Mold Remidiation & Proper Clean-up
Mold Removal Confusion
Jeff Cohn
December 29, 2012
Mold removal, mold remediation, and mold damage clean up all have the same goal. That goal is to get rid of the mildew. The term you use for removing mildew is not as important as removing the mildew correctly and safely. Anyone can clean up or tear out mold, the challenge is performing removal services without it coming back and spreading throughout the house or commercial property.
The EPA ( Environmental Protection Agency ) has developed guidelines to assist homeowners and property owners to remove mold. Although it is advisable to read them yourself, here is a general description. The EPA guidelines suggest mold removal depending upon the size and amount of visible mildew. Non visible signs of mildew as you can imagine are hard to remove and will need a higher level of expertise to find and eradicate. Will discuss that later in the article.The EPA guidelines base their remediation on less than 10 square feet, 10-100 square feet and over 100 square feet of visible mildew. It includes whether you should use containment and negative air pressure to using special disposal suits and face masks. For example, less then 10 square feet you only need to use a face mask with a N-95 respirator , goggles and gloves. No containment is necessary. Anything more than 10 square feet, it is suggested that professionals be involved and have a containment built immediately. Also, mold industry approved Personal Protection Equipment should be worn. Mold testing after you have completed the project is also important. The EPA, does not however completely answer how to test for mildew and when the removal is done. They do mention that professionals should be used to test for mildew using the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations . Make sure that if someone claims to be a mold testing expert with credentials that they can prove that there credentials are equal to the ACGIH credentials or a Certified Industrial Hygienist credentials. I can tell you now that nothing equals to these two credential versions.
Another option for mold remediation or Mold Removal is the New York Health Department (NYHD) version of mold damage restoration guidelines. NYHD makes the same suggestions for mold removal or at least very close to the EPA version. The NYHD guidelines were actually the first ( one of the first ) guidelines produced for the public nationwide for mold removal. The New York Health Department Mold Remediation Guidelines once the norm for mold damage clean up are almost never used. The EPA and the IICRC guidelines are the most popular.
The IICRC remediation S502 are to specific and detailed to describe in this article and must be read from the guidelines themselves. A very comprehensive source, they not only describe what is expected but how to perform mold removal, and about mildew itself. Where the other two guidelines are available free online , they come up short with details on all questions and topics on mold removal and remediation. The IICRC S502 are so well regarded, that most if not all Industrial Hygienists use the IICRC S502 guidelines for there recommendations onmold damage clean up.
If a residential or commercial property has possible or feared signs of mold growth here are some suggestions. First it is advisable to follow the IICRC S502 guidelines as certified industrial hygienist use these techniques in their reports. Second, although those who claim to be mildew testers may seem reassured in their ability, Certified Industrial Hygienist are the only “mold testing “ professionals who reports will pass in most federal and local court systems. Certified Industrial Hygienists are actual scientists with actual scientific degrees versus someone who has a certificate from a mold testing school or certified mold lab. Remember this rule of thumb for mold removal. It’s never a problem until someone gets sued or ill.
Contact our own water and mold remediation experts Pat in Boise, Charlie in Sacramento, Bill in Detroit and Tim in Kalispell to get any questions answered that you may have or hire them to consult with you on any related insurance claim disputes nationwide.
SOURCE: www.si-restoration.com/mold-removal-confusion/