Like most other indoor air quality problems in institutional and commercial facilities, mold growth occurs silently and over time, often making it difficult for maintenance and engineering managers and their staffs to detect and address the problem. If left unchecked, mold growth can create major headaches for managers and the general public, as one city is finding out.
The Norman Central Library in Oklahoma recently announced it will shut down for at least five months due to massive amounts of growing mold found after a recent investigation, according to KFOR. The investigation began on Nov. 14, and results came the next day showing the large amount of mold.
City officials said the problem could have been around since the construction of the building. Since the building’s construction, they said there have been issues with a leaky roof, leaky windows and more.
City staff hired a contractor to examine water intrusion issues in recent weeks, and during that examination, indications of possible mold were visible, but after a test, it became an issue.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
