Mould

Mould exists everywhere in nature, it’s mother nature’s method for breaking down materials for re-use.

It is also quite common for mould to grow indoors and generally, in small amounts, is not harmful to humans. Although in larger quantities within indoor environments, negative health effects become more common and can be serious if left unchecked.

What is mould?

Moulds are a large and diverse number of fungal species in which the growth of hyphae results in discoloration and a fuzzy appearance, especially on food. Moulds cause biodegradation of natural materials, which can be unwanted when it comes to food spoilage or damage to property. Biodegradation is the disintegration of materials by bacteria, fungi, or other biological means. This means that generally mould will only grow on natural materials within a property i.e gyprock and wood.

How does mould grow?

Mould growth is found everywhere, and can grow on almost any substance when moisture is present. They reproduce by spores, which are carried by air currents. When spores land on a moist surface suitable for life, they begin to grow. Mould is normally found indoors at levels which do not affect most healthy individuals. Because common building materials are capable of sustaining mould growth and mould spores are found everywhere, mould growth in an indoor environment is typically related to water or moisture and may be caused by incomplete drying of flooring materials (such as concrete). Flooding, leaky roofs, building-maintenance or indoor-plumbing problems are the common issues leading to interior mould growth. Water vapour commonly condenses on surfaces cooler than the moisture-laden air, enabling mould to flourish. This moisture vapour passes through walls and ceilings, typically condensing during the winter in climates with a long heating season. Floors over crawl spaces and basements, without vapour barriers or with dirt floors, are mould-prone.

WHAT WE CAN DO

Mould TESTING


Mould is one of the most common indoor environmental problems that is often linked to the adverse health effects being experienced by occupants but just because you cannot see mould, does not mean there is not mould present within your property. Testing within your property is one of the most critical components within the process of finding out whether your property has a mould problem and can then provide greater information such as what genera of mould and the mould count.

The process of our initial visit includes a visual inspection of point of moisture ingress if known and an assessment of water damage and/or mould growth through the use of moisture meters, thermal imaging and similar tools. Testing, if required, is then undertaken through one of two methods, Rapid Microbiology Testing or Laboratory Testing which are detailed below.

Rapid Microbiology Testing

Hazard Restoration is one of two companies within South Australia to have successfully completed study and to have this technology available. With our current Rapid Microbiology Testing technology, we can provide onsite results in less than an hour using state of the art testing methods for quantification of fungal particles in air.

Sampling Methods
We offer flexible and versatile methods of documentation and delineation of microbial contamination in buildings and water systems. Our technology is the Swiss knife of rapid microbiology allowing reliable quantification of microbes in almost all environments:

  • on surfaces
  • inside porous materials
  • in water
  • in air

Rapid Results
For many applications the traditional cultivation methods are simply too slow, taking days or even weeks to get results. With the technology we use you receive the results within an hour, saving you potentially weeks of waiting for results. All sampling and testing with our rapid microbiology testing is performed in house by our friendly & qualified staff members.

Verified Technology
The technology has been tested and verified by US-EPA (2011). Reproducibility was found to be very good with a relative standard deviation on the mean between 1.4 and 8.7 % when different conditions were used. This means that although the test is rapid, it is also reliable and results are consistent.

Laboratory Testing

We also offer traditional laboratory testing of mould samples through our partner laboratories where we will attend your property, determine the type and quantity of tests required to adequately test for mould, undertake the agreed tests and then submit these to an Independent Mould Analytical Laboratory. Reports received by the laboratory are then interpreted by our team and summarised into a concise report
The test options taken for laboratory testing are:
  • Air Samples
  • Tape Lift Tests
  • Swabs

Mould Remediation

When it comes to remediating mould, there are many products available on the market that claim to eradicate mould but most of these are simple “Band-Aids” to a larger issue. The simplest method of mould remediation is the complete removal of the mould growth altogether, however, in some circumstances, this is not possible. For these instances, there are certain chemicals and processes available to combat the growth.

Firstly, the source of the moisture is key to combatting mould and stop growth from recurring. Once you’ve removed moisture from mould it begins to go into a hibernative state, allowing you to control the spread of the growth.

Next, a HEPA filtered vacuum is used for removing loose spores that may exist in and around the affected area. Once the spores have been removed, anti-microbial chemicals are applied to the material to disinfect the affected surface removing the hyphae or the root system of the mould which in turn will halt any further production of spores.

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Have questions on whether your home or workplace may have mould or meth contamination? Hazard Restoration is just a phone call away to answer your questions and to help your property get back to its former glory.
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