A Story from the Field: The Morning the Temple Steward Opened the Scripture Hall

Uncle Sompong is the lay steward of an old temple on the bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bang Ban district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The temple has a raised wooden scripture hall, known in Thai as a Ho Trai, which generations of villagers have helped to restore. Inside are lacquered scripture cabinets decorated in gold and a large collection of palm-leaf manuscripts. Next to it stands a single-storey temple library, where novice monks study and where children from the village come to read during the school holidays.

This year the water rose high and stayed for almost three weeks. Although the scripture hall stands on tall posts, the flood reached the level of its wooden floor, and every day moisture from the water trapped beneath the building drifted upwards. The library fared worse. Water came in nearly half a metre deep, and the entire bottom row of bookshelves was submerged.

On the morning the water had dropped enough to walk in, Uncle Sompong unlocked the scripture hall as the senior monk in charge of it had asked him to. The first thing he noticed was the smell, a heavy, damp mustiness far stronger than in any previous year. The cloth wrappers around the manuscripts in the lower cabinets had grey spots. When the senior monk carefully opened a few bundles, he found a thin white film of mold along the edges of some palm leaves. In the library, swollen books were piled on every table, the walls were streaked with mud, and the smell was so strong that the novices had moved their study sessions to the open pavilion.

Many villagers wanted to help straight away. Some suggested carrying the manuscripts into the sun to dry. Others suggested spraying everything with disinfectant. The senior monk listened to everyone, then decided: "Things this old and this precious, we must ask people who truly know before we touch them." This article follows that wise approach. It separates the work into two clear parts: the conservation of the manuscripts, which belongs with professional conservators, and the recovery of the buildings, where disinfection fogging and ozone treatment can genuinely help.

The Most Important Point: Palm-Leaf Manuscripts Belong with Document Conservators

Palm-leaf manuscripts, folding paper books and old temple documents are an irreplaceable religious and cultural heritage. Palm leaf is a natural material that is sensitive to moisture, heat and chemicals. A single wrong step can fade the inscribed text, crack the leaves or cause them to stick together permanently.

• Do not spray disinfectant directly onto manuscripts. Liquid and chemicals may react with the leaf and the ink.
• Do not place manuscripts in a room during ozone treatment. Ozone is an oxidiser and is not suitable for fragile historic materials.
• Do not dry them in strong sun. Drying too quickly can warp or split the leaves.
• Do not wipe or scrub mold with a damp cloth. This can push spores deeper and damage the text.
• Do not force apart leaves that have stuck together. Wait for expert advice.

What the temple can do straight away is ask the monks, or the people the temple entrusts with this task, to move the manuscripts to a dry room with good air circulation and no direct sunlight. Bundles showing mold should be kept apart from those that are still clean. Photographs should be taken as a record. Then the temple should seek advice from an organisation or specialist in the conservation of historic documents, such as the relevant fine arts and heritage authorities, or conservators at a university with expertise in this field. Anyone handling moldy manuscripts should wear gloves and a mask to reduce the spores they breathe in.

The World Health Disinfection (WHD) team does not touch, move, spray or treat manuscripts, Buddha images or any sacred objects. Our work begins only after the temple has removed these items from the area.

Why Scripture Halls and Temple Libraries Are Especially Prone to Mold

• They are opened only occasionally. Many scripture halls are opened only on special occasions, so the air inside is still and humidity builds up easily.
• Almost everything inside is organic. Wood, cloth, paper and palm leaf are all food for mold.
• The space beneath is full of mud and standing water. After a flood, the area under a raised building often still holds wet mud and debris, which release moisture and odour upwards into the hall.
• Scripture cabinets are enclosed spaces. Solid wooden cabinets trap moisture inside, so mold can grow even when the outside looks dry.
• Libraries hold many books. Books that have been underwater release spores. If they are not separated, mold spreads to other volumes.

The Consequences

Health. Airborne mold spores can trigger allergies, sneezing, a blocked nose or asthma in monks, novices, lay stewards and children who use the library. Floodwater and mud can also carry bacteria such as E. coli and the bacteria that cause leptospirosis, which remain on floors and in the space beneath the buildings.

Cultural heritage. The longer humidity stays high, the further mold spreads to manuscripts, lacquered cabinets and old woodwork. Some damage, once done, cannot be reversed.

Community. The temple library is a place of learning for village children. While it is closed, they lose a place to read at a time when many schools are still recovering too.

Common Methods That Are Not Suitable for a Scripture Hall

• Spraying bleach throughout the building. Chlorine fumes can damage gold-leaf lacquer work and old timber, and they irritate the airways of the people doing the work.
• Pointing strong fans into scripture cabinets. This blows spores everywhere and can carry mold dust onto other manuscript bundles.
• Burning lots of incense to mask the smell. Smoke and soot settle on wood and lacquer, and the musty smell remains underneath.
• Oiling or varnishing wood that is still damp. Moisture is sealed in, and mold may return beneath the coating.
• Putting damp books back on the shelves. Just a few damp books can spread mold along an entire shelf.

The Solution for the Buildings: Chemgene HLD4H Fogging and Controlled Ozone Treatment

Once the temple has moved manuscripts, Buddha images, valuable scripture cabinets and important books out of the way, WHD restores the buildings themselves with ozone treatment and disinfection fogging, scheduled at times that do not disturb the monks' daily routine.

How the Work Is Done

1. Joint survey with the monk in charge and the lay steward. We look at the wooden floors, walls, the space beneath the buildings, the library, restrooms and any nearby monks' quarters, and ask which areas the temple allows us to work in and which must be left alone.
2. The temple moves sacred objects and historic documents. The monks, or people the temple entrusts with the task, move them personally. We can advise on choosing a dry, well-ventilated room for temporary storage.
3. Mud and damaged materials are removed. Mud beneath the buildings is washed out, and ordinary library books that were submerged and are beyond saving are taken out, according to the temple's decisions.
4. Disinfection fogging with Chemgene HLD4H. We apply CHEMGENE HLD4H through an ultra-low-volume fogger beneath the buildings, on floors, on library walls and in restrooms, avoiding lacquer work and decorated surfaces as agreed with the temple.
5. Controlled ozone treatment. A Master Ozone Generator runs in rooms that have already been emptied, to reduce airborne mold spores and break down the musty odour soaked into walls and wooden floors. The team adjusts the ozone dose and duration to suit older buildings.
6. Ventilation. Doors and windows are opened until the ozone has fully broken down, before monks, novices and caretakers re-enter.
7. Re-check and humidity advice. We assess the smell with the caretakers, advise on ventilating the space beneath the hall, and help plan for the manuscripts' eventual return once the conservators judge it appropriate.

Clear Roles: Who Looks After What

Setting Up a Temporary Room for the Manuscripts

While the temple waits for a conservator's visit, where the manuscripts are kept matters a great deal. These general points can help the temple choose a suitable room. They are not a substitute for professional conservation advice.

• Choose a room on higher ground or an upper floor that did not flood, with windows that can be opened on dry days.
• Keep the manuscripts off the floor on clean, dry shelves or tables, with space between bundles so that air can move around them.
• Keep bundles with visible mold on a separate table, so spores do not settle on clean bundles.
• Avoid sealing manuscripts in plastic bags or boxes while they are still damp.
• Keep direct sunlight, heaters and strong fans away from them.
• Limit the number of people handling them, and make sure those who do wear gloves and a mask.
• Keep a simple list of the bundles that were moved, with photos, so the conservator can see what has happened since the flood.

Caring for the Space Beneath a Raised Scripture Hall

In many riverside temples, the space beneath a raised hall is where the flood leaves its heaviest mark. Mud, leaves and debris settle there, and because sunlight rarely reaches it, it stays damp for weeks. That dampness rises into the floorboards above.

• Wash out as much mud as possible once the ground is firm enough to work on, wearing boots and gloves.
• Remove debris that blocks airflow, such as stacked timber or old furniture stored underneath.
• After washing, the space beneath can be fogged with disinfectant to reduce bacteria left by floodwater.
• Check that rainwater drains away from the posts rather than pooling around them.
• Look for standing water nearby, which can quickly become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

A drier space beneath the building makes everything above it easier to keep dry, which in turn protects the manuscripts once they return.

Reopening the Library for Novices and Village Children

The temple library usually holds a mix of ordinary books, donated textbooks and a smaller number of valuable volumes. A practical plan for reopening might look like this:

1. The temple sorts the books into three groups: ordinary books that were submerged, ordinary books that stayed dry, and books of special value.
2. Submerged ordinary books that already show mold are usually replaced rather than restored. The temple decides how to retire them respectfully.
3. Books of special value are set aside for a conservator to assess.
4. Once the room is empty, it is washed, fogged and treated with ozone, then ventilated.
5. Dry books are returned to the shelves, ideally with the lowest shelf left empty during the rainy season.
6. The library reopens, and a simple weekly check for musty smells helps catch any return of damp early.

A Simple Timeline for the First Four Weeks

Every temple is different, but a rough timeline helps the abbot, the lay committee and helpers from the village see how the pieces fit together.

• Days 1 to 3: the monks move manuscripts, Buddha images and sacred objects to a dry room. Photos are taken. The temple contacts a document conservator for advice. Villagers begin washing mud out of the library and the space beneath the scripture hall, wearing boots, gloves and masks.
• Days 4 to 7: the temple sorts library books and decides which to keep. Our team surveys the buildings with the monk in charge, then fogs the emptied rooms and the space beneath, and carries out controlled ozone treatment followed by full ventilation.
• Weeks 2 to 3: the buildings are left open to air on dry days. Caretakers check each morning for any musty smell and note the results. The conservator assesses the manuscripts and gives guidance on drying and cleaning.
• Week 4 and beyond: the library reopens for novices and children. Manuscripts return to the scripture hall only when the conservator agrees the building and the manuscripts are ready.

How Village Volunteers Can Help Safely

Generosity from the community is one of the great strengths of temple life, and after a flood many people want to lend a hand. Their energy is best directed to tasks that are safe for them and for the temple's heritage: washing mud from floors and the ground beneath buildings, carrying out ordinary furniture, sorting donated books under the guidance of a monk, clearing drains and removing standing water around the grounds. Leave manuscripts, sacred objects and decorated cabinets to the monks and the conservators. Everyone working indoors should wear a mask and gloves, take regular breaks in fresh air, and wash their hands and change clothes before eating.

10 Reasons Temples Choose a Professional Team for Scripture Halls and Libraries

1. It respects the place and its sacred objects. The team works only after the temple has moved important items, and never touches manuscripts.
2. It reduces airborne mold spores. Ozone treatment helps prepare the building for the manuscripts' return once conservators agree.
3. It disinfects mud beneath the building and on floors. Disinfection fogging lowers the risk to everyone helping with the clean-up.
4. It removes musty odour at the source. No need to mask it with incense.
5. It controls the ozone dose for older buildings. The team adjusts the treatment to old timber and the size of each room.
6. It leaves no harsh chemical smell. That matters in spaces monks and novices use every day.
7. It reaches the space beneath and tight corners. ULV mist gets into narrow places that are hard to clean by hand.
8. It uses a purpose-made disinfectant. CHEMGENE HLD4H is what our team uses for fogging.
9. It gets the library open for children sooner. A clean room without musty air is ready for reading again.
10. It extends to the temple grounds. Add our mosquito spraying service, because standing water around the temple after the flood breeds mosquitoes.

The Temple Steward's Perspective

"At first the villagers wanted to carry the manuscripts into the sun. Thankfully the senior monk asked us to consult people who know first. The disinfection team told us honestly that the manuscripts were not their job and should go to experts. They looked after the buildings, the space underneath and the library once the temple had moved everything out. Now the scripture hall no longer smells musty, and the children are back reading."
— Uncle Sompong (name changed), lay steward of a riverside temple, Bang Ban

This is an illustrative scenario based on situations commonly seen after floods. Actual results depend on the condition of each building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can palm-leaf manuscripts be treated with ozone to kill the mold?
A: We do not recommend it. Palm-leaf manuscripts and other historic documents should be assessed and treated by professional document conservators. Our team only treats rooms after the temple has removed the manuscripts.

Q: How should manuscripts be kept while we wait for a conservator?
A: The temple should keep them in a dry, well-ventilated room out of direct sunlight, keep moldy bundles apart from clean ones, avoid sealing them in plastic, and make sure anyone handling them wears gloves and a mask.

Q: What about the lacquered scripture cabinets?
A: Gold-and-lacquer cabinets are delicate works of art. They should not be sprayed or scrubbed. Consult an art conservator. If a cabinet stands in a room that will be treated with ozone, the temple should move it out or follow a conservator's advice first.

Q: Should ordinary library books that were submerged be kept?
A: Ordinary books that sat in floodwater for a long time and already show mold are usually better replaced. Books of special value should be set aside for a conservator. The decision rests with the temple.

Q: Do the monks need to leave nearby quarters?
A: Only the rooms or buildings being treated with ozone must be empty. We plan with the temple so the monks' routine is not disrupted, and ventilate fully before anyone returns.

Q: Will we need a second treatment?
A: Raised wooden buildings with damp ground beneath may develop some odour again in wet weather. We suggest monitoring for two to four weeks and, if needed, treating specific areas again.

Let the Scripture Hall Once Again Keep the Dhamma with Dignity

WHD serves temples, places of worship and community buildings in Bang Ban, Bang Sai, Sena, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and nearby areas.

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Health reference: World Health Organization (WHO): Floods · Department of Health, Thailand