Mold Assessment In New York State

Mold Assessment In New York State

The State of New York recently passed bill S3667D, which regulates the assessment and remediation of mold. As of January 1st, 2016, anyone offering mold assessment or remediation services must be licensed by the state of New York. This new law also requires that the assessor and the remediator are seperate entities, meaning that they cannot be emplyed by the same company.

What Is A Mold Assessment?

A mold assessment is a visual inspection to discover indoor mold growth, the cause of any discovered mold, and instruction on what needs to be done to prevent mold growth in the future. A visual inspection is also performed after the remediation to ensure that the problem has been properly and thoroughly addressed.

The mold assessment also involves the creation of a mold remediation plan, which is to be executed by the mold remediation contractor.

What Is Mold Remediation?

Mold remediation is the removal, cleaning, sanitizing, or surface disinfection of mold, mold containment, and waste handling of mold and materials used to remove mold from surfaces.

Addressing The Cause Of Mold

It is of critical importance that the initial cause of the mold, as identified by the mold assessment, is corrected. Mold is extreamly difficult to kill. You can deprive mold of moisture, putting it into a dormant state, but remediation cannot prevent mold re-growth if the cause is not addressed.

The Causes Of Mold Growth

All mold requires two key ingredients to thrive: organic material for food and, most importantly, moisture. Mold can often become a problem after flooding, but the single most prevalent cause of mold in homes is exhaust from bathrooms or other areas being vented into the attic. Other common causes of active mold growth include a leaky pipe or roof, moisture penetration from outside the building, high humidity etc.

Preventing Mold In Your Home

The simplest way to prevent mold growth is to keep all areas of the building dry. You should run a dehumidifier in damp areas, and ensure that the attic and basement are properly ventilated.