Dunn Building to be closed for Asbestos Removal

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) – The Berkeley County Commission has decided to close a former woolen mill that houses several Berkeley County government offices and a community college for the time being for removing asbestos from the building.

The Dunn Building in Martinsburg will be closed at 5 p.m. Friday and it will remain closed at least until December 17. The County Commission took the decision on Tuesday.

As the fall semester ends Saturday, classes at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College won’t be affected, according to Student Enrollment Director Leslie Lee.

Ron Collins, the President of the County Commission, said asbestos was found around a skylight. The skylight and the roof will be replaced.

The assessor’s office and the sheriff’s tax collection office are two of the Government agencies affected by the shutting down of the Dunn Building.

Asbestos, a naturally occurring silicate mineral, was a very common construction material until its hazards became known to the public in the 1980s. Asbestos removal should be done with extreme care because the material can be deadly if it is disturbed or broken. Asbestos particles become airborne when the substance is disturbed. Inhalation of these fibers may result in severe respiratory problems and fatal diseases such as mesothelioma.

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