D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 20, r. 20-3205

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 36, September 6, 2024

Rule 20-3205 - MINIMUM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND WORK PRACTICES FOR LICENSEES

3205.1

Indoor mold assessment professionals shall adhere to the following minimum standards:

(a) If an indoor mold assessment professional determines that personal protective equipment should be used during a mold assessment project, the indoor mold assessment professional shall ensure that all individuals who engage in assessment activities and who will be, or are anticipated to be, exposed to indoor mold growth are provided with, fit tested for, and trained on the appropriate use and care of the specified personal protective equipment;

(b) If samples for laboratory analysis are collected during the assessment:

(1) Sampling and analysis shall be performed according to industry best practices;

(2) Preservation methods shall be implemented for all samples where necessary;

(3) Proper sample documentation, including the sampling method, the sample identification code, each location and material sampled, the date collected, the name of the person who collected the samples, and the project name or number, shall be recorded for each sample; and

(4) Proper chain of custody procedures shall be used;

(c) If mold remediation is to be conducted by an indoor mold remediation professional, prepare a mold remediation protocol that is specific to each remediation project and provide the protocol to the client before the remediation begins. The mold remediation protocol shall specify:

(1) The rooms or areas where the work shall be performed;

(2) The estimated quantities of materials to be cleaned or removed;

(3) The methods to be used for each type of remediation in each area;

(4) The personal protective equipment to be used by indoor mold remediation professionals. A minimum of an N-95 respirator is recommended during mold-related activities when indoor mold growth could or will be disturbed. An indoor mold assessment professional may specify additional or more protective personal protective equipment if he or she determines that it is warranted;

(5) The proposed types of containment, as described in (d) of this subsection, to be used during the project in each area; and

(6) The proposed verification procedures and criteria, as described in paragraph (h) of this subsection, for each type of remediation in each area;

(d) Containment shall be specified in a mold remediation protocol when a total surface area of ten square feet (10 ft.²) or more of indoor mold growth is in an affected area, unless the indoor mold assessment professional describes in the mold remediation protocol why containment is not necessary;

(e) If walk-in containment is used, supply and return air vents shall be covered with plastic, and air pressure within the walk-in containment shall be lower than the pressure in building areas adjacent to the containment;

(f) An indoor mold assessment professional indicating a specific disinfectant, biocide, or antimicrobial coating in a mold remediation protocol shall recommend only products or brands if it is registered by the District of Columbia and the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the intended use and uses consistent with the manufacturer's labeling instructions;

(g) A decision by an indoor mold assessment professional to use products in paragraph (f) of this subsection shall take into account the potential for occupant sensitivities and possible adverse reactions to chemicals that have the potential to be off-gassed from surfaces coated with such products; and

(h) In the remediation protocol for the project, the indoor mold assessment professional shall specify:

(1) At least one industry-recognized analytical method for use within each remediated area to determine whether the indoor mold growth identified for the project has been remediated as outlined in the mold remediation protocol;

(2) The criteria to be used for evaluating analytical results to determine whether the mold remediation project is verified as complete;

(3) That post-remediation assessment shall be conducted while walk-in containment is in place, if walk-in containment is specified for the project; and

(4) The procedures to be used in determining whether the underlying causes of the mold identified for the project have been remediated so that it is reasonably certain that the mold will not return from those same causes.

3205.2

Indoor mold remediation professionals shall adhere to the following standards:

(a) An indoor mold remediation professional shall prepare a mold remediation work plan that is specific to each project, fulfills all the requirements of the mold remediation protocol, and provides specific instructions or standard operating procedures for how a mold remediation project shall be performed. The indoor mold remediation professional shall provide the mold remediation work plan to the client before site preparation work begins;

(b) If an indoor mold assessment professional specifies in the mold remediation protocol that personal protective equipment is required for the project or if the indoor mold remediation professional determines that individuals require personal protective equipment, the indoor mold remediation professional shall provide the specified personal protective equipment to all individuals who engage in remediation activities and who will, or are anticipated to, disturb or remove indoor mold growth. The recommended minimum personal protective equipment is an N-95 respirator;

(c) Containment specified in the remediation protocol shall be used on a mold remediation project;

(d) If walk-in containment is used, supply and return air vents shall be covered with plastic, and air pressure within the walk-in containment shall be lower than the pressure in building areas adjacent to the containment;

(e) Signs advising that a mold remediation project is in progress shall be displayed at all accessible entrances to remediation areas and shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The signs shall be at least eight (8) inches by ten (10) inches in size and shall bear the words "NOTICE: Mold remediation project in progress" in black on a yellow background; and

(2) The text of the signs shall be legible from a distance of ten (10) feet;

(f) No person shall remove or dismantle any walk-in containment structures or materials from a project site prior to receipt, by the indoor mold remediation professional overseeing the project, of a written notice from an indoor mold assessment professional that the project has been verified as complete as described under § 3299.1;

(g) Disinfectants, biocides, and antimicrobial coatings may be used only if their use is specified in a mold remediation protocol, if they are registered by the District of Columbia and the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the intended use, and if the use is consistent with the manufacturer's labeling instructions; and

(h) If a protocol specifies the use of such a product, as referenced in paragraph (g), but does not specify the brand or type of product, an indoor mold remediation professional may select the brand or type of product to be used, subject to the other provisions of this chapter.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 20, r. 20-3205

Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 6098 (4/22/2016)