Containment
Mold Containment
Mold containment is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of the mold remediation process.
It is a fundamental requirement to ensure the mold does not spread – but there's a lot more to it than just that.
This post will help you learn what involves mold containment.
What Is Mold Containment
Mold containment is the process of sealing off a part of a room or a much larger area before mold remediation. It helps ensure that mold spores don't spread to unaffected areas.
The EPA describes two specific types of mold containment – limited and full. Limited containment is apt for smaller infestations and typically involves mold spread over an area between 10 and 100 square feet.
Essentially, limited containment is used to seal off mold in a single room.
On the other hand, full containment applies to areas where mold growth affects more than 100 square feet.
Besides the differences in areas of mold removal, limited and full containment also approach containment aspects differently.
In a circumstance where limited containment is used, the area is wrapped using a single layer of fire-retardant polyethylene sheeting. Access to the space is allowed via a slit entry, and the air vents and doors are also sealed using sheeting to prevent the spreading of spores.
In contrast, two layers of polyethylene sheeting are used when full containment is applied. Additionally, a decontamination chamber is set up between the affected and unaffected areas to limit the spreading of mold.
Setting Up Mold Containment
Step #1: Evaluation
Before taking a look at how dense the mold growth is, the containment area's required size is evaluated.
The materials in the room are bagged up, and air scrubbers and other tools are set up in the space.
Step #2: Containment
6-ply or 10-ply polyurethane sheeting is set up to cover the windows, doorways, vents, ducts, and even the electrical outlets in the area.
The openings are extended two inches outside the edges, and tape is used to make a tight seal.
The tight seal ensures that there is a physical barrier that entirely separates the work area from the adjacent areas that are not affected by the mold.
In smaller areas, the sheeting is affixed to the floor, and the ceiling and the entire area is typically not enveloped as much.
On the other hand, in larger areas with no walls between ends of the room, steel or wood frames are stood up to connect the polyethylene sheeting firmly.
The entry/exit of the area is positioned nearest to the entrance of the room or the home – this makes hauling the removed moldy materials a lot easier.
Zipper tape is installed, and a containment hallway is created.
Step #3: Negative Air Machine Installation
Before the area can be called "contained," the air scrubber is set up to exhaust the airborne mold spores outside.
The air is typically exhausted out of the area via flexible ducting. It creates a negative pressure environment, clearing the air in the room of all the spores.
Is Sampling for Mold Necessary Before Containment?
In most cases, mold removal teams are called when the mold is visible, removing the need for sampling.
Air sampling is typically not part of the assessment since remediation strategies can be formulated by just a visual inspection.
Besides, testing for mold is expensive, and there needs to be a specific reason to have it done.
Testing is typically done to compare the levels of mold infestations and find the different types of mold spores.
Regardless of whether your home or business is infested with mold, sampling of mold is not required.