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JUNE 2015 | THE SOURCE MAGAZINE | WWW.SUPERRESTORATION.COM
JUNE 2015 | THE SOURCE MAGAZINE | WWW.SUPERRESTORATION.COM
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MOLD REMEDIATION IN COMMERCIAL
BUILDINGS DIFFERS SOMEWHAT FROM
REMEDIATION IN RESIDENCES. FIRST,
COMMERCIAL MOLD REMEDIATION SERVICES SHOULD BE AS UNOBTRUSIVE AS
POSSIBLE TO AVOID DISRUPTIONS.
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sprays them to kill any mold spores that still might be present
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Mold Remediation: Strictly Commercial
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A musty smell in a commercial property is a good sign that mold
may be there. Commercial mold removal puts safety first by sealing
off the contaminated area before work begins so no mold spores
migrate into other areas. Large workplaces are notorious for mold
contamination. Many include areas where visitors rarely venture, so
nobody ever notices mold growth. Commercial mold removal always
starts with a meticulous inspection to find mold wherever it may be
and how much is there.
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Mold remediation in commercial buildings differs somewhat from
remediation in residences. First, commercial mold remediation services should be as unobtrusive as possible to avoid disruptions.
technicians wearing protective clothing, gloves, face shields, and
respirators begin the remediation process.
To seal off contaminated areas to prevent further infiltration, they
place high-grade polyethylene sheets across all openings. Negative
air machines reduce the likelihood of airborne mold spores reaching
uncontaminated areas. Air scrubbers clean the air with high-efficiency particulate assistance (HEPA) filters. At 500 cubic feet per minute,
complete filtration of the air in the work area occurs 20 times a day
during the mold removal process.
idents to a building, the more humidity from exhalations of breath and
evaporations of perspiration will be present.
If indoor mold problems are seasonal, the building probably has too
little or too much ventilation. If too little airflow, mold is frequently
seen in warm weather that traps the moisture inside the house. If too
much in cooler weather, heated warm air moving into unheated areas
condenses. Efficient ventilation suppresses mold growth by effective
desiccation.
Remediation of mold contamination demands precise practices, none
suitable for the inexperienced or unskilled. After thorough inspections
reveal where mold has spread and how much confronts them, trained
Thorough removal of all mold stems, hyphae, roots, and spores prevents re-contamination. Physical removal uses wire brushes, electric
sanders, dry-ice blasting, and sand blasting. Mold removal at this
challenging level is for trained, certified specialists, not amateur
home handymen.
Where they cannot reach mold with special tools, technicians use
foggers with anti-mold fungicide, typically a stabilized hydrogen
peroxide concentrate, for eradication and removal. This mold-killer
chemical decomposes with no harmful residue after it does its job.
Where possible, technicians do their work during evenings and
weekends, and when they must work during business hours they operate discreetly. They wear protective uniforms because they work
on hazardous levels of mold. So dressed, they may alarm customers,
so discretion is always important.
Commercial and residential mold remediation projects usually differ
in scope. In large buildings, there are many more places where mold
can grow. Trained technicians know where to look and for what. Mold
is not always visible, but expert inspectors always find it.
Technicians also explain to customers how mold contamination
starts and how to keep it from coming back, that the two essential
mold growth factors are excessive moisture and insufficient ventilation. Resolve those two problems, and commercial facilities remain
mold-free. Commercial mold remediation kills and removes mold
effectively, but it can return, sometimes surprisingly quickly, in the
absence of adequate moisture control.
After successful removal of mold from all contaminated surfaces, the
last task is to cover them with a sealant similar to paint with a fungicidal agent applied by sprayers, to guard against any possibility of
recontamination. Restoration of the work area to original condition
cleans the protective polyethylene sheets with a HEPA vacuum and
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