Three Penn State dormitories were recently taken out of service because of a mold problem which is blamed on summertime humidity.
Earlier this month, staffers reported seeing mold on the carpets and furniture in three dorms; Runkle, Leete and Holmes Halls, all in the North Residence Halls complex.
Mold and mitigation specialists began cleaning the dorms last week. They’ve finished cleaning in Runkle Hall and half of Leete Hall. Cleanup should be completed by the end of this week.
Specialist are washing furniture, cleaning carpets and washing down walls where needed. They’ll also be checking ventilation systems for any other signs of growth. The mold is not considered a risk to occupants or employees.
“Mold is fairly common in this area when it gets to a high humidity,” says Penn State’s director of Housing, Conal Carr. He says mold is not as dangerous as people may think.
“There are a lot of rumors and speculations that are associated with mold. And there’s some fear of mold,” says Carr. “But mold is common in our environment.”
It would take quite awhile for mold to become harmful according to Carr who says the biggest problem is aesthetics and cleanliness.
“It’s certainly not pleasant to look at,” he says. “It’s not much more of what you or I would do at home,” says Carr. “It’s just that this company was able to do it on a larger scale.”
The three halls are temporarily out of service for residents but will be reopened for conference guests and students long before classes resume in August.
Building managers are working with Penn State’s Office of Physical Plant steps to control humidity levels in the buildings, which is considered the key to solving the mold problem.
