Workers complained that a conference room inside a 4,000 square foot office space was stuffy. In addition, two people whose offices were on that floor were having increased asthma and allergy symptoms. Dust samples revealed that the mechanical system and some of the wall-to-wall carpeting were contaminated with mold. The conference room lacked adequate ventilation, resulting in elevated levels of carbon dioxide during meetings (which can cause the air to feel “stuffy”).
In the upper 2/3 of the photo is a cooling coil from an air conditioner. There is black mold growing in the dust on the fins. Below the coil, in the lower third of the photo on the bottom of the condensate pan is a large, red-colored patch of rust. Mold growth on cooling coils is extremely common because inadequate filtration allows dust to build up on the coil. Water from condensation on the coil fuels the mold growth in the dust which serves as nutrient for the microbes.
© 2024 Jeffrey C. May, M.A.