Fairly insignificant water damage caused very significant mold damage to a book vault at the University of Texas.
The Damages:
- An HVAC leak caused water damage to a rare book vault
- 1500 square feet containing 5000 volumes of rare books
- Mold-inundated commercial carpeting and drywall
- Microbial growth visible on the surfaces of the books
- Chairs, tables, and bookshelves damaged by water and mold
All Nation’s Response:
- The work area was placed under containment with negative pressure, which halted additional cross-contamination from the rest of the property
- Book stacks were wrapped during demolition to prevent further contamination and damage
- The carpeting was removed and the concrete flooring was treated with an antimicrobial agent
- Contaminated drywall was removed, and sub-surfaces were cleaned, disinfected, and encapsulated where necessary
- All surfaces were HEPA vacuumed, wiped, and HEPA vacuumed again to thoroughly remove mold spores
- We worked with UT’s book conservator to tailor an effective cleaning process for the rare books
- HEPA air filtration was used both inside and outside containment areas throughout the duration of remediation
- Commercial dehumidification units were employed to control the humidity and return it to a safe level
- The books were taken to be restored off-site while the vault was reconstructed, then returned upon completion
A severe case of mold contamination threatened rare books at the prestigious University of Texas. Fortunately, we responded immediately and sensitively when we were called. This enabled us to restore the space and the irreplaceable books it contained.
Discovering extensive mold infestation is frightening and looks impossible to remediate at first. If you ever experience something similar, now you know who to call.
