Questions and Answers

In response to a question raised in August, the university initiated an internal environmental assessment of Poe Hall. Preliminary testing indicated that asbestos and heavy metals were within acceptable limits in the areas tested. Preliminary results from samples taken from selected areas of the building in October and November came back detecting PCBs. The preliminary findings were shared with university leadership, who, out of an abundance of caution, made a decision to close the building promptly. The building closed at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, and occupants were given until Wednesday, Nov. 22, to enter to collect belongings needed to finish the semester.

The internal assessment also included consultation with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). We’ve remained in contact and responsive to agency partners.

Geosyntec Consultants provided its initial phase testing report to the university on Feb. 8. This information was shared with the community that same day. Based on the results from this round of testing, Geosyntec will move forward with additional evaluation of the building with the HVAC system turned on. This next phase will also involve a review of building materials used in Poe Hall to identify the potential sources of the PCBs being detected. Following this testing, we hope to have a better understanding of the building overall, including potential issues, so we can develop a strategy for any needed mitigation in partnership with the EPA. As shared previously, this work takes time. We anticipate receiving analysis and reporting on this next phase in the next couple of months.

It’s also important to note that the testing process timeline allows for work currently being done in the building to support North Campus’ main distribution frame, which provides wireless connectivity for all of North Campus.

We recognize that those who have spent time in the building are concerned — and we hear you. While the building is closed, we are working diligently to understand the building’s environment and the potential impacts of this situation. This process takes time. We’re working as quickly as we can to get answers, determine a safe and effective path forward and get answers into the hands of our faculty, staff and students.

Before the building closed in November 2023, work was being done on the university’s main distribution frame in Poe Hall. This main distribution frame supports wireless connectivity for all of North Campus. The testing process timeline accounts for work being completed in the building.

On Feb. 12, 2024, with the first phase of results from the building testing in hand, and with the guidance of our partners at N.C. DHHS, NC State again connected with representatives from NIOSH to request they open a new Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) related to Poe Hall. We recognize that many in our community are interested in what a HHE from NIOSH entails and how that works together with the environmental information we’re gathering from the building.

NIOSH conducts health hazard evaluations to assess workplace conditions and provide recommendations for controlling occupational health hazards and improving worker safety. In this situation, NIOSH will work to gather relevant health information and review environmental information, including information gathered by the environmental consultant contracted by NC State.

NIOSH will then perform their evaluation applying principles adapted from CDC guidelines for community cancer cluster investigations and produce a report. There is no timeline right now on when NIOSH will be able to produce the report. Following the conclusion of NIOSH’s work, additional information and next steps will be publicly shared.

To respect NIOSH’s policy of not commenting on open HHEs, NC State will not comment substantively during the evaluation, either. The university will share any updates on the evaluation process as appropriate.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Safety (N.C. DHHS) typically receives concerns about unusual patterns of cancer or possible clusters from a variety of sources, including clinicians or community members. Generally, the agency will follow guidance outlined by Center for Disease Control (CDC) for investigating community-level concerns or concerns in a geographical area.

As CDC guidance does not apply to concerns about buildings like workplaces, in these less common cases, N.C. DHHS will engage with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for assistance. NIOSH provides specialized knowledge and experience in investigating illnesses in occupational settings. NIOSH will then typically conduct a health hazard evaluation to learn whether hazards are present and recommend ways to reduce hazards and prevent work-related illness. This process is similar to how NC State engaged with both agencies regarding the environment of Poe Hall.

NC State is not formally collecting information on health conditions. The process of collecting information on health conditions is part of the work the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will do through its Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE), which is currently underway. 

The process of every HHE varies, depending on the types of hazards reported and recommendations of the assigned health and safety experts. NC State will follow the guidance of NIOSH throughout this evaluative process. In the meantime, if you have questions about your personal health, please speak with your physician or, if you are a student, please reach out to Campus Health.

At this time, we don’t know what the potential health impacts are associated with spending time in Poe Hall. Please know that we’re seeking answers about the building with you in mind. We’re committed to providing you with the information you need to help you make informed decisions about your health in partnership with your medical providers. In the meantime, if you have concerns about your personal health, we encourage you to speak with your physician.

N.C. DHHS shared that people can talk to their regular medical provider and follow recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for evidence-based health screenings. The website provided has a search function to help you find specific information. Until further information is obtained, definitive guidance about whether the findings are cause for concern from a health perspective cannot be provided.

The university anticipates Poe Hall will remain closed through the end of 2024. The building will only be reopened after completing any necessary cleaning and remediation under the guidance of the Environmental Protection Agency.

We understand the transition out of Poe Hall was an abrupt one and many in our community are still feeling unsettled in the new spaces. While we anticipate the building will remain closed through the end of the year, the College of Education has space in the Center for Technology and Innovation (CTI) through the summer of 2025. Registration and Records is also working to maintain course format and convenient working locations for instructors while the building is closed.

If you or your colleagues have specific needs for space and materials in the meantime, please reach out to your supervisor or connect directly with your college’s representative for business operations who can work to help find a solution for you.

As is the university’s established procedure, NC State assesses any potential concerns in facilities as they are received to determine appropriate next steps. In fact, the testing currently underway in Poe Hall is a result of employee concerns. Closing the building was a proactive step taken out of an abundance of caution. This enables the university and our environmental consultant to carefully investigate and better understand what the potential issues and health impacts are.

If there are maintenance needs or if individuals express concerns, our facilities and environmental health and safety teams will evaluate those.

NC State Facilities and Environmental Health and Safety teams evaluate all concerns that come in and maintain protocols for evaluating building materials for hazardous materials as part of routine renovation and repair work. If there are maintenance needs or if individuals express concerns, our facilities and environmental health and safety teams will evaluate those.

Item retrieval is paused for the time being while Geosyntec continues its evaluation of the building. Once the evaluation is complete and we have information to share about retrieving items, we will communicate that to building occupants. If you have questions about your items in the meantime, please call 919-513-3358 or email ncstateemmc@ncsu.edu.

NC State plans to release relevant report findings via the Poe Hall Updates website and community messages as they are received. The university is committed to maintaining transparency throughout this process.

In accordance with the NC Public Records Act, N.C.G.S. Chapter 132, the university also remains open and responsive to information requests from the public and the news media.

After closing the building in November, the university reached out to the community only if and when there was new information to share. Each time we’ve received updates, we’ve shared them promptly. In particular, within hours of receiving the initial report from our consultant in February, we made sure it was in your inboxes. Since then, we have committed to communicating more frequently, even if just to provide an update that we’re waiting for more results and information from our consultants.

The university continues to update the Poe Hall and broader NC State community regularly, and as new information becomes available through its updates website, social media and email messages. 

The process of collecting information on health conditions is part of the work the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will do through its Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE), which is currently underway. 

The process of every HHE varies, depending on the types of hazards reported and recommendations of the assigned health and safety experts. NC State will follow the guidance of NIOSH throughout this evaluative process. In the meantime, if you have questions about your personal health, please speak with your physician or, if you are a student, please reach out to Campus Health.

PCBs are synthetic chemical compounds largely used throughout the 1950-1970s in construction materials across the U.S.; they were formally banned in 1979. There are more than 200 different commercial mixtures of PCB compounds called “Aroclors.” Our preliminary tests, which primarily detected levels of Aroclor 1262, warrant further investigation. Though the presence of PCBs in buildings may be a concern, it is not cause for immediate alarm.

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) are a group of synthetic chemicals. PCBs were widely used in building materials and electrical products primarily between 1950 and 1979. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned the manufacturing and certain uses of PCBs in 1979, but buildings constructed or renovated between 1950 and 1979 may still have building materials and electrical products that contain PCBs.

NC State Facilities and Environmental Health and Safety teams evaluate all concerns that come in and maintain protocols for evaluating building materials for hazardous materials as part of routine renovation and repair work, including materials that may contain PCBs. If there are maintenance needs or if individuals express concerns, our facilities and environmental health and safety teams will evaluate those. EPA regulations, effective in February 2024, address requirements around how materials are safely removed and disposed. Our environmental health and safety team is currently reviewing the updated EPA regulations and will make any necessary adjustments to their protocols.

The university has engaged Geosyntec Consultant, an outside consulting firm, to conduct more comprehensive environmental testing and provide guidance about what — if any — remediation or cleaning is needed. Preliminary data suggests that the transfer of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from potential sources to occupied spaces has been limited and that simple cleaning steps can effectively mitigate exposure to PCBs that could be present on surface dust.

Out of an abundance of caution, items taken from the building can be cleaned by wiping down the item’s exterior surface with a wet wipe (such as a wet rag, paper towel or Clorox or Lysol wet wipe) to remove dust. Disposable wipes can be discarded in the trash and soft items like clothing or rags can be laundered normally to remove dust. Hand washing after cleaning your belongings is also a good practice. As the university gains a more comprehensive understanding of the building’s environment, additional guidance and information will be shared.

All NC State faculty and staff have access to the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, with State Health Plan members also having access to mental health coverage and additional resources via the Behavioral Health Resource Center.

Students can utilize the NC State Counseling Center or their college’s embedded counselor, who is available in person or virtually.

Employees are always encouraged to take advantage of the resources available to them and to speak with their supervisors about using accrued leave time to support their well-being. Sick leave, vacation leave, community service and personal days of observance are all available depending on the need.

At this time, the university is not offering health testing or reimbursement for health testing related to Poe Hall.

• The NC State Facilities division has coordinated the relocation of administrative and research spaces for displaced Poe Hall occupants — including securing approximately 110 classrooms.
• Registration and Records worked quickly to address all needed adjustments to course scheduling. Information was provided to students, faculty and staff as space was finalized for the spring 2024 semester. The same will be done for fall 2024.
• Emergency Management and Mission Continuity evaluated and fulfilled item requests from building occupants to ensure students, faculty and staff have the materials and tools needed to successfully start and complete the spring semester. The university will provide an update at a later time regarding any additional items that remain in the building.
• The Office of Research and Innovation remains available to help faculty members with concerns regarding research continuity. The office can be reached at ncstate-research@ncsu.edu.
• NC State Transportation continues working with individuals who are affected by any relocation. If you have questions about your parking needs, please contact ncsu-transportation@ncsu.edu.
• If you have questions about your belongings or the services and resources available to you, please call 919-513-3358 or email ncstateemmc@ncsu.edu.