Level I: Small Isolated Areas (10 sq. ft or less) - e.g.,
ceiling tiles, small areas on walls
- Small remediation jobs under 10 square feet can usually be
conducted by a non-professional. Such persons should have
knowledge of proper clean up methods, personal protection, and
potential health hazards.
For information from OSHA regarding Toxic and Hazardous
Substances click here.
- An OSHA approved respiratory protection device such as the
N95 disposable respirator, available at Home Depot,
should be worn at all time while in the abatement area. Gloves
and eye protection should be worn also.
- 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 optional. However, dust
suppression methods, such as misting (not soaking) or covering
surfaces with plastic 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 egress
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.) -
e.g., individual wallboard panels.
- Mid-sized remediation jobs over 10 square feet can be
conducted by a non-professional, however, careful assessment is
recommended before beginning to help determine if a professional
remediator would be better. Such persons should have knowledge
of proper clean up methods, personal protection, and potential
health hazards.
For information from OSHA regarding Toxic and Hazardous
Substances click here.
- An OSHA approved respiratory protection device such as the
N95 disposable respirator, available at Home Depot,
should be worn at all time while in the abatement area. Gloves
and eye protection should be worn also.
- 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).
- The work area should be covered with a plastic sheet(s) and
sealed with tape before remediation, to contain dust/debris in
the abatement area. Seal ventilation ducts/grills in the work
area and areas directly adjacent with plastic sheeting. (Blue
Painter's Tape will usually not damage wall surfaces)
- Dust suppression methods, such as misting (not soaking) or
covering surfaces with plastic 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 mold inspection 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 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 electrical switches and outlets and ventilation
ducts/grills in the work area and areas directly adjacent with
plastic sheeting. (Blue Painter's Tape will usually not damage
wall surfaces)
- 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) or
covering surfaces with plastic 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)
- A mold inspection 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
- 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 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
5.1 A Small Isolated Area of Contamination (<10 square feet) in
the HVAC System
- Remediation can be conducted by a non-professional. Such
persons should have knowledge of proper clean up methods,
personal protection, and potential health hazards.
For information from OSHA regarding Toxic and Hazardous
Substances click here.
- An OSHA approved respiratory protection device such as the
N95 disposable respirator, available at Home Depot,
should be worn at all time while in the abatement area. Gloves
and eye protection should be worn also.
- 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) or
covering surfaces with plastic 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.
5.2 Areas of Contamination (>10 square feet) in the HVAC
System
- A mold inspection 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
Full-face respirators with HEPA cartridges and 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.
Hazard 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.
Summary:
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.
Suggested Reading: (click to download free EPA booklets)
A
Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
This Guide provides information and guidance for homeowners and renters
on how to clean up residential mold problems and how to prevent mold growth.
[PDF]
[HTML]
Una Breve Guía para el Moho, la Humedad y su Hogar
está disponible en el formato [PDF]
Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings
This document presents guidelines for the remediation/cleanup of mold
and moisture problems in schools and commercial buildings; these guidelines
include measures designed to protect the health of building occupants and
remediators. [PDF]
[HTML]
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