Mold Prevention and Abatement Program - Response to Water Damage

Immediately report any facility-related flood problem to your building coordinator and the Facilities Services Customer Service Center at (415) 338-1568 or (415) 405-0579

• Determine the presence of any facility hazards.

  • If electrical hazards are present, make sure all electrical power to the affected area is turned off and locked out before entering.

  • If water-reactive chemicals are present, evacuate the area and contact the local fire department hazmat team.

  • If other special laboratory or research hazards, or hazardous materials (radiological. chemical, or biological) are present in the area, contact EH&S and the lab manager or Principal Investigator (PI) before proceeding. 

  • If asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are damaged or impacted, contact CPDC and EH&S for next steps and remediation. 

  • If overhead materials such as plaster or ceiling tiles are in danger of failing, proceed with caution while wearing hard hat head protection and safety glasses. 

  • If walking surfaces are wet or slippery, use appropriate foot protection with non-slip soles.

• Determine the type of water damage sustained

  • Clean water: Water directly released from instances such as broken water pipes, tub or sink overflows, and rainwater. 

  • Contaminated water: Water contaminated with sewage, biological, or chemical pollutants.

• Ensure all clean-up personnel have appropriate PPE, are informed of potential hazards, and are properly trained before beginning and work. Contractors should speak with their own health and safety department before beginning any work. 

• Work with the building coordinator to facilitate communication with building occupants.

• Work with EH&S to address health and safety issues.

• Immediately fix the water problem by addressing the source of the moisture. Common problems include water leaks, maintenance issues, HVAC system problems, and humidity and condensation concerns.

• Thoroughly inspect area to determine extent of water intrusion/damage.

• Initiate cleanup and complete within 48 hours. In most cases, on-call campus custodial services can immediately provide initial cleanup (except where ACMs are damaged or impacted).

• To access carpeting and flooring surfaces, it may be necessary to relocate furnishings. Ensure plastic sheeting is placed under any wet materials or furnishings are relocated to non-affected areas.

• A disinfectant cleaner (indicated as a bacterial, virucidal, and fungicidal) that is safe for indoor use may be applied to affected surfaces (e.g. floors, walls, and furnishings), per the manufacturer’s instructions.

• The recommendations listed in the table below may not be necessary for a “small scale” clean water intrusion, as long as the source of intrusion is fixed, clean-up is quickly achieved, and occupied areas are completely dry. Small scale is defined as when the water intrusion is of relatively small quantity, well-contained, and easily cleaned up within 24 hours, and building materials do not have to be disturbed or replaced.

Table duplicated from Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, March 2001 (EPA 402-K-01-001).

• Do not use fans until the area has been cleaned and disinfected.

• Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including rubber boots, rubber gloves, disposable splash-proof coveralls, goggles, and masks for eye, nose, and mouth splash protection (recommend N95). Contractors should seek guidance from their own health and safety department regarding appropriate PPE use, training, and fit testing.

• Limit the spread of contaminated water.

• Remove contaminated water. Contact EH&S for details.

• Disinfect non-porous surfaces and discard porous articles (e.g. carpet and furniture).

• Consult with EH&S before attempting to restore any materials damaged by contaminated water.

• Occupants should not be allowed to re-enter the spaces until the water source is fixed and clean-up has been completed. If an occupant requires retrieval of critical item(s), coordinate the with supervisor to have response personnel retrieve and disinfect the item(s).

EH&S agrees with the experts and does not recommend mold testing. There are several reasons for this:

• Mold is ubiquitous. It is everywhere. If you test for it, you will find it.

• If you can see or smell mold, you already know you have a mold problem. Testing is never a substitute for a good visual inspection.

• Any mold growing inside is a problem it does not matter what specific type of mold is present. Consider any type of mold growing indoors a potential health hazard. It doesn’t matter if it is black, red or green, any mold indoors is a problem.

• There is no health-based regulatory standard for mold levels in air. Everyone reacts differently to mold and there is not enough research available to determine how much mold or what kind is “safe.” Therefore, testing does not result in actionable data.

• It is usually better to use the time and money you would spend on testing to solve the moisture issues and clean up mold.

When using a contractor to conduct mold abatement projects, their work is to be performed under the procedures described in SFSU’s “Mold Abatement Hazardous Work Permit”.

“Mold Abatement Hazardous Work Permit”

However, in many cases, cleaning up mold can be an in-house project, and should follow the procedures described below.

Protect Yourself

Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling or working around contaminated materials. The following equipment should be considered:

Protect Others and the Building

When cleaning a large amount of mold, consider the following:

• Remove furnishings and items from the work area.

• Enclose and seal mold material in plastic (bags or sheets work) before carrying them through the building.

• Separate the work area from the rest of the building using plastic sheeting.

• Cover air supply and return vents in the work area.

• Use a fan to pull contaminated air out of the work area and exhaust it outdoors.

• Consider renting an air scrubber to operate in the area (available at cleaning supply companies or neighborhood rental shops).

• Remove the outer layer of work clothing inside the work area and wash separately, or bag anddiscard the clothing.

Clean-Up Steps

1. Identify and Fix the Moisture Problem - This is the most important step. If you don't correctthe moisture problem the mold will likely return.

2. Dry Wet Materials - Begin drying wet areas as soon as possible. This task can be done withthe use of wet/dry vacs, dehumidifiers and fans. Materials dried within 24-48 hours will oftennot have a chance to grow mold. Porous materials contacted by sewage should always beremoved.

3. Remove Mold Growth - Your approach depends on the type of material or surface contaminated.

• Porous materials: Items like carpet, drywall, insulation and paper should be bagged and thrown away if they are growing mold.

• Non-porous materials: Items made of hard plastic, solid wood, concrete, metal, or glass can becleaned if they are structurally sound.

Cleaning steps include:

1. Scrub surfaces with a stiff brush, hot water and household detergent. The goal is to remove the physical mold growth.

2. Collect any cleaning solution. (For example, with a wet/dry vacuum, sponge or mop).

3. Rinse area with clean water.

4. Dry the area completely. 

4. Optional Treatment with Bleach - After cleaning has removed the mold growth, bleach may be used to kill mold missed by Step 3. Always handle bleach with caution.

Never mix bleach with other chemicals and only use it in a well-ventilated area. Protect your eyes and skin from solution.

If the water damage and mold growth are due to overland flooding or sewage back-up, then use bleach.

1. Dilute 1/4 to 1/2 cup bleach per 1 gallon of water.

2. Apply to the area with sponge or rag, taking care not to oversaturate the surface.

3. Collect any excess bleach solution.

4. Allow at least 30 minutes before wiping off the surfaces with water.

5. Dry the area completely.

5. Remain on Mold Alert - Keep an eye out for signs of moisture problems or mold growth. If mold returns, fix the moisture problem and repeat the cleaning steps again.

6. Rebuilding - Reconstruction needs to wait until the affected areas are completely dry. This may take several days, weeks or even months.

Part I: Mold, And The Steps You Can Take To Avoid Mold Growth In Your Room, Suite, or Apartment 

Part II:  How Temperature and Food Sources Contribute To Mold Growth

Part III: Different Types of Mold and  What Action You  Should Take If You Suspect Mold Is Growing In Your Space