ASTM_E_2418_-_06.pdf

Designation:E 2418 06Standard Guide forReadily Observable Mold and Conditions Conducive to Moldin Commercial Buildings:Baseline Survey Process1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2418;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 PurposeThe purpose of this guide2is to define goodcommercial and customary practice in the United States ofAmerica for conducting a baseline survey for readily observ-able mold and conditions conducive to mold in a commercialbuilding related to a commercial real estate transaction byconducting:a walk-through survey,document reviews,andinterviews as outlined within this guide.This guide is intendedto identify observable mold and physical deficiencies condu-cive to mold as a result of moisture and water infiltrationthrough the commercial buildings envelope or substructure,orgenerated within the building as a result of processes ormechanical systems,excluding de minimis observable moldand physical deficiencies conducive to mold.This guide is toallow a user to assess the potential need for further assessmentor other actions that may be appropriate that are beyond thescope of this guide.For purposes of this guide,the acronym“BSP”or“Baseline Survey Process”is used interchangeablywith this guides full title.1.2 Purpose LimitationsWhile a BSP may be used tosurvey for readily identifiable mold and physical deficienciesconducive to mold,the BSP is not designed to serve ascomprehensive survey for the presence of observable mold andphysical deficiencies conducive to mold in all or most areas ina commercial building.It is not intended to reduce the risk ofthe presence of observable mold and physical deficienciesconducive to mold nor is it to eliminate the risk that observablemold and physical deficiencies conducive to mold may pose tothe building or its occupants.1.3 Considerations Beyond This ScopeThe use of thisguide is strictly limited to the scope set forth in this section.Section 13 of this guide identifies,for informational purposes,certain physical conditions(not an all-inclusive list)that mayexist at a property and certain activities or procedures(not anall-inclusive list)that are beyond the scope of this guide butmay warrant consideration by parties to a commercial realestate transaction.The need to investigate any such conditionsin the consultants scope of services should be evaluated basedupon,among other factors,the nature of the property and thereason for conducting the BSP.The scope of such furtherinvestigation or testing services should be agreed upon be-tween the user and the consultant as additional services,whichare beyond the scope of this guide,prior to initiation of the BSPprocess.The responsibility to initiate work beyond the scope ofthis guide lies with the user.1.3.1 Sampling for mold growth is a non-scope consider-ation under this guide.As noted by EPA 402-K-01-001,sam-pling cannot be used to assess whether a commercial buildingcomplies with federal standards,since no EPA or other federalstandards or Threshold Limit Values(TLVs)have been estab-lished for mold spores.And,sampling would only produceresults reflecting a specific moment in time in the best case andcould produce inaccurate or misleading results in the worstcase.1.4 Organization of the GuideThis guide has 13 sectionsand three appendices.Section 1 defines the Scope.Section 2 isReferenced Documents.Section 3 is Terminology.Section 4defines the Significance and Use of this guide.Section 5describes User Responsibilities.Sections 6 through 11 provideguidelines for the main body of the report,including the scopeof the Walk-through Survey and preparation of the report.Section 12 and Appendix X1 identifying Out of Scope Con-siderations.Section 13 lists keywords for Internet reference.Appendix X1 provides the user with additional BSP scopeconsiderations,whereby a user may increase this guidesbaseline scope of due diligence to be exercised by theconsultant,Appendix X2 provides the user with a suggestedInterview Checklist,and Appendix X3 provides the user witha suggested Field Checklist.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:3E 1527 Practice for Environmental Site Assessments:Phase1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E50 on EnvironmentalAssessment,Risk Management,and Corrective Action and is the direct responsi-bility of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Management.Current edition approved March 1,2006.Published March 2006.2Whenever terms defined in Section 3 are used in this guide,they are in italics.3For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page