When should mold be removed or contained during restoration?

Mold removal or containment should occur before any air movers are placed in the structure because air movers can disturb mold spores, allowing them to become airborne and potentially spread to uncontaminated areas. This preemptive step is crucial to prevent further contamination and to protect the health of both restoration workers and building occupants. By containing or removing the mold first, proper safety and containment measures can be established, which helps in effectively managing the remediation process and ensuring a safe working environment.

Addressing mold prior to any air movement aids in controlling the spread of spores, thus making the restoration effort more efficient and compliant with industry standards for health and safety. Additionally, effective mold remediation procedures typically require dampening of the contaminated materials with a biocide or water to minimize spore dissemination, which would not be feasible if air movers are already in operation.