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Week 3 Question - Scavenger Hunt Contest Fall 2014
10/20/2014 (Permalink)
A mother of two young children contacted us because of a mold concern. Here is her story:
“Mold is growing on the sheet rock in my bathroom. I’ve sprayed it down with bleach and cleaning solution a number of times, but it always seems to grow right back”! It measures about 25 sq ft in total. My husband says he can cut out the affected sheet rock and hang new sheet rock, but I’m afraid of he and my children getting sick. What should we do?
According to EPA Guidelines, what type of Containment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are suggested to remediate 25 sq feet of mold?
- No Containment / No PPE needed
- No Containment / Minimum PPE needed
- Limited Containment / Limited PPE - Half-Face Air Purifying Respirator (APR) with HEPA Filter
- Limited Containment / Minimum PPE needed
- Full Containment with Decon Chamber / Full PPE - Full-Face APR with HEPA Filter
Need a hint? "Hunt" below in our mold article!
If you have any trouble answering the question or run into submission problems please contact me. Good luck!
Dave Kraszewski / SERVPROdave@gmail.com -- Email
There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. They can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods – this is why when you leave open bread on a counter, it begins to become moldy in a few days. Mold is a part of our everyday environment.
Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among people exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.
If mold is a problem in your home, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture. Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth. Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60%) to decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.
Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter your home by leaking or by seeping through floors. Showers or cooking can add moisture to the air in your home. The amount of moisture that the air in your home can hold depends on the temperature of the air. As the temperature goes down, the air is able to hold less moisture. This is why, in cold weather, moisture condenses on cold surfaces (for example, drops of water form on the inside of a window). This moisture can encourage biological pollutants to grow.
When remediating mold, the goal of containment is to limit the spread of mold throughout the building and minimize the exposure to technicians and building occupants. The larger the contaminated area, and the greater the possibility that someone will be exposed to mold, the greater the need for containment. An exception could be heavy mold growth in a small area. It could release more mold spores than lighter growth in a relatively large area. In this case, the smaller moldy area may warrant a higher level of containment.
Two types of containment are described in the EPA's mold remediation guidelines: limited and full. Limited containmentis generally used for areas involving 10 and 100 sq ft of mold contamination. Full containment is used when areas larger than 100 sq ft are to be remediated. Containment for jobs under 10 sq ft usually is not necessary.
Types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
The easiest way to solve mold problems is to prevent mold growth in the first place. Here are some tips to follow: