Occasionally mold growth occurs despite taking preventative measures. Please use the following resources in the event that visible mold is present in your space.
Please do not attempt to clean mold by yourself!
Rensselaer has resources available to assess and remediate mold, including a New York State licensed Mold Assessor, a project management team, and departments that can assist in minor mold remediation.
Rensselaer's Environmental and Site Services team is approved to remediate up to a 10 ft2 area (approximately a 3'x3' square area). New York State Department of Labor requires mold growth larger than 10 ft2 to be assessed by a licensed mold assessor, a mold remediation plan, and remediation actions to be carried out by a licensed mold remediation contractor, which will be managed by project management staff.
Reporting Procedures
To report visible mold growth, submit a work order request to the Facilities Customer Service Center (FIXX) by following the instructions detailed on the FIXX website.
FIXX will send your work order request to the appropriate physical plant shops and will include EHS as need to further evaluate the issue at hand.
Please note that FIXX is available Monday-Friday, 7:00am - 4:30pm.
To report excessive moisture, leaks, or floods, IMMEDIATELY contact the Facilities Customer Service Center (FIXX) at 518-276-2000 during their hours of operation, Monday-Friday 7:00am-4:30pm.
When FIXX is closed and there is an emergency (flooding, system failures that require maintenance, etc.), contact Public Safety at 518-276-6611.
FIXX will send your work order request to the appropriate physical plant shops and will include EHS as need to further evaluate the issue at hand.
Remediation Procedures
- Follow internal procedures, which reference Table 1 - EPA's Guidelines for Response to Clean Water Damage within 24-48 Hours to Prevent Mold Growth
- Only use approved chemicals for mold cleanup per department procedures.
- First, vacuum the mold with a HEPA certified vacuum.
- Next, clean the surface with antibacterial or detergent soap as it is the primary choice for cleaning mold. It is the safest for staff to use and will not produce a reaction when in contact with mold that could be more hazardous than inhaling mold spores.
- Dispose of towels and other cleaning products in the normal waste stream.
- Finally, disinfect the cleaned surface with approved products with labeled use for mold. Please review the labeled kill time or contact time that is required to eliminate mold and ensure that is followed.
- NOTE: Bleach is no longer recommended by the EPA and OSHA for use with mold and microbial growth.
- Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Gloves and long sleeved tops to prevent skin contact
- Protective eyewear to prevent contact with your eyes
- N95 respirators are not typically required for general mold cleanup and remediation, but may be used under the voluntary use provisions of the Institutes Respiratory Protection Program.
Mold occurs as a result of a combination of factors, including high temperatures, water infiltration and/or high humidity, and lack of proper air flow and space conditioning.
It is important to identify and fix the source of the problem that caused the mold, which can include fixing faulty HVAC equipment and fixing roof or pipe leaks. This must be done to prevent a more serious condition from occurring.
Take note of the cause of the mold and take measures to attempted to prevent similar issues from occurring again. Incorporating measures that are needed, but are not already in place, can ultimately aid in mold prevention in all Rensselaer properties!
