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Background on Mold:
• Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce, just as some plants produce seeds. 
•These mold spores can be found in both indoor and outdoor air, and settled on surfaces. 
• Moisture control is the key to mold control. Molds need both food (organic material) and moisture to survive.
• When mold spores land on a damp area, digestion of organic material and growth begins.
• Molds will often grow in damp or wet areas indoors. Little or no sunlight and air movement also attributes to mold growth.

Where Mold Can be Found:
• In some cases, indoor mold growth may not be obvious.  It is possible that mold may be growing on hidden surfaces, such as the backside of drywall, wallpaper, or paneling on the top of ceiling tiles. 
• Investigating hidden molds may be difficult and will require caution.  For example, removal of wallpaper can lead to a massive release of spores from mold growing on the underside of the paper.  If you believe that you have a hidden mold problem, you may want to consider hiring an experienced professional.

The Roll of an Industrial Hygienist or Environmental Consultant:
•An Industrial Hygienist or Environmental Consultant is highly recommended to be involved with all mold losses.  The Consultant is hired by the property owner to perform testing to ensure all work is being done correctly and the mold has been sufficiently removed.  Remediation contractors cannot hire the Consultant due to conflicts of interest.

How Mold is Removed:
  Phase 1 - Set Up Containment & Negative Air Pressure
  Phase 2 - Controlled Demolition of Affected Materials
  Phase 3 - Specialized Cleaning of Structural Members
 
The purpose of mold remediation is to physically remove the mold.  Performing the proper steps by a trained mold remediation staff will prevent human exposure and minimize damage to building materials and furnishings.

Remediation Plan - Assess the size of the mold problem and the type of damaged materials before planning the remediation work.  The remediation plan should include steps to fix the water or moisture problem, or the problem may reoccur and cause additional damage. The plan should cover the use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and include steps to carefully contain and remove moldy building materials to avoid spreading the mold.  A remediation plan may vary greatly depending on the size and complexity of the job, and may require revision if circumstances change or new facts are discovered.