Mold is a natural part of our environment inside and outside. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees. Indoors, mold growth should be protected against and avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores. These tiny spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through the air. Mold may begin growing indoors when spores land on moist surfaces. There are many types of mold, but all require moisture for growth. Molds are found everywhere, and mold spores are a common component of household and workplace dust. In large amounts they can be a health hazard to humans, potentially causing allergic reactions and respiratory problems.
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 workers 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. (CDC)
When water damages go unmitigated the risk for mold growth is quite common. This can also be categorized as a secondary damage of a water loss if the loss is not properly handled or mitigated. Not all mold is visible to the naked eye and removal of building materials may be necessary to expose hidden mold issues.
At 4 Elements Restoration, our highly skilled technicians follow the ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard. We remove all affected materials, HEPA vacuum, clean areas/rooms, and treat all the areas/rooms to remediate the mold. All remediation work is performed under tight containment and under negative air pressure. This ensures no spores travel outside the affected areas of work. In some cases depending on the severity of the mold and/or request of the insurance carriers a third party Independent Hygienist (IH) will be called in for pretesting. Once all remediation is completed the IH returns to perform a post test of the remediation work. They check the areas of completed work and gives us a clearance on the work performed. Once this phase of work has been completed and a passing clearance is granted then and only then are containments and equipment removed.