Proposed Regulation Promises to Improve Florida Mold Assessment

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PM Environmental

Jul 01, 2014, 09:30 ET


Tampa, Florida (PRWEB) July 01, 2014 -- The Florida mold industry had gone unregulated for years. As a result, unqualified environmental firms were practicing in and performing mold assessments and remediation.

Thanks to legislation that became effective in 2010, though, only state-licensed professionals are able to perform these activities. New legislation that is expected to be voted into law soon, promises to go a step further and clearly define minimum standards and practices for mold assessments and remediation.

This is good news for consumers. This closes the loophole that allowed companies to dodge the requirement for state-licensed professionals by branding their services “Water damage assessment” as opposed to “Mold assessment.”

“The proposed rule is the crucial next step in regulating the industry, protecting the consumer, and ensuring the health and safety of building occupants”, said Kelly Hoover.

The proposed law covers all aspects of the assessment and remediation process, however, below are the key aspects that may affect the requirements and deliverables of your projects.

Mold Assessment
The purpose of a mold assessment is to determine the sources, locations, and extent of mold growth in a building and to determine the conditions(s) that caused the mold growth.

Before any remediation begins, a mold assessor will be required to prepare a Mold Assessment Report (MAR), including a Mold Remediation Protocol (MRP), for each project and deliver it to the client.

This report must specify:

  • The rooms or areas where the work will be performed
  • The estimated quantities of materials to be cleaned or removed
  • The methods used for each type of remediation in each type of area
  • The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be used by remediators
  • Suggested types of containment
  • Proposed post-verification procedures and criteria for each type of remediation in each area.

What should the MRP contain?

  • Containment (methods) to be employed when mold contamination affects a total surface area of 10 contiguous square feet or more
  • The criteria to be used to determine whether the remediation project passes post remediation verification, in other words, whether the remediation project has been successfully completed
  • If walk-in containment is specified for the project, the post-verification shall be conducted while it is in place.

Will all projects need a mold assessment?
If you project is over 10 contiguous sq. ft., it will qualify as a regulated mold project and should have an assessment.

“If you have greater than 10 contiguous square feet of damage, it would be big enough to constitute a regulated project and a formal assessment is required prior to conducting the work,” said Hoover. “It is also important to note that a contractor cannot write their own scope of work for a regulated project, as it is a conflict of interest and is already prohibited under the current legislation. ”

Mold Remediation
The purpose of mold remediation is to remove and/or clean mold-impacted materials using standards and safe work practices that protect occupants.

For each project, the assessor will need to prepare a written Mold Remediation Work Plan (MRWP). This plan will outline the best way to find and stop the source of moisture intrusion and/or humidity within the building.

Important Considerations during Remediaton:

  • The severity of the mold at a given site may require the remediator to consult with a Florida-licensed mold assessor to adapt safety guidelines to specific conditions.
  • Any remediations performed on HVAC/ventilation systems must be performed in cooperation with a professional licensed HVAC professional, under section 489.105, F.S
  • Areas defined as Level II (between 10 and 100 contiguous square feet of damage) and Level II (greater than 100 contiguous square feet of damage) will require a greater level of protection for those working on the site.
  • Finally, all Level I & II remediation projects will require that post-verification be performed by a Florida-licensed mold assessor.

“The proposed rule will provide some much needed clarification on when a consumer needs to consult a licensed professional, as well as defining the responsibilities of the assessor and remediator," said Hoover. "In conjunction with the current legislation, the proposed Minimum Standards and Practices will provide the checks and balances to ensure that only the necessary work is conducted, that the necessary health and safety controls have been used, and that the issues have been successfully resolved at the end of the project.”

Amy Skalmusky, PM Environmental, http://www.pmenv.com, +1 5173213331, [email protected]