The Environmental Protection Agency is advancing a regulatory framework for indoor air quality that could establish new standards for acceptable levels of mold, particulates, and other contaminants in occupied structures, with significant implications for the restoration industry.
The EPA's indoor air quality regulatory work builds on decades of research into the health effects of indoor air pollutants, including mold, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and other contaminants that can accumulate in buildings following water damage, fire, or other disaster events.
If adopted, new indoor air quality standards could establish clearer benchmarks for when a structure is safe for re-occupancy following restoration work, providing restoration contractors with more definitive guidance on the scope of remediation required.
The restoration industry has long operated in a regulatory environment where indoor air quality standards are largely voluntary or advisory. Mandatory standards would create new compliance requirements but also provide clearer legal protection for contractors who meet them.
Industry organizations are engaging with the EPA's regulatory process to ensure that any new standards are based on sound science, are practically achievable, and take into account the realities of restoration work in disaster-affected structures.
