THE DYOJO
  • HOME
    • CONTACT
    • ANTI-TRUST
  • RESOURCES
    • PODCAST
    • BLOG
    • BOOK1
    • BOOK2
    • BOOK3
    • BOOK4
    • BOOK5
    • LIBRARY
  • EVENTS
    • FoCKED
    • SOCKTEMBER

Mold and Asbestos in Construction Materials

8/1/2022

2 Comments

 
Contractors in the propeprty restoration industry will often come across hazardous materials, two of which are asbestos and mold. Episode 83 of the DYOJO Podcast discusses these key items of concern as well as the precautions that should accompany for proper testing and removal. Listening to this episode will inform owners, managers, and restoration professionals on why they need to know if asbestos or mold is being dealt with. This article will review how the intentional restorer should structure their mindset and habits for success when dealing with mold and asbestos in construction materials.
Picture

Mold and Asbestos in Construction Materials

There exists a dangerous mindest that asbestos containing materials (ACM) are a thing of the past, the reality is that they are still found in current construction and building materials. These materials can be hazardous to people’s health, including workers, occupants, and anyone who comes in contact with the structure. Asbestos is a legally regulated material. The restoration contractor MUST be mindful of what materials they are dealing with before any kind of demolition is performed. Asbestos becomes troublesome when it becomes friable (aka airborne) when stirring up dust while making flood cuts or removing other materials. Air movement over an area of drywall that has microbial growth on it, in an attempt to dry it, can spread mold spores throughout the home and potentially spread mold to previously unaffected areas.

Mold and Asbestos at the Worksite

Due to the particulate matter of asbestos and mold, their protocols are similar. The contractor will need to make sure they are in compliance with regulations and standards. Each state is unique in how they handle asbestos, so each contractor will need to be mindful of the rules in the state (or states) they work in. Asbestos is regulated by law - there is no straying from the regulations without consequences, which could include steep fines and imprisonment. The contractor will want to be mindful of these so proper protection of their workers will be provided (respirators for technicians, properly sized via fit testing by a certified fit tester, etc.)

  • Identification of hazards
  • Environmental controls
  • Safe work practices
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) 
  • Proper cleaning and testing

Mold and Asbestos Removal Best Practices

The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has published ANSI standards for water damage mitigation and mold remediation. These property restoration standards are voluntary compared to those that are regulated for asbestos and other hazardous materials. The IICRC S520 is what outlines consensus standards for professional mold remediation. Owners, managers, and professionals who seek best practices will find these standards and training to be essential to their operations. The IICRC standards are a solid starting point, but restoration and remediation contractors may have to deviate when appropriate. Whether a project is typical or non-standards, the job is only as good as it is documented, and deviations should follow a clearly executed plan. 

Contractors should be careful not make any health claims when it comes to mold or asbestos. The job of the contractor is to successfully remediate the mold or abate the asbestos in the structure. Doctors are the ones that should discuss the health concerns of the homeowner, and the contractor should direct any health concerns to those qualified professionals. Intentional restoration contractors and their team members place a high priority on educating themselves on the scopes of work that they plan to perform so that they can keep their clients and their team members safe. Owners, managers, and contractors will do well to keep themselves out of needless legal trouble through studying and executing industry best practices. ​
Picture
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR:
This article was written by Tiffany Acuff. Through a chance meeting of a friend, I was brought into the restoration industry. I have seen just about every aspect of working for a restoration contractor. I love this industry because it allows me to make a difficult situation a little bit better. I am constantly on the lookout for ways to contribute to the restoration industry as a whole so that we don't stay stagnant and continue to be leaders of mitigation and preservation. Tiffany has assisted in editing the last three books from The DYOJO, including the latest one, How To Suck Less At Estimating.

2 Comments
Braden Bills link
8/8/2022 07:14:12 am

I didn't realize that asbestos was used in so many homes. It makes sense that finding out if that's in my home would be important. I'll be sure to work with a professional to see if they can figure out if there's asbestos on my property.

Reply
Thomas Clarence link
1/9/2023 12:04:58 pm

Wow, it stood out to me when you explained that asbestos can still be found in current construction materials. As far as I know, asbestos can cause serious health problems that won't develop until later in life. Working with an asbestos abatement company would probably be best if you are worried that you are dealing with this material.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Words

    The DYOJO - helping contractors shorten
    ​their DANG learning curve


    Book #4 - AVAILABLE NOW - How To Suck Less  At Estimating. Habits for better project outcomes. 

    Book #4 - AVAILABLE NOW as a TRAINING COURSE through our friends at Restoration Technical Institute

    Book #3 - So, You Want To Be A Project Manager? is designed to help contractors with the mindset and habits for success in this role. 

    Book #2 - Be Intentional: Culture, is a collaborative publication discussing how the small things enhance or undermine your efforts to build a thriving culture. 

    Book #1 - Be Intentional Estimating, is the 5 star rated book that helps estimators produce more consistent outcomes in the insurance claims process. 

    ​Jon is the host of The DYOJO Podcast, helping the skilled trades to shorten their DANG learning curve for personal and professional development. 

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020

    Categories

    All
    Books
    Clarity
    Construction
    Creativity
    Culture
    Estimating
    Growth
    History
    Insurance Claims
    Law
    Networking
    People
    Personal Development
    Podcast
    Products & Services
    Project Management
    South Sound Connection
    Support Local
    The Intentional Restorer
    Training

    RSS Feed

    Estimating 

    Marketing

    Insurance Claims

    Leadership

Contact The DYOJO
  • Property Restoration Resources Library 
  • Watch or Listen to The DYOJO Podcast 
  • Buy a Book by The Intentional Restorer
  • ​Read The DYOJO Blog
  • ​Dig Into Property Restoration History
  • Join The DYOJO Mailing List​
DYOJO Anti Trust
File Size: 75 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

  • HOME
    • CONTACT
    • ANTI-TRUST
  • RESOURCES
    • PODCAST
    • BLOG
    • BOOK1
    • BOOK2
    • BOOK3
    • BOOK4
    • BOOK5
    • LIBRARY
  • EVENTS
    • FoCKED
    • SOCKTEMBER