Renovation Plans Delayed Due To Asbestos Presence -- MesoLink.org -- 06-13-06

Renovation plans at the auditorium at Wapello High School have been delayed after asbestos was found in an applied ceiling cover during testing in the area. The school board reviewed a letter from Denise Zimmer, head of environmental and facility services for the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, who reported the findings.

A number of samples were taken from the ceiling cover, and these showed between 10 and 15 percent asbestos according to the findings. Testing was also carried out on exposed plaster in the area, and this proved to contain no asbestos. However, Zimmer stated more samples would be required in order to confirm that there was no asbestos in the plaster.

She stated: "Those samples would be difficult to collect without disturbing or removing the spray–applied material first." She said it would be more cost effective for the school to have the entire ceiling removed by an asbestos removal professional.

Although asbestos has been found and needs to be removed, meetings to press on with the renovation will continue so that this can go ahead at the earliest opportunity following the resolution of the asbestos issue.