N-Building Air Quality

We are happy to report that we are making progress on the elimination of the mould problem in the N building.

Air quality and mould presence in the duct work is being monitored. All of the air handling units in each of the eight mechanical rooms have been professionally cleaned. As well, Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) sterilization systems have been installed in each of the mechanical rooms. These systems result in a 99.9% reduction in the concentration of microorganisms.

On Thursday May 17, N-building staff and those faculty members who asked to be relocated over the summer will be moved to their temporary quarters in the main building.

As of Friday May 18, there will be no access to the N Building.

During the summer, all of the main trunk ventilation ducts on all 5 floors will be removed and replaced. This work should be completed by mid August.

Administrative Services

May 16 2012

Report_Air Samples_Vanier_N building april 2

This is the result of the last culture sample which was taken from the first floor east wing.  The sample taken on February 7th in the same duct showed an abnormally high level and therefore we had it re-tested. culture samples Feb 27

culture samples feb 7

cultures samples February 2

culture samples January 23

Update on N-Building Air Quality Situation                                                                         February 3, 2012

Following a meeting with officials from Public Health, the monitoring regime in the N Building is being changed from the current air sampling testing to one where the goal of testing will be to identify the actual species of mould present and  to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the conditions existing throughout the N Building. This latter result will serve as a bench mark as permanent  solutions to the mould growth problem are implemented.  Such testing is now underway and should take a couple of weeks. Once Public Health officials review this data, they may make recommendations for specific short term and long term actions.

Preparations are now on-going for the specifications and critical path for the removal and replacement of ducts and the installation of associated ventilation pathways, ceiling tiles and mechanical equipment. The object is to go to public tender as soon as possible to permit work during the Summer.

Students, teachers and staff with offices or activities in the N-Building should begin to plan now for the temporary evacuation of the building before May 9, 2012, and until mid-August, 2012. The N-Building will become an access-restricted construction site and there will be NO access by students, teachers or staff to the building during this time. If you are planning meetings or activities after May 8, 2012, these must be scheduled outside of the N Building. Note as well, that once the building construction is completed, the entire building must be cleaned and tested according to Public Health standards before the building can return to normal use.

Feel free to ask any questions through our contact button or post a comment if you would prefer this way of asking questions.

Gilbert Héroux

Director General

results jan 18

Summary Air Tests 2012

Student Requests for Relocation from N-Building

In order to accommodate air quality medical requirements  of  individual Vanier students regarding the N Building labs or classrooms, the student must:

1. Provide a written recommendation from his or her physician with respect to his or her health situation and the mould conditions in the N building. (See reports linked to this website of the air quality monitoring results.)

1. Submit the relocation request along with the physician’s recommendation to the Registrars Office, H-100 (or registrars@vaniercollege.qc.ca, fax 514 744-7111).

The Registrar  will ensure reasonable accommodations are made as quickly as possible and notification will be issued via Omnivox to the student.

Students should not hesitate to contact the nurse in Health Services (C203 or atkinsj@vaniercollege.qc.ca )  for any mould-related health question or concern.”