What To Do
With the passage of California's 2015 SB 655 "Housing Standards: Mold" it's become more important than ever that when you have a building leak, you should always apply the Mold Management Method.
If you don't have time or feel like you might not have the expertise for this, just contact us. We can implement this for you.
What It Is
The Mold Management Method was developed from 2002-2004 at the height of the "mold is gold" craze. The Mold Management Method is a quality control checklist for situations where building leakage has caused, or has the potential to cause, mold growth. This checklist was put together and used in multiple technical symposia, sponsored by the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), as a framework to teach the nation's building professionals how to deal with water damage situations where mold was present or possible.
Why Use It
If you have an active leak, the actions you take can either solve the problem permanently and for a reasonable price, or make it even worse and more expensive. The goal is to operate at the highest level of professionalism. Using the Mold Management Method as a checklist will allow you to avoid liability if there is a "PHASE V - DISPUTE RESOLUTION," by (1.) not causing more problems, (2.) solving the problem as quickly and inexpensively as possible, and (3.) professionally documenting your process. As we all know, sometimes expensive building leaks are caused by someone other than the property owner. Applying the steps in Phases I-IV of the Mold Management Method will naturally create a collection of evidence that will aid in proving a case against the responsible parties. That way, those responsible parties (or their insurance companies) will more readily accept responsibility for the economic damages incurred.
How To Use It
When the phone rings (this is your "Phase I item A. Notice"), start taking notes. Get all of the key information (8 W's): Who, what, when, where, why, how, how much, how many... Does the occupant or person notifying you have photos? If No, then why not!? Then, start down the checklist to make sure you operate at the highest level of professionalism. And keep some kind of journal that shows you hit all the points in the method.
The Mold Management Method: Summary
Phase I - Event
A. Notice
B. Emergency Repairs
C. Initial Investigation
D. Documentation of Conditions and Activities
E. Report Generation - Initial
Phase II - Detailed Investigation
A. Notification of / Communication with Applicable Parties
B. Testing / Sampling
C. Identify Source(s)
D. Analysis & Report Generation (Repair Plans)
E. Analysis & Report Generation (Abatement Plans)
Phase III - Remediation
A. Planning and Coordination of Remediation (Budget, Schedule, & Contract)
B. Notification of Applicable Parties
C. Relocation
D. Repair of Source
E. Abatement
F. Clearance & Testing
G. Restoration of Construction Assemblies
H. Re-Occupy Space
Phase IV - Evaluation
A. Updated Reports
B. Updated Cost Summaries
C. Subrogation Analysis
D. Maintenance Recommendations
Phase V - Dispute Resolution
Pre-Litigation
A. Evaluate Bodily Injury
B. Analyze Insurance
C. Allocate Responsibility
D. Negotiation
Litigation
E. Expert Meetings
F. Allocate Responsibility (again)
G. Mediation
H. Deposition Preparation
I. Depositions
J. Trial Preparation
K. Trial
L. Appeals
M. Settlement
PFCS Mold Management Resources
Mold Management Method: PFCS' 1-page quality control checklist for the professional handling of a building water intrusion event.
