GREENVILLE, SC — Mold and other indoor air quality (IAQ) problems that may sicken teachers and students can lead to sizable contracts for mechanical contractors, with projects sometimes in the multimillion-dollar range. Such concerns also suggest architects, designers, and contractors should be sure the hvac systems they specify and install don’t create problems once a new or remodeled school is occupied. They should be equally careful in any renovation and repairs to avoid creating further IAQ problems, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in its “Air Quality Tools for Schools” literature.
A 1995 General Accounting Office (GAO) report said that more than 50% of the country’s schools have poor ventilation and significant sources of pollution. Case in point: Buena Vista Elementary School in Greer, SC, part of the Greenville County School District. In 1999, symptoms of Sick-Building Syndrome and the resultant diagnosis resulted in a $7.7 million renovation project, $4.9 million of which was handled by Best Mechanical, headquartered in Seneca, SC.