Moulds produce mycotoxins that can cause a wide variety of adverse health problems, from simple congestion and throat irritation, to more serious respiratory issues, cough, and headache. As with home and office settings, mould growth in an industrial or commercial space can cause or worsen the health of their occupants.
Several factors underlie mould growth in buildings. Build up of moisture form such things as leaking pipes or compromised building envelopes coupled with lack of adequate ventilation are fundamental conditions under which indoor mould will develop. So too is warmth and food, such as dust and building materials.
What’s typically involved with mould remediation projects?
According to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), there are five general principles that apply to mould remediation processes and services.
1) Health precautions must be taken by cleanup professionals and occupants. Those involved in or near the mould remediation activities need to be protected from exposure.
2) An assessment by an independent environmental expert. A mould remediation strategy should be developed by first determining the extent of the contamination. Documentation of the remediation process should be retained by management.
3) Control existing mould to keep it from spreading, and eliminate its source.
4) Provide adequate oversight to ensure proper abatement of the mould. Simply isolating mould is not adequate.
5) Ensure that moisture is controlled to limit future contamination or recontamination.
Application of these principles require considerable expertise in both the restoration and indoor environmental fields. It also requires comprehensive liability insurance that does not have exclusions for mould. Enviro-Vac is one of only a few companies in Canada with these credentials, as well as those for a wide array of other abatement and decontamination services for asbestos, lead and arsenic, mercury and PCBs.
