Mold remediation is not a job for the inexperienced. Know-it-all contractors and overzealous homeowners often attempt mold removal projects lacking the knowledge, tools and materials required to eradicate mold contamination safely and completely. An uninformed approach to this complicated undertaking generally exacerbates the circumstances with unchecked sporulation and widespread cross contamination. Ultimately, such a naïve attitude regarding this very serious problem will require far more financial input to correct than if trained and certified mold restoration professionals were enlisted initially. Furthermore, deleterious health consequences may result as a byproduct of such hubris.
Successful mold restoration requires painstaking preparation to create an environment with redundant failsafe measures that include engineering controls, administrative controls, and proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Knowledge of correct mold remediation procedures and methodologies are not instilled in us at the time of conception and do not condensate in the minds of contractors after any period in an unrelated or even loosely related discipline. Specific and intense training coupled with close oversight and years of experience are necessary components for safe and complete removal of mold contamination.
Moisture & Mold Contamination
Water activity is the amount of free water available on a substrate to support mold growth. The presence of mold is always associated with a water event of some kind and in many instances, water mitigation and structural drying are necessary prior to mold remediation. Different strains of fungi have varying moisture requirements, the type of mold found indoors is dependent on the moisture content of the material supporting the mold colony. Healthy moisture content of wood is 8% to 12%, when moisture content exceeds 16% the wood surface can support mold contamination. Whether chronic or sudden, mold contamination is symptomatic of a moisture problem and will persist until the source of moisture is corrected and the area of contamination has been properly dried and remediated.
Containment & Mold Remediation
Containment and negative pressure are paramount to keeping errant mold spores in check and must be in place prior to any mold removal attempt. Containment not only includes the construction of a containment chamber, but also an exit chamber. Prior to entering containment, the technician must first be required to enter and seal an exit chamber. Once safely sealed within the exit chamber, the technician may then access the work area within the containment chamber. This fail-safe is necessary to maintain constant negative pressure when accessing the work zone to protect the areas outside of containment from cross contamination.
Negative Pressure & Mold Containment
Containment alone is not an adequate engineering control to protect unaffected areas of a mold contaminated structure from becoming cross contaminated. Negative pressure must be established
and closely monitored within the containment chamber to command and capture wayward mold spores that become dislodged and airborne during mold remediation. This process creates a vacuum by pulling air out of containment that is then purified as it passes through the pre-filter and HEPA filter within a device commonly known as an air scrubber or negative air machine. Negative pressure within containment must be kept at certain levels that are measured and monitored by a differential pressure recorder known as a manometer. Negative pressure intensity is balanced and maintained at a constant with the aid of variable pressure controls, and containment filtration techniques.
PPE & Mold Restoration
According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration); when engineering, work practice, and administrative controls are not feasible or do not provide sufficient protection, employers must provide personal protective equipment to their workers and ensure its proper use. Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as “PPE”, is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. PPE specific to mold restoration technicians are dictated not only by the dangers inherent in microbial activity but also by the products, tools and techniques deployed in the remediation process.
Professional Mold Restoration
Proper mold removal techniques require containing the workspace, removing moldy materials and cleaning mold spores from salvageable framing. Our mold remediation professionals start by 
identifying the cause and extent of the problem. Once the source is diagnosed and the mold damage eliminated, we restore the area to normal conditions. Our mold remediation technicians are supplied with state-of-the-art equipment, trained in the latest techniques, and certified by the most respected educational curriculums available today. We start by identifying the cause and extent of the problem. Once the source is diagnosed and eliminated, the mold damage is eradicated, and we restore the area to normal conditions. Contact Property Recovery 911 at (267) 808-7200 for prompt and professional mold inspection and testing, as well as mold remediation in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.