MRS Containment & Isolation Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of tape is most appropriate for sealing polyethylene sheeting to painted drywall in a containment setup?
- Standard duct tape
- Painter's blue tape
- Poly seaming tape or spray adhesive designed for containment (Correct answer)
- Electrical tape
Correct answer: Poly seaming tape or spray adhesive designed for containment
Poly seaming tape or construction-grade spray adhesive provides an airtight seal to drywall without failing under humidity or pulling off surface finishes.
Question 2: A remediation project involves a finished basement with open-joist ceilings. How should the ceiling be addressed in the containment design?
- Ignore the ceiling since joists are structural
- Drape poly sheeting across the joists to form a ceiling barrier (Correct answer)
- Install drywall before remediating
- Use an air scrubber above the joists instead of sealing them
Correct answer: Drape poly sheeting across the joists to form a ceiling barrier
Open joists must be covered with poly sheeting draped and sealed across them to complete the ceiling plane of the containment barrier.
Question 3: Which personal protective equipment (PPE) change procedure should occur at the containment egress airlock?
- Full decontamination shower inside the airlock
- Remove outer PPE layer in the airlock before exiting to the clean area (Correct answer)
- Exit the containment with PPE on and remove outside
- No PPE change is necessary if work is complete
Correct answer: Remove outer PPE layer in the airlock before exiting to the clean area
Workers must remove the outer contaminated PPE layer inside the airlock or decon chamber before entering the clean area to prevent spore transfer.
Question 4: What is the primary reason for using ground cover poly sheeting on floors inside containment?
- To protect flooring from water damage
- To capture debris and prevent spore embedment in floor materials (Correct answer)
- To improve worker traction
- To reflect light for better visibility
Correct answer: To capture debris and prevent spore embedment in floor materials
Floor poly captures fallen mold-contaminated debris and prevents spores from embedding into carpet or flooring, making cleanup more effective.
Question 5: Under IICRC S520 guidelines, what is the minimum condition that triggers the requirement for a full containment (Condition 3 remediation)?
- Any visible mold growth regardless of size
- Contaminated area greater than 100 square feet or evidence of HVAC involvement (Correct answer)
- Mold growth on HVAC ducts only
- Detection of any water-damaged materials
Correct answer: Contaminated area greater than 100 square feet or evidence of HVAC involvement
Condition 3 remediation (full containment) is required when gross contamination exceeds 100 sq ft or when HVAC systems are involved in mold distribution.
Question 6: During a containment setup in a multi-story building, why is it important to seal elevator shafts and stairwells adjacent to the work zone?
- To prevent unauthorized access to the work area
- To stop stack effect airflow from transporting spores vertically through the building (Correct answer)
- To comply with fire code during construction
- To reduce noise from remediation equipment
Correct answer: To stop stack effect airflow from transporting spores vertically through the building
Stack effect in vertical shafts creates strong airflow that can carry spores from a contaminated floor to other floors if shafts are not sealed.
Question 7: A negative air machine has a rated airflow of 500 CFM. If a containment room measures 10 ft × 12 ft × 9 ft, approximately how many air changes per hour (ACH) does this machine provide?
- About 1 ACH
- About 28 ACH (Correct answer)
- About 500 ACH
- About 6 ACH
Correct answer: About 28 ACH
Room volume = 1,080 cu ft; 500 CFM × 60 min = 30,000 cu ft/hr ÷ 1,080 = ~28 ACH, well above the recommended minimum of 4-6 ACH.
MRS Containment & Isolation Procedures 3
What type of tape is most appropriate for sealing polyethylene sheeting to painted drywall in a containment setup?