Montreat College Case Study

The Problem

A dormitory roof in Western North Carolina was replaced improperly. Due to the improper replacement the dormitory flooded several times. Because of excessive flooding and failure to dry the affected areas, it was deemed uninhabitable during a building inspection that revealed high levels of mold and moisture.

Project Outlook

Before anyone could enter the 28,000 sq. ft. dormitory, including five floors and over 80 rooms, they were required to wear personal protective equipment, including a respirator, due to the high levels of mold and 70% relative humidity. As the new school year was approaching, the college was under a deadline, which raised several questions such as, what steps to take, is there a reputable company large enough to handle the project, time restraints, and cost.

The Plan

After hiring First Restoration to manage the project, the following steps were taken to ensure the project was completed correctly:

• Project Deadline – FRS began the job on July 9, 2013 and was contracted to complete the job by August 1, 2013.
• Drying – It was important to begin with the drying process to lower the relative humidity.
• Testing – An Industrial Hygienist was hired to conduct testing and create a protocol for proper mold remediation.
• Remediation – Once the protocol was established, the building had to be cleaned by hand in its entirety then sealed.
• Cleaning – All contents including furniture and 4,000 pounds of bed linens had to be thoroughly cleaned.

Challenges

First Restoration faced several challenges; the primary obstacle being the 24-day deadline to remediate and clean the dormitory.

Due to the time constraint and magnitude of the project, it not only called for FRS personnel to work seven days a week for 8-10 hours a day, but also required them to wear full PPE in a non-conditioned  environment. Keeping morale high and employees motivated was extremely important during this process.

Cross contamination was also a challenge. However, measures such as engineering controls, containment in entryways and negative air in areas still affected were taken and contamination was prevented because of FRS’ proficient knowledge of mold remediation.

Project Timeline