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Mold-contaminated Insulation Test
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about the cause, detection, testing, and remedy for moldy building insulation
Mold-contaminated building insulation detection & testing guide:
This document gives advice on how to find, test, and cure moldy building insulation. We discuss the causes of mold contamination in insulation, the difficulty in seeing insulation mold by the naked eye, mold test methods for insulation, and how to clean up or cure moldy insulation problems.
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How to Inspect &Test for Mold contamination in building insulation
Even when there is no visible mold on building surfaces or on visible areas of building insulation, don't ignore fiberglass insulation as a possible mold reservoir.
A basement which was previously moldy or wet, or a basement which stored a collection of moldy boxes [photo]
or cartons of moldy papers and files [photo] may have been may have left behind a large mold reservoir in the basement fiberglass insulation and in settled dust.
In the first photo shown here the basement insulation looked clean to the naked eye, but a history of basement flooding led us to test the insulation.
We often find very high levels of Aspergillus mold spore contamination in this fiberglass insulation (such as in this photo) even though to the naked eye, the insulation looked quite clean.
If there is visible mold on other basement surfaces, don't forget to also check the condition of basement insulation that your insurance company, mold consultant, or mold remediator may want to leave in place because it "looks clean".
In the photograph shown here, not only was there extensive Stachybotrys chartarum contamination visible as "black mold" on the basement drywall, a special vacuum test of the fiberglass insulation in this basement ceiling disclosed high levels of Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus sp., & Penicillium sp.
It would have been smart and simple to discard all of the fiberglass insulation in this basement ceiling, given its exposure to high levels of problem building mold from other sources.
These three photos of fiberglass insulation, drywall, and a wall cavity which was cut open show the value of exploring building cavities where there may have been leaks from above, regardless of whether we're exploring in above-grade level living space or below-grade level basements.
A roof leak had wet these wall cavities, leading us to test the insulation for mold and to inspect further for moldy drywall. The photos also illustrate that luckily not every building leak into every building cavity is going to cause visible mold growth on the hidden surfaces of drywall.
This article is part of our series:
MOLD in BUILDINGS
which describes how to find mold and test for mold in buildings, including how and where to collect mold samples using adhesive tape - an easy,
inexpensive, low-tech but very effective mold testing method.
Insulation Mold Contamination Research
- FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD - web article
- Väntsi, Olli, and Timo Kärki. "Mineral wool waste in Europe: a review of mineral wool waste quantity, quality, and current recycling methods." Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management 16, no. 1 (2014): 62-72.
Excerpt:
Mineral wool insulation materials were found to have the lowest total concentrations of fungi ...
...
Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs
On 2020-06-08 - by (mod) -
Indoor mold can be harmful regardless of color; it's a mistake to think that "black mold" is the only concern.
Recurrent flooding suggests a serious building leak problem that needs to be diagnosed and fixed as well as having a careful inspection for water-related damage and mold.
You may need help from your health department, particularly if there are large moldy areas (over 30 sqft)
On 2020-06-08 by andreacastelein
In a new build rental home just over a year old. Have had 4 times now water in the basement, also it is unfinished in case you need to know. This weekend when we discovered it flooded for the 4th time in a year, we have also discovered what we believe to be black mold in the basement
i would love your thoughts on if it is or isn't and if yes, because are landlords clearly are not fixing the issue that keeps causing the water to enter the basement and now we are having health issues that could be caused by black mold. what should we do?
On 2019-05-23 - by (mod) - car mod catastrophe
John your photo is included in your comment below so it looks as if you found the Add Image button.
About needing a lawyer, if you cannot afford to pay for legal representation, most communities have a Legal Aid society who can provide a lawyer to you at no cost. You need to identify your country and city to pursue that option.
Your photo of a car headliner shows what looks like fungal growth - such wet carpet like material cannot be successfully cleaned and is normally thrown out.
On 2019-05-23 by John Wuethrich
Anyone that I could send a Pic of a car headliner to? 7 years ago I figured my parents house had an issue. 2 ago it came with in my car and made my apt unbearable for me. They were never really effected, if u ask them not at all except when my lease wasn't renewed and I got stuck at their place I saw the red eyes and sniffles intermittently.
For me it was frequently bleeding from corners of eyes, pin prick wounds to point I thought I was gonna run out of body/skin for a while. I've read there is a genetic sucpitibility that's like 1 out of every 3 people? Haven't been tested but if I were a betting man...
the house was tested 2 months in to me living there and they played ostriage and showed their likely personality disorders trying to bully me into believing it wasn't there
9 months later I'm locked in a mental ward because the socieopaths found a cop that didn't follow law to letter and I happened to get a psychologist who Hippocratic for hypocrite because he decides mold is unlikely at my old apt and their house..
More blown away bugs were possible at 35 year old slum apt. Tells me I'm paranoid skitzo with delusions of mold and bugs, taking it out on parents.
I had to surrender my phone at check in so I said " sir If I may have my phone I can show you documents for the extermination, pictures of it (I had a camera running) and emails with the mold pro confirming my story"
He responds
"patients arnt allowed phones on the ward" gee wonder why this guy didn't display his last name on his ID badge? Lol
Got out right before drugging probably because I had been using the ward phone to leave law offices voicemail all day, loudly laughing about that joke called hipaa when I overheard others info.. Was 30 with no criminal or mental health record. Right before drug time and inspire of doc telling me (sat) I'd be theere till Tues at earliest.. They come and tell me we mistook the type of hold blah blah, then they wanted to know where to forward my new meds. Took every bit of strength I had not to say give me a steel toe and bend over I'll forward them for u.
I get out and get a picture message from my dad. They literaly had the remediation done while I was locked in the mental ward. 50ftx 9ish (drop ceiling) of basement wall insulation and some studs gone. 1500sq of carpet and pad gone.
I'm now in a new apt but pretty much financially wiped and these a holes give me a car that sat in their garage right in front of door to house and that door is at top of staircase to basement (see where we are going here?) it's mn so come winter u always track moisture into car in form of snow.
I'm about to lose lease if I can't fight the new landlord doing a 180 on garage lease despite knowing from start I was going to stage my stuff. My parents are keeping everything my mom threw in the basement at one point in non humidity controlled garage. A holes kept my 3m 3800 them spectical kit for 4 months of me driving around them feeling like death in empty apt.
I really need a lawyer because most of "my stuff" is electronics test gear. but if someone could give me a guess on what the attached is or place to start I'd be happy for now lol. Also I end up with little smaller than hair extream ly sensitive to air movement hairs on everything and binding nose hairs some (pre respirator avalibility by sadiats) can a one confirm if this is known to be a fungal thing?
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s Comments Box code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2018-01-18 - by (mod) -
Harry
You need to inspect the insulation, find evidence of animal entry (disturbed insulation) and remove both the animal and the contaminated insulation. Wear proper respiratory and other protection.
On 2018-01-18 by harry
II live in a manufactured home and suspect a dead animal in insulation under home and would like to know best course of action to take
On 2017-12-17 - by (mod) -
Betty
You might need to ask for help from your community legal aid if there is such an office, or from your health department.
See HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELP for RENTERS - CONTENTS: What happens if you call the health department about an unsafe condition, health hazard or for example a moldy apartment?
at https://inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/Rental_Unit_Health_Safety.php
On 2017-12-12 by Betty
I live in HUD housing (apartment complex) for low income seniors/disabled. I suspect we have mold issues here, as there have been numerous water leaks (toilets, sinks, leaky windows). When my food disposal unit in the kitchen sink leaked, and then poured water into the bottom of the cabinet under the sink, all management did was take out the board, and put in a new board on top.
This also happened with a neighbor. I can smell mold in my apartment (as can the neighbor) and we both have signs of mold illness. If we complain to management, they threaten to throw us out. What can we do?
...
Continue reading at TEST CHOICES for MOLD in FIBERGLASS - Cause & Detection of Mold Contamination in Fiberglass Insulation in Buildings, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
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Recommended Articles
- FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD - topic home, Cause & Detection of Mold Contamination in Fiberglass Insulation in Buildings
- HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND
- INSULATION MOLD CONTAMINATION TEST
- TEST CHOICES for MOLD in FIBERGLASS
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- Rodents, Mice, Squirrel Control - I find high levels of mouse and rodent dander, fecal dust, and urine-contaminated dust in some buildings, and high levels of these materials in building insulation in those locations. If you have a mouse problem, particularly if mice and their waste (fecals or urine) are contaminating the building HVAC or building insulation, may need both steps to clean up or remove infected materials and steps to stop an ongoing rodent problem. If squirrels are a problem, the cleanup needs to include closing off entry openings into the building. Get some help from a licensed pest control expert.
- "IgG Food Allergy Testing by ELISA/EIA, What do they really tell us?" Sheryl B. Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, Clinical Laboratory Director, Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic - ELISA testing accuracy: Here is an example of Miller's critique of ELISA - www.betterhealthusa.com/public/282.cfm - Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
The critique included in that article raises compelling questions about IgG testing assays, which prompts our interest in actually screening for the presence of high levels of particles that could carry allergens - dog dander or cat dander in the case at hand.
- www.tldp.com/issue/174/IgG%20Food%20Allergy.html - contains similar criticism in another venue but interestingly by the same author, Sheryl Miller. Sheryl Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, is an Immunologist and Associate Professor of Basic and Medical Sciences at Bastyr University in Bothell, Washington. She is also the Laboratory Director of the Bastyr Natural Health Clinic Laboratory. - In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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