DMA Mould damage assessment, Mould Cleaning, Repair Mitigation Services

Mould Damage Mitigation.

Mould resulting from an event can be problematic for any building structure and can grow within a couple of days following the event. As organisms grow and spread from one organic material to another, mould can spread quickly through a building if not identified and treated early. Mould remediation will significantly increase the restoration costs and can also cause major business interruption.

As mould can release high amounts of hazardous organic compounds into the air that presents a serious health risk to people who are exposed to it, DMA believes it is important to promptly contain the mould once identified. Doing so will help prevent its spread to other unaffected building fabric, whether inside or outside the affected areas of the building.

Whilst mould can present in many colours, the most commonly encountered mould DMA identifies are white and black mould. White mould can be found on almost any building fabric and along with pink and green coloured mould, white mould is very common. It often forms on the fabric surface and presents in powdery or fluffy form. If left untreated, white mould can develop into darker coloured mould, however it is still generally easy to remove in the first instance. Black mould on the other hand, which varies in shape and size, will often penetrate building fabric. It is difficult to identify black mould in its primary stages and when fully developed can lead to permanent damage to building fabric and is considered very dangerous to health.

Mostly all types of mould will produce a strong and musty odour. Exposure to mould can trigger nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing and respiratory infections. It can also worsen the effects of asthma and allergic conditions. DMA highlights the importance to where appropriate PPE when working with mould affected building fabric and contents, enact suitable mould remediation practices and carefully consider the risks of transporting mould to unaffected areas of a building.

Trained Specialist

Once mould is contained, the remediation or removal process can commence, whilst ensuring those undertaking the task do so in a safe and effectively manner. DMA considers advice from many trained specialist in this process including:

Microbial remediation specialists
Water damage restoration technicians
Structural drying technicians
Odour control technicians
Upholstery and fabric cleaning technicians

Common Mould Facts

When considering mould damage, it is important to highlight that many people are misinformed and lack a clear understanding about mould, particularly indoor mould. Any statements made whereby mould can be removed in its entity from a building following an event is somewhat misleading. Microscopic mould spores exist almost everywhere and therefore there is no practical way to eliminate all indoor mould from a building. The following a common mould facts:

Mould is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors
Mould spores are microscopic and float in the air and can enter a building through windows, doors, mechanical systems or even via human or animal interaction
Mould spores thrive in damp environments or where higher than normal indoor humidity exists

Mould damage mitigation process

Where the removal of mould affected building fabric is not practical, DMA provide advice on the appropriate mould remediation practices. This advice may include the best practices to contain the spread of the organism and manage airborne contaminants, practices to sanitise and deodorise building fabric and methods to sand or otherwise deep clean the affected surface of the building fabric.

The effects of mould infestation will vary, from the level of mould contamination to the types of materials affected. Whilst DMA will develop a targeted approach to the type of mould damage, the mould mitigation and remediation advice generally remains the same and can be described as below;