Local School in Bridgewater Closed Due To Mold – Can SERVPRO Help?

10/11/2020 (Permalink)

Mold can quickly spread in your school. Do NOT delay. Contact our experienced team today for remediation services.

Our Technicians are Certified in Mold Mitigation and Can Clean Your School

Bridgewater sits on the edge of the Taunton River. There are smaller rivers and streams which branch off of the river. There are lots of ponds and even a swamp in the area. Schools are also a critical part of the city. Families count on their schools to be ready to go for the school year. When you combine moisture from the area with mold spores, any school can develop mold.

Can Mold be Removed from the Cafeteria?

Any building can deteriorate over time and develop water leaks. Even new school buildings can have faulty HVAC systems that can cause water intrusions. In this case, the school cafeteria remained unused all summer. A leak from a pipe went unnoticed, and due to the hot weather, mold developed and spread. When it was time to clean and reopen for the school season, the mold was discovered. Now is the time for mold remediation in Bridgewater.

Mold is everywhere. With the above conditions, it allowed the mold spores to develop colonies. The cafeteria walls, floors, and tables were a food source for the mold. Our technicians are Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians (AMRT). They understand what is needed in mold damage abatement and are well-trained to mitigate the problem. 

Mold Remediation Process

Immediate mitigation is needed any time you see mold. Mold can cause health effects and destroy the content of the cafeteria. To reduce the spread of mold and clean up the existing growth in Bridgewater, SERVPRO technicians use several necessary procedures:

• Containment – Containing the affected area is the beginning of the remediation process. It prevents the spores from spreading during mold removal. Physical barriers, such as plastic sheeting, may be used. Air scrubbers use HEPA filters to trap spores and negative air pressure to port the spores and airborne particles to the exterior.
• Mold Removal – If it has mold, it either needs the mold removed from the material, or the material has to be removed. Soda blasting and dry ice blasting can remove fungi off of impacted services. Porous material such as drywall needs to be removed if the hyphae are deeply embedded. Controlled demolition can be used to remove infested sections. It is then properly disposed of by our techs.
• Clean Up Dust – Dust can be a byproduct of the mold removal. Mold spores can settle in the area as a result. Once the contaminated components are removed SERVPRO uses vacuums with HEPA filters to remove the dust and spores. Dust can also get wiped off the surfaces. 
• Drying Process – Once the mold gets removed and the cafeteria is cleaned, the area is dried. We use air movers, fans, and dehumidifiers during this process.
• Sanitizing – EPA- registered antimicrobials and antifungals are applied to all affected surfaces. Sealants may be applied to prevent the return of mold.

Can Appliance and Tables Be Saved?

Non-porous materials can be cleaned and restored. The cafeteria tables were plastic with metal legs. The tabletops got cleaned with a manual action, including scraping and brushing. Then they were wiped down with antimicrobial sanitizers. The legs were cleaned the same way. 

Some of the appliances had severe mold on the outside. Thankfully the refrigerators and freezers were not impacted on the inside. Soda blasting was used on several of the freezers. Scraping, brushing, and wiping down were employed as well. Because of the nature of the cafeteria, EPA approved sanitizers were used on counters, sinks, and other areas that seem to be unaffected.

Preventing the Return of Mold

In order to prevent future infestation, the school implemented a plan that including weekly inspections of the facility for any type of water intrusion. Special attention would be given to the restrooms and cafeteria. Sealants were used on porous wall material to provide a waterproof barrier. The appropriate authorities were contacted after the mold remediation to set up a mold testing. Since this is a municipal facility, an Industrial Hygienist (IH) must test the ambient air for mold spores. Certain levels much be achieved by this third-party action. Once the school was cleared, normal routines could continue.

 Serving the Community

SERVPRO is privileged to serve the Bridgewater community. Our families are part of the area, and our kids attend the local schools. We are proud to offer mold remediation services that are top-notch and can keep schools operating. Not only do we have AMRT certified techs, but they are also Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certified. They hold to the industry’s highest standards. Advanced technology, experience, and expertise allow us to offer our town a fire, flood, and mold remediation services that are second to none.

We also understand that disasters of any size do not always wait for business hours. Our crew is available Monday through Sunday and around the clock. Situations like this do not take a holiday, and neither do we. Contact SERVPRO of The Bridgewater at (508) 697 - 5439 for expert mold remediation service. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.