When managing a hospital or school campus, facility professionals must keep a careful eye out for signs of a common but potentially disastrous problem: mold. Mold is an important part of the natural environment, but given the chance to grow indoors, it can wreak havoc on building materials, cause structural damage, and lead to health problems for people in the affected areas.
Within school buildings and classrooms, mold can trigger allergies and respiratory problems for students and staff alike. And mold poses an even greater health threat in hospital facilities. Patients with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable as mold exposure has been directly linked to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and even patient deaths.
To mitigate the risks, facility professionals need to understand the causes of mold growth, act fast when they detect an outbreak, and select the right tools to keep people safe during removal and remediation.
Moisture Accumulation Means Mold
Mold spores are often tracked indoors and attached to people’s shoes or clothing, and airborne spores come in through open windows, doors, and HVAC system vents. Once inside, mold can begin to grow in as little as 24 hours on damp surfaces—like ceiling tiles, wood, insulation, drywall, or carpet—and rapidly spread to other areas. Anywhere with organic material plus sufficient moisture is at risk.
Excessive moisture in campus buildings can come from many different sources. Unexpected events, like heavy rainstorms or burst pipes, can lead to indoor flooding. And maintenance issues, like a leaking roof or crack in a building’s foundation, can create standing water.
In other cases, excessive moisture may simply be caused by the building structure itself. Lack of proper humidity control and poor ventilation are particularly common in older buildings due to construction practices from the 1970s through the late 90s. Many buildings from this era are tightly sealed and unventilated, leading to years of condensation build-up and a surplus of moisture that gets absorbed and trapped by materials like drywall.
Given aging infrastructure problems across U.S. hospital systems and education systems, campus buildings are often the perfect breeding ground for mold growth.
Mold Remediation and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Concerns
When a suspected mold issue is found, facility professionals should work with a qualified mold assessor to evaluate potential mold growth using air samples and area swabs. The air samples will help determine the scope of the mold issue and what type of mold is present.
If remediation is required, there are several standards available for companies to follow:
- The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) mold remediation guidelines for commercial buildings and schools
- The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards for professional mold remediation companies. The IICRC S520 and R520 standards were created by microbiologists, scientists, health professionals, hygienists, contractors, and restoration service professionals
During the remediation process, it’s essential to mitigate the negative effects on indoor air quality (IAQ). Remediation may involve tearing down drywall, pulling up carpet, and even removing hardwood flooring—activities that can release harmful mold spores into the air. To remove mold safely and effectively, remediation professionals should use the proper protective equipment.
Of course, they need personal protective equipment (PPE) like respirators, gloves, and fitted goggles, combined with high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filters, cleaners, wet vacuums, and disinfectants. However, PPE only protects the person wearing it. Remediation pros also need equipment to contain the affected area and prevent harmful airborne particulates from reaching people in adjacent areas of the building.
Best practices set by organizations like the IICRC involve two key products:
1. Reusable hard-sided containment barriers
Isolating the contaminated area involves closing off HVAC grills, sealing off cracks and crevices, and setting up containment barriers. Traditionally, remediation contractors have used one of two containment methods: either poly sheeting or hollowed-out drywall with insulation. However, both methods require expensive one-time-use materials and a lot of labor for setup. Plus, poly sheeting and drywall are not the most durable, clean, or visually appealing choices for busy environments like hospitals or schools.
Contractors and facility professionals are now turning to a better alternative that’s easy to install and can be used again and again: modular, hard-sided containment barriers. Temporary wall systems are quick and easy to install around a remediation area, and they can be configured to match the exact measurements needed to get the job done. In addition, the walls are durable, easy to sanitize, and aesthetically pleasing so active facilities can maintain a professional appearance throughout the remediation project.
2. Portable HEPA filtration systems
After isolating the contaminated area, contractors must establish negative air pressure to contain the airborne mold spores. Reusable containment walls can be paired with a HEPA air filtration system to achieve this.
Portable air scrubbers or negative air machines can draw in contaminated air from the sealed containment area. The air then passes through filters that remove particulates, like mold spores. This process creates a slight vacuum effect known as negative pressure, inside the containment area, preventing the spread of contaminants to other parts of the building.
There are several varieties of air filtration devices available on the market today, but the best choices are units equipped with true HEPA filters. These filters are a must for mold remediation. HEPA filters are manufactured, tested, certified, and labeled in accordance with filter standards. A true HEPA filter can capture 99.97% of 0.3-micron particulates, including mold spores, dust, and other allergens, and an even higher percentage of larger particles.
The Right Partner for Your Remediation Project
While it’s essential to use the proper remediation tools, it’s also important to have the right expertise in remediation best practices. That’s why many facility professionals and remediation contractors are choosing to work with experienced IAQ equipment providers who also serve as true partners. An experienced provider should not only guide you in selecting the right equipment but also be knowledgeable about industry standards and methodologies for effective remediation. This combination of technology and know-how will help you get the job done effectively while keeping everyone in your building safe from harm.
Linda Armendariz is the Rental Market Manager at Abatement Technologies. With over 25 years of experience in equipment supply, Linda leads the company’s strategic efforts in rental partnerships and assists businesses in selecting the right equipment for various projects.
Note: The views expressed by guest bloggers and contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Campus Safety.
