| 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. |
|
Mold and Indoor Air Regulations and Standards |
| Standards or Threshold
Limit Values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold,
or mold spores, have not been set. As of December 2000,
there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold
contaminants. |
|
| 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, |
|
Health Concerns |
| If building occupants
are reporting serious health concerns, you should consult
a health professional. |
|
| 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 |
__________________
7 Please note
that Tables 1 and 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.
8 Although this
document has a residential focus, it is applicable to other building types.
|
