Basic Mold Information and Cleanup

Ten Things You Should Know About Mold (Source: EPA’s website http://goo.gl/CiPSR )

Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.

There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.

If mold is a problem in your home or school, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.

Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.

Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60%) to decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.

Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.

Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.

Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.

In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).

Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.

SteamMaster Restoration and Cleaning is the most trusted Mold Remediation Company serving the central Colorado Rockies serving Vail, Aspen, Steamboat Springs, Winter Park, Breckenridge and surrounding mountain communities since 1978.

SteamMaster has several certified Mold Remediation experts including Gary Gilman, CMRS by American Council for Accredited Certification http://www.acac.org/ ( Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor) together with several AMRT ( Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians) by CleanTrust http://www.iicrc.org

SteamMaster can be reached at 970-763-7455 or email info@steammaster.com
Please visit http://www.steammaster.com for more information

Raccoon Cleanup with SteamMaster’s Versa-Vac

Removing blown-in or batt insulation is a very tedious, messy and time-consuming job. This is especially so when having to remove insulation from a water, fire or smoke damage job. Taking out damaged insulation from attics, sidewalls and crawl spaces required the proper equipment and also personal protection equipment.

The Versa-Vac is designed for fast, profitable removal of blown-in insulation as well as fire, water and smoke damaged insulation from attics, sidewalls and crawl spaces. Material intended for recycling can be conveyed directly to your spraying machine for reuse. Waste material can be discharged directly into 75 cu. ft. disposable collection bags or directly into a Dumpster receptacle. Call Matt Monica at 970-763-7455 or email matt@steammaster.com

Gary Gilman, CMRS is your best resource for Mold Remediation

Gary Gilman, CMRS

Indoor Air Quality issues is a growing problem for commercial and residential property owners. When the is a Air Quality issue, it can be a very challenging task for a commercial or residential property owners or managers to know what type of environmental professional can help with their problem. It is more difficult to know who can help when everyone out there is claiming to be IAQ or Mold Experts. There are no federal regulations and only a few states have controls.

Fortunately there is an independent certifying body for IAQ professionals that the public can seek to distinguish between a real professional in the field versus those who claim to be the ‘expert’. The American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC) has more than 4,000 certified professional in the United States and abroad at the moment.

SteamMaster’s President and Owner, Gary Giman is a Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor (CMRS). Gary has successfully remediated numerous mold removal projects in Vail, Breckenridge, Aspen, Snowmass, Winter Park, Granby and several other mountain communities in Colorado.

Here are some CMRS qualifications:

A CMRS can help design and maintain effective containment to control and safely clean, treat or remove structures and contents affected by microbial contamination. A Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor (CMRS) can design remediation protocols or follow established protocols and industry standards. A CMRS has verified knowledge of the microbial remediation field.

The CMRS examination covers the most respected reference texts in the industry. Candidates for the CMRS must know the important industry standards. They must be familiar with scientific principles governing mold and the indoor environment. They must understand the most common practices and protocols used by remediators. They must be familiar with the equipment used in mold remediation. They must be aware of legal issues affecting their work

Each CMRS has demonstrated at least five (5) years experience in mold remediation and mold removal in one or more of the following settings:

Offices and commercial buildings
Industrial structures
Government facilities
Schools and public buildings
Healthcare facilities
Residential structures

To earn the Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor designation, every candidate must:

Demonstrate at least five (5) years of verifiable field experience in microbial remediation
Pass a rigorous examination based on broad industry knowledge rather than a course curriculum
Earn the unanimous approval of the CMRS certification board
Re-certify every two years
Participate in 20 hours of professional development activities each year
Maintain the highest ethical standards

The CMRS certification is accredited by the Council for Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB), a nationally recognized independent accreditation body. ACAC certifications are the ONLY designations in the indoor air quality field to earn CESB accreditation.