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MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE to TEST CLEAN PREVENT

AIR CLEANER PURIFIER TYPES
AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS
AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR
AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES
ALLERGEN TESTS for BUILDINGS
ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER
ANIMAL ODORS IN BUILDINGSS
ATTORNEYS and EXPERT WITNESSES

BASEMENT MOLD
BATHROOM MOLD
BIBLIOGAPHY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ
BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS

CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION
CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION
CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION
CAT DANDER in BUILDINGS
COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS
CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS
CPSC Indoor Air Pollution Book Online Copy

DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS

EMERGENCY RESPONSE, IAQ, GAS, MOLD

FIBERGLASS HAZARDS
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-mold
FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS

GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS, TOXIC

HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS
HOUSE DUST ANALYSIS

INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
INSULATION MOLD

MILDEW REMOVAL & PREVENTION
MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
MOLD GROWTH on SURFACES, TABLE OF
MYCOPHOBIA, STAINS MISTAKEN for MOLD

NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE

ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURES
OZONE HAZARDS
OZONE for MOLD OR ODORS

RADON HAZARD TESTS & MITIGATION

SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE
SICK HOUSE IAQ QUESTIONNAIRE
SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS

VENTILATION in BUILDINGS

More Information

Photograph: moldy fiberglass insulation contaminated with Aspergillus sp. mold spores -  © Daniel Friedman Test for Mold Contamination in Building Insulation
How to Find and Test for Mold in Insulation
     

  • INSULATION MOLD TEST - How to inspect & test various types of building insulation for toxic or allergenic mold contamination, How to find insect allergens or other respiratory irritants in building insulation
      FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD
      Mold on Fiberboard Insulating Sheathing
      MOLD PREVENTION AFTER FLOODING
      MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
      Mold in Foam Insulation
      INSPECTION of INSULATION for MOLD
      WHY DOES MOLD GROW in INSULATION?
      WHEN to TEST INSULATION for MOLD
      TEST CHOICES for MOLD in FIBERGLASS
      TEST PROCEDURE for MOLD in FIBERGLASS
      References, Fiberglass Hazards
      Vacuuming exposed insulation
  • FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD - separate article
  • HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND - separate article
  • MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD - separate article
  • Questions & Answers about the cause, detection, testing, and remedy for moldy building insulation
  • References

Click to Show or Hide Related Topics

  • MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE - home
  • ACCEPTABLE MOLD LEVEL
  • ACCURACY OF VARIOUS MOLD TEST METHODS
  • ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD
  • AIR TEST FOR MOLD: ACCURACY
  • CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION
  • CRAWLSPACE MOLD ADVICE
  • DISASTERS: BUILDING INSPECTION & REPAIR - home
  • DRYWALL MOLD
  • DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE
  • EMERGENCY RESPONSE, IAQ, GAS, MOLD
  • HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND
  • INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
  • INSULATION MOLD
  • MILDEW in BUILDINGS ?
  • MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD
  • MOLD AGE - Old is the Mold?
  • MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE
  • MOLD APPEARANCE on VARIOUS SURFACES
  • MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD
  • MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE
  • MOLD CLEANUP, DO IT YOURSELF
  • MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE to GET RID OF MOLD
  • MOLD CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS
  • MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE
  • MOLD EXPOSURE STANDARDS
  • MOLD PRODUCTS, INEFFECTIVE
  • MOLD RELATED ILLNESS SYMPTOMS
  • MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS
  • MOLD TEST vs. PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS
  • MOLD TEST KITS
  • MOLD TEST METHOD ACCURACY
  • MOLD TEST REASONS
  • MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY
  • MOLD TESTING SERVICES
  • MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS
  • MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE
  • OZONE for MOLD OR ODORS
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Mold-contaminated building insulation guide: This document gives advice on how to find, test, and cure moldy building insulation. We discuss the causes of mold contamination in insulation, the difficulty in seeing insulation mold by the naked eye, mold test methods for insulation, and how to clean up or cure moldy insulation problems.

Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.

How to Inspect &Test for Mold contamination in building insulation

Photograph moldy fiberglass insulation in a basement - it looked clean but it was not -  © Daniel Friedman

This article is part of our series: FIND MOLD in BUILDINGS, HOW TO which describes how to find mold and test for mold in buildings, including how and where to collect mold samples using adhesive tape - an easy, inexpensive, low-tech but very effective mold testing method. Readers of this document on finding moldy insulation should also read the fiberglass mold insulation article series beginning at FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD on mold hazards in fiberglass building insulation.

Even when there is no visible mold on building surfaces or on visible areas of building insulation, don't ignore fiberglass insulation as a possible mold reservoir.

A basement which was previously moldy or wet, or a basement which stored a collection of moldy boxes or cartons of moldy papers and files may have been may have left behind a large mold reservoir in the basement fiberglass insulation and in settled dust.

In the first photo shown here the basement insulation looked clean to the naked eye, but a history of basement flooding led us to test the insulation.

We often find very high levels of Aspergillus mold spore contamination in this fiberglass insulation (such as in this photo) even though to the naked eye, the insulation looked quite clean.

Photograph of extensive basement Stachybotrys chartarum contamination -  © Daniel Friedman If there is visible mold on other basement surfaces, don't forget to also check the condition of basement insulation that your insurance company, mold consultant, or mold remediator may want to leave in place because it "looks clean".

In the photograph shown here, not only was there extensive Stachybotrys chartarum contamination visible as "black mold" on the basement drywall, a special vacuum test of the fiberglass insulation in this basement ceiling disclosed high levels of Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus sp., & Penicillium sp..

It would have been smart and simple to discard all of the fiberglass insulation in this basement ceiling, given its exposure to high levels of problem building mold from other sources.

Photograph of extensive basement Stachybotrys chartarum contamination -  © Daniel Friedman Photograph of extensive basement Stachybotrys chartarum contamination -  © Daniel Friedman Photograph of extensive basement Stachybotrys chartarum contamination -  © Daniel Friedman

These three photos of fiberglass insulation, drywall, and a wall cavity which was cut open show the value of exploring building cavities where there may have been leaks from above, regardless of whether we're exploring in above-grade level living space or below-grade level basements.

A roof leak had wet these wall cavities, leading us to test the insulation for mold and to inspect further for moldy drywall. The photos also illustrate that luckily not every building leak into every building cavity is going to cause visible mold growth on the hidden surfaces of drywall.

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

  • Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
  • "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
  • US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
  • US EPA - Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol
  • Clinical Atlas of Mold Toxicity - An Online Description of Toxic, Pathogenic, Allergenic Fungi, Fungal Diseases
  • Fiberglass Insulation Contains Mold© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation
  • Humidity: What indoor humidity should we maintain in order to avoid a mold problem?
  • Mold Action Guide detailed guide on finding, removing, and preventing indoor mold contamination
  • Ozone: The Use of Ozone Indoors for Control of Odors and Mold Removal in Buildings: A Summary of Hazards and False Claims.
  • Products to Reduce Mold & Allergy Problems to reduce indoor mold or allergen levels: air cleaners, air purifiers, dust mite covers, vacuum cleaners, crawl space vents
  • Recognizing Allergens: What various indoor allergens look like - identification photos to help identify pollen, dust mites, animal dander, toxic or allergenic mold - Common Mold and other Allergens, Irritants, Remedies & Advice
  • Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9 (you can buy this book at Amazon) - The Atlas of Clinical Fungi is also available on CD ROM
  • Atlas of Mold Related Illness: Index of Symptoms and health, physical, neurological, psychological, and other complaint which people suspect may be mold or building-related.
  • Atlas of Indoor Mold, Online Clinical Mold Atlas, Toxins, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
  • Black Mold that is Harmless Photos of recognizable, usually harmless black mold on wood, bluestain, ceratocystis, ophistoma
  • Building Floods: quick steps after a building flood or plumbing leak can prevent costly mold contamination
  • Classes of Mold: what types of cosmetic, allergenic, or toxic mold are a problem? Can mold be cleaned-up successfully?
  • Clinical Mold References - Detailed bibliography of mold reference texts
  • "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
  • "Disease Prevention Program for Certain Vegetable Crops," David B. Langston, Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables, University of Georgia (PDF document) original source: www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html
  • "Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens," Patricia Donald, Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology, Lewis Jett
    Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202
  • "Management of Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica, in Greenhouse Peppers," Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia - Original source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/peppermildew.htm
  • Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our own technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
  • Fiberglass: Mold in Fiberglass Insulation© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
  • Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, is available from the InspectAPedia online bookstore - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
  • Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English) (buy at Amazon)
  • Looking for Mold Procedure: what mold is often found where in buildings - simple technical presentation
  • Mold Action Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions, What to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens
  • Mold FAQs Answers to Most Questions about Indoor Mold, Mold Related Illness, Mold Cleanup, Mold Prevention
  • US EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
  • Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens
  • Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab or to any mold lab you wish
  • Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6 (buy this book at Amazon)
  • US EPA: Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol
  • Fiberglass building insulation and HVAC duct work insulation hazards
  • Rodents, Mice, Squirrel Control - I find high levels of mouse and rodent dander, fecal dust, and urine-contaminated dust in some buildings, and high levels of these materials in building insulation in those locations. If you have a mouse problem, particularly if mice and their waste (fecals or urine) are contaminating the building HVAC or building insulation, may need both steps to clean up or remove infected materials and steps to stop an ongoing rodent problem. If squirrels are a problem, the cleanup needs to include closing off entry openings into the building. Get some help from a licensed pest control expert.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
  • Home Reference Book - Carson DunlopThe Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

    Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

  • GO TO Carson Dunlop's Home Study Course Information - How to Become a Home Inspector: Carson Dunlop's nationally recognized Home Study Course, selected by ASHI the American Society of Home Inspectors and other professionals and associations. This website author is a contributor to this course.
  • GO TO Carson Dunlop's Home Study Course Information - How to Become a Home Inspector: Carson Dunlop's nationally recognized Home Study Course, selected by ASHI the American Society of Home Inspectors and other professionals and associations. This website author is a contributor to this course.
  • GO TO Carson Dunlop's Home Study Course Information - How to Become a Home Inspector: Carson Dunlop's nationally recognized Home Study Course, selected by ASHI the American Society of Home Inspectors and other professionals and associations. This website author is a contributor to this course.
    Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd
  • Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
  • Allergen Tests in Buildings advice about how to test, what to look for, in evaluating the level of dog, cat, or other animal allergens in a building
  • "IgG Food Allergy Testing by ELISA/EIA, What do they really tell us?" Sheryl B. Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, Clinical Laboratory Director, Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic - ELISA testing accuracy: Here is an example of Miller's critique of ELISA http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/282.cfm - Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
    The critique included in that article raises compelling questions about IgG testing assays, which prompts our interest in actually screening for the presence of high levels of particles that could carry allergens - dog dander or cat dander in the case at hand.
    http://www.tldp.com/issue/174/IgG%20Food%20Allergy.html contains similar criticism in another venue but interestingly by the same author, Sheryl Miller. Sheryl Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, is an Immunologist and Associate Professor of Basic and Medical Sciences at Bastyr University in Bothell, Washington. She is also the Laboratory Director of the Bastyr Natural Health Clinic Laboratory.
  • Allergens: Testing for the level of exposure to animal allergens is discussed at http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/animalallergy/diagnosis.shtml (lab animal exposure study is interesting because it involves a higher exposure level in some cases
  • Allergens: WebMD discusses allergy tests for humans at webmd.com/allergies/allergy-tests
  • Animal Allergens: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Cleanup & Prevention Information for Asthmatics and regarding Indoor Air Quality.
  • Atlas of Mold Related Illness Symptoms & Complaints - long list of both documented, studied mold related illness, and complaints ascribed to mold contamination or allergens in buildings
  • Cat Dander: how to inspect and test a building for past or current presence of cats, cat hair, cat dander, and cat allergens
  • ...

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