Water infiltration into a building envelope can lead to undesirable effects on the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) if not mitigated quickly. Active mold growth, or amplification, can occur between 24 and 48 hours depending on how favorable the conditions are. The evaluation and remediation procedures for mold-affected materials and indoor environments are now governed by the New York State Department of Labor’s (NYSDOL) Article 32 of the labor law.
Article 32 outlines the new requirements by NYSDOL regarding mold inspection, assessment, and remediation. Companies and individuals must now be licensed in accordance with Article 32 to conduct assessments or inspections designed to discover:
- The presence of mold, or
- Conditions that facilitate mold growth.
In addition to evaluating for the presence of mold, and conditions that facilitate mold growth, licensed NYSDOL Mold Assessors are qualified to prepare project-specific remediation plans and work standards. Elements that must be included in the project-specific remediation plans include:
- The scope of work including rooms or areas where work will be performed
- Estimated quantities of materials to be cleaned or removed
- Methods to be used for each type of remediation
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) to be supplied by licensed remediators to licensed abaters
- Proposed clearance procedures and criteria
- Methods for building occupant notification
- An estimate of remediation cost
- Determination of underlying sources of moisture
Colden Corporation is a licensed mold assessment company and maintains NYSDOL licensed Mold Assessors in all NYS offices, serving all regions of New York State.
For mold assessment and remediation questions, please contact Clint Smith, MS, CIH, CSP by e-mail at colden@colden.com.