Renovations return to curb mold, humidity problems

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Renovations return to curb mold, humidity problems

By Lee Betancourt

McLean, VA

http://www.my.highschooljournalism.org/va/mclean/mhs/article.cfm?

eid=5162 & aid=76330

With any luck, the school's mold problems will be solved once and

for all over spring break.

Fifty-eight climate units are being replaced or repaired in the

blue, green, silver and yellow halls. The Fairfax County Office of

Design and Construction reviewed four bids, director of the Office

of Design and Construction Rauch said.

The replacement and repairs are expected to solve the mold problems

that have plagued teachers and their classrooms since renovations.

There has been mold in the foreign language and math bookroom, desks

were replaced in the foreign language hallway, and foreign language

department chair Ghislaine Tulou noted humidity levels commonly

around 70 percent in her classroom early this fall.

The lowest bid was for $420,000, which Rauch said was high because

it was for workers to complete the job " after hours, " at night and

on the weekends. Design and Construction resubmitted the bid making

provisions to the work to be done over Spring Break. Principal

Wardinski said this would drive the cost down by at least $150,000.

Rauch said the change in price would be " significant. "

" All four bids are from reputable companies, so we just have to come

to terms, " Rauch said.

The replacement was prompted by the ongoing humidity and mold

problems stemming from renovations, building engineer Jack

said. The units that were put in place are too large for the rooms.

They have the ability to cool the room very quickly, but don't

remove the humidity.

" We have a lot of sudden load changes, " said. " Classes aren't

used, and then they're suddenly filled. What happens with the

existing units is that they're able to compensate for load changes

quickly because they cool quickly. The new units may take longer to

catch up temperature wise but provide more dehumidification for

rooms. "

A number of changes have already been made in an effort to help with

the humidity problems that have plagued the school since renovations.

A new motorized ventilation system was installed in the library to

vent out to the roof. There is a crawl space underneath the library

that had cross ventilation before renovations. After the area was

bricked over, the moisture had no where to go.

Another effort to fix the mold and moisture problems was the

addition of between 40 and 50 dehumidifiers over the past few years,

Wardinski said. The architect/engineer from renovations reimbursed

the school for the money spent on the dehumidifiers, and is paying

for the new climate units.

Design and Construction performed many air quality tests earlier

this year, which prompted the office to approve the measure to

repair and replace the 58 units.

" They did trending on temperature and the special conditions of the

room, " said. " By virtue of analyzing the data they determined

which rooms really needed the attention. "

Even once the units are replaced, only time will tell if the problem

is resolved.

" We're going to have to give it a chance to work, " said. " It's

important that as it's put into operation, everybody maintains

active communication regarding their concerns. "