DOHMH guidelines on fungi assessment and remediation, Apr 2000

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

damaged materials will prevent or limit mold growth. Ifthe source of water is elevated humidity, relative humidity should be maintained at levels below 60% to inhibit mold growth.^’ Emphasis should be on ensuring proper repairs of the building infrastructure, so that water damage and moisture buildup does not recur.

Five different levels of abatement are described below. The size of the area impacted by fungal contamination primarily determines the type of remediation. The sizing levels below are based on professional judgement and practicality; currently there is not adequate data to relate the extent of contamination to frequency or severity ofhealth effects. The goal of remediation is to remove or clean contaminated materials in a way that prevents the emission of fungi and dust contaminated with fungi from leaving a work area and entering an occupied or non-abatement area, while protecting the healtii of workers performing the abatement The listed remediation methods were designed to achieve this goal, however, due to the general nature ofthese methods it is the responsibility ofthe people conducting remediation to ensure die methods enacted are adequate. The listed remediation methods are not meant to exclude other similarly effective methods. Any changes to the remediation mediods listed in these guidelines, however, should be carefiiUy considered prior to implementation.

Non-porous (e.g., metals, glass, and hard plastics) and semi-porous (e.g., wood, and concrete) materials that are structurally sound and are visibly moldy can be cleaned and reused. Cleaning should be done using a detergent solution. Porous materials such as ceiling tiles and insulation, and wallboards with more than a small area of contamination should be removed and discarded. Porous materials (e.g., wallboard, and fabrics) that can be cleaned, can be reused, but should be discarded if possible. A professional restoration consultant should be contacted when restoring porous materials with more than a small area of fungal contamination. All materials to be reused should be dry and visibly free from mold. Routine inspections should be conducted to confirm the effectiveness of remediation work.

The use of gaseous, vapor-phase, or aerosolized biocides for remedial purposes is not recommended. The use of biocides in this manner can pose health concerns fin people in occupied spaces of the building and for people returning to the treated space if used improperly. Furthermore, the effectiveness ofthese treatments is unproven and does not address the possible health concerns from the presence ofthe remaining non-viable mold. For additional information on the use ofbiocides for remedial purposes, refer to the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists’ document, “Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control.*’

3.1 Level 1; Small Isolated Areas (10 sq. ft or less) - e.g., ceiling tiles, small areas on walls (a) Remediation can be conducted by regular building maintenance staff. Such persons should receive training on proper clean up methods, personal protection, and potential health hazards. This training can be performed as part of a program to comply with the requir ofthe OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). (b) Respiratory protection (e.g., N95 disposable respirator), in accordance with the OSHA respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), is recommended. Gloves and eye protection

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