Mold Worries: What Every Building Professional Should Know

摘要

How new of a phenomenon is mold infestation? Mold has always been present in our outdoor and indoor environments; it caused primarily minor concerns and problems until 2001, when a legal case in Texas awarded a homeowner $32 million as a result of mold infestation due to construction defects. From 2000 to 2001, mold claims and lawsuits jumped from 1,000 to 12,000; just a year earlier, in 1999, there were only 12 mold claims/lawsuits heard. What does all this mean to building owners and facilities managers? It means that indoor mold growth exposes you to controversy and potential litigation; it's here to stay, especially with such a strong national focus on green buildings and more awareness of indoor environmental quality issues. With that said, it's a good idea to be knowledgeable about indoor mold growth, the root causes of indoor mold growth, and the current guidelines and recommended work practices that should be used by mold remediators and individuals/companies performing mold investigations.