Case Study - Mold Investigation
Project Overview
At the St. Jude Community Parish in Londonderry, the lower level of the church building contains a large assembly hall, a half-dozen classrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, and utility and storage closets. The lower level of the adjacent rectory building contains a mix of office space, a maintenance office, and storage rooms. Due to periodic flooding of the lower levels of both these buildings from seasonal high ground water, water damage to floor coverings and walls have occurred on multiple occasions. Following these flooding events, the church staff cleans the affected areas of the two buildings. As part of the cleanup efforts, any visible areas of mold growth are cleaned with a chlorine bleach solution. However, church staff became concerned that mold may be growing in areas that are not readily visible, and that indoor air quality throughout the buildings could be impacted as a result.
EnviroSense was retained to complete an assessment of potential mold growth and related impacts to indoor air at the church property. The mold assessment included conducting interviews with church personnel, performing an inspection of interior and exterior conditions, and collection of samples for mold spore analysis. During the inspection of the church property, amplification of mold growth was observed on sheetrock in the stairwell to the church kitchen, on sheetrock in the church basement assembly hall, on sheetrock within the church electrical closet, on sheetrock within the ministry closet, and on sheetrock in the storage closet of the boiler room where mops and associated cleaning supplies are stored. Amplification of mold growth was also observed on sheetrock at the south end of the main hallway in the basement portion of the rectory. Based on observations made by EnviroSense and information provided by church personnel, the source of moisture contributing to the amplification of mold growth in both the church and rectory buildings was confirmed to be periodic infiltration of groundwater. After completing a thorough inspection of both buildings, EnviroSense collected a total of 13 air samples and seven tape-lift samples from throughout the church and rectory for mold spore analysis. To evaluate potential mold growth in areas not visible or accessible for cleaning following flooding events, several of the air samples were obtained from inside wall cavities to assess mold levels within walls that have been repeatedly exposed to water damage. Laboratory analysis of the air and tape-lift samples indicated significant mold growth was present in the church basement assembly hall wall cavities and rectory basement hallway.
Based on the findings of this investigation, EnviroSense recommended that mold abatement work be completed to mitigate the extent of mold impacts at the Site. Since the source of moisture causing the amplification of mold within the church and rectory was due to ground water infiltration, EnviroSense cautioned that any mold abatement work should be considered temporary since future flooding events would allow conditions supportive of mold growth to return. As the church was in the process of planning an expansion of the church building to accommodate increasing attendance, which included the complete renovation of the entire existing structure, EnviroSense recommended that engineering controls be incorporated into the renovation work to prevent ground water infiltration and subsequent flooding, thereby allowing for a more permanent solution for preventing future mold impacts.
EnviroSense Role
- Completed a thorough inspection of church facilities for evidence of mold growth as well as moisture/water intrusion issues which could cause conditions to be prime for supporting mold growth.
- Interviewed church staff to obtain information regarding historical water damage and observed mold growth, as well as ascertain health concerns related to suspected indoor air quality impacts from mold.
- Documented observed mold impacts and water damage to building materials in field inspection notes and photographic catalog.
- Collected samples of observed mold growing within the facilities to identify the various species of mold present within the buildings via laboratory analysis.
- Collected air samples from within various areas of the church and rectory to assess if indoor air quality was negatively impacted from mold growth.
- Provided a detailed report summarizing the findings of the mold investigation and tabulating the laboratory data for the mold sample analyses, and presenting recommendations for addressing the identified mold impacts and preventing future mold issues from reoccurring.
