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Be Proactive and “Break the Mold”
(Prevent Mold and Keep Your Facilities Safe and Healthy)
To put it mildly, mold can be a major problem in your facilities if you are not regularly checking areas for moisture.
Within this blog post we will explore a few important aspects of mold that you should call your attention to.
We will look at 3 specific problem areas for mold:
HVAC systems
Carpet
Water leaks
The Dangers of Mold in Your Facilities
Across the board, mold is poisonous and dangerous for all occupants. Mold is also a major contributor to Sick Building Syndrome, so it pays off to have mold-prevention safeguards in place.
Exposure to damp environments – the environment bacteria loves to thrive in – may lead to various respiratory illnesses and symptoms that range from headaches to more threatening cases of infection – like Aspergillosis – and even pulmonary hemorrhages.
They may also contribute to serious allergic reactions for anyone who breathes in the spores. The risks and complications that accompany mold are definitely too serious to ignore.
Check Your Ventilation, Air Ducts, and Air Filtration System to Prevent Moisture Buildup
Having efficient ventilation in place can minimize moisture from building up in your facilities, but ironically, a common place to find mold is in the very ventilation systems that are meant to filter and circulate clean air.
This means that regular cleaning of air vents and ducts are an important measure in preventing mold. Because a HVAC system may leak vapors and contribute to consistent condensation, the environment may be ripe for mold.
The EPA has a great article on the importance of cleaning air ducts in homes. It is applicable to commercial buildings as well, so monitoring for mold in your facilities should start in those high moisture areas.
If we cut-to-the-chase, making sure your HVAC system is working properly and not leaking should be the most important takeaway. If done consistently, cleaning and removing mold becomes less of a potential issue.
Carpets: A Potential Problem Area for Mold
If you have installed carpets in high foot traffic areas, make sure you are conscious of the potential for water pooling. While this is a less common concern, especially if you are utilizing floor mats, but moisture can seep under carpet and lead to mold over time.
It’s a solid best practice to avoid installing carpet near drinking fountains or other areas that may experience water leaks or consistent moisture.
Check for Water Leaks!
You should consider checking for water leaks as part of a regular checklist. This way you can be proactive about any areas that are high in moisture or have leaks.
Ceiling tiles, wallboards near the floor, and foundational areas of your building can harbor leaks, so be sure to incorporate them into your daily or weekly checklist of places to monitor.
Another potential problem area that gets a lot of regular moisture and can become a breeding ground for mold are the floors of your restrooms and showers. To prevent mold from growing on your floors, implement a regular routine with your machine floor scrubbers.
Leaks happen, they’re part of our commercial building world, if you do have leaks, make sure you are detecting leaks before they contribute to mold.
Every successful company needs a versatile systems specialist with the ability to adeptly orchestrate account startups and deploying technologies at customer sites. With a strong focus providing infrastructure and technological solutions to service delivery teams, Andres is meticulous at mastering the art of contract compliance. As a key member of Medallion’s innovation committee, Andres leads Medallion’s business certifications and operational excellence programs, such as CIMS and ISO compliance.
Mark
Mark
Sr. VP of Regional Operations – National Accounts & Culinary
Few known tenured professionals have had the success that Mark Cornish has earned as knowledgeable and resourceful operator. Mark oversees maintenance programs at a national level and provides another layer of support to our VPs of Operations. As an operational guru, Mark is a master of meeting customer financial objectives while ensuring that customers receive the highest level of service across our service channels. His expertise lies in developing and implementing quality service methods and procedures, optimizing operational efficiency for complex manufacturing sites and campus environments, primarily in the janitorial and culinary space.
Daryl
Daryl
Regional VP Operations – High Tech & Institutional Environments
Leveraging over “x” years of experience in the facility service industry, Daryl stands out by a distinguished track record of unmatched customer experience. Daryl has earned the reputation of a trusted collaborator capable of brining operational stability to the most challenging environments. In addition to having depth of knowledge in building maintenance, he also runs Medallion’s mailroom and event management division.
Elias
Elias
EVP, Chief Sustainability Ambassador
Elias brings extensive business operations expertise and leadership to Medallion as he provides direct oversight of the Executive Team. As Medallion’s Chief Sustainability Ambassador, he champion’s our sustainability initiatives around waste management, green cleaning and maintenance of controlled environments. Elias is TRUE Zero Waste certified, IICRC certified, and has been trained in infectious disease by GBCAI.
