Dear Sandels Building Colleagues and Students,
I’m reaching out to share the past week’s developments as the university continues work addressing the health and safety concerns related to the Sandels Building.
As Phase 1 continues, I am happy to share that we are still on track to complete all necessary repairs, renovations, and remediations by the start of the fall semester. I understand that this temporary displacement from the building is frustrating; however, it is important in expediting the project’s completion.
The university is contracting with an engineering firm to address the fume hoods, perform humidity control measures, establish a radon mitigation system, and remedy HVAC access issues. In order to maintain an optimal HVAC system after remediation is complete, the engineering firm will address access challenges, retrofitting the system with additional maintenance entry points. These supplementary access points will significantly reduce the amount of rigor required to inspect and service the system, significantly increasing the efficiency of routine maintenance and cleaning moving forward.
We are working to develop an HVAC remediation plan based on the determination that the entire HVAC system will undergo a thorough cleaning, replacing any components that cannot be completely cleaned. We will coordinate with the contractor responsible for cleaning the ducts in case the HVAC remediation plan requires any changes to the duct cleaning scope or work schedule.
Also, the FSU Institutional Research Board (IRB) sent updated guidance to Principal Investigators yesterday regarding human research participants. Several colleagues from the College of Health and Human Sciences had requested university administrators meet with the IRB during the committee’s regular meeting Wednesday, which we were happy to do. Our consultants provided the committee with information relative to conditions in the building that has previously been shared with you all in my messages and on the Sandels website. As a result, the IRB emailed its updated guidance to PIs yesterday. I appreciate the IRB’s prompt action and support.
If you have questions that have not been addressed in one of my updates, on the Sandels Response website or in the FAQs, please email sandelsresponse@fsu.edu, and we will try to answer your individual questions to the best of our ability.
All of the work I’ve outlined here will continue next week, including the work in the building by our consultants, industrial hygienist and team, but my next update message to you will be in two weeks due to spring break. Your health and safety remain our top priority, and my appreciation for your continued patience cannot be overstated.
Best regards,
Jim Clark
Provost
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