The Importance of Containment During Remediation

The first step of a mold remediation project is containment. Getting this set up quickly is crucial to the project’s success in America. Specialists will generally do this before the cleanup company starts any other work. However, most people don’t know what it is. Others don’t know why it’s important or how it’s done. Here is everything you need to know about this crucial step.

What It Is

Containment is a process designed to keep spores from spreading throughout a building. In other words, it stops the chance of further contamination. Additionally, it uses negative air pressure to keep the quality of air in the area up. This is done with HEPA filtration devices. These filters remove the contaminated air from the worksite. The air is carried out in ducts and exhausted away from the rest of the building. Aside from helping workers breathe easier, it also reduces the chance of further contamination.

What Happens When You Don’t Do It

There are plenty of reasons to implement this step. That said, it doesn’t always get done. Here are some of the things that happen when you don’t take the time to contain the area:

Contaminated nearby unaffected areas
Additional damage and repairs
Delayed cleanup of the affected area

How It’s Done Safely

Workers must erect containment while wearing special PPE. This is designed to keep workers safe in contaminated areas. The PPE blocks the spores, so workers are not exposed. For starters, technicians wear full-face respirators to protect against airborne spores. These are very common in areas being restored after extensive outbreaks. Additionally, gloves and full-body suits are worn to minimize skin exposure.

What Else to Expect

When this has been set up, you will also see hallways. These form a path leading outside the affected areas. This is primarily used to remove contaminated materials safely. Without these, spores would be spread easily when workers carried materials outside.

This is one of the most important steps in a restoration project. Aside from helping remove contaminated air, it also prevents spores from spreading to nearby unaffected areas.