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Canadian Mould Remediation Guidelines

There are a number of mould remediation guidelines in Canada. These include:

Mould Remediation Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry

The mould remediation guidelines prepared by the Canadian Construction Association offers practical advice on mould-related issues (legal, insurance, and health considerations). It also offers helpful information on how to minimize mould growth, identify and measure it, and step-by-step instructions on remediation.

The guide is free to download from the CCA website http://www.cca-acc.com/documents/electronic/cca82/cca82.pdf and hardcopies can be purchased from your local construction associations.

EACO Mould Abatement Guidelines

Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario prepared this mould remediation guidelines to assist building owners, constructors, contractors, subcontractors and workers who have duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its Regulations to safely perform work activities involving Mould (Microbial) Abatement and remediation. 

OAA Mould Control Practice Guide

The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) issued the Mould Control Practice Guide to assist and educate its members with respect to certain matters related to mould and mould in buildings. 

Mold Removal: when to use a mold removal company

When to call a professional mold removal company

Mold removal is the process of removing  all moldy or contaminated material from a building. Generally material that can be cleaned are cleaned and dried. Although it’s tempting to remove any mold you see, it’s not always practical or safe to remove it yourself. Removing mold before you know whether it’s toxic can make your family feel ill. And sometimes there’s simply too much mold for you to remove safely yourself.

What mold removal guidelines say

You may clean small areas of mold (less than 1 square meter or 3 square feet) yourself. If you do choose to clean small areas of mold yourself, please follow mold guidelines for your safety and that of your family.

Mold growth covering an area less than 10 square feet is categorised as level 1 mold growth. Level 1 mold growth can be one single area of mold or it can include several patches of mold which together would be less than 10 square feet. Remember! Cleaning the mold without fixing the moisture problem, doesn’t solve the mold problem.

If visible mold growth in your house covers more than 10 square feet or if you are not sure how to clean the mold safely, it is recommended you seek professional advice. Cleaning large areas of mold growth releases high concentrations of mold spores into the air, which could make your family feel sick.

Therefore, extensive areas of mold growth should be cleaned by a professional. Heavy concentrations of mold spores can cause or worsen health problems.

Molds don’t have to be toxic to cause health problems. Even a common, usually harmless mold can be a health issue if there is a lot of it. However, always consult a professional if your house mold is a toxigenic mold, or if you even suspect a toxigenic mold.

How Do You Tell If A Mold is Toxigenic?

If you need to know whether your house mold is toxic or not, you may want to send a sample to our lab for testing. To send a sample, download the Order Form, complete it and send it together with your samples.

Remember! – please call a mold remediation professional when:

    • You the area covered by mold growth is greater than 10 square feet
    • You’re not sure of the extent of your mold problem
    • Mold comes back after repeated cleaning
    • The home is very damp
    • A family member suffers from allergies or asthma
    • You think the mold may be a toxic mold because a family member is suffering from unexplained symptoms that may be related to exposure to toxic mold

 

If you need a professional mold removal company, please visit this mold remediation professionals directory for a comprehensive list of mold remediation specialists listed by province. We also work closely with some mold removal companies and we may be able to direct you to the right people. Give us a call at 905-290-9101.

Mold Removal Guidelines

Once mold has grown in a building, it has to be removed (also referred to as mold removal, mold remediation, or mold abatement). There are various mold removal guidelines:

  • Mould Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry (2004): by Canadian Construction Association.
  • Mould Abatement Guidelines (2004): by Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario (EACO).
  • Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments (2008): by the New York City Department of Health.
  • Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation (IICRC S520): by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).
  • Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings (2001): by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Some of these mold removal guidelines can be obtained free online. When determining appropriate mold remediation level, one has to consider the total area affected (the perimeter of affected materials) and the density of the mold growth. The Guidelines for the Canadian Construction Industry recognizes 3 remediation levels for building finishes and components (e.g., drywall, ceiling tile, carpet, etc.). These are:

  • Level 1 (Small Scale): Areas less than 1 square metre (10 square feet)
  • Level ll (Medium Scale): Areas between 1-10 square metres (10-100 square feet)
  • Level lll (Large Scale): Areas greater than 10 square metres (≥100 square feet)

For more details about mold removal consult the various guidelines and/or consult a professional. For those working in the fields of mold investigation and remediation, you may want to register for our mold training course entitled “How To Recognize Indoor Mould, Develop Effective Sampling Strategies, Interpret Laboratory Results, And Remediate Mould Contamination“. For the course details and available dates click http://www.moldbacteria.com/training.html

For more information regarding mold removal please contact us at 905-290-9101 in Ontario or 604-435-6555 in British Columbia.

 

Salmonella food poisoning and symptoms

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Legionella pneumophila – Guidelines for Laboratory Interpretation

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The Indoor Mold Is An Early Warning Device

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