Mold & Mildew Prevention
As part of the University’s Mold Management Plan, the Office of Residence Life and Housing provides the following information about the potential for mold/mildew.
If you see or suspect mold immediately call Facilities and Campus Services at 336.758.4255 to have the area inspected.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at housing@wfu.edu or 336.758.5185.
THINGS TO KNOW
- Molds produce allergens, but like any other allergen, exposed individuals will respond differently.
- If you are having symptoms you believe may be the result of mold allergens, make an appointment with Deacon Health for an examination. Deacon Health can be reached at 336.758.5218.
- The EPA reports that “there is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture”.
- Wake Forest University does have a Mold Management Plan in place to identify and treat areas of potential mold growth.
LEARN MORE FROM THE EPA
Molds are part of the natural environment and can be found everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Mold is not usually a problem unless it begins growing indoors.
The best way to control mold growth is to control moisture. The EPA website provides guidance about mold and moisture for homes, schools, multifamily and commercial buildings.
TIPS FOR PREVENTING GROWTH
- Do not open windows while heating or cooling units are operating. This will cause condensation and may contribute to mold growth.
- Do not place furniture or other items in front of heating and cooling units that can obstruct airflow.
- Do not place potted plants or any other source of moisture on or around heating and cooling units.
- Set thermostats no lower than 70 degrees when cooling and no higher than 74 degrees when heating your room, fans should be set on low speed.
- Do not leave wet or damp clothes, towels or shoes in closets. Set them out on a drying rack until completely dry.
- Please empty your room and bathroom trash on a regular basis, do not let it accumulate in your room.
- Do not use foam mattress pads on your bed, they do not allow air circulation between the pad and our waterproof mattresses.
FAQ
Yes, and in every other building you normally occupy, including your home, and outside, all the time. Mold spores are always present in outside air and indoor air, except in sterile environments such as certain laboratories and medical spaces.
When mold is detected, the University follows the mold management plan to remediate the problem.
Maybe. Mold spores are always floating in the air and will grow when they have the right amount of moisture. Condensation around windows or on pipe insulation, for example, can allow certain types of fungus to grow. What you see could also just be dirt, dust, and particulates that settle and collect on those surfaces.
If a student thinks there is a mold issue in their room, they should immediately contact Facilities & Campus Services at 336-758-4255 or workorders.wfu.edu. Students may also choose to notify the Office of Residence Life and Housing (housing@wfu.edu) in addition to notifying Facilities & Campus Services. Prompt reporting by students is important for the University’s mold management plan.
- Staff members trained to identify and assess mold check the area in question.
- If mold is found, the University’s mold management plan is activated by Facilities and Campus Services. Developed in conjunction with third-party industrial hygienists, all practices in the plan are in line with guidelines provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Wake Forest has several methods of responding to reports of mold growth, in accordance with the University’s Mold Management Plan:
- Affected areas are cleaned and treated with products that have mold inhibitors
- When mold growth requires complex or sizable (greater than 10 sq ft) remediation, the University works with a third party abatement contractor to address the issue.
Student Health Service frequently sees patients concerned about common seasonal illnesses such as the flu, “stomach bugs” and respiratory illnesses that might affect their ability to keep up with academic commitments and social activities. The Student Health Service tracks these illnesses closely and looks for any meaningful trends.
One of the challenges of being a student on a college campus is exposure to illnesses among friends, classmates and hallmates. Communal living environments – as well as busy, active lifestyles – contribute to college students’ risk of contracting common contagious illnesses.
Yes. Wake Forest has benchmarked our procedures against a number of other universities.
Mold produces allergens, but like any other allergen, exposed individuals will respond differently. Some may have no reaction, others may experience hay fever-type symptoms and others may experience more significant symptoms. It is important to keep in mind that many students new to North Carolina will experience seasonal allergy symptoms, even without a prior history of this condition. Symptoms typically will arise during the first or second year at Wake Forest. Having never experienced problems with seasonal allergies, many students may attribute these symptoms to a sinus infection or become concerned that there is mold in their residence hall.
Mold is not regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Mold is a natural byproduct of various conditions, often occurring in warm and moist environments where there is abundant vegetation such as trees, landscaping plants, and ground coverings. According to the EPA, mold cannot be totally eliminated in the environment unless extreme measures are taken constantly, as would be the case in a “clean room” laboratory.
Indoor sources for mold may be leaking pipes, standing water, damp clothing or towels and condensation in the area.
Recommendations:
- Keeping your space open, clean and dry will prevent mold growth and will reduce the amount of dust, dust mites, particulates and other allergens in the air.
- Operate your heating/cooling units within proper parameters. Do not leave windows open during cold weather while running the heat, not during hot weather while running the air conditioning.
- Never leave damp material like clothes, towels or shoes on the floor or any other surface, they give an ideal environment for mold.
- Don’t overcrowd your space with furniture and other items. Keep all furniture and other materials away from heating/cooling units to allow proper airflow and to prevent creating dark, cramped spaces where mold can flourish.
- Immediately report any leak or sign of water intrusion or suspected mold that you notice.