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• Mold Clearance Procedure Outline: When & How to Inspect and Test after Mold Cleanup
• What building areas should be tested?
• How does a building "pass" a clearance inspection?

Here we explain and describe in more detail the post remediation mold clearance procedures and testing that should be used after a mold remediation or mold cleanup project. This document is a chapter of the Mold Action Guide which provides an easy to understand step-by-step guide for dealing with toxic or allergenic indoor mold and other indoor contaminants: what to do about mold "mildew," moisture, in your house or office, building-related illness, involving your physician, treatment, sick building investigators, reduction of irritants, and special products to help clean buildings and air. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

CLEARANCE PROCEDURES: to be Used After a Mold Cleanup / Remediation Project

There are no single accepted "pass-fail" criteria for clearance inspections. I examine remediated areas for mold or other allergens and I look in other building areas for evidence of spread of contaminated demolition debris or inadequate cleaning if cleaning was recommended for those areas. My evaluation combines a visual inspection of the extent of removal and cleaning of infected materials/areas with a microscopic examination of surface, dust, air, and/or vacuum samples collected at the property.

Visual Inspection for Demolition & Cleaning Completeness

A visual inspection is performed of both the cleaned area and other building areas. In the clean-up area we want to know that demolition has been sufficient - that no moldy materials remain, and that all surfaces appear to have been physically cleaned. If a fungicidal sealant was to be applied, we want to see that it was not simply sprayed atop mold and dirt or debris instead of first cleaning those surfaces.

Mold Screening Tests for Effective Cleaning in the Work Area

We will collect mold clearance inspection test samples of physical surfaces which appear to still be moldy or dirty; if all surfaces are clean we will collect at least one settled dust sample from a representative cleaned surface in each major area. We may also collect other screening samples by using air or vacuum sampling methods. But beware; air sampling alone is not a reliable means of screening a building for problems.

Mold Screening Tests for Cross Contamination Outside of the Work Area

Outside of the remediation area we will collect screening samples of suspect surfaces, settled dust, vacuum and/or air samples of representative areas in the building, paying special attention to areas (or equipment such as HVAC systems) which are at particular risk of having been cross-contaminated by inadequate dust containment measures during the cleanup.

General Property Condition

We will also report ongoing conditions which continue to put the building at extra risk of a new mold problem, such as failure to correct various causes of leaks, water entry, and high moisture.

Lab Processing of Test Samples

Test samples from the site examined in my laboratory using appropriate chemical/stain preparations and a light microscope at magnifications up to 1000X. My opinion regarding the level of cleanliness reflected by fungal samples is based on several existing studies of building contamination, a comparison with the original contamination levels, and my field and laboratory experience examining properties before and after remediation.

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THE MOLD ACTION GUIDE
MOLD DOCTOR?
MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE
DO IT YOURSELF MOLD CLEANUP
HOW TO FIND MOLD
MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE
MOLD KILLING GUIDE
FLOODS & MOLD CLEAN/PREVENT
MOLD CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS
  CLEARANCE PROCEDURES
  ACCEPTABLE MOLD LEVEL
  VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS
  SUCCESSFUL MOLD TEST
AFTER THE MOLD CLEANUP
MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE
OTHER IAQ ISSUES

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