Mold is everywhere – in the air, on the ground, in the walls. You name it, mold spores are lurking, just waiting for the perfect brew: water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, all molds have the potential for causing health effects. Is your building infected and infecting others?
One of the alarming signs of mold infestations is when employees begin complaining of headaches, sinus problems, allergies, and other known complications from inhaling mold. Even if the mold originates in the basement, because the spores are easily transported through the air, mold can quickly gain a firm foothold in the entire building, affecting everyone inside.
When do you know you have a major mold problem and can you remediate mold on your own? Should you take your employees’ claims seriously? Before dismissing mold concerns, it’s important to understand that mold can be controlled. In fact, by controlling it early, you’ll save money. Allowing mold to fester allows it to gradually destroy the environment as it slowly digests the surfaces on which it thrives.
Prevention is the Best Medicine
While mold spores are everywhere, they require water in order to grow. Preventing moisture buildup prevents mold. Commercial buildings pose unique moisture control problems including inadequate ventilation, high humidity, unvented combustion appliances, roof and window leaks, poorly placed gutters and sprinklers, and plumbing issues. Since mold travels through air circulation systems, leaks and moisture in distant locations can soon affect common areas.
By controlling moisture issues before mold takes hold, you’ll prevent damage to your building and its furnishings and prevent adverse health effects to the building’s occupants.
Steps you can take right now to eliminate excessive moisture in your building:
o Search for and repair all leaks.
o Look for wet spots and condensation. For example, common areas of condensation including water buildup on windows and around air conditioners.
o Regularly check the drip pans of all heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, making sure that they are clean, unobstructed, and draining properly.
o Perform regular inspections and maintenance on all ventilation equipment and HVAC systems.
o Use a hydrometer to measure indoor humidity. A 60% or below reading of relative humidity is the goal with a reading of between 30 to 50% being ideal.
o Install a humidistat that will automatically turn on your HVAC system when your building’s relative humidity reaches a preset level.
o Any moisture generating systems that are not vented, such as dryers, should be vented.
o Make sure that the building’s foundation does not remain wet after storms or flooding. If necessary, you may need to grade the soil around the foundation so that it slopes away, providing proper drainage.
o Mop up wet spots immediately – do not let water sit for over 48 hours.
Removing Mold
Commercial buildings infested with mold will likely need professional help with the problem. Removing mold involves more than simply applying chemicals to kill it. Dead mold continues to be an allergen and potential toxin, causing and aggravating many health problems. Removing mold is not a job for do-it-yourselfers as many of the approved biocides are regulated and must be applied by registered companies.
In addition, personal protective equipment is necessary to avoid inhaling mold and its spores and preventing contact with sensitive areas such as the eyes. Discarded materials like removed wallpaper and drywall must be disposed of properly using 6-mil polyethylene sheeting (double bagged and sealed).
Not only must you use the correct products, wear protective equipment, and dispose of mold infested materials properly, you must also contain the area during mold remediation to prevent contaminated air from flowing elsewhere.
You’ve got Mold
Your employees have been complaining of itchy eyes, breathing difficulties, allergies, asthma, and sinus problems – should you ignore them and chalk their claims up to mass hysteria? No. You owe it to your employees to provide them with a safe environment. While removing mold is complex, ignoring it won’t make the problem go away.
It doesn’t take much to have a mold assessment performed. If the results back up your employees’ claims, then you’re doing the right thing by taking care of it. If the results come back saying that you do not have a mold issue, then you have the peace of mind of knowing that you investigated their concerns about moisture and mold problems.
Not only are molds known allergens, they may be toxic! Your employees have valid concerns when mold is present in the workplace. The EPA recommends using Personal Protective Equipment such as a minimum N-95 respirator, gloves, and eye protection during mold investigations, remediations, and clean-up.
