Mold remediation: the underpayment playbook
Mold claims face two walls: the policy sublimit (often $10K) and IICRC S520 disputes. Carriers want containment limited, removal limited, and clearance testing skipped. Standards say otherwise.
How carriers underpay mold remediation claims
- Limiting Containment Level 3 to visible growth even when air quality requires Cat 3
- Denying HEPA air-scrubbing during demolition phase
- Refusing post-remediation verification (PRV) clearance sampling
- Excluding wall-cavity and HVAC inspection in mold pathway tracing
- Capping claim at sublimit without crediting the originating water-damage cause
The industry standard you can cite
IICRC S520
Standard for Professional Mold Remediation
IICRC
**Key provisions:** Defines Condition 1, 2, 3 environments. Specifies containment construction (negative pressure, HEPA filtration), PPE requirements, post-remediation verification (PRV). Requires Independent Environmental Professional (IEP) for Condition 3 projects > 100 sq ft.
**How to cite in a carrier dispute:** Use when carrier denies containment, PPE, HEPA negative air, or post-remediation testing. Condition 3 triggers professional remediation — not a DIY scrub.
Recent court opinions on mold remediation disputes
United States v. Filline
Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company v. Jada Griffin
Roy Maksym v. Auto-Owners Insurance Company
In Re Covington Specialty Insurance Company and Jose Rochin v. the State of Texas
Frisco, Frisco v. State Farm Florida Insurance Company
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