Mold cleanup begins on Fort Hays State dorms

Laura McMillan
·2 min read

HAYS, Kan. (KSNW) – Crews are at Fort Hays State University on Monday to begin removing mold from two of the campus residence halls. The work is expected to take two months to complete.

Earlier this month, KSN News reported that some students claimed to have mold in their dorm rooms. Some of the students said they were suffering from respiratory issues due to mold exposure.

FHSU hired a team of industrial hygienists from Wichita’s iSi Environmental to inspect McMindes Hall and Victor E. Village, the two residence halls students and parents complained about.

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The university says iSi found possible mold in the interior insulation of two through-the-wall heating and cooling units in McMindes Hall. Samples were sent to a lab for testing. According to iSi, the lab confirmed the presence of two forms of allergen-producing mold.

Based on those tests and the recommendation of iSi, FHSU hired Restore and Clean to begin cleaning on Monday. The university says Restore and Clean is a bonded and insured commercial and residential cleaning and restoration company. It is also Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certified.

Beginning Monday, the cleaning crews will open every through-the-wall heating and air conditioning unit in McMindes Hall. They will replace the unit’s interior insulation and vacuum and deep cleaning each unit, whether or not there is visible mold. They will also clean surface areas and overhead pipes in each room.

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Once the teams are finished at McMindes Hall, they will begin on Victor E. Village.

FHSU says that based on tests, iSi data, and Restore and Clean’s assessment, students can stay in the dorms for now.

Students will be given 24-48 hours notice of when the team will be on their floor. The students must stay out of their rooms for approximately four hours while the remediation work is done and for any chemical odors to dissipate.

Workers will prep the rooms to ensure the containment of airborne particulate. They will also bag and remove any disposable materials used in the remediation.

Any students with immediate concerns about their residence hall space are encouraged to submit a work order online at https://www.fhsu.edu/reslife/Forms/, and any student with a particular health concern may reach out to Residential Life at 785-628-4245.

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