By Thomas Culver, CPAU, IICRC- MRS, WRT, FSRT, Senior Construction Consultant

Mold spores are located everywhere! They are in the air we breathe, on the surfaces we touch, and help to contribute to a healthy ecology. Molds are organisms that play an important role in breaking down and digesting organic material. The two primary contributing factors that support mold growth in an indoor environment are moisture and the presence of organic materials. Since many materials found in today’s homes are organic based materials, the easiest way to prevent mold growth is to prevent uncontrolled moisture from entering the environment.
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification, IICRC, is a non-profit organization that provides certification and written standards for the restoration industry. IICRC has developed and published written standards for mold remediation. They have defined 3 levels, or conditions, to describe environmental mold in indoor environments.