Puerto Rico’s Building Owners and Managers Now Have Access to NIOSH’s Dampness and Mold Assessment Tool for General Buildings

The climate and exposure to both hurricanes and tropical storms make buildings in Puerto Rico and many other places across the Caribbean at high risk of water damage which can develop into indoor mold issues. To assist building owners and facility managers with identifying these conditions, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced in December that it had created a Dampness and Mold Assessment Tool for General Buildings.
 
The document, with instructions and forms, is available online and is meant to provide a mechanism to investigate, record and compare indoor conditions over time. It is also useful for prioritizing the remediation of problem areas within a building. This is important as NIOSH reports that research has shown that a number of health problems are associated with exposure to building dampness and mold, including:

• Respiratory symptoms (such as in the nose, throat or lungs)
• Development or worsening of asthma
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (a rare lung disease in which lungs become inflamed as an allergic reaction to inhaled bacteria, fungi, organic dusts and chemicals)
• Respiratory infections
• Allergic rhinitis (often called “hay fever”)
• Bronchitis
• Eczema

“Buildings in Puerto Rico are no stranger to water damage and mold issues following all the hurricane damage that took place just a year and a half ago,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “This new NIOSH document provides a useful tool and reminder to building owners and facility managers of the importance of identifying the cause of indoor dampness to prevent the growth of mold. Indoor moisture issues and air quality complaints can be complex, especially if the moisture issues or mold growth are not visible because it is behind walls, ceilings or other hidden areas.” 
 
Helping in these situations are the mold and building science experts at Puerto Rico’s Zimmetry Environmental. They provide inspections, testing, monitoring and consulting services to identify and mitigate water damage and moldy indoor environments. Zimmetry has even sponsored an educational video about NIOSH’s Dampness and Mold Assessment Tool for General Buildings that can be seen at:
https://youtu.be/JW-umfcGO-A
 
To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their building science, indoor environmental quality, compliance and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies.  The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America.  The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail