Michael A. Pinto

Although, it is a non-traditional answer, the most important tools for mold remediation are motivated and educated workers and supervisors; motivated to want to get the details right and educated to know what the right details are.

For example, disposable microfiber cleaning cloths are so good at removing small particles that they are often used as the final step of the three-step mold cleaning process in lieu of a second round of HEPA vacuuming. But, if the people using the microfiber cloths do not know how to overlap the cleaning strokes and to only push the cloth in one direction (i.e., no back-and-forth wiping), then the effectiveness of this incredible piece of technology is wasted.

Another good example of this is the use of HEPA-filtered negative air machines (NAM). Everyone in the mold industry seems to know how to set them up to create negative pressure in a containment. But, how many workers routinely divert one or more machines at the end of a project to act as air scrubbers? And, even if they set up a machine to recirculate and scrub the air, do they use diffuser "tails" on the exhaust end so that the air in the work zone is mixed properly so that spores do not get stratified at different heights? Even for the people who are using diffuser tails, do they know that a simple device, with the numerical name of MCI PRV24K, is available that splits a standard NAM exhaust and allows two diffuser tails to be added? One version of the splitter even includes an ionizer that plugs into the NAM to help the small particles coalesce to improve the air scrubbing effect. (See: http://www.blsproducts.com/mciprv24k.php)

Several advancements have been around for a few years and still have not gotten the industry acceptance that they should have by now. Using foam applicators for the wet cleaning step instead of garden or hand sprayers helps remove imbedded contaminants, minimizes streaking and uses less antimicrobial chemicals; all good things. (See: https://www.foamit.com/products-archive/?function=foam))

The range of accessories now available to make cleaning more efficient using disposable microfiber cloths is a boon to the restoration industry (See: https://www.contecprofessional.com/products/premira-disposable-microfiber-wipes-hand-pads)

One new innovation that should really impact the industry for the better is the line of inflatable containment barriers and decon chambers recently introduced by the Zepplin Guys. Self-supporting, adaptable to myriad situations, tough, cleanable, reusable to minimize waste; what is not to love about this innovative equipment? (See: https://zeppelinguys.com/shop/)

I am not sure if sampling really falls under the category of remediation tools, but the ability to test for mycotoxins in the work area and correlate those results to medical tests that identify specific mold poisons in a person’s bloodstream means that the remediation/health connection for mold remediation is stronger than ever. (See: https://realtimelab.com/emma/)