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Safe and Effective Mold Cleanup Guidelines after the Floods
To ensure a safe environment, many of the flooded properties will need environmental testing to determine if mold, bacteria, viruses and chemical contaminants are now present.
Nashville, TN -- Following torrential downpours and 100-year flooding that has ravished the Tennessee, Kentucky and Misssissippi region, residents are returning to what could be potentially dangerous environments. The storm soaked the southern states pushing rivers over their banks, closing roads and schools, and requiring thousands of people to evacuate. The rain has finally tapered off, and is expected to be the most severe flooding to hit the south.
Renowned microbiologist Dr. Rajiv Sahay, Director of the accredited AHIA laboratory Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab), reminds residents to be wary of what floodwaters leave behind – bacteria (coliform e.g. E. coli ), molds and more specifically, mycotoxin trichothecenes (toxin producing molds) growing on walls, behind walls, in the ceilings, under the carpets, behind cabinets, or in their ductwork.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that microorganisms in water left behind after flooding can infect open wounds and anyone venturing into a flooded yard or basement should wear rubber waders, surgical gloves and other personal protection equipment (PPE).
To ensure a safe environment, many of the flooded properties will need environmental testing to determine if mold, bacteria, viruses and chemical contaminants are now present.
EDLab recommends that consumers and business owners use the following minimum guidelines to qualify and quantify any contractors, both testing and remediation, before they hire:
- Obtain references from your health department, insurance company, friends and neighbors
- Know your contractor (check references)
- Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) – Look for A+ contractors that are certified by BBB
- Make sure the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured (including professional liability insurances)
- Obtain a copy of their license and insurance certificates. Make sure their liability/general liability covers mold.
- Hire contractors certified by reputable trade organizations such as AEE, IAQA, IIRC, ASCR, AIHA, NADCA
- Differentiate between a “Restoration contractor” and a “Remediation contractor.” Most restoration contractors are not knowledgeable in environmental remediation techniques and protocols.
- Certified contractors should follow a strict code of ethics (ask for a copy of their respective “code of ethics” they plan to work with)
- For mold/bacteria damaged buildings, request pre-remediation (baseline study) and post-remediation environmental testing be performed.
- Request a post remedial environmental clearance study. This is essential to assure good indoor air quality (health and safety) and may be required when you sell your home.
- Request that the microbiology laboratory used is accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Accreditation Program (EMLAP). Be careful that the lab of record is accredited and that the consultant and the remediation firm have not forged laboratory data. Call the laboratory directly for confirmation if you have any questions.
For a professional evaluation of your home or business contact Pure Air Control Services division of toll free at 1-800-422-7873 ext 802
Contractors who perform mold cleanup services should do so according to established industry standards and guidelines, including but not limited to:
* ACGIH Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control
* EPA Mold Remediation for Homeowners
* New York City Department of Health - Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments
* EPA Mold Remediation for Schools and Commercial Buildings
* IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide for Water Damage Restoration, Guide for mold remediation
* NADCA ACR 2005, Assessment, Cleaning and Restoration of HVAC Systems
For professional environmental cleanup of your home or business contact Building Remediation Sciences division of toll free at 1-800-422-7873 ext 804.
About Pure Air Control Services:
Alan Wozniak founded Pure Air Control Services, Inc. in 1984 as a small mechanical contracting firm today sets the industry standard for indoor environmental quality diagnosis, laboratory services and remediation. Pure Air has serviced more than 600 million square feet of indoor environments in over 10,000 facilities.
Pure Air’s nationally performed services include: Building Sciences Evaluation; Building Health Check; an AIHA accredited Environmental Microbiology Laboratory; Environmental Project Management; and Mold Remediation Services, among other indoor environmental services. The company’s expanding client roster includes the General Services Administration (GSA); Allstate Insurance; Carrier Air Conditioning; Naval Air Warfare Center, Orlando; and Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia, and many other Fortune 500 companies, school boards, and city, state, and county governments, making Pure Air a reliable industry leader.
For more information on Pure Air Control Services, Inc. please contact Ed Ziegler, VP of Business Development, at (800) 422-7873 x804, or visit www.pureaircontrols.com.
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