DATE: Wednesday, April 23, 1997             TAG: 9704230462

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: BARCO                             LENGTH:   73 lines

CURRITUCK SCHOOL CALLED A ``SICK BUILDING'' BARCO STRUCTURE IS HIT BY MOLD.

The unfinished Currituck County High School, months behind schedule and costing more than expected, now has a new problem: It's what is known as a ``sick building.''

Health-hazardous molds are growing on fireproofing material throughout the $16-million structure. Some molds contain organisms known to trigger allergies, while others can cause flu-like symptoms.

School and county officials met Tuesday morning to review an air quality assessment prepared this week by a Norfolk industrial hygienist.

The report recommends first fixing the moisture problem that led to the infestation and then aggressive abatement of contaminated materials.

``We've got to protect the safety and welfare of every person that's in that building,'' said Commissioner Owen Etheridge.

County officials said it is Trafalgar House Construction's responsibility to completely remove molds and mildew.

Contacted by telephone Tuesday afternoon, a project manager for the general contractor referred all media inquiries to his company's home office in Florida.

Dominic Macaione, the chief executive officer and spokesman for the company, was out of the country and unavailable for comment.

Skip Sanders, the school system's director of planning and facilities, said the New York bonding company responsible for completion of the project has been notified of the report and is expected to act promptly.

``It's an extremely urgent situation, and we want it taken care of ASAP,'' Sanders told members of the boards of commissioners and education.

It was Sanders and project manager Staley Powell who first noticed mold colonies last summer in one wing of the 165,000-square-foot building in Barco.

The problem is believed to be the result of roof leaks that saturated fireproofed materials underneath. Those areas eventually will be covered with ceiling tiles.

The number and size of the colonies later expanded into other parts of the building after the heating and air-conditioning system was turned on.

``Now that the weather is getting warmer, and the air is moist, we feel like we're going to start seeing a lot more areas pop up,'' Sanders said.

Trafalgar House employees have repeatedly treated fungal blooms with a bleach solution, but the measure has proved futile.

Heavy concentrations of two mold species - penicillium and aspergillus - are particularly problematic.

``Their presence is a special concern since these organisms are sensitizers to which a large number of people react. Even light airborne concentrations of these organisms will often result in a large number of health-related complaints,'' wrote Richard A. Vogel Jr. of TC Consultants Inc., of Norfolk.

Vogel assessed the air quality at the new school earlier this month at the request of school officials.

In addition to moist conditions, schools Superintendent Ronnie Capps said the mold problem may have been aided by untidy work sites.

The general contractor, Capps said, did not daily clean up dirty areas or water spills, which can help spread airborne spores.

Both boards said they would not assume occupancy of the building until the problem was fixed and they are satisfied the building is safe.

The latest completion date is late June. It originally was to open in August 1996. ILLUSTRATION: MOLD COLONIES

It was Skip Sanders and project manager Staley Powell who first

noticed mold colonies last summer in one wing of the

165,000-square-foot building in Barco.

The problem is believed to be the result of roof leaks that

saturated fireproofed materials underneath. Those areas eventually

will be covered with ceiling tiles.

The number and size of the colonies later expanded into other parts

of the building after the heating and air-conditioning system was

turned on. KEYWORDS: MOLD SICK BUILDING SCHOOL

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