Decontamination What is decontamination? The term decontamination is generally used to describe the process of removing all substances present which can cause harm. Unfortunately, with water damage and mould, the contamination can include bacteria, chemicals mould spores, fragments mycotoxins and VOCS. In fact, there are over 30 specific contaminates likely to affect your health.(see our consensus document)
While some decontamination techniques would resolve all these issues, they can be at the top end of expensive protocols. Put simply, the higher the level of decontamination and evidence required, the more expensive it’s going to be.
The industry decontamination standard to medically sound requires fine particle cleaning of surfaces and air, is likely to cost six figures and almost certain to fail on its first clearance testing.
Risk reduction decontamination From the forgoing it can be seen decontamination can be variable in terms of cost and end results. We provide the following extensive and some unique range of services designed to reduce exposure risks and hazards within your budget.
Why Air cleaning to red uce building related illness is imperative. Contamination whether bacteria or mould which affect human health are found in three exposure forms, Parenteral (skin), ingestion (eating) or respiratory (breathing).
While some ingestion and parenteral contamination is possible, inhaling contamination is far more likely and is possible the greatest risk. WHO state inhalation of mould spore fragments is perhaps 40 times more toxic because, and depending on particle size, can enter the blood stream through the lower respiratory system (alveoli). When people realise, they have been affected by mould they have rarely licked the mould or eaten it, leaving the 24/7 exposure risk of inhalation.
It should be remembered opening up cavities or mould reservoirs can release billions of spores.
Whatever form of surface cleaning is undertaken the air will still contain the inhalation risk of spores and fragments, VOCs, possible mycotoxins, hyphal fragments and of course bacteria.
What is Air Scrubbing? This is a general term for cleaning air although there are several forms of “Air Scrubbing” which is the basis of risk reduction.
How sick you are? This may mean we have to move from the lowest form of risk reduction to more complex multistage protocols.
What your budget is? Cost is the determining factor in determining the most suitable action and will reflect the extent of works and services we provide, and this will of course reflect outcome.
If you have MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) You are in a health position that may or may not be affected by our or indeed any form of works. We will only undertake works following full disclosure and at your risk.
Mould Decontamination (risk reduction) This is a misnomer as mould is also associated with bacteria of differing types together with chemicals too. The environmental conditions required for mould growth sees bacteria growing first and these compete and act synergistically to affect health together with VOCs and chemicals such as Mycotoxins. These contaminates affect the air we breathe, surfaces and contents too. The following headings show how we resolve these issues.
1. Mechanical This is normally provided by mechanical fans fitted with HEPA filters which trap the airborne contamination. The HSE have published a research paper which shows why this equipment has major shortfalls because all particles have different buoyancy and float at differing levels. Obviously if a collection device is located on the floor, it can’t capture particles floating higher above it, usually in the breathing zone .
The HSE provide a detailed explanation of failures from Negative Pressure HEPA filer machines in their report RR988 http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr988.htm
In this paper the research found microscopic fragments float and remain airborne despite mechanical air cleaners operating, with fragments remaining in layers above the capture zone.
A typical 1000 cfm Negative Pressure Unit (NPU) Not usually beneficial in cleaning air but can be used to contain work areas in negative pressure. 2. Chemical neutralising In this airborne chemical and biological contamination can be neutralised and de natured dramatically reducing inhalation risks. The chemical is atomised to submicron size where it penetrates or drill into mould particles to oxidise it. Very successful in badly contaminated properties and the chemical composition was developed by US military for WMD decontamination. All safety and efficacy data is available. In this process the empty property is sprayed with an aerosolisation of up to 400,000 microdroplets per cubic meter. A solution of Hydrogen Peroxide is electrostatically charged to drill into spores and fragments both oxidising and de naturing component parts. The property must remain unoccupied for 4 hours after treatment.
Information on the product.
3. Chemical Bio Static We use this protocol in homes that have been remediated and or, have limited health hazard presence from mould and or bacteria . The product manufactured by one of the world’s largest chemical suppliers is Hypoallergenic. Used by leading sports clothing manufacturers to prevent odour in garments and shoes it provides long lasting mechanical defence on surfaces after its major sanitation action by electrostatic action
The chemical is electrostatically attracted to airborne particles and walls where it remains providing non chemical bio defence
Successfully tested against most known moulds and bacteria and all safety and efficacy data is available
The property must remain unoccupied for 3 hours after treatment.
The particulate is attracted to the treated surfaces by a positive charge and punctured by the long chain molecule. The particle/microbe is then electrocuted by the natural forces of physics. Moulds which the coating is proven to destroy and or prevent growing. The defensive invisible film can last up to 2 years although laboratory confirmation only states 90 days.
Aspergillus niger Mucor sp. Aspergillus fumigatus Tricophyton mentagrophytes Aspergillus versicolor Tricophyton interdigitalie Aspergillus flavus Trichoderma flavus Aspergillus terreus Chaetomium globusum Penicillium chrysogenum Rhizopus nigricans Penicillium albicans Cladosporium herbarum Penicillium citrinum Aureobasidium pullulans Penicillium elegans Fusarium nigrum Penicillium funiculosum Fusarium solani Penicillium humicola Gliocladium roseum Penicillium notatum Stachybotrys atra Algae Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Candida albicans Penicillium variabile The film also protects against most bacteria including E Coli to MRSA-
4. Electrostatic In this protocol we install Plasma generators which can reduce airborne biological contamination by up to 99.99%. The process can take several days/weeks depending on the size of the problem and some may react to electrostatic by products such as minimal ozone release. All efficacy and safety data is available.
5. Medically Sound air scrub The fastest and most effective air decontamination
Firstly, I must emphasise “medically sound decontamination” is an industry coined phrase in the USA and it refers to fine particle cleaning which is required when treating CIRS patients.
It is a practical solution of removing (NOT killing) mould spores, and hyphal fragments, all of which can cause CIRS and inflammatory response.
Spores and fragments can float in the air for hours to weeks depending on size influenced by electromechanical forces such as Brownian motion. While heavier, less aerodynamic spores may settle out quickly, smaller fragments < 7 micron may remain airborne for weeks and re aerosolise by the smallest of movements such as opening a door or walking around. Chemical air scrubbing has been proven to be much more effective than mechanical air cleaning typically through HEPA air filters.
Chemical air cleaning No Access to property for 4 hours post treatment. The Airscrub process by Building Forensics is a chemical process which causes particulates to fall from the air. Sodium Borate based chemical is fogged into the air at a size of droplet that will encompass target particles and cause them to coagulate. A second chemical is fogged into the air and this causes the particles to flocculate or precipitate, basically fall out of the air due to their additional size and weight.
This produces a sacrificial glycerine film on horizontal surfaces which locks the contamination onto surfaces, decaying after 3-4 days. This delay provides the client a period to remove the sacrificial film and with it the settled contamination.
The client role in decontamination Most clients have medical issues with mould, but we encourage them to take part in the Airscrub process because they are more likely to complete an effective clean up after the Airscrub process has been misted. Because the process is simply removing a dry film by wiping wearing gloves this is not considered a high-risk factor. Of course, you can hire people to clean up but you may need to monitor them. Moisture sensitive contents (TVs -paintings etc ) should be covered or removed. The sacrificial film which will decay after 3 or 4 days. If the film is not removed within this window, the fallen spores and detritus may re aerosolise and it is imperative thorough cleaning is undertaken to prevent re contamination.
Building Forensics only undertake the misting of the Airscrub air cleaning product but do not undertake the cleaning and removal of fallen detritus (spores) as this is labour intensive.
Protection (polythene) may be laid by the client prior to the air scrub process, and this will reduce clean up time as it can simply be rolled up and disposed. It should be noted any contamination under the sheeting will not be removed or treated within the process but remember this is an air cleaning process.
We recommend wiping down with cheap SWIFFER cloths turning to open and fold the multi fold disposable swabs. This prevents cross contamination or spreading contaminates.
Swiffer cloths are available online and in major stores and are low-cost disposable paper wipes.
The cleaning must be meticulous with every square inch being cleaned. This may require dedicated or professional cleaners used to cleaning areas with monitored results.
The fastest most effective mould removal protocol 6. Eco Safe (low cost) This technique uses nature’s own super powerful and safest of all chemical decontamination protocols Hypochlorous Acid. It is almost chemically neutral and is used by hospitals for wound cleaning, skin treatment and is a recognised and accepted biocide with efficacy against moulds and yeasts. It recently gained international approval in controlling COVID and SARS and is produced in humans white blood cells to combat infection.
The process usually takes less than an hour in most homes.
Hypochlorous acid is made by passing an electrical current through salt water and vinegar and is said to be 100 times more effective than bleach but non-toxic. The machine is brought into your home and automatically calculates the dosage and produces a dry fog which means it safe to use in every home or office and you can re enter within 15 minutes of treatment.
The production unit of Hypochlorous acid dry mist Confirmed lab results The product should show a >5 log reduction against S.aureus in the distribution test. The product when tested as above shall demonstrate at least a 5 log reduction in viable bacterial counts, 4 log reduction in viral titers, 4 log reduction in viable fungal/yeast counts and 4/3 log reduction in viable spore counts (human health/veterinary & food and industry). The test is deemed valid where all control requirements are met.
7. Ozone treatment The most dangerous of all our protocols and can only be used in detached homes or premises.
This process uses one of nature’s strongest oxidisers O3 . It is set up in the unoccupied property and one of two types of ozone is produced, Nitrogen free of very high levels of O3 .
These high levels of gas are distributed throughout over a period designed to chemically oxidise spores, fragments and of course bacteria.
This type of equipment can provide good results at very high levels
8. Mycotoxins and residual cleaning Testing for Mycotoxins in the home
Mycotoxins can be dispersed from limited species of toxigenic moulds and be extremely difficult to identify or locate their source.
Working with USA leading laboratories we have partnered them to focus on specific targets and indicators.
People often consider mycotoxin testing after urine or blood tests confirm their presence
Removing Mycotoxins While decontamination to remove toxigenic producers of mycotoxins is usually required, removal of mycotoxins may require more focussed attention. The chemical and mechanical properties of mycotoxins differ from mould spores and fragments and therefore require specific protocols for successful removal. The machine shown below was developed specifically for mycotoxin removal when used in controlled environments.
We erect a very special mycotoxin treatment chamber in your home and install this machine. You can then load the chamber with clothes soft goods furnishings etc. Usually only undertaken after building decontamination High level Risk Reduction and decontamination In this protocol we decontaminate large areas following site specific surveys. This may require intrusive investigation and some soft demolition of surface finishes.
Costs and protocols by request
