Source
IICRC S520: ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard for Professional Mold Remediation
About this source
The restoration industry's consensus standard for mold remediation. It defines Conditions 1, 2 and 3, sets the principles of the work (protect people, document, contain, remove physically, fix the moisture) and separates the remediator's own post-remediation evaluation from independent verification. Not law in Texas; where it differs from TDLR's rules, the rules control. Among the 128 references it lists are several public documents in this library: EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, OSHA's Brief Guide to Mold in the Workplace, NIOSH's 2013 dampness alert, and Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1958.
Copyrighted by the IICRC. We explain it in our own words with page citations and short quotations; we never reproduce its text. Buy the standard from the IICRC to read it.
Chapters and where we cover them
We don't reproduce this standard. These topics explain each chapter in our own words, with page citations.
- Intro: Introduction: how the Reference Guide relates to the S520 Standard p. 8
- Ch. 1: Principles of Mold Remediation pp. 9–12
- Ch. 2: The Fungal Biology of Indoor Environments pp. 13–17
- Ch. 3: Health Effects from Indoor Exposure to Mold in Water/Moisture-Impacted Buildings pp. 18–32
- Ch. 4: Building and Material Science pp. 33–49
- Ch. 5: Equipment, Tools and Materials pp. 50–69
- Ch. 6: Safety and Health pp. 70–79
- Ch. 7: Administrative Procedures, Documentation, and Risk Management pp. 80–92
- Ch. 8: Inspection and Preliminary Determination pp. 93–100
- Ch. 9: Limitations, Complexities, Complications and Conflicts pp. 101–104
- Ch. 10: Indoor Environmental Professionals and Assessments pp. 105–108
- Ch. 11: Structural Remediation pp. 109–126
- Ch. 12: HVAC Remediation pp. 127–133
- Ch. 13: Contents Remediation pp. 135–150
- Back matter: Industry Acronyms pp. 151–152
- Back matter: Glossary of Terms pp. 153–186
- Back matter: Conversion Charts p. 187
- Back matter: Sources and Source Acknowledgements pp. 188–189
- Back matter: Index pp. 191–194
Topics that cite this source
- Building science: how water moves through a house Drying works with physics, not against it. Heat moves toward cold, wet moves toward dry, high pressure moves toward low, and everything heads for equilibrium. A... Best practice
- The OSHA rules behind water-damage and mold work There are few laws written specifically for water-damage restoration or mold remediation, but general workplace safety law still applies. The S500 bases its safety... Best practice
- When a water-damage job doesn't go to plan (S500) The S500 sorts project problems into four kinds and expects the restorer to understand them and tell the right people. Before non-emergency work starts, known or... Best practice
- Cleaners, antimicrobials and coatings (S520) The S520 is clear that chemicals are helpers, not the cure. Removing the mold physically "should always be the primary means of remediation," and no liquid product... Best practice
- What the S520 expects of a mold remediator The S520 starts with the law: remediators "shall" hold whatever licenses federal, state and local rules require. That can include a local business license, a general... Best practice
- How a mold job starts: inspection and findings (S520) Under the S520, a mold job starts with an inspection: gathering what can be seen and learned about the past, present and likely future mold and moisture condition of... Best practice
- Mold remediation equipment, and what not to use (S520) Structural remediation is the part of a mold job that deals with the building itself, not contents or HVAC. Before it starts, the S520 says lead and asbestos take... Best practice
- How mold containment is built and run (S520) Remediators "shall" use engineering controls as needed to control airborne particles and cross-contamination. Containment (isolation or critical barriers) should keep... Best practice
- Removing mold, cleaning up, and checking the work (S520) Workers should wear disposable or washable outer clothing that is thrown out or cleaned and taken off before leaving the work area, and the S520 says they "shall"... Best practice
- Mold in the HVAC system: how the S520 says to handle it HVAC systems can be a source of mold, a pathway that spreads it through the house, and a place it builds up and hurts the system's performance. So the S520 says the... Best practice
- Moldy belongings: what can be saved and how (S520) Contents remediation covers property that isn't part of the structure or fixed to it: evaluating what can be restored, packing and handling it, choosing cleaning... Best practice
- Independent verification and the IEP (S520) In the S520, post-remediation verification (PRV) is an inspection and assessment by an independent, third-party IEP after the work, which can include a visual... Best practice
- The five principles behind IICRC mold remediation R520 opens with five principles that every later chapter builds on. In short: protect the people doing the work and the people living there; keep records of what was... Best practice