The things we often misunderstand about mould
There are many things which are often misunderstood about mould.
- You don’t have to visibly see mould for it to be present in high enough concentrations to potentially cause adverse health effects for occupants. Mould can be hidden in the ceiling, floors or walls with no or little visible evidence within the interior of a room. The spores however can contaminate the interior room through holes and cracks in building materials aided by negative pressure, or transported by the air handling system.
- It is essential to eliminate all moisture ingress issues before treating mould. This includes roof, gutter, flashing and drainage leaks, internal plumbing leaks, control internal moisture production via exhaust fans to the outdoors in bathroom, laundry and kitchen; address rising damp; identify compromised foundations and damp proof course; ensure waterproof membranes are intact in bathrooms and laundry; repair broken grout in bathrooms and laundry; ensuring the concrete slab has had adequate time to dry; ensure drainage and landscaping directs water away from the foundations; adequate ventilation in subfloor; have a professional identify if the building or foundation is situated below the subterranean water table and put in place sufficient drainage to divert underground water.
- Even if mould is non-viable (dead) it can still contribute to health problems.
- Fungicide and biocides that kill mould but do not physically remove the spores are not a complete solution.
- Bleach can act as a food source for mould and as such should not be used in treating mould.
- Mould needs to be physically removed via a combination of HEPA vacuuming and removal with dampened micro-fibre cloths – the solution may differ depending on the surface being treated.
- Cross contamination can occur by taking items from one mould affected property to another.
- You need to create an environment that is clutter and dust free to deter the regrowth of mould in a property that has already had a primary contamination.
- Good ventilation is required to deter mould growth.
- Spills and floods need to be completely dried within 48 hours otherwise you risk bacteria and/or mould growth.
- An area of mould greater than 1m2 should be dealt with by professional mould remediators employing methods in accordance to the “Standard for Professional Mold Remediation” IICRC s520-2015, as the risk of releasing spores into the atmosphere and cross contamination is high when a non-professional performs cleaning. This includes remediation of the internal structure and its contents.
- 24 per cent of the population do not have the immune response gene to create antibodies to bio toxins created in a water damaged building. This means that while 76 per cent of the population may not experience adverse health effects living in a water damaged building, the remaining 24 per cent can potentially experience adverse health effects.
For more information on mould click here.
