UNF Faculty Association

Faculty Association	February 6, 2003

WRITTEN RESPONSE

Statement from Interim President Kline

As you are aware, Building 11 has suffered from significant structural and design problems since its construction that have resulted in extensive damage by water intrusion. That in turn has resulted in mold in certain areas. Interior air tests of the building indicate the concentration of mold is less than the level present in the ambient air outside the building. After extensive analysis of problems with Building 11, and in consideration of the health and well-being of the university community, we relocated faculty, staff and students on the second floor of that structure to other facilities.
The cost and duration of the consultant engineering firm's recommended course of action (remediating water-damaged wallboard on the second floor) is prohibitive in part due to the design of the building and amount of damage. As this building already was scheduled for a major renovation after the fall 2003 opening of the Science and Engineering Building, we do not believe it would be wise to invest large sums of money at this time on remediation and repair of the damaged areas. While no final decision has been made to renovate or raze Building 11, the UNF Board of Trustees has requested $10 million as the top priority for PECO funding in the next legislative session. The final decision to raze or renovate will not be made until additional structural/engineering evaluations are completed and funding is secured.
While complete remediation of the second floor was not considered cost-effective, other recommendations from the consultant concerning duct cleaning and sealants were initiated in late October. Latex sealants were applied to the inside of air handling equipment and duct work to prohibit the buildup of debris on interior surfaces. These sealants, which exhibit biocidal properties, are approved by the EPA for HVAC applications. This application occurred after normal business hours, while the air handling equipment was not operating and under the supervision of a contractor licensed to clean HVAC systems. Material safety data sheets for these products have been provided to those who have requested them and continue to be available from the office of Environmental Health & Safety.
While there have been reports of illnesses from several occupants of Building 11, there has been no indication from medical evidence that any of the health issues were caused by occupancy in the building. However, in an abundance of caution, we have notified our worker's compensation insurance carrier and will assist any employee in filing a claim who believes they have an illness or serious health issue that may have resulted from their location in the second floor Building 11. To date, no claims have been filed.
Questions have been raised as to how the University determined what areas of Building 11 to sample. The sample locations for the testing of Building 11 were chosen to reflect the "worst-case scenario." Sample criteria included areas where water-damaged wallboard were evident and where occupant complaints had been received.
Additional testing has been completed on the first floor of Building 11 to verify the extent of water damage on that floor. Remediation on the first floor was not extensive and has been completed. The first-floor air test results do not show cause for concern at this time. A monthly monitoring program will be implemented to regularly inspect and test both floors until a final decision has been made regarding the future use of the building.
Any employee who continues to have concerns or who would like documentation of the engineering reports or test results should contact Dan Endicott at ext. 2019.