USG Moisture, Mold, and Construction Practices Repairing Water-Damaged Building Systems User Manual

Page 2

Safety First!

Follow good safety and indus-

trial hygiene practices during

handling and installation of all

products and systems. Take

necessary precautions and

wear the appropriate personal

protective equipment as needed.

Read material safety data sheets

and related literature on products

before specification and/or

installation.

Removal

A Project-Specific Decision

Proper cleaning addresses the surface condition of the gypsum board. However, when construction materials
get wet, mold and moisture can also be present in the material or structure itself (e.g., wall cavity). Eliminating
the moisture source takes care of part of the problem. If you doubt the effectiveness of cleaning, replacement
of all water-damaged materials may be the solution. The decision to remove and replace affected materials
should be made by qualified individuals such as an independent construction professional. USG does not require
the removal of S

heetrock

brand gypsum panels simply because they once were wet. However, if conditions for

mold growth exist and panels have been wet continuously for more than 24 hours or intermittently for many days
or weeks, the best assurance against mold growth is elimination of the conditions for growth along with replace-
ment of affected materials.

Contact the FEMA office near you for more information on the repair of water-damaged structures. Many
university extension programs and public health departments can also provide guidance on flood and moisture
remediation measures.

1,2,3

Summary

We hope that this information and the additional references help you to select a strategy best suited to your project.
If you have additional questions, please contact us at 800 USG.4YOU.

Additional Sources

– New York City Department of Health, http://nyc.gov/html/doh/home.html (search for mold resources)

– United States Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/iaq (search for mold resources)

Footnotes

1. University of Minnesota

Department of Environmental

Health and Safety, http://www.

ci.cambridge.ma.

us/~EM/floodinf.html.

2. Iowa State University

Extension, http://www.exnet.

iastate.edu/Information/Flood/

3. Cambridge Emergency

Management Department,

City of Cambridge,

Massachusetts, http://www.

ci.cambridge.ma.

us/~EM/floodinf.html

Trademarks

The following trademarks used

herein are owned by United

States Gypsum or a related

company: A

quA

-t

ough

, F

iberock

old

ough

, S

heetrock

Notice

We shall not be liable for

incidental and consequential

damages, directly or indirectly

sustained, nor for any loss

caused by application of these

goods not in accordance with

current printed instructions

or for other than the intended

use. Our liability is expressly

limited to replacement of defec-

tive goods. Any claim shall be

deemed waived unless made

in writing to us within thirty

(30) days from date it was or

reasonably should have been

discovered.

United States Gypsum Company

550 West Adams Street

Chicago, IL 60661

800 USG.4YOU (874-4968)

usg.com