HVAC Cleaning and Remediation for Mold and Mildew

As per the NIOSH Interim Recommendations for the Cleaning and Remediation of Flood-Contaminated HVAC Systems: A Guide for Building Owners and Managers http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/flood/Cleaning-Flood-HVAC.html, the following are recommendations:

HVAC Cleaning and Remediation

• Remove all flood-contaminated insulation surrounding and within HVAC systemcomponents. Discard these contaminated materials appropriately followingapplicable Federal, State, and local regulations.
• Remove contaminated HVAC filter media and discard appropriately followingapplicable Federal, State, and local regulations.
• After removing any insulation and filters, clean all flood-contaminated HVACsystem component surfaces with a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner to remove dirt,debris, and microorganisms. Pay special attention to filter racks, drain pans,bends and horizontal sections of air ducts where debris can collect.
• After removing any insulation or debris, disinfect all HVAC system componentsurfaces while the HVAC system is not operating. Use a solution of 1 cup ofhousehold chlorine bleach in a gallon of water. Do not mix bleach with othercleaning products that contain ammonia.
• Follow the disinfection procedure with a clean water rinse. Depending on theamount of debris present, it may be necessary to mechanically clean the HVACsystem component surfaces with a steam or a high-pressure washer beforeusing the disinfectant.
• Note: Remove and discard HVAC system components that arecontaminated with flood water and cannot be effectively cleaned and disinfected. Replace them with new components.
• After cleaning and disinfecting or replacing the HVAC system components,replace the insulation – preferably with an external (i.e. not in the air stream)smooth-surfaced insulation to help prevent debris and microorganisms fromcollecting in the future.
• Make sure that the HVAC system fan has been removed and serviced (cleaned,disinfected, dried thoroughly, and tested) by a qualified professional before it isplaced back into the air-handling unit.
• During the cleaning and remediation process, consider upgrading the HVACsystem filtration to the highest efficiency filters practical given the static pressureconstraints of the HVAC system fan. This step has been shown to be one of the most cost-effective ways to improve the long-term quality of the indoorenvironment, since it reduces the amount of airborne dusts and microorganisms.

Source: www.cdc.gov

Mold can cause adverse health effects - FEMA

Mold is an ever-present problem following storm flooding and can be a significant health risk if care is not taken, warn officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA).

They urge residents and owners of flooded property to take action now to identify mold and take steps to clean it up and not wait until inspectors arrive.

Health officials say problems from exposure to mold can follow if it is disturbed through improper cleanup procedures. Also, mold is easily transferred from one surface to another. Infants, children, immune-compromised patients, pregnant women, individuals with existing respiratory conditions (allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity, and asthma) and the elderly appear to be at higher risks for adverse health effects from mold.

Symptoms can include nose and throat irritation, wheezing, coughing, asthma attacks in individuals who have asthma, and lower respiratory tract infections in children. People with pre-existing respiratory conditions also may be susceptible to more serious lung infections.

Mold growth is a common occurrence in flood-damaged homes and damp environments. Mold can become a problem in your home if there is enough moisture available to allow mold to thrive and multiply. Mold discoloration comes in a variety of colors from white to orange and from green to brown or black. Whatever color, it characteristically gives off a musty or earthy smell.

There is no practical way to eliminate all mold spores in the indoor environment, but there are many ways to help control moisture and mold growth. Care must be taken to clean and completely dry any areas of the home that have gotten wet from floodwaters to prevent structural damage and adverse health effects from mold.

The following are a few suggestions to help in preventing mold:

• Rebuild or retrofit with water-resistant building materials such as tile, stone, deep-sealed concrete, galvanized or stainless steel hardware, indoor/outdoor carpeting, waterproof wallboard and water-resistant glues.
• Clean fabrics such as curtains and upholstery often and keep them dry. Store clean fabric items in well-ventilated areas.
• Consider having air ducts cleaned and inspected professionally or replaced.
• Reduce moisture in the air with dehumidifiers, fans and open windows or air conditioners.
• Do not use fans if mold already exists; a fan will spread the mold spores.
• Routinely check potential problem spots. Disinfect often with a 10 percent solution of bleach - about 1-1/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water. Don't add ammonia as mixing bleach and ammonia will create toxic fumes.
  

For more information, contact the following sites online: Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/mold.shtm or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at www.epa.gov/iaq/molds.

Individuals also may obtain a free copy of FEMA's publication, Mold & Mildew: Cleaning Up Your Flood-Damaged Home, Publication No. 606, by contacting FEMA Publications at 1-800-480-2520.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Source: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45099

Clean Mold Thoroughly and Safely - FEMA

AUSTIN, Texas -- Disaster recovery specialists caution that mold and mildew can begin to grow within 24 hours after a flood and can be found throughout the house, including the attic, basement and crawl spaces. Health officials encourage those who realize they have mold to act quickly to eliminate the problem. Taking steps to clean up mold properly ensures a healthy home, especially for those who may suffer from allergies and asthma.

All materials are likely to become moldy if they are wet for too long. Thus, the first step in the mold cleanup process is to consider the condition of all items in a flooded area:

• Wood furniture and other porous materials can trap mold and may need to be thrown away.
• Harder materials, such as glass, plastic and metal, can be cleaned and disinfected.
• Carpeting is a problem because drying it out does not remove mold spores. Carpets with heavy mold and mildew need to be discarded.

All wet surfaces should be cleaned, disinfected and dried as quickly as possible. Specialists offer the following suggestions to ensure safe and effective cleanup:

• Open windows for ventilation and wear rubber gloves and eye protection for cleaning. Consider also using an N-95 rated mask if heavy concentrations of mold are present.
  Wash all areas and washable items that came in contact with floodwaters with a non-ammonia soap or detergent.
• Rinse thoroughly and disinfect the area with a solution of 10 percent household bleach and 90 percent water. Never use bleach with ammonia. The fumes are toxic.
• Cleaned areas need to dry for several days. Heat, fans and dehumidifiers help.
• All odors should be checked out. It is possible for mold to hide in the walls or behind wall coverings. Find all mold sources and properly clean them.
• Materials that cannot be cleaned, such as wallboard, fiberglass and cellulose insulation, should be removed and discarded. Then clean the wall studs where wallboard has been removed, and allow the area to dry completely.

Additional information on cleaning up after a flood is available at the following web sites: www.fema.gov, www.redcross.org, www.epa.gov, www.cdc.gov, www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem and www.dshs.state.tx.us.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Source: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=46188

How Do You Know When You Have Fnished Remediation/Cleanup

How Do You Know When You Have Finished Remediation/Cleanup?
As per the US EPA's website http://www.epa.gov/iedmold1/i-e-r.html#Table%202:%20Mold%20Remediation%20Guidelines%20(7)

• You must have completely fixed the water or moisture problem.
• You should complete mold removal. Use professional judgment to determine if the cleanup is sufficient. Visible mold, mold-damaged materials, and moldy odors should not be present.
• If you have sampled, the kinds and concentrations of mold and mold spores in the building should be similar to those found outside, once cleanup activities have been completed.
• You should revisit the site(s) shortly after remediation, and it should show no signs of water damage or mold growth.
• People should be able to occupy or re-occupy the space without health complaints or physical symptoms.
• Ultimately, this is a judgment call; there is no easy answer.

EPA Issues Notice to Galveston Residents

Attention Returning Galveston Residents

Release date: 09/23/2008
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or Francisco Arcaute at 213-798-1404 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – September 23, 2008) Before drinking, cooking or brushing teeth, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends these water precautions for residents returning to Galveston:
a) If possible, use bottled water that hasn’t been exposed to floodwaters;
b) If none is available, boil water. For cloudy water, filter with a cloth; draw off the clear water and boil for one minute. Then store in a clean container with a cover;
c) If you can’t boil water, add 1/8 of a teaspoon of household bleach for each gallon of water. Stir well, and let it stand 30 minutes before using.
d) Pay attention to local authorities, who will announce when it is safe to use and drink water or flush toilets.

EPA has several recorded public service announcements (PSAs) offering safety tips on how to safely operate a generator, how to properly use household cleaners, how to handle and dispose of hazardous materials, and how to safely deal with asbestos and mold, among other useful information. To listen to these PSAs or to learn more information on how to respond to disasters, please visit http://www.epa.gov/hurricane.For more information about EPA, go to http://www.epa.gov/region6.

Source: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/dc16a9e4257d2b6a852574cd005ce11f?OpenDocument

Plan the Mold Remediation Before Starting the Work

As per the US EPA's website:

Remediation Plan:

Assess the size of the mold and/or moisture problem and the type of damaged materials before planning the remediation work. Select a remediation manager for medium or large jobs (or small jobs requiring more than one person). The remediation plan should include steps to fix the water or moisture problem, or the problem may reoccur. The plan should cover the use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and include steps to carefully contain and remove moldy building materials to avoid spreading the mold.(2) A remediation plan may vary greatly depending on the size and complexity of the job, and may require revision if circumstances change or new facts are discovered.

The remediation manager's highest priority must be to protect the health and safety of the building occupants and remediators. It is also important to communicate with building occupants when mold problems are identified.(3) In some cases, especially those involving large areas of contamination, the remediation plan may include temporary relocation of some or all of the building occupants.

The decision to relocate occupants should consider the size and type of the area affected by mold growth, the type and extent of health effects reported by the occupants, the potential health risks that could be associated with debris, and the amount of disruption likely to be caused by remediation activities. If possible, remediation activities should be scheduled during off-hours when building occupants are less likely to be affected.

Remediators, particularly those with health-related concerns, may wish to check with their doctors or health care professionals before working on mold remediation or investigating potentially moldy areas. If you have any doubts or questions, you should consult a health professional before beginning a remediation project.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/iedmold1/i-e-r.html#f-2

Mold Remediation - Key Steps

As per the US EPA, the key steps in mold remediation are:

* Consult health professional as appropriate throughout process
* Select remediation manager
* Assess size of mold problem and note type of mold-damaged materials
* Communicate with building occupants throughout process as appropriate to situation
* Identify source or cause of water or moisture problem
* Plan remediation, adapt guidelines to fit situation, see Table 1 & Table 2
* Select personal protective equipment (PPE)
* Select containment equipment
* Select remediation personnel or team
* Choose between outside expertise or in-house expertise
* Remediate
* Fix water or moisture problem
* Clean and dry moldy materials See Table 2
* Discard moldy items that can't be cleaned
* Dry non-moldy items within 48 hours See Table 1
* Check for return of moisture and mold problem
* If hidden mold is discovered, reevaluate plan

Source: http://www.epa.gov/iedmold1/i-e-r.html

Mold Removal After a Disaster (Hurricane / Flood)

A video public service announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is avaliable for download at: http://www.emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/psa/video/moldremoval.asp

The video discusses how to safely remove mold after a hurricane, tornado or flood.

Mold Prevention and Possible Health Effects Report

The duration and extent of flooding and the number of structures flooded as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita make the likelihood of massive mold contamination in buildings a certainty. Many structures remained flooded weeks after the hurricane and became saturated with water. Some early observers suggested that as many as 60% to 80% of residential structures in New Orleans sustained severe flood damage. Outside New Orleans, extensive hurricane damage without prolonged flooding occurred. This more typical pattern of destruction as a result of wind and rain will result in problems with mold, but will not be as extensive as in New Orleans.

This publication provides comprehensive information on how to limit exposure to mold and how to identify and prevent mold-related health effects. It will be especially useful to public health practitioners, health care providers, building managers, custodians, and others who are responsible for building maintenance. Contractors and other professionals (e.g. environmental consultants and other health or safety professionals) who respond to mold or moisture situations in buildings will also find the information of use, as might the public.

The entire publication can be found at http://www.epa.gov/hurricane/pdf/2005_moldreport.pdf

How to Disinfect Well Water After A Flood or Hurricane

If your well becomes submerged due to flooding, it may have become contaminated with bacteria. The Department of Health recommends disinfecting the water in wells that have been submerged. If you notice a change in taste, odor, color or appearance, it is recommended that you use bottled water.

Follow these steps to disinfect (chlorinate) your well water:

Prior to chlorination, draw off enough water for about 24 hours of household use not for drinking, but for flushing the toilet. Bypass any water conditioning equipment.

Remove the well cap, and pour one gallon of bleach into the well. (NOTE: Dug wells require 2 gallons of bleach.)

For remainder of article, please visit Anne Arundel County, Maryland Department of Health website http://www.aahealth.org/a2z.asp?ID=24