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Mold in the IBC/IMC/IPC

Papio Bldg Dept

Papio Bldg Dept

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Joined
Jan 24, 2011
Messages
1,414
Location
Papillion
Is there anything that would prohibit mold, or require it's abatement prior to occupancy? We have an old expired permit that is bordering on 7 years of extensions and renewals, and currently has mold on the first floor. Any requirements?
 
Nope.

IBC 116 gets you close when it speaks to insanitary, but how do I know, or the codes for that matter, what is good mold or bad. I always tell folks to have it tested be an industrial hygienist. Then all I can do is post it, and not allow occupancy.
 
The Codes do not speak directly to mold, mildew, and fungus.

In some cases, the conditions that contribute to excess moisture may be code related.
 
mark handler said:
In some cases, the conditions that contribute to excess moisture may be code related.
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Exactly where you may be able to help. Marterials may be adversly affect as well dry wall in braced wall panel. Protection from decay for structural members.
 
gbhammer said:
Exactly where you may be able to help. Marterials may be adversly affect as well dry wall in braced wall panel. Protection from decay for structural members.
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We are bouncing some of those around, as well as 3410.3 for existing buildings and the IMC sections which regulate natural ventilation exhaust for harmful airborne particulates. Either way it is a stretch, and will ultimately fall upon the BO to make an interpretation.

IBC 115 Unsafe structures and equipment

115.1 Structures or existing equipment that are or hereafter become unsafe, insanitary or deficient because of. . . inadequate light and ventilation . . dangerous to human life or public welfare . . . inadequate maintenance, shall be deemed an unsafe condition. Unsafe structures shall be taken down and removed or made safe, as the building official deems necessary and as provided for in this section . . .

3410 Compliance alternatives

3410.3.1 Hazards. Where the building official determines that an unsafe condition exists, as provided for in Section 115, such unsafe condition shall be abated in accordance with Section 115

IMC chapter 4 Ventilation

401.6 Contaminant sources. Stationary local sources producing air-borne particulates, heat, odors, fumes, spray, vapors, smoke or gases in such quantities as to be irritation or injurious to health shall be provided with an exhaust system in accordance with Chapter 5 or a means of collection and removal of the contaminants.
 
Our County Public Health Department will not respond to anything residential, they take the "Public" part literally, only deal with public buildings. Then they turn around and tell folks to call us, even though we have told them repeatedly that there is nothing we can do about mold.
 
County Health Department does the same thing here as fatboy stated.

Renters try to use the "MOLD ISSUE" to get out of paying the rent. On occasion its a bad roof plumbing flashing, window or door that's leaked for sometime. So I do ask some questions?
 
There are no specific provisions dealing with mold. All you can do is try to identify violations or conditions that have caused the mold and try to get those fixed. Treat the cause.
 
Daddy-0- said:
There are no specific provisions dealing with mold. All you can do is try to identify violations or conditions that have caused the mold and try to get those fixed. Treat the cause.
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I believe Daddy-O-'s correct!

Many years ago, I took over a jurisdiction and soon received a complaint about a wet basement. I took a shovel and dug down a foot and found that the paraging and asphaltic sealant ended four or five inches below finished grade. I knew that the statute of limitations had expired but sued the ahole builder any way just to make him spend the money to defend the matter.

Enjoyed the pyrrhic victory non the less.

Bill
 
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I'm not familiar with the IBC Energy Code provisions as we have our own energy code. I wonder if perhaps there is something there dealing with safe indoor air environment. Might also be something in the Mechanical or Ventilation Code.
 
fatboy said:
Our County Public Health Department will not respond to anything residential, they take the "Public" part literally, only deal with public buildings. Then they turn around and tell folks to call us, even though we have told them repeatedly that there is nothing we can do about mold.
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Your Public Health dept. sounds like our PD. I get calls about junk vehicles and city code says PD is the man, and, they do nothing but refer back to me. Sorry fatboy............ :(
 
Sorry for you too. I keep telling them, all you are doing is adding to their irritation, sending them to someone else who can't help them out. By the time we are done explaining they are usually pretty pi$$ed.
 
Thanks for all the input...that was our general consensus, we just aren't comfortable issuing a CO when the building is finished and when we know there is mold in it.
 
If the property is a residential rental or food handling facility, our Health Department is all over a mold problem. Otherwise you are allowed to have as much mold as you want. That seems logical to me. You can have rats too.
 
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