Guidelines for Mold Remediation (Removal) Indoor Mold Growth, Water Damage, Or Musty Odors Should Be Addressed Quickly

Guidelines for Mold Remediation (Removal) Indoor mold growth, water damage, or musty odors should be addressed quickly. Removing mold growth and correcting the underlying cause of water accumulation can help to reduce mold exposures and related health symptoms. The source of water must be identified and corrected or mold growth will reoccur.

Prompt remediation of mold‐damaged materials should be the primary response to mold growth in buildings. The goal of remediation is to remove or clean mold‐ mold growth) should be removed and damaged materials using work practices that discarded. Wallboard should be cleaned or protect occupants and remediation workers. removed at least six inches beyond wet or Prior to remediation, also consider the water‐damaged areas or visible mold growth possible presence of other environmental (including in hidden areas in wall cavities). hazards such as asbestos and lead. Trained building maintenance staff can address Disinfectants are usually not needed because limited and occasional mold growth. For physical removal of fungal growth is the most larger jobs, more extensively trained effective way to prevent exposure. Clean with a professional mold remediation workers may soap or detergent solution. Use the gentlest be needed. cleaning method that effectively removes the mold. All materials that will be kept should be Non‐porous materials (metals, glass, hard dry and visibly free from mold. Consider plastics, etc.) can usually be cleaned. Semi‐ additional wet cleaning of surfaces and porous and porous structural materials, such materials adjacent to areas of mold growth to as wood and concrete, can be cleaned if they remove settled spores and fungal fragments. A are structurally sound. Porous materials, High‐Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum such as ceiling tiles and insulation, and cleaner should also be used to clean these wallboards (with more than a small area of adjacent areas.

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Small Isolated Areas • Gloves and eye protection should also (less than 10 square feet) – ceiling be worn. tiles, small areas on walls, etc. • The work area should be unoccupied. • Remediation can be conducted by • Prior to remediation, difficult‐to‐ trained building maintenance staff. clean surfaces such as carpeting that Training should include proper is not soaked or contaminated should cleaning methods, personal be covered with plastic sheeting and protection, and potential health sealed with tape. Difficult‐to‐clean hazards associated with mold equipment such as electronics should exposure. Training can be conducted be removed. as part of a program to comply with the requirements of the OSHA/PESH • Use dust suppression methods, Hazard Communication Standard (29 including cleaning or gently misting surfaces with a dilute soap or detergent solution prior to removal, High‐Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum‐shrouded tools, or use of a HEPA vacuum at the point of dust generation. Avoid work practices that create excessive dust. • Moldy materials that can be cleaned should be cleaned using a soap or detergent solution. Materials that cannot be cleaned should be removed in sealed plastic bags. Plastic sheeting should be discarded after use. There CFR 1910.1200). are no special requirements for the • Respiratory protection (N‐95 disposal of moldy materials. disposable respirator) is • The work area and areas used by recommended. The requirements of workers for egress should be HEPA‐ the OSHA/PESH Respiratory vacuumed or cleaned with a damp Protection Standard (29 CFR cloth and/or mop and a soap or 1910.134) must be followed. detergent solution.

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Medium­Sized Isolated Areas • Moldy materials that can be cleaned (10 – 100 square feet) should be cleaned using a soap or detergent solution. Materials that • Remediation can be conducted by cannot be cleaned should be removed trained building maintenance staff. in a sealed plastic bag(s). Plastic Training should include proper sheeting should be discarded after cleaning methods, personal use. There are no special protection, and potential health requirements for the disposal of hazards associated with mold moldy materials. exposure. Training can be conducted as part of a program to comply with • The work area and areas used by the requirements of the OSHA/PESH workers for egress should be HEPA‐ Hazard Communication Standard (29 vacuumed and/or cleaned with a CFR 1910.1200). damp cloth and/or mop and a soap or detergent solution. • Respiratory protection (N‐95 disposable respirator or better) is Large Areas (greater than 100 recommended. The requirements of the square feet) – for example, on OSHA/PESH Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) must be multiple walls in a single room followed. Gloves and eye protection • Oversight by an environmental health should also be worn. professional may be warranted. • Seal ventilation ducts/grills and other openings in the work area with plastic sheeting. The HVAC system may need to be shut down to properly seal vents. • Use dust suppression methods, including cleaning or gently misting surfaces with a dilute soap or detergent solution prior to removal, the use of High‐Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum‐shrouded tools, or using a HEPA vacuum at the point of dust generation. Avoid work practices that create excessive dust.

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• Properly trained and equipped • Consider using an exhaust fan professional mold remediation workers equipped with a HEPA filter to should conduct the remediation. Training generate negative pressurization. should cover handling of mold‐damaged Consider using airlocks and a clean materials, proper cleaning methods, changing room. personal protection, and potential health hazards associated with mold exposure. Training can be conducted as part of a program to comply with the requirements of the OSHA/PESH Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

• Remediation workers should be equipped with: • A minimum of half‐face elastomeric respirators with P‐100 filters used in accordance with the OSHA/PESH Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR • Egress pathways should also be 1910.134) covered if a clean changing room is • Full body coveralls with head and not used. foot coverings • Gloves and eye protection. • The work area should be unoccupied.

• The HVAC system serving the affected • Use dust suppression methods, area should be shut down during including cleaning or gently misting remediation. The area should be surfaces with a dilute soap or isolated using plastic sheeting sealed detergent solution prior to removal, with duct tape. High‐Efficiency Particulate Air • Furnishings should be removed from (HEPA) vacuum‐shrouded tools, or a the area. Ventilation ducts and grills, HEPA vacuum used at the point of other openings, and remaining dust generation. fixtures or furnishings should be covered with plastic sheeting sealed • Avoid work practices that create with duct tape. excessive dust.

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• Moldy materials that can be cleaned Mold in HVAC Systems should be cleaned using a soap or Mold growth in heating, ventilation, and air‐ detergent solution. Materials that conditioning (HVAC) systems can cause cannot be cleaned should be removed building‐wide problems. Professional in sealed plastic bags. The outside of assistance may be needed even with small the bags should be cleaned with a amounts of mold growth or moisture problems in an HVAC system. Recurring damp cloth and a soap or detergent problems, regardless of size, may indicate a solution or HEPA‐vacuumed in the systemic problem and appropriate work area (or clean changing room) professional help should be sought. prior to their transport to unaffected areas of the building. There are no special requirements for the disposal of moldy materials.

• Before leaving the work area, workers should remove disposable clothing to prevent the tracking of mold‐containing dusts outside of the work area. Small Isolated Area (less than 10 square feet) of Mold Growth in HVAC System – for example box filter, small area on insulation • The work area and egress pathways Remediation can be conducted by trained (and clean changing room if present) building maintenance staff who are familiar should be HEPA‐vacuumed and with the design and function of the HVAC cleaned with a damp cloth and/or system. Training should cover proper cleaning mop with a soap or detergent methods, personal protection, and potential solution and be visibly clean prior to health hazards. Training can be conducted as the removal of isolation barriers. part of a program to comply with the Plastic sheeting should be discarded requirements of the OSHA/PESH Hazard after use. Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

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• Respiratory protection (N‐95 • The work area and areas used for disposable respirator) is egress should be HEPA‐vacuumed and recommended. The requirements of cleaned with a damp cloth and/or the OSHA/PESH Respiratory mop and a soap or detergent solution. Protection Standard (29 CFR Any plastic sheeting should be 1910.134) discarded after use. must be followed. Gloves and eye Large Area of Mold Growth in the HVAC protection System (>10 square feet) should also be worn. • Properly trained and equipped professional mold remediation • The HVAC system should be shut workers with specific training and down. experience in HVAC systems should • Use dust suppression methods, conduct the remediation. including cleaning or gently misting • The presence of an environmental surfaces with a dilute soap or health professional with experience detergent solution prior to removal, and specific knowledge of HVAC High‐Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) systems may be warranted. vacuum‐shrouded tools, or a HEPA vacuum used at the point of dust • Remediation workers should be generation. Avoid work practices that equipped with: create excessive dust. • A minimum of half‐face • The use of plastic sheeting to isolate elastomeric respirators with other sections of the system should be P‐100 filters used in accordance considered. with the OSHA/PESH Respiratory • Non‐porous moldy materials that can Protection Standard (29 CFR be cleaned should be cleaned using a 1910.134) soap or detergent solution. Growth‐ • Full body coveralls with head and supporting materials that are moldy, foot coverings such as the insulation of interior‐lined ducts, flexible ducts, and filters, should • Gloves and eye protection. be removed and sealed in plastic bags. There are no special requirements for • The HVAC system should be shut the disposal of moldy materials. down prior to any remedial activities.

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• The work area should be isolated • Before leaving work areas, workers from other areas of the HVAC system should remove disposable clothing to using plastic sheeting sealed with prevent the tracking of mold‐ duct tape. The use of an exhaust fan containing dust outside of the work equipped with a HEPA filter to area. generate negative pressurization should be considered. Consider using • The work area and egress pathways airlocks and a clean changing room. (and clean changing room if present) Egress pathways should also be should be HEPA‐vacuumed and covered if a clean changing room is cleaned with a damp cloth and/or not used. mop and a soap or detergent solution prior to the removal of isolation • Use dust suppression methods, barriers. Plastic sheeting should be including cleaning or gently misting discarded after use. surfaces with a dilute soap or

detergent solution prior to removal, High‐Efficiency Particulate Air Adapted from: (HEPA) vacuum‐shrouded tools, or a NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene HEPA vacuum used at the point of Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of dust generation. Avoid work Fungi in Indoor Environments practices that create excessive dust.

• Moldy materials that can be cleaned should be cleaned using a soap or detergent solution. Growth‐ supporting materials that are moldy, such as the insulation of interior‐ lined ducts, flexible ducts, and filters, should be removed in sealed plastic bags. The outside of the bags should be cleaned with a damp cloth and a soap or detergent solution or HEPA‐ vacuumed prior to their removal from the isolated work area. There are no special requirements for the disposal of moldy materials.

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