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Is mould still ‘the new asbestos’ in building remediation and restorations?

BUILDING REMEDIATION & WATER DAMAGE

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “mould is the new asbestos”.

Despite the hype, it’s clear that mould is nowhere near as deadly as asbestos.

It does, however, present a serious problem to home-owners and businesses who find that once their premises are affected, making the problem go away takes effort and specialist expertise.

Where does mould come from?

When we think of mould, what comes to mind is the black stain that grows on the grout around our sink or shower.

But the fact is: mould is everywhere!

Most of the time, you can’t actually see it. Mould spores range in size from 3 to 40 microns (human hair is 100-150 microns). That’s very small!

Mould thrives in moist environments

Mould develops in buildings following a leak, flood or other water inundation. Commonly a water pipe has burst, leaving a building damp and ripe for mould growth. Often the result is costly damage to the building and its contents.

In Australia, seasonal storms, including cyclones, can inflict tremendous damage to homes and businesses.

Water damage can also result following a fire, where fire hoses are used to put out the flames.

There’s no doubt, this damage costs the insurance industry thousands every year. Not to mention the health costs to workers and loss of stock and trade for commercial building owners.

So why is mould such a problem?

The fact is mould has a terrible impact on the air quality of a building.

Contaminated materials and standing water can provide the perfect breeding ground for microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria and mould. As well as damaging the building and its contents, these contaminants can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Business owners have a duty of care to protect their employees and customers from the effects of mould contamination.

People with compromised immunity can be especially vulnerable. Mould spores can become airborne and are readily inhaled.

One of the biggest problems with mould is that it’s hard to eliminate completely.

A quick response is essential

After a flood, it’s crucial that buildings are dried out as quickly and effectively as possible to prevent new outbreaks of mould developing in the first place.

We recommend that the correct remediation process is put in place within 24 hours of a flood or seepage.

A common approach is to bring in the industrial fans and blowers straight away. Unfortunately, this often makes matters worse. It’s a bit like blowing on a dandelion – you know the ones that you used to make a wish on when you were a child? Once airborne, the dandelion seeds can travel far and wide.

Unless the affected area is properly contained, microscopic mould spores can be distributed throughout a building, beyond the initial problem site. This increases the remediation time and cost.

Is mould still ‘the new asbestos’ in building remediation and restorations?

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PHASE 1 PHASE 2 PHASE 3IDENTIFY CONTAIN TREAT

The assessment and identification phase is crucial in deciding what course of action to take.

And no two sites are the same.

Our expert team only decide on the next steps in the remediation process after a thorough site assessment.

• We carry out a detailed moisture survey, where we identify the source of the mould.

• Our project leader follows -up with a report on our findings and includes our recommendations.

• Upon approval, the team jumps into action to remedy the moisture and mould problem.

Usually, the next step is to contain the mould contamination.

Isolating the mould prevents further contamination of the site.

Plastic sheeting is used to seal off rooms and prevent mould spores travelling.

Care is taken that workers don’t spread mould spores that might attach themselves to their clothes and shoes.

A professional clean-up process saves time and increases the chances of saving valuable assets.

The treatment used is tailored to the site and often involves drying, cleaning, containment and odour control.

Our Approach

Having worked in the restorations field for more than 20 years, we’ve developed a toolbox of tried and tested methods for dealing with mould. These methods evolve as product research and new technology is developed within the industry.

Safety is also a priority.

Each worker is equipped with a high quality, high filtration face mask and vinyl or neoprene gloves. A full protective suit is worn when using harsh chemicals and for larger mould remediation projects.

Our approach can be summarised in these three steps:

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Mould loves a humid environment

In conditions of high humidity, an effective dry-out and treatment process will stop mould in its tracks. Long-term humidity also fosters the growth of dust mites. These can be another source of allergic reaction and asthma for many people.

A building may naturally dry out in a few weeks, however, in this time, microorganisms will have a chance to grow and thrive. Often a musty odour can develop. This is hard to get rid of, and can persist long after the drying process is over.

Leaving an area to dry by itself might also result in irreparable damage to a building’s contents. In a home environment, sentimental items may be lost. For a business, mould damage might result in expensive stock wastage, not to mention lost business because the business has to close during the remediation period.

Mould remediation and mould removal

Advanced Buildings are specialists in mould remediation and mould removal.

Our approach usually involves:

1. Removing the mould at the source

Whether it’s a leaky air-conditioner or a broken water pipe, the first step is to stop the water source in its tracks and get rid of the main source of mould. Affected porous building materials such as a Gyprock wall, insulation or baseboards are generally removed and replaced.

2. Clearing the air

Use of air scrubbers and vacuums with HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particulate Air) are an effective way of eliminating airborne mould spores. Unlike regular filters, they’re designed to capture particles as small as mould spores. They help to minimise the spread of the contaminant.

Simple ventilation to replace contaminated, mouldy air with clean air is also recommended. For large sites, more sophisticated negative air controls are brought in to do the job.

3. Treating the contaminated area

Application of a powerful, yet non-toxic antimicrobial chemical to the affected site is an effective way to clean the mould and mould stains. We only use approved, biodegradable products that are proven to work on the most virulent strains of mould.

Another common treatment is the use of a sealant (or ‘encapsulant’). The sealant is often sprayed onto the affected area and works as a barrier to future water damage and contains the mould. It also works to contain odours.

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Odour control is also an important part of the treatment process.

Water damaged carpets and furnishings can quickly emit an unpleasant odour unless promptly dried-out. This odour is caused by invisible bacteria, which often thrives in the period following water inundation.

Effective odour control usually involves spraying appropriate non-toxic chemicals onto affected surfaces. We also create ventilation which lets the fresh air replace the stale, smelly air.

As science discovers better ways of treating contaminated areas, we continue to test these new chemicals and processes.

Cryogenic cleaning for flood and water damage

Cryogenic cleaning is one of the services we offer to clean affected sites. It’s also known as ‘dry ice cleaning’. Cryogenic cleaning is an effective, non-toxic way of removing mould and sanitising other contaminants caused by water.

• It can be more effective than manual cleaning because it enables us to reach into crevices, corners and voids.

• It’s also non-abrasive, so it can be safely used on woodwork, paintings and stonework.

• The cryogenic equipment is portable, so it can be easily moved around by the restorations team.

• Its application creates less mess than other methods. This saves clean-up time.

The ‘kid-glove’ treatment

Though cryogenic cleaning can be very effective, we often find the old-fashioned ways are best with very delicate or valuable contents (such as books and paintings) and in heritage buildings.

In these cases, our team cleans delicate surfaces and items by hand. We’ve even had jobs where we’ve wiped a book clean page by page.

“Where needed, we use a state-of-the-art ozone generator to deodorise damaged contents. Our process eliminates odours 12 times faster than any ozone on the market (with ozone up to 481m3 at a time).”

According to John Obilinovic, Advanced Building’s Restorations Manager (NSW):

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• 24-hour emergency water and fire damage service

• Water extraction

• Structure drying

• Moisture survey and reporting

• Structure cleaning and decontamination – fire, water, sewage and forensic

• Cryogenic cleaning – dry ice cleaning

• High pressure water blasting

• Mould remediation

• Odour control using state of the art ozone generator – deodorises 12 times faster than others (up to 481m3 at a time) and fogging devices

• Ceiling cavity extraction

• Cleaning of ceramic walls and floors using specialised equipment

• Air duct cleaning and deodorising

• Complete carpet restoration – drying, cleaning, protection and carpet repairs

• Contents inspections and reports

• Contents cleaning and decontamination – fire, water, sewage and forensic

• Mould remediation

• Dry cleaning – clothing, linen, window coverings.

• Inventory, photograph, pack, store and relocate contents

• Document restoration services

• Leather, upholstery and mattress cleaning

• Restoration of sentimental items – artwork, photographs, china, furniture

Our complete list of Restorations and Cleaning services for buildings and contents are:

ABN: NSW - 99 146 262 704

VIC - 51 613 047 242

QLD - 88 151 926 180

RESTORATIONS NSW - 73 615 067 108

For more information on our 24/7 services, or advice on how to deal

with water damage and mould in your home or commercial building, contact:

NEW SOUTH WALES

NSW SYDNEY METROPh: 1300 87 86 87

HUNTER & CENTRAL COASTPh: (02) 4353 4068

After Hours, Emergency Works - 1300 87 86 87

QUEENSLAND

BRISBANE / GOLD COASTSUNSHINE COAST /TOOWOOMBA

Ph: Business Hours - 1300 88 26 61After Hours, Emergency Works -1300 300 049

VICTORIA

MELBOURNEPh: 1300 93 02 03

advancedbuildings.com.au