To conduct mold remediation correctly, three groups or individuals must be involved.  Normally these people will not come from the same organization. This will protect the interests of the property owner.

• The forensic architect
• The Industrial Hygienist
• The mold remediation specialist

The forensic architect identifies the source of the problem as well as a plan to fix it. The water source must be found and stopped or any further work will be useless because the mold will come back over time.

The industrial hygienist determines what types of mold are involved and the severity of the problem.  Once this has been accomplished, he will then recommend an appropriate course of action to remove the mold.  Samples of contamination are taken before and after the remediation to validate the work.

The mold remediation specialist actually performs the removal of the mold to the specifications provided by the industrial hygienist.  The mold area is isolated to prevent further contamination during demolition. Contaminated materials are removed and the infected area is disinfected to prevent further mold growth.  Much of this work is similar to asbestos abatement with the major difference being the use of liquids; during asbestos abatement water is constantly applied to prevent fibers from becoming airborne. Water is not used during mold remediation to prevent new growth.

Containments are built using polyethylene plastic sheets to isolate the contaminated area from non-contaminated areas. This is normally done with two layers of plastic to ensure no air movement between contaminated and non-contaminated areas.  All possible areas the mold could move through are secured with plastic. These are called criticals.  Common examples of criticals are windows, doors, electrical outlets and air vents.  Normally all surfaces not scheduled for demolition will be cleaned and covered with polyethylene to facilitate the final cleaning process.  The containment is placed under negative air pressure using a negative air machine which draws air out of the containment through a series of HEPA filters.  This procedure ensures any small air leaks will be drawn into the containment to prevent contamination of outside areas. 

Depending on the level of contamination, personnel will wear protective gear. This normally includes a respirator, protective suit, gloves and boots.  Contaminated material can include carpeting, sheetrock, furniture, studs, and exterior surfaces such as stucco.  What is to be removed is determined by the industrial hygienist.  All contaminated materials are bagged and sprayed with a disinfectant before being taken outside the containment to be disposed of.  Once demolition is completed, all surfaces in the containment will be cleaned using a HEPA vacuum and wiped down with a disinfectant agent.  Samples will be taken by the industrial hygienist to ensure the remediation is complete.  Once approval is given, all containments will come down and reinstallation can begin.