The Center for School Mold Help

An informative Rutgers University/EPA (funded) Tools for Schools YouTube video in two parts.

SMH commentary: We do note that this video de-emphasizes moisture as a problem - for instance, the developers  do not address what should be done to locate mold when moisture is noted in a wall.

The EPA and government agencies, in general, tend to discourage testing for mold - a position that we disagree with, as many physicians and occupational health professionals require proof of what the (sick) occupants were exposed to. Further, mold and bacteria are microscopic. Testing to determine microbial contamination can be essential to understanding the type of and extent of the exposure(s).

On the plus side, these videos do show how to initially screen a building for problems, and encourage listening to the complaints of occupants, as part of a simple formula to utilize and conduct a general walkthrough that is informative.

Following these two videos (parts one and two), there is a link to a full online course provided by EPA/Rutgers, related to IAQ inspection.

Our SMH Parent Checklist for School Health takes the mold and moisture inspection further and makes a  good  addition to these two videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ToolsForSchoolsIAQ 

Tools for Schools: Indoor Air Quality Walkthrough - Urban (Part 1)

ToolsForSchoolsIAQ

Joined: January 07, 2008
Last Login: 3 months ago


Name: Tools for Schools
Knowing how to identify and treat common Indoor Air Quality issues in your schools will help to prevent health problems from arising among students, faculty and staff. These videos are intended to help school faculty and staff professionals to identify, diagnose, and treat common indoor air quality issues in their school buildings. For more information, or to view the full online course, please visit the link below.
Country: United States
Website: http://urbantfs.digiscript.com

Online, full EPA/Rutgers University IAQ Course associated with this video: 

Tools for Schools: IAQ Walkthrough
http://learningcenter.digiscript.net/urbantfs/courses/21901
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Welcome to the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Walkthrough Video Assessment. This module is directed towards schools in city environments. Launch the media panel on the next page to watch this informative how-to for healthy schools.

Once the video is streaming, feel free to browse the handouts section to check out some in depth indoor air quality sites.

Produced by Rutgers University and the ERRTC. This project was funded by a grant from and produced in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Tools for Schools: IAQ Walkthrough
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Comments on YouTube for these videos:

NoMoreSchoolMold

Since YouTube doesn't allow the posting of web addresses, do a search on The Center for School Mold Help. Once on the site, do a site search on Parent Checklist for School Health!

NoMoreSchoolMold

The Center for School Mold Help provides an outstanding, single sheet handout called Parent Checklist for School Health. This flier outlines the health complaints commonly found in moldy, damp school buildings as well as signs of dampness in the building itself, inside and out.

NoMoreSchoolMold 

This video has the potential to raise awareness about IAQ issues. It emphasizes using the five senses, initially, to screen for potential problems. The Center for School Mold Help would like to point out that moisture intrusion, such as that causing efflorescence seen on the interior wall, was not fully discussed as one of the major IAQ problems. Most often, mold is lurking behind a damp wall such as that one, and in the ceiling above, due to roof or window leaks. This was not mentioned (: .