Perhaps you’re about to schedule your first-ever mold remediation… or, perhaps this is far from your first, but you still seem to learn something new every time. Regardless, did you know that your mold remediation may ultimately dig up something even more dangerous than the spores themselves?

Specifically, as your chosen team pulls out their equipment and begins to manage the musty malefactor that is mold, you may be left wondering how — if ever — asbestos may factor into the indoor environmental equation.

Here’s what you need to know…

#1 — Will My Mold Remediation Involve Asbestos?

Mold remediations may involve asbestos, unbeknownst to many home and business owners. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asbestos has historically been used in “a wide range of manufactured goods,” such as within property construction.

In particular, one may expect to find asbestos in…

• Cement products
• Paper products
• Roofing materials
• Flooring tiles
• Wall insulation
• Paints and plasters
• And more

As a result, it would not necessarily be surprising for a remediation company to confront asbestos while completing an extensive mold remediation job — particularly if the property in question was constructed anytime prior to the 1980s.

Specifically, if they are remediating a property that has become contaminated by mold as a result of destructive flooding, their chances of asbestos detection and/or exposure may increase.

#2 — How Will My Remediators Deal With The Asbestos?

“If remediators encounter materials containing asbestos or presumed to contain asbestos that has been or potentially will be disturbed during the course of work activities, they shall stop activities that can cause the material to become friable or aerosolized,” as affirmed by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

In short, should your remediators detect asbestos-containing materials in the midst of their mold remediation process, they will be responsible for both identifying and controlling those materials in accordance with federal, state, and local laws/regulations. This way, their team — as well as the residents of your property — will be as safe as possible both during and after the remediation.

And, in case you were wondering what might constitute an “asbestos-containing material” (ACM), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) clarifies that ACM, “means any material containing more than one percent asbestos.”

#3 — How Can I Know If There’s Asbestos Already In My Property?

At the end of the day, it’s best to become aware of asbestos’s presence in your property before your remediation takes place, rather than finding out halfway through.

That’s why Luce Air Quality offers certified asbestos surveys: to equip you with the knowledge you need to effectively handle your property and optimize your own wellbeing! Whether you’re planning to schedule a mold remediation or embark upon a new home renovation project, answers today mean enhanced safety tomorrow.

To learn moreabout our services or to schedule your survey today, contact us by calling (904) 803-1014 or emailing info@luceairquality.com! As your local indoor environmental experts, we look forward to providing you with trusted solutions.