Mould Decontamination / Remediation
After
identifying the extent of the mould contamination, we will first ensure
that the appropriate decontamination specifications are clearly explained
to the client. If these specifications haven't been developed for a project,
then we can prepare for you the specifications, based on current industry
standards, which include the New York City Department of Health mould
remediation guidelines, as well as CMHC, Health Canada, and EPA recommended
procedures. We will also work according to specifications developed by
other consultants, as long as they conform to industry norms. In general,
we will isolate the work area as required by the specifications. The extent
of the isolation will depend on the surface area of the mould, whether
a ventilation system is involved and the sensitivity to dust/mould spores
by the occupants. If warranted, we will use a negatively-pressured enclosure.
During the remediation process we remove the dead mould fragments and spores with a combination of brushing, sanding and vacuuming always with a machine equipped with a HEPA filter. We only use industrial-strength, HEPA-filtered vacuums to thoroughly clean all surfaces to avoid any spreading of the contamination, and then thoroughly clean and carefully decontaminate mould-infested surfaces, using environmentally-safe products. Although present industry standards do not require a biocide to be used in the surface remediation, we use an environmentally-friendly surface preparation product that also does destroy much of the microbial growth. We no longer routinely use bleach as a cleaning disinfecting agent because of its high toxicity and adverse impact on the environment.
As a final treatment, to ensure that all residual contamination has been removed from every surface and corner of the work space and to ensure that the contamination won't return when environmental conditions favour microbial growth, we will apply a safe, long term antimicrobial product, called the Aegis antimicrobial as part of the Aegis Microbe Shield program.