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This document gives advice on how to find and deal with mold in building insulation. This is a chapter of "How to Look for Mold" 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 Mold in Fiberglass Insulation on mold hazards in fiberglass building insulation.
© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.
How to Inspect &Test for Mold contamination in building insulation
| 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. |
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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. |
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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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- Invisible Mold where to look for hidden mold in buildings, test cuts, insulation, inspecting by context
- Mold in fiberglass insulation in crawl spaces
- FIberglass in Indoor Air, HVAC ducts, and Building Insulation
- The Mold Information Center - What to Do About Mold in Buildings
- HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND
- USING LIGHT TO FIND MOLD
- HOW TO LOOK FOR MOLD.
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- Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
- How to Find and Test For Mold in Buildings - Looking for Mold - A 'how to' photo and text primer on finding and testing for mold in buildings
- Recognizing Mold What mold looks like mold identification photos to help identify mold - choosing what to sample in buildings
- 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
- Stuff that is not mold but is often mistaken for it - things you may not want to test. Also, not all "black mold" is toxic - here are examples of harmless black mold.
- Mold Action Guide: an easy step by step outline of what to do about mold
- How to find mold without hiring anyone, for do-it-yourself'ers
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- Meruliporia: the house eating fungus or "poria"
- Mold Investigation Tips for Home Inspectors how to find mold, where to look, what is likely to be important. Advice to building inspectors intending to inspect or test for toxic or problematic mold indoors, mold inspection methods, and mold test methods which are valid or invalid
- Mold Risk Levels in Buildings Based on Visual Inspection - simple visual clues help decide on action
- Mold in Fiberglass Insulation© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
- Frequently Asked Questions About Mold -- check this FAQ list & IAQ Site Map to see if you can find a quick answer to your mold concern
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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs
Mold and Allergen Recognition and Identification - Not All "Black Mold" is Harmful; Some Suspect Stuff is Not Mold
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 The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems |
 Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab |
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