| Author |
Message |
Ron Beard CCS
Senior Member
Username: rm_beard_ccs
Post Number: 28
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 03:58 pm: |    |
At our recent local CSI meeting, the topic was mold.
Many years ago, I added an short article in my Division 1 pertaining to Y2K. Now it appears that in might be prudent to add a brief statement about mold. As I see it, we as specifiers have a responsibility to not let bad design situations or improper technology occur in any given project. For us to go beyond this is skating on thin ice. There is just too much moisture in new materials (ie, concrete, masonry, mortar, gypsum, paint, wood, etc.) which takes years to dry out.
Normally, we shouldn't tell the contractor how to perform the work but "reminding" him about the maintenance of the job site is another matter. It seems prudent to specify that the once the building evelope is in place the contractor should not let any situations potential to the growth of mold or other toxins be permitted to occur - or to be covered up.
Does anyone know of any government agencies that have prepared text about mold potential during construction? |
Russell W. Wood
Intermediate Member
Username: woodr5678
Post Number: 4
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 04:53 pm: | |
Ron: This topic has been discussed prior. Check out 4 Specs, Discussion Form, Specifications Discussions, "Mold" 11-11-03. |
Rafael C Nelson
Advanced Member
Username: rc_nelson
Post Number: 5
Registered: 01-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 05:00 pm: | |
No, but our specs will never address a mold potential. But they do dictate the max. moisture content allowed in lumber, dictate how delivered material has to be stored on site, and that no damaged (wet) material will be accepted. Just as you suggest. A properly designed building envelope will address water intrusion. Without repeated introduction of water, mold should not grow and survive on residual water, at least in a temperate climate. All the mold incidences that I have seen were a direct result of maintenance neglect, shoddy workmanship, or detail design not conforming to industry standards. I've never seen a contractor install gyp before the roof and windows were in. Regardless of fault we all pay for the incompetence noted above through our escalating house insurance premiums.
Rafael
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Anonymous
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 05:15 pm: | |
As far as installing gypsum board before windows are in place and building is not completly dried in, contractors do this in Florida all the time. From houses to high-rises. We've got a high-rise residential building just finishing construction in Pompano Beach with dozens of urine-bottles left in the stud wall cavities we were told (contractor did not police workers to go down to ground floor to use porta-potties). Wouldn't you love to live in a place where if the mold doesn't get you the urine will. |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 07:04 pm: | |
Am I sure glad I don't live/work in South Florida!!
I'd hate to be the person whose has to tell the Contractor he has to rip out all the walls to remove the offending bottles. |
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 07:51 pm: | |
On my first job in construction (the summer between college graduation and architecture school), on the labor crew for two new 15-story dormitories, we'd sweep them out, top to bottom, about once a week. That typically included carrying at least one 5-gallon plastic bucket of urine per tower per week, often pretty full, down 8 to 12 flights of stairs. At least we got it out. Masonry walls, no stud space to hide it in. Or maybe it was because it was a union job. Or 1966. |
Ronald J. Ray, RA, CCS, CCCA
Intermediate Member
Username: rjray
Post Number: 4
Registered: 04-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 11:15 am: | |
For LEED registered projects, I require the contractor to submit a Construction Indoor Air Quality Plan. While this plan includes many aspects, the prevention of mold and mildew is required to be addressed by the contractor (LEED Credit 3.1.) The specification language I use does not specifically mention mold and mildew, but does require the contractor to provide protective measures for storing and installing materials that are subject to damage by moisture, and that can become a food source for mold. |
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