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Many years ago, the term “sick building” was a little more in the public eye than it has been as of late. No, it doesn’t mean a building has a cold, the flu, or sore throat. The term “sick building syndrome” (SBS) describes situations whereby building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building. However, no specific illness or cause can be readily identified. Complaints may be relegated to a particular room or zone, or may be more widespread. Others sometime refer to “building related illness” (BRI). This term is used when the symptoms are diagnosable and an illness is identified. To have a BRI - the source of the illness can be directly attributable to airborne building contaminants.

A commercial roofing contractor understands the importance of a quality installation which includes eliminating areas where moisture and other contaminants can breach the roofing system. The roofing contractor also understands the importance of excellent ventilation.

From the Environmental Protection Agency:

A 1984 World Health Organization Committee report suggested that up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (IAQ). Often this condition is temporary, but some buildings have long-term problems. Frequently, problems result when a building is operated or maintained in a manner that is inconsistent with its original design or prescribed operating procedures. Sometimes indoor air problems are a result of poor building design or occupant activities.

Indicators of Sick Building Syndrome:

• Building occupants complain of symptoms associated with acute discomfort, e.g., headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors.
• The cause of the symptoms is not known.
• Most of the complainants report relief soon after leaving the building.

Indicators of Building Related Illness:

• Building occupants complain of symptoms such as cough; chest tightness; fever, chills; muscle aches
• The symptoms can be clinically defined and have clearly identifiable causes.
• Complainants may require prolonged recovery times after leaving the building.

There are as many potential causes for Sick Building Syndrome, which may include:

• Inadequate ventilation
• Chemical contaminants from indoor sources
• Chemical contaminants from outdoor sources
• Biological contaminants, including mold

Recently, concerns about mold and fungi growing in indoor environments have caused major concern and protest among various building-related trades and businesses. Adding fuel to this fire - insurance companies and various governmental agencies (particularly OSHA) are also in the mix. Trying to prevent and/or mitigate workplace mold can be time-consuming, disruptive, and expensive.

Molds can grow on virtually any surface as long as moisture, oxygen, and an organic source are present. Molds proliferate by creating spores (viable seeds) that usually cannot be seen without the aid of magnification. Mold spores continually float through the indoor and outdoor air.

Molds are usually not a problem unless mold spores land on a damp spot and begin to grow. They digest whatever they land on in order to survive and spread. Molds can grow on: paper, wood, food, carpeting, upholstery, food, insulation, etc. The list of of places where mold can settle in and “set up shop” is virtually endless. There are even molds that can live on the very dust and dirts that gather in the moist regions of a building on a daily basis.

When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth often will occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains uncorrected. One of the most difficult places to discover workplace mold is in the roofing system! The high protection that we take for granted every day is often “out of sight - out of mind.” Unless regular inspections are undertaken, it can be a long time - time for molds to take serious hold and spread - before it’s discovered. While it is impossible to eliminate all molds and spores, controlling moisture goes a long way towards controlling indoor mold growth. A quality roofing system using the latest technology is one of the best defenses against workplace mold!

Molds gradually damage building materials and furnishings. If left unchecked, mold can eventually cause structural damage to wood framed buildings, weakening floors, walls, and roofing decks as it feeds on moist wooden structural members. If you suspect that mold has damaged building integrity, consult a structural engineer or other professional with the appropriate expertise at once.

Since mold requires water/moisture to grow, it is important to prevent excessive moisture in commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential buildings. Many of today’s moisture problems in buildings are linked to changes in building construction practices since the 1970s. Those changes, which resulted in tightly sealed buildings with dramatically reduced ventilation, contributed to moisture vapor buildup. Buildings need to breathe! Other moisture problems may result from roof leaks, landscaping or gutters that direct water into or under a building, or unvented combustion appliance. Delayed or insufficient maintenance may contribute to moisture problems in buildings. We wrote about the recent “stop-gap” measure of installing ceiling drains in our article “It Pays to Act Now, Not Later.” Such cheap repairs can actually hasten the development of mold by introducing more moisture into the building.

In the event that mold growth is identified in a building - remediation and cleanup is absolutely necessary.

So, if your roof is outdated and/or you know that your roofing system is in need of upgrade or replacement - you may need to take a look at taking care of that issue now. The potential liability associated with workplace mold, particularly if it causes your employees or customers serious health issues, will cost far more to your organization than your investment in the latest roofing systems available to you.

If you’re an organization in the Philadelphia, Buck County, Berks County, Montgomery County, the Lehigh Valley and many of the other surrounding regions - please give us at V.A. Morelli Construction, Inc. a call today and see how we can tend to your building’s roofing needs.

Our greatest challenge today is impressing upon the potential client why it pays to act now and not later on roofing repair issues.  People often fail to consider the repercussions of delaying the necessary (and often urgent) attention required for the one aspect of their organization that protects every other asset within - the roof.

It really boils down to this:  Pay for it appropriately now, or pay a lot more for it later.

Our efforts are designed to convince the clients that capital expenditures for their roofing system truly needs to be higher on their priority list.  All too often, a roofing contractor is called upon too late, when the roofing system is failing and other areas of the business are being adversely affected:

• Ceiling tiles need replacement.
• Mold intrusion into the facility.
• Carpeting needs to be replaced.
• IT and Server rooms have been breached by water.
• Furniture and file systems are affected.

The hesitancy becomes more evident when I share with you the growing businesses associated with installation of ceiling drains.  Ceiling drains are devices designed to fit into a drop ceiling grid to channel water leaks through a hose to a collection bucket.  It’s a stop-gap that prolongs the enduring damage that is evident in the roofing system.  It doesn’t stop the water infiltration into the roofing system itself.  The corrosion that is affecting the steel structure of the roofing system continues unabated.  It addresses the symptom and not the problem.

Many of our current and past clients are those who have long since seen their useful roofing life expire and the expenses associated with the repair and replacement are climbing on an almost daily basis.  The costs of delays are steep.

We don’t let the difficulty associated with explaining a client’s present situation prevent us from doing so.  While people tend to assume that our detailing the urgency of their roofing situation is a “hard sell” designed to separate them from their money as fast as possible, the reality is that for us - nothing could be further from the truth.  One of our clients suffered a $100,000 change order to replace expansive steel decking due to their allowing the roofing system to languish for more than 7-years beyond it’s useful life. We simply don’t want that to happen to you. We’ll tell you the reality of your situation so that you are in the best possible position to make a decision that’s best for your organization.

The aggravation of dealing with poor workmanship lasts much longer than the euphoria of obtaining the lowest price.