Mold Web Course/Chapter 4/Table 2

by the Environmental Protection Agency

Table 2: Guidelines for Remediating Building Materials with Mold Growth Caused by Clean Water*
Material or Furnishing Affected	Cleanup Methods†	Personal Protective Equipment	Containment
SMALL - Total Surface Area Affected Less Than 10 square feet (ft2)
Books and papers	3	Minimum N-95 respirator, gloves, and goggles	None required
Carpet and backing	1, 3
Concrete or cinder block	1, 3
Hard surface, porous flooring (linoleum, ceramic tile, vinyl)	1, 2, 3
Non-porous, hard surfaces (plastics, metals)	1, 2, 3
Upholstered furniture & drapes	1, 3
Wallboard (drywall and gypsum board)	3
Wood surfaces	1, 2, 3
Material or Furnishing Affected	Cleanup Methods†	Personal Protective Equipment	Containment
MEDIUM - Total Surface Area Affected Between 10 and 100 feet (ft2)
Books and papers	3	Limited or Full Use professional judgement, consider potential for remediator exposure and size of contaminated area	Limited Use professional judgement, consider potential for remediator/occupant exposure and size of contaminated area
Carpet and backing	1, 3, 4
Concrete or cinder block	1, 3
Hard surface, porous flooring (linoleum, ceramic tile, vinyl)	1, 2, 3
Non-porous, hard surfaces (plastics, metals)	1, 2, 3
Upholstered furniture & drapes	1, 3, 4
Wallboard (drywall and gypsum board)	3, 4
Wood surfaces	1, 2, 3
Material or Furnishing Affected	Cleanup Methods†	Personal Protective Equipment	Containment
LARGE - Total Surface Area Affected Greater Than 100 (ft2) or Potential for Increased Occupant or Remediator Exposure During Remediation Estimated to be Significant

Books and papers	3	Full Use professional judgement, consider potential for remediator exposure and size of contaminated area	Full Use professional judgement, consider potential for remediator/occupant exposure and size of contaminated area
Carpet and backing	1, 3, 4
Concrete or cinder block	1, 3
Hard surface, porous flooring (linoleum, ceramic tile, vinyl)	1, 2, 3, 4
Non-porous, hard surfaces (plastics, metals)	1, 2, 3
Upholstered furniture & drapes	1, 3, 4
Wallboard (drywall and gypsum board)	3, 4
Wood surfaces	1, 2, 3, 4
Table 1 continued *Use professional judgment to determine prudent levels of Personal Protective Equipment and containment for each situation, particularly as the remediation site size increases and the potential for exposure and health effects rises. Assess the need for increased Personal Protective Equipment, if, during the remediation, more extensive contamination is encountered than was expected. Consult Table 1 if materials have been wet for less than 48 hours, and mold growth is not apparent. These guidelines are for damage caused by clean water. If you know or suspect that the water source is contaminated with sewage, or chemical or biological pollutants, then the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires PPE and containment. An experienced professional should be consulted if you and/or your remediators do not have expertise in remediating contaminated water situations. †Select method most appropriate to situation. Since molds gradually destroy the things they grow on, if mold growth is not addressed promptly, some items may be damaged such that cleaning will not restore their original appearance. If mold growth is heavy and items are valuable or important, you may wish to consult a restoration/water damage/remediation expert. Please note that these are guidelines; other cleaning methods may be preferred by some professionals. Cleanup Methods Method 1: Wet vacuum (in the case of porous materials, some mold spores/fragments will remain in the material but will not grow if the material is completely dried). Steam cleaning may be an alternative for carpets and some upholstered furniture. Method 2: Damp-wipe surfaces with plain water or with water and detergent solution (except wood -use wood floor cleaner); scrub as needed. Method 3: High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum after the material has been thoroughly dried. Dispose of the contents of the HEPA vacuum in well-sealed plastic bags. Method 4: Discard - remove water-damaged materials and seal in plastic bags while inside of containment, if present. Dispose of as normal waste. HEPA vacuum area after it is dried.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Minimum: Gloves, N-95 respirator, goggles/eye protection

• Limited: Gloves, N-95 respirator or half-face respirator with HEPA filter, disposable overalls, goggles/eye protection
• Full: Gloves, disposable full body clothing, head gear, foot coverings, full-face respirator with HEPA filter

Containment

• Limited: Use polyethylene sheeting ceiling to floor around affected area with a slit entry and covering flap; maintain area under negative pressure with HEPA filtered fan unit. Block supply and return air vents within containment area.
• Full: Use two layers of fire-retardant polyethylene sheeting with one airlock chamber. Maintain area under negative pressure with HEPA filtered fan exhausted outside of building. Block supply and return air vents within containment area.

Table developed from literature and remediation documents including Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, 1999) and IICRC S500, Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration, 1999); see the Resource List for more information.