The Preparation of Mold Remediation Protocols: Part 1

The MRP should include the requirements that prior to starting the scope of work, the contractor should provide the following to the Consultant:

• Training biography of the key personnel in the project
• Qualifications for any subcontractors
• Example of daily log forms
• Any chemicals to be used to be identified and the MDS sheets
• A written technical approach (if there are unanswered questions) to complete the scope of work provided in the MRP
• How waste will be packaged, decontaminated and disposed of.
• The Contractor’s Respirator Protection Plan
• The Contractor’s Health and Safety Plan
• The Contractor’s Errors & Omissions (also called Professional Liability) Insurance that covers mold remediation activities

Some of the Federal or State regulations which may apply for contractors to complete a project which may be included in the MRP are:

• OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR Parts 1910 and 1926
• Permit Required Confined Space Entry Program, 29 CFR 1910.146
• OSHA General Industry Standard, 29 CFR 1910
• Applicable Federal, State and Local Administrative Codes, Rules and Statutes

Health and Safety

The MRP should clearly state that the Contractor is responsible for the Health and Safety of their workers and the occupants of the building. The following items should be included in the MRP:

• The Contractor provides the appropriate personal protective equipment to their employees as appropriate for the scope of work.
• Fire extinguishers to be set inside the containment area and at each entrance to the containment area
• The Contractor provides an orientation for their workers when they arrive at the site to discuss safety, security, egress, waste disposal, discretionary requirements, and decontamination procedures. In addition, this initial meeting should inform the workers of the appropriate emergency phone numbers and the route to the nearest hospital.
• The Contractor should post signage on the entrances into the containment area. These signs should indicate that only authorized personnel are allowed to enter.

In Part 2 of this series, we will discuss handling contents and preparing/maintaining a containment area.

The following is Part 1 of a 4 part series on the Preparation of Mold Remediation Protocols. The goal of mold remediation is to remove mold contamination in a way that prevents the spread of fungi into other areas of a building while protecting the health of workers performing the remediation. The goal of a Mold Remediation Protocol (MRP) document is to provide a guideline for the remediation contractor to complete the project in accordance with current industry standards and demonstrate that the building is safe to occupy.

The MRP presents a framework for instructions, project limitations, post remedial verification (PRV), and the final project file documentation. As there are at least three national guidelines for mold remediation actions (USEPA, New York Department of Health, and IICRC S-500), the consultant should prepare the MRP so that the scope of work conforms to one or more of these documents. However, the specifics for requiring a remediation Contractor to complete the project in a particular way can include steps or techniques that are not presented in these guidelines.

The scope of work that the MRP presents will depend on the extent and location of the contamination, the source of elevated moisture, the Floorplan (layout) of the affected area, the type of building construction materials, the type of occupancy usage, the hours of availability for remediation activities, and any considerations of remediation activities for the HVAC system or any other engineering system. The following is the general content of an MRP:

• Project Background
• Goals of the Remediation Activities
• Contractor Mobilization
• Health and Safety
• Project Scope of the Work
• Handling Contents
• Containment Area
• Remediation Techniques
• Waste Disposal
• Cleaning Techniques
• HVAC system
• Post Remedial Verification
• Project file Documentation