Table 2: Guidelines for Remediating Building Materials with
Mold Growth Caused by Clean Water
Table 2 presents
remediation guidelines for building materials that have or are likely to
have mold growth. The guidelines in Table 2 are designed to
protect the health of occupants and cleanup personnel during
remediation. These guidelines are based on the area and type of material
affected by water damage and/or mold growth. Please note that these are
guidelines; some professionals may prefer other cleaning methods.
If you
are considering cleaning your ducts as part of your remediation plan,
you should consult EPA's publication entitled, Should You Have the Air
Ducts In Your Home Cleaned?(8) (see
Resources List). If possible, remediation activities should be
scheduled during off-hours when building occupants are less likely to be
affected.
Although the level of personal
protection suggested in these guidelines is based on the total surface
area contaminated and the potential for remediator and/or occupant
exposure, professional judgment should always play a part in remediation
decisions. These remediation guidelines are based on the size of the
affected area to make it easier for remediators to select appropriate
techniques, not on the basis of health effects or research showing there
is a specific method appropriate at a certain number of square feet. The
guidelines have been designed to help construct a remediation plan. The
remediation manager will then use professional judgment and experience
to adapt the guidelines to particular situations. When in doubt, caution
is advised. Consult an experienced mold remediator for more
information.
In cases in which a
particularly toxic mold species has been identified or is suspected,
when extensive hidden mold is expected (such as behind vinyl wallpaper
or in the HVAC system), when the chances of the mold becoming airborne
are estimated to be high, or sensitive individuals (e.g., those with
severe allergies or asthma) are present, a more cautious or conservative
approach to remediation is indicated. Always make sure to protect
remediators and building occupants from exposure to mold.
| Table
2: Guidelines for Remediating Building Materials with Mold Growth Caused by Clean Water* |
| Material
or Furnishing Affected |
Cleanup
Methods† |
Personal
Protective Equipment |
Containment |
|
SMALL
- Total Surface Area Affected Less Than 10 square feet (ft2) |
| Books
and papers |
3 |
Minimum
N-95
respirator, gloves, and goggles |
None
required |
| Carpet
and backing |
1,
3 |
| Concrete
or cinder block |
1,
3 |
| Hard
surface, porous flooring (linoleum, ceramic tile, vinyl) |
1,
2, 3 |
| Non-porous,
hard surfaces (plastics, metals) |
1,
2, 3 |
| Upholstered
furniture & drapes |
1,
3 |
| Wallboard
(drywall and gypsum board) |
3 |
| Wood
surfaces |
1,
2, 3 |
|
MEDIUM
- Total Surface Area Affected Between 10 and 100 (ft2) |
| Books
and papers |
3 |
Limited
or Full
Use professional
judgment, consider potential for remediator exposure and size of
contaminated area
|
Limited
Use professional
judgment, consider potential for remediator/occupant exposure
and size of contaminated area
|
| Carpet
and backing |
1,3,4 |
| Concrete
or cinder block |
1,3 |
| Hard
surface, porous flooring (linoleum, ceramic tile, vinyl) |
1,2,3 |
| Non-porous,
hard surfaces (plastics, metals) |
1,2,3 |
| Upholstered
furniture & drapes |
1,3,4 |
| Wallboard
(drywall and gypsum board) |
3,4 |
| Wood
surfaces |
1,2,3 |
|
LARGE
-
Total Surface Area Affected Greater Than 100 (ft2) or Potential
for
Increased Occupant or Remediator Exposure During
Remediation
Estimated to be Significant |
| Books
and papers |
3 |
Full
Use professional
judgment, consider potential for remediator/occupant exposure
and size of contaminated area
|
Full
Use professional
judgment, consider potential for remediator exposure and size of
contaminated area
|
| Carpet
and backing |
1,3,4 |
| Concrete
or cinder block |
1,3 |
| Hard
surface, porous flooring (linoleum, ceramic tile, vinyl) |
1,2,3,4 |
| Non-porous,
hard surfaces (plastics, metals) |
1,2,3 |
| Upholstered
furniture & drapes |
1,2,4 |
| Wallboard
(drywall and gypsum board) |
3,4 |
| Wood
surfaces |
1,2,3,4 |
Table 2 continued
*Use professional judgment to determine prudent levels of
Personal Protective Equipment and containment for each
situation, particularly as the remediation site size increases
and the potential for exposure and health effects rises. Assess
the need for increased Personal Protective Equipment, if, during
the remediation, more extensive contamination is encountered
than was expected. Consult Table 1 if materials have been wet
for less than 48 hours, and mold growth is not apparent. These
guidelines are for damage caused by clean water. If you know or
suspect that the water source is contaminated with sewage, or
chemical or biological pollutants, then the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) requires PPE and containment.
An experienced professional should be consulted if you and/or
your remediators do not have expertise in remediating
contaminated water situations.
†Select method most
appropriate to situation. Since molds gradually destroy the
things they grow on, if mold growth is not addressed promptly,
some items may be damaged such that cleaning will not restore
their original appearance. If mold growth is heavy and items are
valuable or important, you may wish to consult a
restoration/water damage/remediation expert. Please note that
these are guidelines; other cleaning methods may be preferred by
some professionals.
Cleanup
Methods
- Method
1: Wet vacuum (in the case of porous materials, some
mold spores/fragments will remain in the material but will
not grow if the material is completely dried). Steam
cleaning may be an alternative for carpets and some
upholstered furniture.
- Method
2: Damp-wipe surfaces with plain water or with water
and detergent solution (except wood —use wood floor
cleaner); scrub as needed.
- Method
3: High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum
after the material has been thoroughly dried. Dispose of the
contents of the HEPA vacuum in well-sealed plastic bags.
- Method
4: Discard _ remove water-damaged materials and seal
in plastic bags while inside of containment, if present.
Dispose of as normal waste. HEPA vacuum area after it is
dried.
Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Minimum: Gloves, N-95 respirator, goggles/eye protection
- Limited: Gloves,
N-95 respirator or half-face respirator with HEPA filter, disposable
overalls, goggles/eye protection
- Full: Gloves,
disposable full body clothing, head gear, foot coverings,
full-face respirator with HEPA filter
Containment
- Limited: Use
polyethylene sheeting ceiling to floor around affected area
with a slit entry and covering flap; maintain area under
negative pressure with HEPA filtered fan unit. Block supply
and return air vents within containment area.
- Full: Use two
layers of fire-retardant polyethylene sheeting with one
airlock chamber. Maintain area under negative pressure with
HEPA filtered fan exhausted outside of building. Block
supply and return air vents within containment area.
Table developed
from literature and remediation documents including Bioaerosols:
Assessment and Control (American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists, 1999) and IICRC S500, Standard and Reference Guide
for Professional Water Damage Restoration, (Institute
of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration, 1999); see Resources
List for more information |
___________
- Please
note that Table 1 and Table 2 contain general guidelines. Their purpose is to
provide basic information for remediation managers to first assess the
extent of the damage and then to determine whether the remediation
should be managed by in-house personnel or outside professionals. The
remediation manager can then use the guidelines to help design a
remediation plan or to assess a plan submitted by outside professionals.
- Although
this document has a residential focus, it is applicable to other
building types.
|
KEYWORDS: This Guide provides information and guidance for homeowners and renters on how
to clean up residential mold problems and how to prevent mold growth. Caution: try not to breathe in the spores of any mold that you grow. Leave bags or jars closed so the spores don't get loose in large numbers. You are normally exposed to mold spores in the air all of the time, but when they are grown for experiments, you have amplified the number of spores you are growing by much higher numbers than found in the environment.
Asthma & Mold, Mold Headache. Water contamination can have a negative affect on the health of you and your family. The effects may be immediate or long term. A USGS survey found that 70% of private wells were contaminated. EPA recommends that you test for a minimum of coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead, even if you have public water.
Skin Diseases, Stachybotrys Information, Mold Scientist, Mold & Landscaping,
, Mold Test Kit, Mold Testing Laboratory. Molds need a moist environment with moderate temperatures to grow.
. Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce. Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually.
When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive.
There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth
will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or un-addressed. There is no practical way to eliminate all
mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. Lift Tape Test, Physical Mold Samples, fungi Test Instructions, Mold Testing Instructions,
Chain of Custody, Mines, Gas Stations, Industrial Facilities, Old Cemeteries, Farm fields,
, Dumps, Improper disposal of paints, motor oils, etc. on private land. Recreational use of the public water supply.
Lead pipes in the home, Septic Systems, Acid Rain, Decaying Matter or other natural contamination.
water testing, drinking water, health, pregnancy, fitness, nutrition, drinking, water, testing, quality, analysis, water analysis, water quality, e. coli, bacteria, lead, ph, iron, pesticides, pcb, radon, arsenic, mtbe, nitrates, voc, oil, fuel, h. pylori, trichloroethylene, tce, coliform, healthguard, health guard, womens heath, child health, home health, health and fitness, epa, environmental, pollution, contamination.
Mold Test Interpretation, Clothes Mold, Car and Van Mold, Removal, Wallpaper Mold, Air Conditioning Mold,
Crawl Space Mold, Bathroom Mold. Molds can only be positively identified with a microscope. Bluish-green to green molds are usually Penicillium or Aspergillus. Black to brown-black molds can be Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, or Stachybotrys chartarum (a highly toxic mold). Reddish or pink molds are usually species of Fusarium.
Plumbing leaks, house plants, toxic, airborne molds, cooking steam, shower bath steam and leaks, wet clothes,
dirty HVAC systems. Find out where the air filters are for the building and sample at the beginning of the system, and then continue sampling at rooms further and further away from the air supply system. You can sample for mold spores which are mixed up in the dust that accumulates on the surfaces of air-duct grillwork.
|
|
