Mold Remediation — Step-by-Step SOW (Work Statement)
Below is a complete, contractor-ready step-by-step Scope of Work (SOW) for commercial mold remediation.
Purpose & Scope
Purpose: Remove mold contamination, restore safe indoor air quality, and prepare affected areas for Phase-2 reconstruction.
Scope: Inspect, contain, remove, clean, dry, test, document, and clear mold-impacted areas (including removal of water-damaged flooring/subflooring on the east side). Work includes HVAC isolation, HEPA filtration, surface cleaning, and third-party clearance testing.
Standards & Assumptions
Work to follow IICRC S520 Standard & Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation (or applicable local standard).
Third-party industrial hygienist (IH) to perform pre- & post-remediation testing and clearance.
Building may require temporary relocation of occupants for full-scale work.
Mold waste will be disposed per local regulations (not typically hazardous waste but handled as contaminated construction debris).
Roles & Responsibilities
Owner (Restoration Hall): Provide site access, coordinate occupant notifications/temporary relocation, accept final deliverables, pay invoices.
Contractor (Remediation): Provide labor, containment, abatement, HEPA cleaning, equipment, waste hauling, daily logs, and warranties for remediation work.
Third-party IH/Tester: Conduct sampling (pre & post), moisture mapping, and provide clearance report independent of contractor.
General Contractor/Restoration: Responsible for reconstruction after clearance (flooring reinstallation, finishes).
Step-by-Step Tasks (numbered)
1) Pre-Remediation Assessment & Mapping — (1 week)
IH performs visual inspection, moisture mapping (meter/infrared), and sampling (air and surface) to scope contamination.
Deliverable: Lead report: contamination map, sample results, recommended work areas, estimated quantities.
Acceptance: Owner review and sign-off of scope.
2) Remediation Plan & Permitting — (3–5 days)
Contractor creates written Remediation Plan: methods (removal/encapsulation), containment strategy, worker safety (PPE), decontamination procedures, equipment list, schedule, and I/O contacts.
Obtain any required local permits/notifications.
Deliverable: Signed Remediation Plan & permit receipts.
3) Occupant Notification, Relocation & Logistics — (1–3 days before work)
Provide written notices to staff/residents; arrange temporary relocation for any vulnerable occupants if needed.
Staging area for equipment and decon set up.
Deliverable: Notification log and relocation plan.
4) Site Preparation & Containment Setup — (1–4 days)
Build containment (plastic, zip walls), install negative-pressure HEPA exhaust units with manometers to verify pressure differentials, seal HVAC intakes/returns serving containment, set up decon zones and waste staging.
Protect unaffected areas; block off airflow paths.
Deliverable: Containment verification checklist and initial negative-pressure readings.
5) HVAC Isolation & Temporary Controls — (during containment)
Isolate HVAC zones serving contaminated areas; if necessary, remove and bag diffusers, change filters, and block returns.
Place temporary filtration/air scrubbers in adjacent zones if needed.
Deliverable: HVAC isolation log; filter change receipts.
6) Removal of Contaminated Materials — (variable; typical 1–3 weeks)
Remove porous contaminated materials (water-damaged drywall, insulation, carpet, baseboard, and damaged flooring/subflooring). For your site, east-side flooring removal is included.
Use wet methods or negative-pressure mechanical removal; avoid dry sanding/scraping. Double-bag and stage debris in sealed containers.
Deliverable: Daily removal logs; photo documentation.
7) Structural Repairs (temporary) & Debris Disposal — (concurrent)
Replace or shore compromised decking/subfloor as required to maintain safe structure until restoration.
Dispose of debris via licensed hauler; keep manifests/receipts.
Deliverable: Disposal manifests.
8) HEPA Cleaning & Antimicrobial Treatment — (2–5 days)
HEPA vacuums on all exposed surfaces. Clean with approved detergent solutions and apply EPA-registered antimicrobial/biocide only where appropriate and documented.
Clean HVAC accessible components and replace filters.
Deliverable: Cleaning logs and product SDSs used.
9) Drying & Moisture Control — (3–10 days, may overlap)
Deploy commercial dehumidifiers, axial fans, and monitor moisture reduction until materials return to baseline/acceptable moisture levels (IH to define acceptance criteria).
Continual moisture logging with hygrometers and moisture meters.
Deliverable: Moisture log and drying equipment monitoring.
10) Post-Remediation Verification & Clearance Testing — (3–7 days)
IH performs visual inspection and clearance testing (options: air sampling — spore trap & outdoor comparison — and surface tape or swab samples). If sampling fails, contractor re-cleans and retests.
Acceptance criteria: Visual pass, moisture at or near baseline, and clearance samples within agreed thresholds per IH.
Deliverable: Third-party Clearance Report (pass/fail with lab results).
11) Final Restoration Handoff & Documentation — (1–3 days)
Contractor provides final Remediation Report: daily logs, photos, pre/post test results, equipment logs, disposal manifests, product data, and warranty for remediation work.
Conduct final walkthrough with Owner, IH, and Contractor; sign re-occupancy authorization.
Deliverable: Complete Remediation Report and Certificate of Clearance.
12) Post-Remediation Monitoring & Maintenance (ongoing)
Recommend periodic visual checks and moisture testing after heavy rains or HVAC changes. Provide O&M notes for staff about limiting future moisture intrusion and immediate reporting procedures.
Timeline Summary (typical)
Total: ~2–6 weeks for many commercial projects (depends on extent of contamination, building size, and complexity).
Tasks overlap: Containment, removal, and drying often run concurrently. IH clearance is last.
Safety & PPE
Workers: full disposable suits (Tyvek), gloves, eye protection, and NIOSH-approved respirators (P100/PAPR for large remediation).
Use negative pressure and HEPA filtration.
All personnel must be trained in mold remediation and safe handling.
Testing & Acceptance Criteria
Pre-remediation: IH sampling to define baseline.
Post-remediation clearance: Visual inspection + independent sampling. Clearance must be performed by third-party IH.
Moisture content must be reduced to baseline (IH to specify numeric thresholds for wood, gypsum, etc., in the Remediation Plan).
Contractor Selection Checklist
Experience with commercial mold projects and references for similar sized buildings.
Proof of IICRC S520 training (or equivalent) and OSHA safety training.
Insurance (GL + Pollution coverage) and worker comp.
Includes HEPA filtration, negative-pressure equipment, and drying equipment in scope.
Provides line-item pricing: containment, removal, cleaning, drying, testing, disposal, and re-inspection.
Willing to work with independent IH and guarantee re-cleaning if clearance fails.
Deliverables (to require in SOW)
Pre-remediation assessment & sample report (IH).
Written Remediation Plan, schedule, and permits.
Daily work logs and photo documentation.
Containment verification & equipment logs (negative pressure reads).
Disposal manifests and receipts.
HEPA cleaning logs and product SDSs.
Drying & moisture logs.
Third-party Clearance Report.
Final Remediation Report + re-occupancy authorization.
Warranty/guarantee terms for remediation workmanship.
Cost Guidance (high level)
Varies widely by region and scope. Small localized remediation may be a few thousand dollars; larger commercial jobs (multiple rooms, flooring/subfloor replacement, major dry-out) can be tens of thousands.
Recommendation: obtain 3 competitive bids and require itemized pricing for scoping, containment, removal, drying, testing, and disposal.
Quick SOW Sentence
“Mold remediation shall be performed by an experienced contractor in accordance with the Remediation Plan and IICRC S520 standards, with independent pre- and post-remediation testing by a qualified industrial hygienist. Work will not be considered complete until IH issues a passing Clearance Report and the Owner accepts final documentation.”