Common Sense Should Prevail when Treating Mold Problems

WILMINGTON, Mass. – (Mar. 24, 2009) – Despite growing concern about indoor mold problems, mold growth in a building indicates a moisture problem and is not necessarily a crisis, according to Charles Cochrane, president of Cochrane Ventilation Inc., a leading New England indoor environmental remediation and management company.

“Mold is not a crisis since mold spores are everywhere, but a proper remediation strategy is the key to solving mold problems, while incorrect approaches could create more problems,” Cochrane recently told a group of officials concerned with mold issues in public schools.

“Common sense solutions should prevail, and that means understanding the extent of the problem and applying the appropriate remedy.”

Since mold problems signal an underlying water issue, to solve a mold problem one must find the source of the water that is causing it, he said.

Cochrane Ventilation Inc., working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Mass. Division of Occupational Safety, the Mass. Department of Public Health, and Environmental Health and Engineering, of Newton, convened a half-day briefing on practical solutions to solving indoor mold problems.

He said facility managers should similarly adopt a common sense approach to testing, and noted there often is no need to conduct extensive tests once mold has been found: “If you’ve found mold growing inside your facility, and you have determined the extent of it, further testing will provide little value. What you have to do now is remove it.”

“Mold is the reason to do what we have to do anyway, which is preventive maintenance,” he added.

Key considerations in mold assessment and remediation

Cochrane, who said current data indicates that no one type of mold is more toxic than any other type, suggested the following approach to deal with mold problems.

1) Determine if the problem is major or minor. Mold contamination is frequently a relatively minor problem that can be solved inexpensively with one’s own staff. If mold is found, it is better to devote resources to removing it than, for example, to engage in extensive testing to determine the type and quantity. It is also important to solve the moisture problem that is the likely source of the problem.

2) If there is a need to hire a remediation service, make sure the service provider develops a work plan for the project. Key considerations include:

• Steps to permanently correct the water or moisture problem, which is the key element in mold formation.
• Use of appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Steps to contain and remove moldy building materials to prevent further contamination.
• Provisions to assess further during the remediation process to address newly discovered facts or conditions.

3) Make sure the remediation service adheres to recognized mold remediation guidelines. The prevailing guidelines are those developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, New York City Board of Health, and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

4) Perform due diligence on the remediation service provider. Call references. Make sure the people doing the actual work have been properly trained. Confirm that the service provider is insured and has errors and omission liability insurance coverage specific to mold.

5) Get proof that any remediation firm has mold-specific insurance.

About Cochrane Ventilation Inc.

Cochrane Ventilation Inc., founded in 1948 and based in Wilmington, Mass., (www.cochraneventilation.com) has provided mold assessment and remediation services to leading corporations, hotels, hospitals, and universities throughout New England since 1990.

Cochrane Ventilation Inc. has authored numerous technical papers relating to mold remediation, and has lectured on the subject throughout the United States and Canada. In addition, company staff have been members of technical review committees for various associations, including the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, American Industrial Hygiene Association, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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