IICRC, Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI) and Healthy House Institute (HHI) Share Five Steps to Prevent Mold Growth after a Catastrophic Flood

Boise ID (PRWEB) August 29, 2013

The Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI), Healthy House Institute (HHI), and The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) are partnering to offer professionals tips they can share with clients and consumers. Please see below: Five Steps to Prevent Mold Growth after a Catastrophic Flood.

The leading natural disaster in the U.S., floods can wreak havoc on a home or building that lasts long after waters recede. Over the past five years, the average paid flood insurance claim was more than $35,000, according to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). From damaged personal items to the growth of mold spores that can impact the health of a home and its inhabitants, taking the proper steps to restore a property after a flood can limit the extent of the damage incurred.

To help direct businesses and home owners during cleanup efforts, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI) and the Healthy House Institute (HHI) share the following five steps for preventing mold growth after a catastrophic flood.

Five Steps to Prevent Mold Growth after a Catastrophic Flood

Note: Wear goggles, gloves, long sleeves and an N-95 respirator to avoid exposure.

Step One: Check it out!

   •      Once a building is flooded from a river, lake, stream, hurricane or rainstorm, inspecting and documenting damage is very important for several reasons, including insurance and tax purposes. Electrical, gas, structural and other safety hazards present must be eliminated "before" assessing physical damage to the building and contents.
   •     Once health and safety hazards have been eliminated, inspect the building and all contents. Generally, the rule of thumb is that everything below the water line gets thrown out. Building materials and contents above the water line should be inspected for discoloration, odor and damage.

Step Two: Get it out!

   •      Extract standing water with a pump or wet vacuum from slabs, basements, crawlspaces, heating systems and anywhere water could be sitting. Shovel or flush out remaining silt and sand with water.
   •     Next, remove all wallboard material (e.g., plaster, drywall, paneling), finished flooring (e.g., carpet, hardwood, vinyl flooring), insulation and any other wet materials that are below the water line.
   •     Remove contents damaged by floodwater. Keep a record of your activities before, during and after cleanup. Take photo or video recording inventory of discarded material.

Step Three: Clean it up!

   •      Start with vacuuming as much loose debris and soil as possible. It is preferable to use a HEPA vacuum, but a simple wet/dry vacuum can work. When using a wet/dry vacuum, attach a hose to the exhaust and vent the exhaust air to the outside. This keeps dust, spores and other fine particles from being suspended in the air and settling back on clean surfaces.

   •      Clean framing with a pressure washer or low-pressure flushing. Scrub framing with a mild detergent (e.g. dish soap) to remove embedded soils. Wipe all adjacent surfaces with a mild detergent. Rinse by low-pressure flushing or wiping with clean water. Vacuum all remaining moisture using a wet/dry vacuum.

   •      If mold is visible and remains after cleaning, additional scrubbing or multiple rounds of cleaning may be necessary. If significant mold growth is present, or if occupants have immune deficiencies, are elderly, pregnant, or if there are young children present, an IICRC Certified restorer should be contacted. To find a local IICRC Certified Firm, go to http://www.iicrc.org or call (360) 693-5675.

   •      After all surfaces are clean, wipe surfaces with a sanitizer such as a solution of up to ¼ cup of bleach to one gallon of water. After 20 minutes, wipe surfaces using clean water. This step helps neutralize remaining or embedded contaminants.

   •      For those with chemical sensitivities, perform multiple rounds of cleaning as an alternative to using bleach.

Step Four: Dry it out – quickly!

   •      Mold spores are everywhere, and it is impossible to remove all spores and potential contaminants. All spores need to grow is moisture. To inhibit future mold growth, dry affected areas as quickly as possible, preferably within 24 to 48 hours from the completion of cleaning and sanitizing.
   •     The key is directing warm, dry air across wet surfaces. This directed airflow should be exhausted outside or collected using dehumidification equipment. Take care to not spread contaminants. Properly directing airflow may require putting up barriers or containing the affected areas to prevent the spread of contaminants to unaffected areas.
   •     Drying a wet building correctly is an art as well as a science. IICRC trained and certified experts know how to use state-of-the-art moisture detection and monitoring equipment that identifies hidden moisture in building materials, ventilation systems, flooring and walls. Certified restorers also understand and use the equipment necessary to dry buildings, while preventing the spread of contaminants.
   •     In a community-wide flood, the availability of power and rental equipment to complete structural drying can be a challenge. If drying cannot be properly initiated, contact an IICRC Certified Firm.

Step Five: Keep it dry!

   •      The cardinal rule for preventing mold growth is to keep surfaces dry. Strive to ensure your home stays dry and you will be following industry best practices for preventing mold growth and protecting the health of others in your home. It’s also a way to protect the investment of your home, since excess mold growth and moisture will damage the structure. Try to keep indoor humidity below 50 percent using air conditioning or a dehumidifier.
   •     Tip: Use a water-sensing alarm (battery-operated) in moisture-prone areas such as next to the washer, hot water heater, in the basement and other possible wet zones, so you are alerted to the accumulation of excess moisture.

No one wants to experience the devastation of a flood, but by keeping mold outside where it belongs, you can limit its impact on the health of your business, family and home. For more information, please visit http://www.iicrc.org.

About Healthy Facilities Institute® (HFI) Educational Center

The Healthy Facilities Institute® (HFI) Educational Center and Website strives to provide authoritative information for creating and maintaining clean, healthy indoor environments. Since buildings are ecosystems, HFI works to address the many interrelated aspects of built environments — such as air, water, energy, materials and resources, green cleaning, indoor environmental quality, waste management, people and more — as an integrated or holistic system. Inasmuch as “Clean” is a metaphor for healthy indoor spaces, HFI also emphasizes prevention and removal of pollutants or contaminants to help ensure optimum conditions for living, learning and working.

About Healthy House Institute® (HHI) Educational Center

The Healthy House Institute® (HHI) Educational Center provides consumers information to make their homes healthier. HHI strives to be the most comprehensive educational resource available for creating healthier homes. Web: http://www.HealthyHouseInstitute.com.

About IICRC

The IICRC is an international, ANSI-accredited standard-development organization (SDO) that offers certification programs for individuals in 20+ categories within the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries. Representing more than 54,000 certified technicians and 6,000 Certified Firms in 22 countries, the IICRC, in partnership with regional and international trade associations, represents the entire industry. The IICRC does not own schools, employ instructors, produce training materials, or promote specific product brands, cleaning methods or systems. To know if a technician has received proper education and training, consumers should look for the cleantrust patch and logo, the service mark of the IICRC. For more information, visit http://www.iicrc.org.

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