NORMI CMR flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Category 1 water
- Clean water from a sanitary source such as a supply line or rainwater. Porous materials wetted by Category 1 water may be dried and retained if drying begins promptly.
- Category 3 water
- Grossly contaminated water from sewage, flooding, or ground surface water. Porous materials contacted by Category 3 water are removed and disposed of rather than dried in place.
- Critical barrier
- A polyethylene sheet sealed with tape that separates the mold work area from occupied space. It prevents cross-contamination of dust and spores during remediation.
- Negative air pressure
- A pressure differential created by HEPA air scrubbers exhausting air from the containment zone. It ensures air flows into the work area rather than out to occupied spaces.
- HEPA filtration
- A filter rated to capture 99.97 percent of particles at 0.3 microns. Used in air scrubbers and vacuums to remove mold spores from the air and surfaces.
- Respirator selection
- N95 minimum for light mold work; half-face with P100 cartridges for moderate growth; full-face powered air-purifying respirator for heavy contamination or confined spaces.
- Porous material removal
- Drywall, ceiling tile, carpet, and insulation with visible mold or water damage beyond 48 hours are cut out and bagged. Semi-porous framing is cleaned and disinfected.
- Biocide limitation
- Fungicides kill mold but do not remove dead spores, which still cause allergic reactions. Physical cleaning and HEPA vacuuming must follow any biocide application.
- Clearance criteria
- Predefined pass/fail conditions set before remediation begins, typically visual cleanliness plus post-remediation sampling compared to an outdoor control. The assessor grants clearance.
- Wood moisture target
- Structural wood should be dried to below 16 percent moisture content. Readings above this indicate active moisture that will support mold growth if not corrected.
- Psychrometry
- The study of air and water vapor relationships used to plan drying. Temperature, humidity, and airflow determine evaporation rate and dehumidification requirements.
- Waste disposal
- Mold-contaminated debris is bagged in sealed containers and removed through the containment. Disposal records document the quantity removed and support the project file.
- Post-remediation documentation
- Moisture logs, daily readings, photographs, waste records, and the clearance report. These records prove the work was performed and support insurance or legal claims.
- Source control
- Fixing the water intrusion that caused mold growth. Remediation without correcting the moisture source will result in regrowth, so the source must be identified and repaired.
- Two-part assessment
- Assessment begins with visual inspection and moisture mapping. Sampling is performed only when needed to confirm or characterize a problem, not as a routine first step.
- Air sampling
- Collects airborne spores on a trap or culture medium over a set duration. Results are semi-quantitative and compared to an outdoor control taken the same day.
- Surface sampling
- Tape lift, swab, or bulk sampling of a specific surface. It identifies what is growing at a location but does not measure airborne exposure or room-wide conditions.
- Outdoor control sample
- A baseline air sample collected outdoors on the same day as indoor sampling. Indoor spore counts are interpreted relative to this control, not to a fixed number.
- Non-viable sampling
- Spore trap methods that count spores but cannot tell living from dead. Useful for total counts and species distribution, but not for viability or culturability.
- Species dominance
- A condition where one mold species makes up a large share of indoor spores while absent or low outdoors. This suggests an indoor amplification source rather than normal background.
- Moisture mapping
- Using moisture meters and thermal imaging to locate hidden water and elevated moisture in walls, ceilings, and floors. It guides where remediation and sampling should focus.
- Thermal imaging
- Infrared camera survey that shows temperature differences caused by evaporative cooling or wet materials. It helps find hidden moisture but must be confirmed with a moisture meter.
- HVAC inspection
- Checking air handlers, coils, drain pans, and duct lining for mold growth. Contaminated HVAC systems can distribute spores throughout a building and need system-specific remediation.
- Relative humidity target
- Indoor relative humidity should be kept between 30 and 50 percent. Levels above 60 percent favor mold growth and should trigger investigation and dehumidification.
- No regulatory limit
- There are no established regulatory exposure limits for mold. Assessment relies on visible growth, moisture, and comparison sampling rather than a numeric threshold.
- Health effects
- Exposure-dependent responses include allergic rhinitis, asthma exacerbation, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and irritant symptoms. Risk depends on species, concentration, and individual sensitivity.
- Conflict of interest
- The assessor who documents the problem should not perform the remediation. Separating assessment from remediation preserves objectivity and the credibility of the clearance report.
- Report contents
- Scope, methods, sampling locations and results, baseline comparison, moisture readings, photographs, conclusions, and remediation recommendations. The report must be clear enough for a non-specialist.
- Sampling location choice
- Samples are taken in the affected area, in a non-affected indoor area, and outdoors. This three-point design shows whether contamination is localized or building-wide.
- Spore trap flow rate
- The volume of air sampled depends on flow rate and duration. Results are reported as spores per cubic meter, so inconsistent flow rates make comparisons unreliable.
- Condensation mold
- Growth caused by warm humid air contacting cold surfaces such as exterior walls or ductwork. It requires insulation or ventilation correction, not just cleaning.
- Rising damp
- Moisture moving upward through masonry from the ground. It produces characteristic tide-mark staining and requires a damp-proof course or drainage correction before remediation.