Mould can be dangerous and difficult to clean up. Because of this, it is a topic that justifiably frightens property owners and managers. When you try to clean up a mould situation on your own, you might be taking on unnecessary risk—and often without even being able to successfully treat the problem.
If you manage a commercial or residential property, ongoing or sudden mould can be a major issue. In these large structures, there are so many places where mould can grow, and almost as many situations that can cause mould growth. In order to successfully manage mould at your sites, it’s important to know what causes it, and whether you should try to tackle the clean-up yourself or get professional help.
What causes mould to grow in high-rise buildings?
In many ways, high-rise buildings have the same risk factors for mould as any other property. Mould grows when there is an ideal combination of temperature, water, oxygen, and food. Mould can enter a building through doorways, windows, vents, and HVAC systems, as well as attaching itself to clothing, shoes, and pets. Once these spores are inside, they can grow. Mould is not uncommon in buildings, but once there is enough to be smelled or seen, you have a problem that needs to be addressed.
Mould growth occurs when mould spores can establish themselves in moist areas, such as roofs, pipes, walls, potted plants, and anywhere that has been flooded. It can happen both indoors and outdoors, but building managers obviously have to be more proactive when it comes to indoor mould.
High-rise buildings have lots of opportunities for moist, mould-growing situations to go unnoticed. Whether the moisture source is a plumbing leak or a weather disaster like a flood, If you have any location in your building where you have wet paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, or wood products, mould can be growing there. Dust, paint, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery are additional breeding grounds for mould.
Think about how many nooks, crannies, crawlspaces, ventilation shafts, storage rooms, plumbing systems, pipes, and construction areas are in the building you manage. That can help anyone understand why high-rise buildings are at special risk for mould growth: There are just so many places, many seldom seen, where it can develop.
Can you clean up the mould in your building yourself?
Once you discover a mould issue, you need to address it quickly. Resourceful building managers may ask: Can I clean it up myself? Won’t I save money if I just do the work on my own or have my maintenance crew treat the mould and get everything cleaned up?
It’s true that some mould can be cleaned up in a “DIY” manner. If you open a forgotten fridge and find that someone neglected to clean it out before unplugging it, you can probably clean up that well-contained mould on your own with store-bought chemicals and the right PPE (personal protective equipment). However, mould in building materials can spread quickly and have serious implications to occupant health and safety. Proper testing, containment and treatment are necessary to ensure the root cause and the mould is completely eliminated.
Do you need to bring in professional help for mould remediation?
Eliminating a mould growth problem is not easy, and it’s not for the inexperienced. In addition, mould-clean up beyond a few specific, removable items or a small area typically requires professional help.
Mould remediation in large buildings requires a quick response from an experienced team who has the scale and knowledge to handle these types of properties. Anytime you have a mould growth issue that meets the following criteria, it’s time to seek professional services:
- Mould in a large area
- Mould that is affecting people’s health
- Mould smell coming from an unidentifiable source
- Mould that comes back after you clean it
- Mould that your maintenance crew can’t manage on their own
- Mould that is a result of an ongoing building issue, such as flooding or leaking
- Mould that appears after a disaster, such as a flood, fire, plumbing problem, or storm
While the mould that grows in a high-rise may be the same mould that grows in any other building, taking care of high-rise mould is a different process. When there are so many areas for mould to grow, and so many people who use these spaces every day, it is vital to remediate any mould and keep any future issue under control.
As a commercial property owner or manager, do you have the contacts you need to get help with mould remediation? The longer you have an uncontrolled mould growth issue, the longer your residents, tenants, investors, and business are in danger.
First Onsite Is Your Partner in Mould Remediation
Our team at First Onsite has the industry knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to respond to high-rise mould growth, in both residential and commercial buildings. No matter what, First Onsite is here to help. We are on-call and ready to deploy, 24/7.
First Onsite is the only partner you’ll ever need when it comes to mould remediation. You don’t have to wait to talk with us, either. Whether you need help right now or you want to get more information about how to make sure your building is safe and your residents are happy and healthy, we’re here! Contact First Onsite today to schedule a consultation.
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