NORMI CMR cheat sheet

Category 3 (black water) and Category 2 (grey water) losses require removal and disposal of porous materials that cannot be dried within 24-48 hours; Category 1 (clean water) materials may be dried and retained.

Remediation is defined by removal of the source and restoration of normal fungal ecology, not by achieving zero spore counts; clearance criteria should be set before work begins.

Containment: critical barriers (polyethylene sealed with tape) separate work area from occupied space; negative air pressure with HEPA-filtered air scrubbers keeps airborne spores inside the containment zone.

PPE minimum for mold work: N95 or better respirator (half-face with P100 cartridges for heavy growth), eye protection, gloves, and disposable coveralls; full-face PAPR for large or confined-space projects.

Porous materials (drywall, ceiling tile, carpet, insulation) with visible mold or water damage beyond 48 hours are removed; semi-porous (wood framing, concrete) are HEPA-vacuumed, sanded, and disinfected.

Biocides are not a substitute for removal; EPA-registered fungicides may be applied to non-porous surfaces after cleaning, but dead spores still require physical removal because they retain allergenic potential.

Clearance verification: visual inspection plus air sampling or surface sampling compared to a non-affected outdoor/control baseline; clearance is granted by an independent assessor, not the remediator.

Drying science: psychrometric principles govern evaporation; monitor moisture content of structural materials (target <16% wood moisture) and maintain temperature and dehumidification until dry standard is met.

Post-remediation documentation includes moisture logs, daily readings, photographs, waste disposal records, and the clearance report; these form the project file that supports the remediation claim.

Assessment is a two-part process: a visual inspection (moisture mapping, thermal imaging, moisture meters) followed by sampling only when needed to confirm or characterize a problem.

Sampling methods: air sampling (spore trap, Anderson, impaction) and surface sampling (tape lift, swab, bulk); each answers a different question and has different interpretation limits.

Air sampling interpretation compares indoor counts to an outdoor control taken on the same day; a common benchmark is indoor total spores not exceeding outdoor levels, with no dominance by a single species.

Spore trap limitations: non-viable samples cannot distinguish living from dead spores; results are semi-quantitative and vary with sampler flow rate, duration, and location.

Moisture is the root cause; assessment must identify the water source (roof, plumbing, condensation, rising damp, HVAC) and document it, because remediation without source control will fail.

HVAC systems: inspect air handlers, coils, drain pans, and duct lining; mold in HVAC can distribute spores throughout a building and requires system-specific remediation.

Indoor air quality parameters: temperature, relative humidity (target 30-50%), CO2, and particulate; elevated humidity above 60% favors mold growth and should trigger investigation.

Health effects are exposure-dependent: allergic rhinitis, asthma exacerbation, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and irritant effects; there are no established regulatory exposure limits for mold, so assessment is based on visible growth and moisture.

Report contents: scope, methods, sampling locations and results, comparison to baseline, moisture readings, photographs, conclusions, and remediation recommendations; assessors should not perform remediation on the same project (conflict of interest).