As property owners in Texas know, mold is the last thing that anyone wants to see inside their home or commercial building. Texas is one of three states that has rules and regulations when it comes to mold. The Texas Mold Assessment and Remediation Rules officially became state law on May 16th, 2004. If you find suspicious growth in your home or commercial building, it important to utilize licensed professionals for the assessment and remediation process. If your suspicious growth does in fact turn into a mold remediation project, below is a list of common mold terms that you may hear:
- Mold – Any living or dead fungi or related products or parts, including spores, hyphae, and mycotoxins.
- Consumer Mold Information Sheet – A document prepared and made available by the department that describes the persons who are required to be licensed under this chapter and provides information on mold assessment and mold remediation, including how to contact the department for more information or to file a complaint.
- Containment – a component or enclosure designed or intended to control the release of mold or mold-containing dust or materials into surrounding areas in the building. The broad category of containment included such sub-categories as walk-in containment, surface containment (such as plastic sheeting), and containment devices (such as wall-mounted gloved boxes).
- Contiguous – In proximity; neighboring.
- Indoor air – Air within the envelope of a building, including air in spaces normally occupied by persons in the building but excluding air in attics and crawl spaces that are vented to the outside of the building.
- Mold Assessment – Activity that involves:
- An inspection, investigation, or survey of a dwelling or other structure to provide the owner or occupant with information regarding the presence, identification, or evaluation of mold; or
- The development of a mold management plan or mold remediation protocol; or
- The collection or analysis of a mold sample.
- Mold Remediation Protocol (mold remediation work analysis) – A document prepared by a licensed mold assessment consultant for a client, that specifies the estimated quantities and locations of materials to be remediated and the proposed remediation methods and clearance criteria for each type of remediation in each type of area for a mold remediation project.
- Remediator – A person who performs mold remediation as defined in this section and who is credentialed under this chapter as a mold as a mold remediation worker, mold remediation contractor, or mold remediation company.
- Start-date – The date on which a mold remediation begins. Preparation work is not considered mold remediation.
- Stop-date – The date following the day on which final clearance for a mold remediation project is achieved.
- Working Days – Monday through Friday, including holidays that fall on those days.
If you would like more information on the mold remediation process or if you have a mold issue that you need assistance with, please reach out to your friends at GCI Remediation. Until next time my friends, be prepared and stay safe!
Reference: Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Part 4, Chapter 78, Rule 78.10 definitions.
