MOLD AND MOISTURE
ASSESSMENT WITHIN OCCUPIED
STRUCTURES
Omega Southwest Consulting has
been directly involved in
developing consensus based
methods
for assessing moisture and mold
in occupied structures. The
topic is highly controversial
and could result in considerable
expense due to extremes in
perceived hazards. Whereas the
health of a most health adults
may not be impacted by the black
“Stachybotrys” mold or other
types (e.g., Aspergillus
fumigatus), immune- suppressed
patients, the elderly, infants
(yet to develop their own immune
system), and normally health
adults with a weakened
resistance to infections (e.g.,
flu patients) may become
invasively infected.
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Various Methods Used
Visual inspection
Surfaces
HVAC systems
Identify surfaces with excessive
moisture and contour the surfaces*
Determine sources of excessive moisture
(e.g., leaking windows)
Moisture metering
Thermal imaging
Surface mold sampling
Confirmation of growth
Identification of type
Invasive mold sampling (performed under
controlled conditions)
Wall check
Plug samples
Wallpaper substrate Inspection
Air sampling for background and airborne
presence of mold types found during
surface sampling in contaminated/problem
area and compare with non-problem area
(if the information allows one to
identify a non-problem area) and with
the outdoor air--not always required
Report,
recommendations, and specifications |
Mold and Moisture