You’ve probably already heard or read that a mold infestation can be bad for your health, but have you ever wondered what exactly makes mold in a building so unhealthy? Mold can be found almost anywhere, even in commercial establishments and in buildings with the best upkeep. But why is mold a serious environmental problem in buildings? Let’s look at how serious of an environmental problem mold is for buildings.
Understanding Mold
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mold is “a common type of fungus that grows in places with a lot of moisture.” There are thousands of different species of mold, but, all species of mold share some common characteristics:
- Mold can grow almost anywhere – indoors and outdoors.
- Different types of mold can produce different colors and textures of spores.
- Mold reproduces by making tiny spores. Mold spores travel through the air and may cause health effects.
- Mold does not have to be visible to make you sick.
If mold is present in any location, it may release tiny spores into the air. You can breathe the mold spores in, which may cause allergic reactions in your body.
Mold and Commercial Buildings
Unfortunately, mold isn’t just exclusively found in homes and residential areas. Mold can grow on just about any organic material, and many commercial buildings contain organic material that can result in mold growth. Also, many commercial buildings have a lot of moisture, which is necessary for mold growth. This means that mold can grow in a variety of commercial buildings, including office buildings, schools and universities, retail stores, manufacturing facilities, and industrial buildings.
Additionally, according to the EPA, the toxins produced by molds can be more dangerous in a commercial building than in a home. This is because they’re in higher concentrations in commercial buildings because of the larger spaces and the more amount of mold present.
Because of the need to protect employees and customers, it’s important to know how to identify and prevent mold in commercial buildings.
How Do Molds Get into a Building’s Indoor Environment?
When it comes to mold growth in commercial buildings, the single most important question to ask is how did it get there in the first place? There are many different ways that mold can enter a building or an indoor environment, including:
Plumbing leaks or water intrusion, which can cause moisture build-up and the potential for mold growth
- Construction or renovation, which may introduce molds and mold spores into a building.
- Backups in the building’s HVAC system.
- Highly humid areas of the building, as there is a high likelihood of water accumulation.
- Contaminated water in the building, such as from a flooded basement.
- Improperly functioning filters in the building, which can allow for moisture accumulation.
What Is the Environmental Impact of Mold?
As you can see, there are many different ways that mold can enter a building, and the impact of mold growth in a building is much greater than it is in a home environment. Mold is known to produce allergens and irritants and can also produce toxic substances. Additionally, mold can also grow in hidden areas of a commercial building, such as in the space between walls. Mold can also be found behind tile and grout lines and can grow inside walls, which makes it a particularly serious environmental problem in commercial buildings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while mold is typically a problem in residential environments and in areas of a building where water is allowed to accumulate, mold can grow in commercial buildings, as well, and can even be found in hidden places. Regardless of how or where the mold originated in a commercial building, it’s important to take action immediately.
Don’t let mold be a serious environmental problem in your commercial building. Let the experts at Restoration Masters identify the problem and provide you with legally compliant mold remediation. Our licensed mold removal crew will make sure that all mold is removed from your commercial building, leaving you with a safe and healthy indoor environment. Contact Restoration Masters today to learn more about our commercial restoration services.
