A working checklist mold remediation crews can actually run, mapped to the ANSI/IICRC S520 standard, from pre-remediation assessment through post-verification.
The ANSI/IICRC S520 standard is the industry reference for professional mold remediation. It's also 200-plus pages that nobody reads in the field. Here's the working checklist we run, mapped to S520 sections, that keeps a job defensible without burying the crew in paperwork.
1. Pre-remediation assessment
- Visual inspection with moisture readings at multiple wall and floor locations
- Photograph every visible mold location, tagged to the room
- Air samples: indoor affected, indoor unaffected, outdoor reference
- Document HVAC involvement and contamination pathways
2. Containment and engineering controls
- Poly containment with negative air; log AMU model and serial
- HEPA filtration in place before removal starts
- PPE per Condition 2/3 requirements, logged per shift
3. Removal and cleaning
- Porous materials removed and bagged inside containment
- Semi-porous surfaces HEPA-vacuumed and damp-wiped
- Structural drying documented daily until below dry standard
4. Post-remediation verification (PRV)
- Visual inspection: no visible mold, no dust, no debris
- Moisture readings back to reference
- Analytical clearance: air samples reviewed against S520 criteria
For general safety context, cross-reference OSHA guidance on mold and the EPA's guide to mold and moisture. For the workflow to actually run this in the field, see our mold remediation toolkit.
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