Pinchin Environmental Newsletter (PEN #14)

Current Standards for Managing Water Damage
or Mould Growth in Buildings

Professional Bodies

Several professional bodies have issued standards in the past few years on the assessment and remediation of mould growth in buildings.:

1. Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments, 2000, New York City Department of Health (http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.shtml)
   
   The New York City guidelines are widely quoted by public health departments and other regulatory agencies. The Ontario Ministry of Labour refers employers to these guidelines in "Ministry Hazard Alert on Mould in Workplace Buildings" (http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/alerts/a20.html)
   
   
2. Construction - Related Nosocomial Infections in Patients in Health Care Facilities: Decreasing the Risk of Aspergillus, Legionella and Other Infections, Health Canada, 2001 (www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/01pdf/27s2e.pdf)
   
   This Health Canada standard gives precautions to be taken when performing construction or restoration work in hospitals and health care facilities in order to reduce the risk of patients acquiring mould infections or Legionnaires' disease.
   
   
3. Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration, 3rd Edition, 2006, published by the US Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (www.iicrc.org)
   
   The IICRC provides advices on water restoration practices to protect building occupants from harmful microbial growth.
   
   
4. Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, 2001, US Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html)
   
   This EPA standard details procedures to be followed in remediating mould growth. It also gives useful advice on the procedures for drying various building materials and the time that finishes can remain wet before mould growth may occur.
   
   
5. Mold Remediation Procedures, 2004, Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario.
   
   In consultation with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, EACO developed a code of practice for mould abatement, drawing on the best points of the New York City guidelines and other standards. The Ministry of Labour accepts the EACO guidelines as meeting the due diligence requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
   
   
6. Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry, 2004. Canadian Construction Association (www.cca-acc.com/documents/electronic/cca82/cca82.pdf).
   
   The CCA guidelines give advice on prevention of mould growth on construction projects, demolition precautions and legal and insurance considerations, among other issues. They also give precautions for mould remediation (Levels I, II and III plus HVAC abatement) that are more similar to the EACO guidelines.
   
   
7. Fungal Contamination in Buildings: Health Effects and Investigation Methods, 2004. Health Canada.
   
   This Health Canada update of a 1995 guideline presents a literature review on health effects of indoor mould and concludes that living or working in mouldy buildings is harmful to health. It gives detailed recommendations for mould investigations and provides general advice for abatement and supervision of abatement.

Questions & Answers:
(Current Standards for Managing Water Damage or Mould Growth in Buildings)

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