Molds and Fungi Standards

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http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/molds/standards.html

Molds and Fungi

Standards

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There are currently no specific OSHA Standards or Directives for

molds and fungi. However, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) hazards are

addressed in specific standards for general and construction

industries. This page provides links to those standards as well as

references related to OSHA enforcement policy such as federal

registers. In addition, this page links to standards from industry,

such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

OSHA Standards

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General

Duty Clause, requires employers to " furnish to each of his employees

employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized

hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious

physical harm to his employees " . Section 5(a)(2) requires employers

to " comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated

under this Act " . In addition to the specific OSHA standards listed

below, there are national consensus standards which OSHA could

consider referencing in a general duty clause citation.

Note: Twenty-six states have OSHA-approved State Plans and have

adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most

part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal

OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards

applicable to this industry or may have different enforcement

policies.

General Industry

1910.94, Ventilation.

Construction Industry

1926.57, Ventilation.

OSHA Federal Registers

Indoor Air Quality. OSHA Federal Register Entry 59:15968-16039

(1994, April 5). By this notice, the Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA) proposes to adopt standards addressing indoor

air quality in indoor work environments.

Respiratory Protection. OSHA Federal Register Entry 63:1152-1300

(1998, January 8). This final rule justifies the use of respirators

to prevent the inhalation of harmful airborne contaminants that are

alive or were released from a living organism. Respirators protect

against bacterial infections resulting from inhalation of bacteria

and their products that cause a range of diseases.

ANSI Standards

Standard 62-2001, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.

American National Standards Institute/American Society of Heating,

Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ANSI/ASHRAE). This

standard sets minimum ventilation rates and other requirements for

commercial and institutional buildings.

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification

(IICRC)

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC). The

IICRC, with participation from the entire industry, sets standards

for inspection, cleaning and restoration.

IICRC S500, Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water

Damage Restoration. Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and

Restoration, 1999. The IICRC S500 provides a specific set of

practical standards for water damage restoration. It does not

attempt to teach comprehensive water damage restoration procedures;

rather it provides the foundation for basic principles of proper

restoration practices.

IICRC S520 Mold Remediation Standard. S520 establishes mold

contamination definitions, descriptions and conditions (1, 2, 3),

and general guidance, which, when properly applied, can assist

remediators and others in determining criteria that trigger

remediation activities or confirm remediation success.

Revised: 24 September 2004