Assessment, PPE, and Containment Setup
Before any removal, scope the job. Identify the type of contamination by area: a Condition 2 (settled spores) or Condition 3 (actual growth) area drives your plan. Measure the affected square footage because it determines containment level: under ~10 sq ft can be limited containment; 10-100 sq ft needs full containment; over 100 sq ft is large-scale work requiring engineering controls and often a third-party assessor.
Personal protective equipment is non-negotiable. At minimum technicians wear an N95 for small jobs, but a half- or full-face respirator with P100 cartridges is standard for full containment, plus disposable Tyvek coveralls, nitrile gloves, and eye protection. Respirators require fit testing and a clean-shaven seal.
Build containment to keep spores from spreading to clean areas. Full containment uses 6-mil polyethylene sheeting taped over walls, floors, and ceilings, with a sealed entry. A decontamination chamber or airlock (a double-flap poly doorway, ideally a 3-chamber decon for large jobs) lets workers enter and exit without releasing contaminants. Seal HVAC supply and return registers inside the containment so the system does not transport spores building-wide, and shut the system down during work. Critical barriers cover every penetration: outlets, vents, gaps. The goal is a sealed envelope you can place under negative pressure.