After indoor air testing indicated unacceptable levels of mold spores in a N.J. elementary school, the school district hired IRS Environmental Services experts to remove and remediate the mold-infested area.
Testing showed a high level of Aspergillus-Penicillium mold in the attic of the school. These are known to cause allergies and in higher levels have been linked to asthma or illness in children and people with weakened immune systems. It was discovered that a clogged drain located in the area had allowed steam to vent into the attic, creating an ideal climate for mold growth. Once the necessary repairs were completed, Insurance Restoration Specialists environmental technicians began the remediation process.
“Fortunately this was caught fairly early,” said IRS Vice President Tom Peter. “The moisture activated an alarm that drew the facility manager’s attention, and he noticed the mold growing in the attic.” IRS followed established protocols to ensure that the mold was removed completely and safely. “It’s critical to take steps to keep the mold controlled and away from air systems during removal, or it could be spread throughout the facility.”
The IRS technicians contained and ventilated the affected area and eliminated moisture from the air and structure. They removed mold from all contaminated areas, then cleaned, treated, HEPA vacuumed and sanitized the space.
“We’ve provided environmental remediation services for many school districts and municipalities in New Jersey and the Philadelphia area,” Peter said. “We are one of the few restoration companies to have a Certified Industrial Hygienist on staff to evaluate safety issues and potential health hazards.”
After IRS teams worked throughout the weekend, the school was re-opened.
Insurance Restoration Specialists, Inc. (IRS) is a premier provider of disaster recovery mitigation, environmental remediation, biohazard emergency response and HVAC inspection and cleaning in the New Jersey-Philadelphia-New York City area. IRS is certified by NADCA and have Certified Air Systems Cleaning Technicians and a Certified Ventilation System Inspector on staff. For businesses and property managers, an IRS Emergency Response Plan ensures having a pre-qualified contractor with a master services agreement, pricing and insurance in place before a disaster occurs.
