ASTM D7338-14

Standard Guide for Assessment Of Fungal Growth in Buildings

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This guide presents options for a systematic assessment of fungal growth in buildings.  
5.2 This guide allows for site-specific flexibility and professional judgment in the choice of assessment procedures. It may not be necessary to perform in its entirety the basic assessment presented below to resolve a particular problem, for example, where fungal growth is localized and the source and extent of moisture is readily observable.  
5.3 Conversely, no matter how comprehensive the survey, all fungal growth may not be identified or located in a fungal assessment.  
5.4 Material removal or destructive investigation may be needed to access suspect surfaces.  
5.5 Using the procedures described in this guide, the investigator may have obtained the data necessary to suggest specific recommendations, for example, how to remediate the observed fungal growth, or how to prevent further fungal growth, but those recommendations are beyond the scope of this guide.  
5.6 Precautions may be needed to protect the assessor and building occupants where access may disturb fungal growth.  
5.7 It is the user’s responsibility to protect information that may be considered confidential, or private, or both, in accordance with project contract, corporate protocol, or local, state, and federal regulations, or a combination thereof.  
5.8 It may be necessary to enlist other disciplines or trade expertise to assist in some steps of the assessment, but recommendations of when to enlist and whom to enlist are beyond the scope of this guide.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides a compendium of information and a menu of options for assessment of fungal growth in buildings, but does not recommend a specific course of action. Due to the wide variety of fungal problems affecting buildings and their occupants, and the wide variety of buildings, it is not possible to describe a set of uniform steps that will always be performed during an assessment (that is, a standard practice); therefore the user of this guide must decide which steps are appropriate for a given situation or building.  
1.2 This guide is specific to fungal growth, which is only one potential problem in a building environment. It may be part of, but is not intended to take the place of, a comprehensive indoor air quality investigation.  
1.3 This guide describes minimum steps and procedures for collecting background information on a building in question, procedures for evaluating the potential for moisture infiltration or collection, procedures for inspection for suspect fungal growth, and procedures beyond the scope of a basic survey that may be useful for specific problems.  
1.4 Assessments for fungal growth may be useful wherever fungal growth is suspected, excess moisture has been present or when there are concerns regarding potential fungal growth.  
1.5 Periodic fungal assessment in buildings may be a component of preventative maintenance programs.  
1.6 This guide is applicable to buildings including residential (for example, single or multi-family), institutional (for example, schools, hospitals), government, public assembly, commercial (for example, office, retail), and industrial facilities.  
1.7 Recommendations for developing a sampling strategy or methods for the collection and analysis of fungal samples are beyond the scope of this guide. For recommendations for developing a sampling strategy, see Ref (1)2, Chapter 10.  
1.8 Recommendations for remediation of fungal growth are beyond the scope of this guide.  
1.9 This guide is not intended to supersede any government regulations governing the assessment of fungal growth in buildings.  
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2014
• ICS: 91.040.01 - Buildings in general
• Technical Committee: D22 - Air Quality
• Drafting Committee: D22.08 - Assessment, Sampling, and Analysis of Microorganisms

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D7338 − 14
Standard Guide for
1
Assessment Of Fungal Growth in Buildings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7338; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.8 Recommendations for remediation of fungal growth are
beyond the scope of this guide.
1.1 This guide provides a compendium of information and a
menu of options for assessment of fungal growth in buildings, 1.9 This guide is not intended to supersede any government
but does not recommend a specific course of action. Due to the regulations governing the assessment of fungal growth in
wide variety of fungal problems affecting buildings and their buildings.
occupants, and the wide variety of buildings, it is not possible
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the
to describe a set of uniform steps that will always be performed
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
during an assessment (that is, a standard practice); therefore the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
user of this guide must decide which steps are appropriate for
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
a given situation or building.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.2 This guide is specific to fungal growth, which is only
2. Referenced Documents
one potential problem in a building environment. It may be part
3
of, but is not intended to take the place of, a comprehensive
2.1 ASTM Standards:
indoor air quality investigation.
C755 Practice for Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for
Thermal Insulation
1.3 This guide describes minimum steps and procedures for
C1699 Test Method for Moisture Retention Curves of Po-
collecting background information on a building in question,
rous Building Materials Using Pressure Plates
procedures for evaluating the potential for moisture infiltration
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
or collection, procedures for inspection for suspect fungal
Fluids
growth, and procedures beyond the scope of a basic survey that
D4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measure-
may be useful for specific problems.
ment of Wood and Wood-Base Materials
1.4 Assessments for fungal growth may be useful wherever
E331 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior
fungal growth is suspected, excess moisture has been present
Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uni-
or when there are concerns regarding potential fungal growth.
form Static Air Pressure Difference
1.5 Periodic fungal assessment in buildings may be a
E547 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior
component of preventative maintenance programs.
Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Cyclic
Static Air Pressure Difference
1.6 This guide is applicable to buildings including residen-
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
tial (for example, single or multi-family), institutional (for
E1105 Test Method for Field Determination of Water Pen-
example, schools, hospitals), government, public assembly,
etration of Installed Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors,
commercial (for example, office, retail), and industrial facili-
and Curtain Walls, by Uniform or Cyclic Static Air
ties.
Pressure Difference
1.7 Recommendations for developing a sampling strategy or
E1186 Practices for Air Leakage Site Detection in Building
methods for the collection and analysis of fungal samples are
Envelopes and Air Barrier Systems
beyond the scope of this guide. For recommendations for
E1356 Test Method for Assignment of the Glass Transition
2
developing a sampling strategy, see Ref (1) , Chapter 10.
Temperatures by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
E2128 Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of Building
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality Walls
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.08 on Sampling and Analysis
of Mold.
Current edition approved June 1, 2014. Published July 2014. Originally approved
3
in 2010. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D7338 – 10. DOI:10.1520/ For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
D7338-14. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
this standard. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D7338 − 1
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This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D7338 − 10 D7338 − 14
Standard Guide for
1
Assessment Of Fungal Growth in Buildings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7338; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide provides a compendium of information and a menu of options for assessment of fungal growth in buildings, but
does not recommend a specific course of action. Due to the wide variety of fungal problems affecting buildings and their occupants,
and the wide variety of buildings, it is not possible to describe a set of uniform steps that will always be performed during an
assessment (that is, a standard practice); therefore the user of this guide must decide which steps are appropriate for a given
situation or building.
1.2 This guide is specific to fungal growth, which is only one potential problem in a building environment. It may be part of,
but is not intended to take the place of, a comprehensive indoor air quality investigation.
1.3 This guide describes minimum steps and procedures for collecting background information on a building in question,
procedures for evaluating the potential for moisture infiltration or collection, procedures for inspection for suspect fungal growth,
and procedures beyond the scope of a basic survey that may be useful for specific problems.
1.4 Assessments for fungal growth may be useful wherever fungal growth is suspected, excess moisture has been present or
when there are concerns regarding potential fungal growth.
1.5 Periodic fungal assessment in buildings may be a component of preventative maintenance programs.
1.6 This guide is applicable to buildings including residential (for example, single or multi-family), institutional (for example,
schools, hospitals), government, public assembly, commercial (for example, office, retail), and industrial facilities.
1.7 Recommendations for developing a sampling strategy or methods for the collection and analysis of fungal samples are
2
beyond the scope of this guide. For recommendations for developing a sampling strategy, see Ref (1) , Chapter 10.
1.8 Recommendations for remediation of fungal growth are beyond the scope of this guide.
1.9 This guide is not intended to supersede any government regulations governing the assessment of fungal growth in buildings.
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C755 Practice for Selection of Water Vapor Retarders for Thermal Insulation
C1699 Test Method for Moisture Retention Curves of Porous Building Materials Using Pressure Plates
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
D4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-Base Materials
E331 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air
Pressure Difference
E547 Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Cyclic Static Air Pressure
Difference
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.08 on Sampling and Analysis of Mold.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2010June 1, 2014. Published January 2011July 2014. DOI:10.1520/D7338-10. Originally approved in 2010. Last previous edition
approved in 2010 as D7338 – 10. DOI:10.1520/D7338-14.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of this standard.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D7338 − 14
E1105 Test Method for Field Determination of Water Penetration of Installed Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain
Wa
...