stay there.
Wayne Thomann, director of Duke’s Occupational and Environmental Safety Office (OESO), said his office was contacted immediately upon discovery of the mold. OESO inspectors are collecting air and surface samples inside and outside the building. Preliminary test results indicate the mold inside the buildings is common to our local outdoor environment.
