Month: September 2023

While moulds are an important part of the environment, its growth indoors can cause serious health problems. Unexpected events, like leaks from pipes and flooding from storms, can create standing water, which allows mould to grow in just 24 to 48 hours. Because of its fast spread, mold can be nearly impossible to prevent. That’s why it's important to focus on controlling its path—in the safest possible way.

Remediation specialists need the tools to not only keep themselves safe, but also the people in surrounding areas. With the proper protective equipment and the necessary tools, contractors are able to meet standards and safety regulations to effectively protect against infections and mould induced reactions.

Here are key tools remediation specialists will need to get the job done safely:

Personal Protective Equipment

Contractors rely on personal protective equipment (PPE), like respirators, gloves, and fitted goggles combined with high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filters, cleaners, wet vacuums, and disinfectants to effectively and safely remediate mould.

Beyond PPE, contractors also need to take additional steps to contain harmful particulates and protect air quality. Taught by various organizations, like the IICRC, industry training and best practices often involve the following products: reusable containment barriers and negative air machines.

Reusable containment barriers

To protect others in and around the affected area, it’s important to isolate the contaminated area by closing off HVAC grills, sealing off cracks and crevices, and setting up containment barriers.

Traditional containment has been done by using poly sheeting and drywall with insulation. But, these materials are not reusable and are often disposed of at the end of the project. With the rising cost of construction-related materials and the huge labor shortages, companies are turning to reusable containment barriers, like our SHIELD WALL™ solution. It’s quick and easy to install and can be used over and over again.

By combining the containment walls with air filtration devices and a differential pressure monitor, remediation experts can create a negative pressure environment within the contained area for a complete containment solution.

Portable HEPA Filtration System

Portable air scrubbers—or negative air machines—are used in conjunction with containment to remove contaminated air from a sealed containment area through ductwork. The filtered air is exhausted outside of the contained area, creating negative air pressure inside.

There are several varieties of air filtration devices available on the market today, but it’s important to know which device is the most effective option. The best choices are units equipped with true HEPA filters. A true HEPA filter can capture 99.97% of 0.3-micron particulates, including mold spores, dust, and other allergens, and an even higher percentage of larger particles.

At Abatement Technologies, our PRED750 can be used alone or in conjunction with central air filtration to effectively remove harmful particles from the air. The portable air scrubber is equipped with a high-efficiency HEPA filter and is the most mobile HEPA filtration device in its class. 

Want to learn more about Mould & Indoor Air Quality?

In our recent white paper “Mould & Indoor Air Quality: An Abatement Technologies White Paper,” we discuss:
1. How mould grows
2. The effects it can have on our health
3. Steps and standards for mould remediation
4. And the tools needed for the job

Download the white paper here.

Doing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) work in ceilings can be painful – literally and figuratively. And the figurative sense increases in healthcare environments where regulations are very stringent, and for a good reason. 

Increases in hospital acquired infections (HAIs) have led to an increased awareness of the importance of indoor air quality in hospitals which has led to new safety requirements across in both the US and Canada. Hospitals have also developed their own regulations, and these all filter down to contractors and subcontractors – MEPs included. 

MEP work above the ceiling grid comes under scrutiny because harmful particulates, such as mold, dust, and Aspergillus, can get knocked down and circulate through the air, possibly harming immunocompromised patients. Something as simple as general maintenance to the lighting in the ceiling can pose a serious threat to patient safety. As a result, this routine task requires contractors to contain the area to ensure no harmful particulates escape.

So what can MEPs contractors do? ?

The go-to solution for containing ceiling work are mobile containment carts. There are several options to choose from, including soft-sided ones that are a great economical choice, however there are many benefits to choosing a hard-sided containment cart such as our AG5000 or AG8000. 

Containment carts offer extendable tops that reach to the ceiling grids to seal off the space. Contractors can then create negative pressure within these units to prevent particles from escaping. With see-through walls, infection control specialists can maintain a clear line of sight to patients and emergency signals even when the units are in place.

What to look for in a containment cart ?

From decades of working in the industry, we’ve developed long-lasting relationships with industry experts and designed our units not just with current regulations in mind, but with an eye for long-term best practices. Here are a few things to look for in a mobile containment cart.

1. Hard-sided vs. soft-sided

Hard-sided units offer a host of benefits over soft-sided alternatives. First, they offer superior longevity and durability thanks to their more robust materials. Second, most people find them to be much more aesthetically pleasing. Finally, hard-sided units comply with a greater number of current hospital requirements. And if the current trends persist, we believe even more facilities will begin requiring hard-sided units.

2. Safety First

When we were first designing our carts, we knew the safety of the worker or contractor was equally as important as the safety to the patients.  Contractors and facility maintenance staff working in the ceiling need to know they can safely do so from a ladder. Our AG8000 is a rugged and durable cart that is easy to use,and has built-in safety and performance features, such as a unique upper header designed to support a ladder at the ceiling height.

3. Transportability

Our latest design, the AG5000 was created based on feedback from many contractors that were looking for a cart that could easily fit in the back of a pick-up truck and could easily be stored after use. Role in the AG5000! This unit was designed with the perfect blend between transportability and durability. Compactable down to 20” in height, you’ll be able to easily set up, tear down, and transport this portable containment cart.

Discover the go-to solution for containing MEP activities in critical environments

Containing MEP activities in healthcare and other sensitive environments isn’t exactly an optional add-on. It’s a requirement. Abatement Technologies offers well-built, cost-effective solutions for working about the ceiling grid so that MEP contractors can meet the existing requirements. 

If you want to learn more about our options at Abatement, you can check out the details in our online catalog or contact a sales rep for more information.