Should mold be considered a problem for design professionals?

Mold claims are rapidly becoming the #1 reported incidence to professional liability insurers. Mold problems can emanate from leaking roofs and windows, poor drainage, inadequate ventilation and poorly maintained HVAC systems. Design Professionals are increasingly targeted by owners for mold problems with their completed projects. Mold penetration between wall surfaces and HVAC systems in some instances has become so severe that entire buildings have been demolished to remove the problem. Significant worker's compensation claims have resulted from "infected" buildings accompanied by serious interruption of business and services provided by the entities occupying the affected buildings. Mold claims have the potential to equal the total value of the building structures involved plus a year or more of interrupted business activity and significant workers' compensation for lost wages and medical expense for affected workers. Mold claims have the potential to produce losses that may equal or exceed the limits of practice professional insurance policies.