December 25, 2002—The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company has announced a new Mold Protection Program to help clients prevent and manage the risks associated with mold growth. The loss prevention and insurance program will focus initially on schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut.
According to American School and University Magazine, more than one in five of the nation’s public schools have reported problems with indoor air quality and more than half of those problems have been linked to mold and mildew. An elementary school in Connecticut, for instance, was closed and the building razed after mold contamination reportedly sickened students and staff. The demolition was estimated at more than $500,000 and a new school is expected to cost more than $23 million.
The Mold Protection Program is designed for schools that are willing to work with Hartford Steam Boiler to implement loss prevention recommendations to proactively manage the growth of mold. The program begins with an inspection and evaluation to determine qualification. Once qualified, Hartford Steam Boiler provides loss prevention recommendations based upon the results of the inspection and works with the client over time to control moisture, water intrusion and other conditions that can cause mold growth.
“The solution is more than dealing with visible mold,” said Kenneth B. Cornell, executive vice president, AIG Environmental, Inc., a division of American International Companies and the nation’s largest provider of environmental insurance, which helped develop Hartford Steam Boiler’s Mold Protection Program.
In order to prevent future damage, Cornell said, “Schools must carefully manage the conditions that cause mold to grow. That takes a continuous effort to improve the way a facility is maintained. Our program with Hartford Steam Boiler combines AIG Environmental’s experience in underwriting environmental risks with HSB’s loss prevention services to help clients develop and stick with a program to control the conditions that can lead to a mold problem.”
The Mold Protection Program also includes a Mold Remediation Policy that can pay for remediation costs if visible mold is discovered at an insured location. Clients have access to a mold remediation network specifically developed for this program. The network consists of qualified and prescreened remediation specialists at preferred rates.
For more information about the Mold Protection Program, send an e-mail or visit Hartford Steam Boiler.
