MOLD REMEDIATION OPERATING PROCEDURES
Mold
contamination in commercial buildings, institutions and households
alike continues to receive increased attention in the media and
is a rapidly growing concern for homeowners, property managers,
insurance companies, and restoration companies. Without proper
mitigation of an indoor moisture occurrence, mold can start to
grow in as little as 48 hours, and mold contamination has been
identified as a major contributor to building-related illness
and poor indoor air quality. Despite the rapidly growing body
of knowledge about mold, it remains the subject of a lot of confusion.
While ServiceMaster does not claim to have all the answers about
mold, we hope that this information will help you to make better
decisions.
PART ONE
What Is Mold?
We have probably all encountered mold at one time or another.
It might have been mold in the shower, or mold on a stale piece
of bread, or mildew on some wet drywall. Mold is a microscopic
life form found in all parts of the world. It is part of the natural
decay process of organic materials. There are many different species
of mold and while they are diverse, they share some common characteristics:
- Mold
requires an organic food source. A common source is cellulose,
found in building materials such as drywall.
- Mold
requires oxygen, so they do not grow under water.
- Mold
requires a constant supply of water. To prevent mold, buildings
must be kept dry.
- Molds
are spread by tiny particles called spores. A spore can
be compared to a seed.
Why is
mold harmful?
Mold causes problems for several reasons:
- The coloured,
fuzzy mold growth on the contaminated surface is obviously very
objectionable.
- Active
mold colonies usually emit a very unpleasant, musty odour.
- Because
the job of mold is to digest, decay and recycle dead organic
matter, it destroys whatever surface is its host.
- Exposure
to mold spores can cause mild to severe allergic reactions,
and possibly more serious problems, depending on individual
sensitivity.
What is
a reasonable and safe response to mold?
The best way to deal with mold is to prevent it from happening.
If wet building materials are dried within 24 hours (assuming
clean water), the chances of preventing mold growth are excellent.
If the area remains wet, mold will start to grow. Therefore, addressing
and eliminating the moisture problem is the most important first
step to mold mitigation. But once mold is present, drying is not
enough. Moldy materials must be either removed or decontaminated.
This process is called remediation, and means “to remedy” or “to
cure”. Proper remediation procedures are determined by the size,
scope and nature of the mold contamination.
Three integral
principles form the framework for mold remediation: containment,
removal and safety. Containment is the practice of sealing or
separating the affected area to keep mold spores from spreading
and causing mold to grow in previously uncontaminated areas. Temporary
walls of plastic or plywood may be erected to separate the affected
area from the rest of the building. This area is called the containment
zone. Air machines equipped with high efficiency particulate arresting
(HEPA) filters are used to pull outside air into the containment
zone and exhaust filtered air to the outside. These machines are
sometimes called air scrubbers and this process is called negative
air flow. Removal of mold and mold-contaminated materials must
also be done in a manner that prevents further contamination.
Most importantly, these procedures must be performed in a way
that protects the remediation technicians, as well as the occupants
of the building from potentially harmful exposure.
To find
a ServiceMaster Clean Mold Remediation Representative near you,
please make a selection from our drop down lists HERE.
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