Dear Carolina Arbors Resident,
This notice provides an update on the sprinkler incident that occurred earlier this week and the current status of impacted areas within Piedmont Hall.
On Monday, February 2, 2026, at approximately 8:30AM, Phillip Smith entered Piedmont Hall and discovered that the sprinkler head located above the front desk malfunctioned. Freezing temperatures and high winds over the weekend infiltrated a pocket within the wall, causing the failure and resulting in a steady water leak. Phillip immediately notified the HOA Board and the Facilities Committee. Servpro later confirmed that the leak originated from this single sprinkler head. The water affected the following areas:
- Front Desk
- Management Office
- Biltmore Room
- Lower-level ceiling of the Varsity Bar
Because the sprinkler head did not fully activate, the fire alarm system was not triggered, and our fire‑protection contractor, BFPE, did not receive automatic notification. We are actively evaluating measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
To ensure safety, power to the impacted areas—as well as the elevator—was temporarily shut down as a precaution to prevent electrical hazards and additional damage.
Servpro was notified and arrived within two hours, immediately beginning work to manage the situation. Their mitigation efforts have included:
- Conducting an initial assessment
- Extracting water from affected areas
- Installing fans, dehumidifiers, and monitoring equipment
- Stabilizing the environment to prevent mold growth
Thank you to the Associa staff and the community volunteers on the Facilities Committee who assisted with the initial cleanup efforts until Servpro arrived on site.
Please be aware that Servpro’s equipment, extension cords, and safety barriers are currently staged throughout the impacted sections of the building. These create potential trip hazards and must remain in place to maintain proper drying conditions. For this reason, half of Piedmont Hall remains temporarily closed.
Several key actions have already been completed as part of the initial response, including:
- Contacting Servpro
- Notifying the HOA’s insurance carrier and submitting a claim
- Removing water from affected areas
- Identifying the source of the leak
- Cleaning and stabilizing spaces for residents and staff safety
- Taking sheetrock samples for asbestos testing
- Replacing damaged front‑desk supplies
- Establishing a temporary front‑desk setup
Additional restoration and repair work is still required before all areas can be fully operational. This phase may take several weeks or longer. The immediate priority is reopening the East Wing of the building; the fitness center, pool, Cardinal Room, and other amenities. The next priority will be removing and replacing carpet in the Biltmore Room and Management Office so staff can resume normal operations, and the Biltmore Room can reopen for resident use. Following that, attention will shift to restoring the front desk and the Varsity Bar area.
We will continue to update residents as information becomes available. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate this complex situation.
Sincerely,
Phillip Smith, General Manager
Chelsea Tiso, Operations Manager
