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Hazardous materials

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Mara Baum
Partner, Architecture & Sustainability
DIALOG
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Anne Nicklin
Executive Director
Building Materials Reuse Association
LEEDuser Basic Member
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Thu, 06/17/2010 - 02:29

Hi Mara, It looks to me like you should be able to exclude any mold contaminated materials for these credit calculations. The reference guide specifically calls out as hazardous "materials that pose a contamination risk to building occupants." In addition, while it is not technically on the list of the EPA's hazardous substances (Table302.4), mold is often included in ASTM ESA Phase I & II. You should be in the clear as long as the extent of the contamination is well documented.
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Mara Baum
Partner, Architecture & Sustainability
DIALOG
LEEDuser Premium Member
449 thumbs up

Thu, 06/17/2010 - 04:18

Hi Anne, Thanks. I was uncertain, as mold was not included in our ESA (we have asbestos). The mold is very widespread, but not literally on 100% of the surface. But a bad detail is a bad detail -- those surfaces not yet moldy would have had a very likely gone that way eventually. Any thoughts? We aren't in a position to calculate exactly what percentage of the wall was moldy.
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Tristan Roberts
Representative
Vermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
7780 thumbs up

Mon, 06/21/2010 - 15:18

The nature of mold spores and fungal hyphae (the "roots" of mushrooms) it can be hard to draw a clear line between material that is definitively moldy and that which is definitively not. Seems like a conservative approach in terms of casting a wide net to avoid future health and durability issues would be justified.
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Anne Nicklin
Executive Director
Building Materials Reuse Association
LEEDuser Basic Member
116 thumbs up

Tue, 07/06/2010 - 06:42

Hi Mara, I've been thinking on this one for a bit, and it seems wise to go back and conduct another phase II ESA, this one with the explicit instruction to include an examination of the mold and mildew. In order to make the credit claim, the reviewing team will likely feel more comfortable if somebody has "officially" classified the hazardous material. -a

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