Mold Containment and Cleanup Practices Flashcards

Which cleaning method is recommended for removing mold from hard lumber or wood structural members that cannot be removed?

Answer: Wire brushing or sanding followed by HEPA vacuuming

Wire brushing or sanding, followed by HEPA vacuuming to capture debris, is the recommended method for cleaning mold from structural wood that must remain.

What is the significance of maintaining relative humidity (RH) below 60% during and after mold remediation?

Answer: Mold cannot grow or regrow at RH levels below 60%

Mold requires moisture to grow, and maintaining RH below 60% deprives mold of the humidity needed to establish or reestablish growth.

What does 'source removal' mean in the context of mold cleanup?

Answer: Physically removing mold-contaminated materials from the building

Source removal refers to the physical removal and disposal of mold-contaminated building materials from the structure.

During remediation of a large mold-contaminated HVAC system, what is the FIRST recommended step?

Answer: Shut down the HVAC system to prevent spreading spores throughout the building

The HVAC system must be shut down first to prevent it from distributing mold spores to unaffected areas of the building during remediation.

Which scenario would typically require full containment with a decontamination chamber rather than a mini-containment setup?

Answer: A 100+ square foot mold infestation in a basement

Large-scale mold contamination (typically over 100 square feet) requires full containment with a decontamination chamber to protect occupants and workers.

What type of vacuum must be used when cleaning up mold debris to prevent re-releasing spores into the air?

Answer: HEPA-filtered vacuum

Only HEPA-filtered vacuums should be used for mold cleanup, as standard vacuums exhaust captured spores back into the air.

When encapsulant is applied after mold remediation, what is its primary function?

Answer: To seal residual staining and provide a barrier against future moisture intrusion on cleaned surfaces

Encapsulant seals residual staining on cleaned, structurally sound surfaces and provides a protective barrier; it is not a substitute for proper cleaning.