What Is Mold Containment and Why Is It So Important?
7/24/2022 (Permalink)
Running a business in Bellerose, NY, is a complicated dance of trying to eke out a profit while conforming to numerous local, state and federal laws. According to OSHA, “employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees.” This includes any mold removal necessary to keep the indoor mold count at an acceptable level.What Is Black Mold?
Molds are a type of fungus and are a critical part of the natural decay process. Most types of fungus are happiest outside, growing on their preferred food source and breaking it down into constituent nutrients.
Black mold is different. It prefers to grow inside, especially in human-built structures. Actually, black mold may be any of three colors:
- Black
- Yellow
- Green
It’s typically shiny, and it loves to grow on porous materials with a lot of cellulose in them. Wood and drywall are perhaps its two favorite foods.
Why Does It Need to Be Removed?
Mold removal is never about completely eliminating mold spores from the air. Outside of specialized and expensive lab equipment, nothing’s going to completely purify air – even inside.
However, once a colony of mold gets established inside, it eats away at the material it sits on, reproducing itself and potentially spreading throughout a building. Amongst other issues, it can destroy building materials and leave unsightly stains.
What Is Containment?
Explosive mold growth happens when it has a favorable surface and excessive humidity. When a qualified mold remediation company discovers it growing in your business, they’ll immediately contain the area to prevent further spread.
This is typically done using a few professional tricks, including
- Custom air movers
- Physical barriers
- Negative air pressure
Also, they’ll turn off your heating and air conditioning system to further obstruct airflow. Next, they’ll locate all the hidden colonies and destroy them using unique sanitizers that also help prevent future growth.
Once the mold removal is done, they can locate the cause of excess humidity and begin the restoration process. This is designed to leave your business looking just like it did before you had mold.