What a mold Clearance test should be the first thing discussed on a mold project. How do you know if your mold remediation project was done correctly? Well, if you are asking about this after the work has been completed, there’s a good chance it wasn’t done correctly.
Industry-accepted mold remediation protocol has the Clearance Testing part of the project discussed and planned for before the projects begin. That way, everyone is on the same page where clearance levels are all known (and agreed upon) in advance, what happens if you fail clearance and who pays what is known before starting the project.
Mold Clearance Test
Post-remediation verification (Clearance Testing) is a mold inspection performed after a mold remediation project has been completed but before containment and air-scrubbing have been taken down. It usually follows industry-accepted standards, which typically include: a visual inspection of the remediated area, an assessment of the moisture management strategy employed, odor detection, and a repeat of the original mold tests with a report of findings.
Actual contractor statement after mold remediation “that’s just dirt”. A clearance inspection would help you verify it.
The Mold Clearance Test is the 3rd part of a mold project that is used to verify that the post-remediation environment has been returned to Condition 1 (Normal Fungal Ecology).
Some Things to Watch out For
We’ve done a lot of clearance work for other firms and homeowners who call us after the fact or when a property sale is at stake. Here are some examples of what to watch out for:
- Remediation work was done a year ago & Clearance Testing is now being requested.
GWE: Mold testing is to be done before containment is taken down. - Demolition, Remediation & Restoration are done then Clearance Testing (air test only) shows elevated levels. The air scrubbers engaged again & now the air test shows good labs.
GWE: This is very common. But only accounts for the testing of purified air. Never corrected what caused elevated post-restoration spore counts. - Run air scrubbers for a few days and take some tests.
GWE: Not a “Clearance Test,” as it is just air sampling of purified air. - Use a biocidal fog or spray, run air scrubbers then perform an air test
GWE: Not an industry-accepted mold remediation where testing is of purified air. - Remediate only part of an area (like basement floor joists or one area of a room)
GWE: Areas not remediated should be excluded from testing. But many times can’t due to site constraints. - Take one tape, bulk, or swab test, and declare good clearance.
GWE: One sample is not enough samples to declare good clearance.
What’s Best?
Using a Third-Party Testing Firm for a Mold Clearance Test is ideal. But many times, it’s just not practical (or required). We can help establish a clearance protocol for just about any situation, but ideally, we like to see:
- Copy of Mold Assessment / Inspection & Lab Reports
- Review written remediation protocol with the Contractor
- Clearly define clearance goals and what constitutes failure
- Agree upon who pays for re-remediation /additional testing should the work need to be redone.
- Establish a schedule/time frame and coordinate the main point of contact.
Still Not Sure You Need a Clearance Test
Clearance testing should always be performed after mold remediation. Otherwise, you have no way of knowing if the remediation was successful. Let’s face it, we want to trust our contractors. But verifying what they tell you makes good business sense. A quick call to GreenWorks will help you figure this out very quickly. The best part is there’s usually no fee to get this question answered. It’s more common than you think.
