This document provides information on mold prevention in new construction. It discusses the legal and health risks of mold growth, which make prevention important. Key prevention strategies discussed include proper design, materials selection, and moisture control during and after construction. Special attention should be given to foundations, roofs, walls and flashings to prevent water intrusion. Monitoring and rapid drying of materials is also important. The document recommends working with mold experts who can inspect for issues and provide testing and remediation if needed. Overall it stresses the importance of moisture control and prevention to avoid liability and health risks from mold.

1. MOLD PREVENTION IN
NEW CONSTRUCTION
By: Bill Murray
N.A.M.P. Certified Inspector
N.A.M.P. Certified Remediator

4. WHY THE CONCERNS REGARDING MOLD
CONTAMINATION IN BUILDINGS AND POTENTIAL
EXPOSURE?
-LEGAL LIABILITY CASE HISTORY
Farmers insurance- Texas- $35 million judgement for
failing to promptly respond to claim of construction
defects, water intrusion and mold infestation in
residence.
Construction Company- Cincinnatti (Marriott)
$50 million judgement against construction company
for construction defects, mulitple sources of water
intrusion. Company filed bankruptcy.

5. INDUSTRY DRIVERS
•CASE HISTORY OF CLASS ACTION SUITS
•MEDIA COVERAGE OF EXTREME CASES-FEAR
•ADVERSE PUBLICITY FOR BUILDING OWNER,
BUILDER, AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF FUTURE
BUSINESS.
•POTENTIAL ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS FOR
OCCUPANTS
•ECONOMIC RISK, INSURANCE RISK

6. YOUR CHARGE IN COMMERCIAL
CONSTRUCTION
•ENERGY- HEATING AND COOLING SAVINGS
•HEALTH- IMPROVED INDOOR AIR QUALITY/
INCREASED OCCUPANT SATISFACTION/
REDUCTION OF COMPLAINTS
•ECONOMIC- LOWER MAINTENANCE COSTS
•ENVIRONMENTAL- MORE DURABLE/LESS NEED
FOR MAINTENANCE OR NEW CONSTRUCTION

8. REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
NO US EPA REGULATIONS
NO OSHA REGULATIONS
NEW YORK CITY GUIDELINES
IICRC STANDARD S520
Focus is shifting towards required licensing of
contractors
Highly improbable that interior permissable
exposure levels in buildings will ever be
established.

9. What is Mold?
»Fungi
Molds, yeast, and mushrooms
25% of earth’s biomass
Estimated 100,000 – 300,000+ Species

10. TYPES OF MOLD
»Common “Toxigenic” molds include:
»Pennicilllium
»Aspergillus
»Cladosporium
»Stachybotrys

11. What makes it grow?
»:Mold grows on any surface that has
»1) Oxygen
»2) Moisture
»3) Food Source
»4) proper temperature and
relative humidity

12. Where does it grow? – Food Source
»Dust & debris
»Paper on drywall, ceiling tile
»Wood studs, concrete block
»Other common building materials

13. How fast does it grow?

14. How fast does it grow?

15. Who is affected by it?
1.Young Children
2.Elderly
3.Immune deficient
Transplants
Chemotherapy
HIV or other

16. Ten Health Effects of Mold
1.Allergies & Asthma
2.Skin rashes
3.Headaches
4.Digestive problems
5.Burning eyes
6.Chronic fatigue
7.Dizziness
8.Poor concentration
9.Memory lapse
10.Depression
Source: Arthur Cook, attorney at Hill, Farrer & Burrill

17. COMMONS MYTHS ABOUT MOLD
»BLEACH KILLS OR ELIMINATES MOLD
GROWTH….DAMAGE TO PLATES
»DORMANT OR INACTIVE MOLD IS NOT A
HEALTH THREAT
»Mold spores, whether viable (actively
growing) or non viable (dormant) can cause
potential health risks in certain susceptible
persons

18. PREVENTION DURING CONSTRUCTION PHASE
»BUILDING DESIGN
»CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
»BUILDING SYSTEMS

19. CONTROL AND PREVENTION
»Moisture control and water intrusion
prevention is the single most critical
element in preventing mold growth
inside buildings. MOST BUILDINGS ARE
BEING DESIGNED TO HANDLE ENERGY
EFFICIENCY, TOTALLY DEPENDAENT ON
THE HVAC SYSTEM.
»High humidity and temperature levels
inside buildings can also cause moisture
through condensation, resulting in
fungal growth and contamination.

20. ENERGY/DURABILITY OBJECTIVES
»AIRTIGHTNESS
»DURABILITY- MUST BE ABLE TO PERFORM AS
INTENDED
»STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY- TO WITHSTAND
WINDLOADS AND STACK PRESSURE EFFECTS
»CONTINUITY- ACROSS EXPANSION JOINTS
»AROUND PENETRATIONS
»ACROSS CONNECTIONS OF BUILDING ASSEMBLIES
DEPENDENT ON DESIGN
MATERIALS AND INSTALLATION

21. WHAT IS MY LIABILITY?
»WATER DAMAGE DURING CONSTRUCTION MAY REQUIRE
REMEDIATION OR TEAROUT, DEPENDING ON OWNERS
»THIS WILL CAUSE BOTH MATERIAL AND LABOR COST, PLUS
TIME DELAYS. IN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION, THIS COULD BE
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
»FUTURE BUSINESS, BAD PRESS WITH CLIENTS. YOU CAN
ENGINEER A BUILDING, BUT YOU CANNOT PREDICT THE WAY
THE OCCUPANTS WILL USE IT.
»RELYING SOLELY ON MECHANICAL AIR MAKES YOU
VULNERABLE.
»LONG TERM LIABILITY DUE TO SICKNESS, PROPERTY DAMAGE.
RESULTING IN SUITS FROM OWNERS AND TENANTS.

22. Construction/General
»Better scheduling on the job site keeps moisture
out

23. Take special care regarding crawl
spaces

25. Ventilation during construction

26. PREVENTION DURING NEW CONSTRUCTION
»KEEP CELLULOSE BASED MATERIALS DRY
»PIPE CHASES VENTILATED- MOISTURE
CONTROL
»PROPER TAPING OF DENSGLASS JOINTS IN
WALL CAVITIES
»DRYWALL, WOOD PRODUCTS, CEILING TILES,
INSULATION
»MAINTAIN NORMAL MOISTURE CONTENT IN
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AT 12% or less.
»DRY OUT BUILDING CORE PRIOR TO
COMPLETE BUILDOUT
»MONITOR DRYING ACTIVITIES

27. Concrete
»For every yard of concrete, 50 gallons of water is
excess during the curing process.
»Most commercial concrete reaches 70% strength
in 30 days. At that point, excess moisture has to
be removed before gypsum can be installed.
»Location of project, time of year, etc. all play a
critical role in resisting microbial growth.

28. PREVENTION DURING NEW CONSTRUCTION
»MASONRY WALLS SHOULD HAVE WEEPS THAT
ALLOW MOISTURE MIGRATION
»GLASS AND METAL CURTAIN WALL SYSTEMS
SHOULD HAVE DRAINAGE WEEPS DUE TO THE
AMOUNT OF CONTRACTION AND EXPANSION
BETWEEN GLASS AND ALUMINUM.
»EIFIS SYSTEMS NEED A DRAIN BOARD TO ALLOW
MOISTURE TO ESCAPE
»PRE-CAST CONCRETE WALLS IN AREAS OF HIGH
HUMIDITY AND POTENTIAL FOR THERMAL
CONDENSATION SHOULD HAVE DRIP PANS ON THE
INSIDE FACE TO GATHER AND DRAIN MOISTURE

29. Concrete must dry

30. Exterior Construction
House wrap properly installed

31. PREVENTION DURING NEW CONSTRUCTION
»PROPER INSTALLATION OF DRYWALL TO
PREVENT WICKING
»PROPER INSTALLATION OF WINDOW
SYSTEMS- FLASHING AND CAULKING- PEEL
AND SEAL
»ROOFING AND FLASHING INSTALLATION
»WATERPROOFING/DRAINAGE
ISSUES/FOUNDATION DAMP PROOFING
»FLASHING BEHIND MASONRY WALLS/VAPOR
BARRIERS

32. Vertical foundation walls should
coated with a vapor barrier

33. Flashings around decks

34. Flashings over rowlocks

35. Watch for stains & puddling

36. INVESTIGATION AND REMEDIATION
»INITIAL ASSESSMENT
»VISUAL INSPECTION
»EVIDENCE OF WATER DAMAGE
»MOISTURE MEASUREMENTS
»VISIBLE MOLD GROWTH
»AIR AND SURFACE SAMPLING
»DETERMINE EXTENT OF IMPACT
»PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
»FINAL REPORT TO PEOPLE WHO NEED TO KNOW
»CALL AN EXPERT

37. INVESTIGATION AND REMEDIATION
»REMEDIATION-
»DEVELOP A SCOPE OF WORK
»PREPARE WRITTEN REMEDIATION PROTOCOLS
»QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS
»THIRD PARTY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
»REMOVAL AND DECONTAMINATION
»FINAL VISUAL INSPECTIONS AND VERIFICATION
CLEARANCE TESTING (USUALLY AIR SPORE
SAMPLING)

38. Prevention – Inhibitors
•Mold-Inhibitor -Proven effective in inhibiting mold
•Rust Inhibitor -Unlike many other mold inhibiting products, moldBLOCK™ is rust-
preventing
•Environmentally Safe -FDA, GRAS List Ingredients Safe and Easy to Handle
•Non-Toxic
•Water Based & Very Liquid
•Cost Effective & Easy to Apply
Bottom Line: is a patented product that prevents mold growth and
kills existing mold.

39. .
USE ANABEC
•USE OF A PREVENTIVE TREATMENT IS
THE BEST AND MOST COST EFFICIENT
BACKUP SYSTEM THAT YOU CAN HAVE.
•WEIGH THE POTENTIAL RISK VS THE COST.
•50 YEAR WARRANTY
•RELIEVES MOST OF YOUR COMPANY’S RISK
•CLIENT IS HAPPY…..OCCUPANTS ARE HAPPY
•AVERAGES ABOUT $.35 htd sq ft, or less than
1/10 of 1 percent of the cost of the job.

40. How do I Deal with it?
»Call PALMETTO ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS
We will Inspect your property from top to bottom
during the construction process.
We will Investigate the moisture source, saving you
possible mistakes before the sheetrock is applied.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We offer Complete Testing & Verification
We offer Mold Removal and Remediation
We offer a 50 Year Warranty

41. Questions???