Lesson Guide
Mold and Moisture Control
Segment Time /
- 30 -90 minutes (with activities); optional additional 15 min. topic
- This lesson consists of PowerPoint slides and divided into 4 parts:
- Part 1 – Mold Background – slides 6-18
- Part2 – Conditions for Mold Growth – slides 19-42
- Part 3 – Dealing with Molds in Homes – slides 43-67
- Part 4 –For More Information – slides 68-71
To shorten the presentation for a basic overview of mold and moisture control, consider setting aside these PowerPoint slides:
- Part 1 – TBD
- Part 2 – TBD
- Part 3 – TBD
- Part 4 – (instead, handout copies ofHelp Yourself to a Healthy Home and A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home –see Participant Materials)
Purpose / To provide basic overview of mold and home moisture control concepts and methods
Audience / Training for Extension educators, general consumer audience, or home restoration volunteers
Learning Objectives / Participants will accomplish the following:
- Knowledge: Identify health effects of mold and excess moisture in homes.
- Comprehension: Describe conditions that cause mold growth.
- Application:List basic types and limitations of mold testing and diagnostics.Describe strategies that are low-cost, easy-to-implement and/or are most effective to achieve mold cleanup guidelines and to control moisture in the home.
Instructor Lesson Materials /
- Mold and Moisture Control Lesson Guide
- PowerPoint with speaker notes
- Help Yourself to a Healthy Home booklet
- Healthy Homes: Assessing Your Indoor Environment(recommended)
- Publications/handouts of choice (optional: see below for suggestions)
- Evaluation form for each student
- Sign-in sheet, pens/pencils for participant
- Name tags/tent cards for each student
- Selected supplies for demonstration activities (see below)
Participant Materials / Select most appropriate materials for your focus or audience
- Mold and moisture control pre/post test
- Pens/pencils/paper
- Copy of PowerPoint slides
Item / Info/Agency / URL
Help Yourself to a Healthy Home / Booklet; Extension & HUD /
A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home / Booklet; EPA /
Mold Removal Guidelines for Your Flooded Home / Fact sheet (2-pages focusing on DIY); LSU AgCenter /
Mold: Important Questions, Objective Answers / Factsheet (4 pages); LSU AgCenter /
Hiring a Mold Remediation Contractor / Publication (4 pages); LSU AgCenterCornell /
Mold Quick Facts / Pub; UGA /
Preventing Mold in Your Home / Pub; UGA /
Removing Mold in Your Home / Pub; UGA /
Equipment /
- Laptop
- LCD Projector
- Extension cord and power strip (plus tape to tape down cords)
- Microphone (if you are inviting a guest speaker or have a large group)
- White board or flip chart and markers
Helpful websites / US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Healthy Homes /
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) /
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) /
Energy and Environmental Building Association, Information on energy-efficient buildings, humidity, moisture control, vapor barriers /
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), (800) 621-FEMA (3362); publications on flood proofing, etc. /
Optional Publications and Resource Materials
(Select most appropriate materials for your focus or audience) /
- "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings" EPA HTML PDF (56 pp., 1.6 M) EPA 402-K-01-001, Reprinted September 2010
- EPA Mold Course "Introduction to Mold and Mold Remediation for Environmental and Public Health Professionals" This course provides an overview of mold prevention and mold remediation. It is based on EPA's voluntary March 2001 guidance document Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Public health and environmental health professionals who are involved with mold issues may be interested in this course. Building managers, custodians, remediators, contractors, and other professionals who respond to mold problems may also want to refer to this course.
- "Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers - Appendix C: Moisture, Mold and Mildew", EPA.
- WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould (PDF) (248 pp., 2.65 M) World Health Organization, 2009
- EPA's Office of Research and Development Fact Sheet: The Environmental Relative Moldiness Index
- CDC's National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), (800) CDC-INFO (232-4636) Questions and answers on mold - and Stachybotryschartarum and other molds -
Suggested Supplies for Demonstration Activities
(Optional) /
- 2 drinking glasses, source of water and ice
- Moisture meter
- N-95 respirator
- Goggles, rubber gloves
- HEPA filter for a vacuum cleaner
- Small (ex. 4” x 4”) samples of various house materials (carpeting, carpet pad, washable olefin rug, drywall, solid wood, tile, sheet vinyl, solid vinyl, fiberglass insulation, rigid foamboard insulation, glass or plastic, etc.)
- Cleaning bucket and trash can lined with garbage bag
Lesson 9: Mold and Moisture control / 1
Preparing for this Lesson
Mold and Moisture Control
Preparing for this Session / This lesson assumes that an Extension educator will be the facilitator for the session. If an alternate facilitator or co-facilitator is used, be certain they have reviewed the material and are clear that Extension is tasked with presenting non-biased material.
Before the training:
- Several weeks in advance:
- Determine appropriate training location and time.
- Contact Extension educator or guest speaker(s) at least a month in advance. if using speaker, use Guest SpeakerConfirmation form. For this subject area, consider supplementing lesson with comments from a professional home inspector, water damage restoration, or mold remediation contractor.
- Send out notices to promote the training.
- Select and order or print handouts/reference materials (especially those from EPA).
- At least one week before training:
- Review the curriculum materials, handouts, and supplemental material. Contact an Extension housing or healthy home specialist with any questions in advance.
- Review the optional activities and obtain supplies.
- Prepare sign-in sheet and assemble audience materials for transport.
- Day before training:
- Assemble refreshments.
- Load slides on computer/thumb drive; package materials/supplies.
- Day of training
- Arrive at least 45 minutes in advance
- Set up A/V equipment and teaching aids. Tape down cords. Test projection (focus, etc.).
- Set up registration table and set out audience materials.
Important Instructor
Notes /
- Use activities and demos for a variety of teaching methods and to reinforce learning. It’s best to not rely entirely upon the PowerPoint slides.
- Encourage participation and questions throughout the presentation. Be interactive with your learners.
- Provide personal stories, when possible. People tend to remember better when stories are shared either by you or other participants.
- The adult learner brings a background of experience that contributes to learning. Many will have experienced mold in their own homes.
- The purpose of this lesson is to empower people with knowledge so they will minimize exposure to mold hazards and take low-cost action steps to prevent and solve mold problems.
- Emphasize the vulnerability of children, older adults, and those with reduced immunity for environmental health concerns. These are important concepts to remember:
- Children are not just little adults. Their organs (especially the brain) and immune systems are still developing, especially until about age 6. Their metabolic rates are faster. Pound-per-pound children drink, eat, and breathe more than adults.
- Children’s behaviors keep them closer to the floor—where pollutants may collect.
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Presenting the Lesson
Mold and Moisture Control
(90-Minute Teaching Guide)
Segment / Time(minutes) / Activity / Materials
Lesson Objectives / 1 / Review lesson objectives / PowerPoint slide 2
Introduction / 5 / Ask and list responses on board:
- What have you heard about mold?
- What have you heard are good and bad ways to deal with mold in a home?
Mold Characteristics and Health Effects / 10 / Discuss mold characteristics, purpose in nature. / PowerPoint slides 7-8
Describe proven and potential health effects and factors that influence effects and severity. Briefly show slides illustrating types of common molds and effects without reading their listed health effects.
Ask: “How many of you have family or household members with allergies or asthma?” / PowerPoint slides 9-18
Key to Control / 5 / Intro section and discuss conditions for growth to reveal why moisture is the key to control.
Write in big bold letters on board:The Key to Mold Control isMoisture Control!
Explain the moisture criteria to prevent mold growth. / PowerPoint slides19-21
White board or flip chart
PowerPoint slide 22
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Moisture Sources / 5 / Say: The goal is to “keep it dry”, but in the real world, wet happens! / PowerPoint slide 23
Ask: “What are sources of excess moisture in homes?”
Show images and ask audience to identify various liquid water and water vapor (humidity) sources. / PowerPoint slides 24-25
Understanding Moisture Principles and Dynamics / 15 / Clarify basic concepts of moisture, liquid water flow, and relative humidity.
Activity: Pour tap water in a glass and ice water in another glass. Discuss result and reason for it (moisture in air condenses when cooled below its dew point by cold glass) / PowerPoint slides 26-37
2 drinking glasses, water, ice
Discuss conditions and effects of condensation and high relative humidity. Invite participants to share examples they have seen. / PowerPoint slides 38-41
Explain the most critical home features to prevent high indoor humidity.
Ask participants to identify others. / PowerPoint slide 42
Dealing with Mold andMold Myths / 10 / Discussthe commonfallacies and factsof eachMold Myth.
Describebasic types, purposes, and limitations of mold testing. Explain why testing is typically not useful or recommended, “since regardless of type, the next step is the same – fix the source and safely remediate.” Show sample EPA publications.
Demonstrate moisture meter as useful tool (optional, but encouraged). / PowerPoint slides 43-46
EPA pubs.
Optional: Mold sampling kits or reports to show
Moisture meter
Mold Clean-Up Guidelines / 30 / State: “Mold remediation pros with special equipment and training can provide safest and most effective cleanup. Whether using a contractor or not, knowing the following guidelines help ensure as safe and effective a cleanup as possible.”
Mention remediation contractor certification and protocol sources. Show publications. / PowerPoint slides
47-48
Hiring a Mold Remediation Contractor and EPA pubs.
Show and discuss personal protection equipment. Fit respirator, goggles, and gloves onto a volunteer and ask her/him to exercise until winded and share experience; cite alternative types. / PowerPoint slide 49
N-95 mask, sealed goggles, rubber gloves
Discuss lead poisoning hazard and precautions. / PowerPoint slides 50-52
Explain cleanup guidelines: Isolate and Ventilate, and Encapsulate Mold. / PowerPoint slides 53-54
Activity: Divide into teams; give each team some material samples. Have each team decide and toss each material into the “discard” trash can or “clean and keep” bucket if moldy from clean water, then again if moldy from flood water. You may wish to score teams or just review each item and show slide 45. / House material samples, bucket, garbage bag
PowerPoint slide 55
Explain remaining guidelines: Clean, Disinfectants, Consider, Speed Dry, Remain on Mold Alert / PowerPoint slide 56-61
Restoration of Flooded Home (optional) / 15 / If addressing issues of flooded homes, also review mold-, flood- and storm-resistant restoration suggestions to reduce damage and mold risk from future natural hazards. / PowerPoint slides 62-67
Learn More / 5 / Show additional sources of information. / PowerPoint slides 68-71
Publications
websites
Evaluation / 5 / Ask all to complete feedback questionnaire, including what they plan to do as a result of this session. / Pre/post evaluation
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Good Health Starts at Home
Sample news release or radio spot
Mold and Moisture Control
Everyone needs a healthy home. However, did you know that some of the most serious health problems may start at home? Did you know that mold can cause health problems? In the U.S., most people spend over 90% of their time indoors. We need to be aware of the health and safety of our indoor environments.
There are steps and resources that can help us address mold and moisture in our homes.(agency name) is sponsoring a program at (time) on (date) at (location). This program covers the health effects of mold in the indoor environment, conditions in the home that can cause mold growth and ways to reduce indoor mold. Additional helpful resources will be given. For more information or to register for the program call or email (agency name) at (phone number) or (email address).
Good Health Starts at Home
Guest Speaker Confirmation Form:
Mold and Moisture Control
Speaker:Today’s Date:
Presentation Date & Time:
Location:
Location Directions:
# Of Expected Participants:
General Audience:
Background: / The workshop that you are speaking at provides consumers with information on mold and moisture control. Your experiences and expertise may help people to understand conditions that cause mold growth and health effects of mold and excess moisture in homes.
Thank you language:
Other info: / Please let the workshop coordinator know of any audiovisual equipment or other needs you might have at least 2 business days prior to the presentation.
Home safety workshop coordinator contact info:
Thank you for agreeing to share your expertise on mold and moisture control!
Prepared by
Claudette Hanks Reichel, EdD
Professor and Extension Housing Specialist
Director, LaHouse Resource Center
Louisiana State University AgCenter (Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service)
April 2014
Revised by Gina Peek, September 2015
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