Mold

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Mold

• Mitigation and Remediation

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What is Mold?

• Mold Mildew are the same thing
• Fungi
• Twenty five percent of Earths Biosphere
• Odorless
• Producer of Spores
• Allergen
• Possibly Toxic

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Common Molds

• Absidia
• Alternaria
• Ascomycetes
• Aspergillus
• Basidiomycetes
• Cladosporium
• Curvularia

• Fusarium
• Mucor
• Penicillium
• Pithomyces
• Stachybotrys
• Trichoderma
• Ulocladium

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Alternaria
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Cladosporium
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Aspergillus Niger
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Stachybotrys
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Mold on Wallsand Ceilings
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WallpaperInsulation
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When is Mold a Consideration?

• When You See It
• When You Smell It
• If there has been significant water damage
• When Health Symptoms exist

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Symptoms of Exposure to Mold

• Runny Nose
• Headache
• Difficulty Breathing
• Depression
• Irritability
• Coughing

• Loss of Energy
• Skin eruptions
• Bloodshot Eyes
• Poor Appetite
• Sinus Problems
• Sore Throat

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Ten Steps for Mold Mitigation

• Stop the Intrusion of Water
• Deprive Mold of Moisture Through Dehumidification
• Filter the Spores out of the Air
• Remove any Wet, Damaged or Infested Material
  using Containment When Appropriate

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Ten Steps for Mold Mitigation

• Make Sure What is Left is Dry
• Treat Remaining Material for Latent Spores
• Replace Damaged Material
• Wipe Down all Hard Surfaces
• Wash Soft Goods to Remove Spores
• Vacuum using HEPA Vacuum

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Sources of Water Intrusion

• Breach of the Buildings Exterior
• Wind Driven Through Otherwise Water-Tight Spaces
• Flooding
• Broken Pipes
• Backed up Sewage

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Mitigation Response

• Repair Source of Intrusion
• Caulk and Seal
• Influence Source of Flooding
• Repair/Install Backflow Device
• Reshape Drainage

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Exterior Drainage
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Wall and Roof Construction
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Dehumidifier Condensate Pump
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Sources of Excess Moisture

• Shrubbery/Landscaping
• Mulch
• Clothes dryer vents
• Stove vents
• Bathroom fans
• Crawl Spaces
• Ventilation
• Plastic

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Size of Mold Spores
Mold/Fungi                      Diameter   
 Filter Selection                         
       (microns)     
(MERV) Phialophora spp.                 
 1.5               13 Exophiala jeanse
lmei               2             
 13 Acremonium spp.                   2.5        
       9  Penicillium spp.            
       3.3               7 
Aspergillus spp.                 
 3.5               6 Absidia corymbif
era              3.8             
 6  Trichoderma spp.                  4.1        
       6  Stachybotrys spp.          
        5.7              6 
Mucor plumbeus                   7.5             
 6 Rhizopus stolonifer              
   8               6 Cladosporium sp
p.                   9              
6  Blastomyces dermatiitidis      14             
  6  Alternaria alternata            
 14.4               6 
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MERV Microbial Efficiency Rated Value
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HVAC Alternative Filter Systems
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Stand Alone Filters
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A Cautious Remediation Approach is Recommended
When

• Toxic Mold is Identified or Suspected
• Extensive Hidden Mold is expected
• Chances of Mold Spores Becoming Airborne is High
• When Sensitive Individuals are Present

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EPA Infestation Chart

• Small Less than 10 Square Feet
• Medium From 10 to 100 Square Feet
• Large Greater than 100 Square Feet

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Personal Protection for Small Infestations (Less
than 10 sq. ft.)

• Gloves
• N-95 Respirator mask
• Eye Protection

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Limited Containment

• Polyethylene sheeting floor to ceiling
• Seal HVAC Supplies and Returns
• Negative Pressure with a HEPA Filter
• Gloves
• N-95 Respirator or Half-Face HEPA Filter
• Disposable Overalls
• Eye Protection

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Full Containment

• Two layers of Plastic with Air Lock
• Negative Pressure with HEPA Filter
• Block Supply and Return Vents
• Gloves
• Disposable Full Body Clothing
• Headgear
• Foot Coverings
• Full Face Respirator with HEPA Filter

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Removing damaged material within 48 hours, before
it becomes infested, requires far less caution,
less work, and less expense.
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Combining the rapid removal of wetted material
with the use of a de-humidifier and filters is an
important strategy to significantly mitigate
losses.
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Steps During Restoration Phase

• Dry
• Treat
• Restore/Upgrade
• Wipe
• Wash
• Vacuum

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Small Spore Vacuum Cleaners
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Common Cleaning Chemicals

• Phenols Disinfectants. Corrosive to Rubber and
  Some Plastics
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Neutralized by
  Cotton and Charcoal
• Halogens Bleach, Chlorine, Corrosive, Toxic
• Alcohol Flammable Degrades Some Plastics

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HVAC Systems

• Ductwork
• Insulation
• Make Up Air
• Pre-Conditioning
• Filtration

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Alternative Mold Treatments

• Aerosols
• Natural Extracts
• Ozone
• Ultraviolet Light

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Safe Levels of Mold

• EPA
• CDC
• California Safe Building Code
• Canada
• Others

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Testing for Mold

• Petri Dish Sampling
• Air Samples
• Slide Samples
• Bulk Samples
• Testing For Species

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Teaching Mold Mitigation

• Give Underlying Information
• Explain Why Information is Relevant
• Make Connections to Form New Beliefs
• Use Multiple Channels of Communication
• Use Anecdotes
• Invoke Participation
• Discuss In Emotionally Neutral Environment

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Prepared by RAJohnsonCTP_at_msn.com