Clean Air +
"Indoor Environmental Solutions"
Louisville: (502) 499-9898 OR Lexington: (859) 255-0448
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LETS THE PROFESSIONALS REMOVE THE MOLD!
Don't risk the health of your family and your home - you won't be saving in the end!
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The technicians at Clean Air Plus have been properly trained in the removal of all mold contaminants and MUST follow the IICRC S520 Protocol and the New York City Department of Health Guidelines for Removing Mold for ALL mold remediations.
It is too high of a risk to your family and your home to attempt to remove these molds
by yourself or even having a general contractor remove them.
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Mold Remediation:
Each Clean Air Plus mold technician has been properly trained in the removal and cleaning of microbiological contaminants.
All technicians are to wear PPE (personal protection equipment) such as: face respirators, Tyvek suits (non-breathable) and chemical gloves throughout the entire clean up and remediation process.
Full faced negative pressure face respirators (North 7600 Series) with CD/CL/HC/HF/OV/SD/P100 HEPA filter cartridges. This particular cartridge protects the technician against chlorine dioxide, carbon monoxide, chlorine, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, organic vapors, sulfur dioxide, and the HEPA filter protects from any other airborne particles.
Disposable Tyvek (non-breathable) suits that cover face and entire foot
Chemical Gloves – Neoprene, rubber or leather depending on the materials to be removed.
Leather is recommended when sharp materials are to be encountered during the demolition process. Before the remediation takes place, the technician will quarantine the contaminated area using (4 Mil) zip poly walls. In the work area, a HEPA air scrubber will be used to draw the contaminated from inside to the outside by means of a flex hose (usually vents through a window).
This process ensures that the mold does not contaminate other areas within the living space. Clean Air Plus will develop a project time line and communicate this with the owners of the property prior to the remediation and rebuild project.
Emphasis should be on ensuring proper repairs of the building infrastructure, so that water damage and moisture buildup does not recur.
Five different levels of abatement are described below. The size of the area impacted by fungal contamination primarily determines the type of remediation.
The sizing levels below are based on professional judgement and practicality; currently there is not adequate data to
relate the extent of contamination to frequency or severity of health effects.
The goal of remediation is to remove or clean contaminated materials in a way that prevents the emission of fungi and dust contaminated with fungi from leaving a work area and entering an occupied or non-abatement area, while protecting the health of workers performing the abatement.
The listed remediation methods were designed to achieve this goal, however, due to the general nature of these methods it is the responsibility of the people conducting remediation to ensure the methods enacted are adequate.
The listed remediation methods are not meant to exclude other similarly effective methods. Any changes to the remediation methods listed in these guidelines, however, should be carefully considered prior to implementation.
Non-porous (e.g., metals, glass, and hard plastics)
Semi-porous (e.g., wood, and concrete) materials that are structurally sound and are visibly moldy can be cleaned and reused. Cleaning should be done using a detergent solution.
Porous materials such as ceiling tiles and insulation, and wallboards with more than a small area of contamination should be removed and discarded.
Porous materials (e.g., wallboard, and fabrics) that can be cleaned, can be reused, but should be discarded if possible.
A professional restoration consultant should be contacted when restoring porous materials with more than a small area
of fungal contamination.
All materials to be reused should be dry and visibly free from mold. Routine inspections should be conducted to confirm the effectiveness of remediation work.
The use of gaseous ozone or chlorine dioxide for remedial purposes is not recommended. Both compounds are highly toxic and contamination of occupied space may pose a health threat. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these treatments is unproven.
For additional information on the use of biocides for remedial purposes, refer to the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' document, "Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control."
Circumstances That May Arise During Remediation:
Building materials supporting fungal growth should be remediated as rapidly as possible in order to ensure a healthy living environment. The repair of any defects that let to a water intrusion or water accumulation (or elevated humidity) should be conducted with or prior to the remediation. Prompt remediation of the contaminated materials and infrastructural repair is the time of response to the mold contamination in the environment. Emphasis should be placed on preventing any further contamination through proper building and HVAC system maintenance and prompt repair to any water damage.
Currently, there are no United State federal regulations for the evaluation of potential health affects of fungal contamination and remediation.
It is often that once a demolition process has begun, the certified mold remediator may come up on a situation where further mold contamination is detected in other areas than what was presented in the proposed price. The certified mold remediator will bring this to the attention of the inspector and the residents of the property and will provide the resident or responsible party with information to cure the problem. If any additional work is needed, a contract for additional work is prepared and presented to the client.
Level I: Small Isolated Areas (10 sq. ft or less)
Ceiling tiles, small areas on walls Remediation can be conducted by regular building maintenance staff.
Such persons should receive training on proper clean up methods, personal protection, and potential health hazards. This training can be performed as part of a program to comply with the requirements of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). Respiratory protection e.g., N95 disposable respirator), in accordance with the OSHA respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), is recommended.
Gloves and eye protection should be worn.
The work area should be unoccupied. Vacating people from spaces adjacent to the work area is not necessary but is recommended in the presence of infants (less than 12 months old), persons recovering from recent surgery, immune suppressed people, or people with chronic inflammatory lung diseases (e.g., asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and severe allergies).
Containment of the work area is not necessary. Dust suppression methods, such as misting (not soaking) surfaces prior to remediation, are recommended.
Contaminated materials that cannot be cleaned should be removed from the building in a sealed plastic bag.
There are no special requirements for the disposal of moldy materials.
The work area and areas used by remedial workers for should be cleaned with a damp cloth and/or mop and a detergent solution. All areas should be left dry and visibly free from contamination and debris.
Level II: Mid-Sized Isolated Areas (10 - 30 sq. ft.)
Individual wallboard panels. Remediation can be conducted by regular building maintenance staff. Such persons should receive training on proper clean up methods, personal protection, and potential health hazards. This training can be performed as part of a program to comply with the requirements of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). Respiratory protection (e.g., N95 disposable respirator), in accordance with the OSHA respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), is recommended.
Gloves and eye protection should be worn.
The work area should be unoccupied.
Vacating people from spaces adjacent to the work area is not necessary but is recommended in the presence of infants (less than 12 months old), persons having undergone recent surgery, immune suppressed people, or people with chronic inflammatory lung diseases (e.g., asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and severe allergies).
The work area should be covered with a plastic sheet(s) and sealed with tape before remediation, to contain dust/debris.
Dust suppression methods, such as misting (not soaking) surfaces prior to remediation, are recommended. Contaminated materials that cannot be cleaned should be removed from the building in sealed plastic bags.
There are no special requirements for the disposal of moldy materials. The work area and areas used by remedial workers for egress should be HEPA vacuumed (a vacuum equipped with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter) and cleaned with a damp cloth and/or mop and a detergent solution. All areas should be left dry and visibly free from contamination and debris.
Level III: Large Isolated Areas
(30 - 100 square feet) - e.g., several wallboard panels. A health and safety professional with experience performing microbial investigations should be consulted prior to remediation activities to provide oversight for the project.
The following procedures at a minimum are recommended:
Personnel trained in the handling of hazardous materials and equipped with respiratory protection, (e.g., N95 disposable respirator), in accordance with the OSHA respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), is recommended.
Gloves and eye protection should be worn.
The work area and areas directly adjacent should be covered with a plastic sheet(s) and taped before remediation, to contain dust/debris. Seal ventilation ducts/grills in the work area and areas directly adjacent with plastic sheeting.
The work area and areas directly adjacent should be unoccupied. Further vacating of people from spaces near the work area is recommended in the presence of infants (less than 12 months old), persons having undergone recent surgery, immune suppressed people, or people with chronic inflammatory lung diseases (e.g., asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and severe allergies).
Dust suppression methods, such as misting (not soaking) surfaces prior to remediation, are recommended. Contaminated materials that cannot be cleaned should be removed from the building in sealed plastic bags. There are no special requirements for the disposal of moldy materials. The work area and surrounding areas should be HEPA vacuumed and cleaned with a damp cloth and/or mop and a detergent solution.
All areas should be left dry and visibly free from contamination and debris.
If abatement procedures are expected to generate a lot of dust (e.g., abrasive cleaning of contaminated surfaces, demolition of plaster walls) or the visible concentration of the fungi is heavy (blanket coverage as opposed to patchy), then it is recommended that the remediation procedures for Level IV are followed.
Level IV: Extensive Contamination
(greater than 100 contiguous square feet in an area) A health and safety professional with experience performing microbial investigations should be consulted prior to remediation activities to provide oversight for the project.
The following procedures are recommended:
Personnel trained in the handling of hazardous materials equipped with: Full-face respirators with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cartridges, disposable protective clothing covering both head and shoes
Gloves and eye protection should be worn.
Containment of the affected area:
Complete isolation of work area from occupied spaces using plastic sheeting sealed with duct tape (including ventilation ducts/grills, fixtures, and any other openings) The use of an exhaust fan with a HEPA filter to generate negative pressurization.
Airlocks and decontamination of the room
Vacating people from spaces adjacent to the work area is not necessary but is recommended in the presence of infants (less than 12 months old), persons having undergone recent surgery, immune suppressed people, or people with chronic inflammatory lung diseases (e.g., asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and severe allergies).
Contaminated materials that cannot be cleaned should be removed from the building in sealed plastic bags. The outside of the bags should be cleaned with a damp cloth and a detergent solution or HEPA vacuumed in the decontamination chamber prior to their transport to uncontaminated areas of the building.
There are no special requirements for the disposal of moldy materials.
The contained area and decontamination room should be HEPA vacuumed and cleaned with a damp cloth and/or mop with a detergent solution and be visibly clean prior to the removal of isolation barriers. Air monitoring should be conducted prior to occupancy to determine if the area is fit to reoccupy.
Level V: Remediation of HVAC Systems
A Small Isolated Area of Contamination (<10 square feet) in the HVAC System
Remediation can be conducted by regular building maintenance staff. Such persons should receive training on proper clean up methods, personal protection, and potential health hazards. This training can be performed as part of a program to comply with the requirements of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).
Respiratory protection (e.g., N95 disposable respirator), in accordance with the OSHA respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), is recommended.
Gloves and eye protection should be worn.
The HVAC system should be shut down prior to any remedial activities.
The work area should be covered with a plastic sheet(s) and sealed with tape before remediation, to contain dust/debris.
Dust suppression methods, such as misting (not soaking) surfaces prior to remediation, are recommended.
Growth supporting materials that are contaminated, such as the paper on the insulation of interior lined ducts and filters, should be removed. Other contaminated materials that cannot be cleaned should be removed in sealed plastic bags.
There are no special requirements for the disposal of moldy materials.
The work area and areas immediately surrounding the work area should be HEPA vacuumed and cleaned with a damp cloth and/or mop and a detergent solution.
All areas should be left dry and visibly free from contamination and debris.
A variety of biocides are recommended by HVAC manufacturers for use with HVAC components, such as, cooling coils and condensation pans. HVAC manufacturers should be consulted for the products they recommend for use in their systems.
Areas of Contamination (>10 square feet) in the HVAC System
A health and safety professional with experience performing microbial investigations should be consulted prior to remediation activities to provide oversight for remediation projects involving more than a small isolated area in an HVAC system.
The following procedures are recommended:
Personnel trained in the handling of hazardous materials equipped with:
Respiratory protection (e.g., N95 disposable respirator), in accordance with the OSHA respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), is recommended.
Gloves and eye protection should be worn.
Full-face respirators with HEPA cartridges
Disposable protective clothing covering both head and shoes should be worn if contamination is greater than 30 square feet.
The HVAC system should be shut down prior to any remedial activities.
Containment of the affected area:
Complete isolation of work area from the other areas of the HVAC system using plastic sheeting sealed with duct tape.
The use of an exhaust fan with a HEPA filter to generate negative pressurization.
Airlocks and decontamination room if contamination is greater than 30 square feet.
Growth supporting materials that are contaminated, such as the paper on the insulation of interior lined ducts and filters, should be removed.
Other contaminated materials that cannot be cleaned should be removed in sealed plastic bags. When a decontamination chamber is present, the outside of the bags should be cleaned with a damp cloth and a detergent solution or HEPA vacuumed prior to their transport to uncontaminated areas of the building. There are no special requirements for the disposal of moldy materials. The contained area and decontamination room should be HEPA vacuumed and cleaned with a damp cloth and/or mop and a detergent solution prior to the removal of isolation barriers.
All areas should be left dry and visibly free from contamination and debris.
Air monitoring should be conducted prior to re-occupancy with the HVAC system in operation to determine if the area(s) served by the system are fit to reoccupy. A variety of biocides are recommended by HVAC manufacturers for use with HVAC components, such as, cooling coils and condensation pans. HVAC manufacturers should be consulted for the products they recommend for use in their systems.
Communication When fungal growth requiring large-scale remediation is found, the building owner, management, and/or employer should notify occupants in the affected area(s) of its presence. Notification should include a description of the remedial measures to be taken and a timetable for completion. Group meetings held before and after remediation with full disclosure of plans and results can be an effective communication mechanism. Individuals with persistent health problems that appear to be related to bioaerosol exposure should see their physicians for a referral to practitioners who are trained in occupational/environmental medicine or related specialties and are knowledgeable about these types of exposures.
Individuals seeking medical attention should be provided with a copy of all inspection results and interpretation to give to their medical practitioners.
Conclusion
In summary, the prompt remediation of contaminated material and infrastructure repair must be the primary response to fungal contamination in buildings. The simplest and most expedient remediation that properly and safely removes fungal growth from buildings should be used. In all situations, the underlying cause of water accumulation must be rectified or the fungal growth will recur.
Emphasis should be placed on preventing contamination through proper building maintenance and prompt repair of water damaged areas.
Widespread contamination poses much larger problems that must be addressed on a case-by-case basis in consultation with a health and safety specialist. Effective communication with building occupants is an essential component of all remedial efforts. Individuals with persistent health problems should see their physicians for a referral to practitioners who are trained in occupational/environmental medicine or related specialties and are knowledgeable about these types of exposures.
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