Case Study · Healthcare · Central Arizona
Healthcare Water Intrusion + Secondary Mold.
ICRA 2.0 Class IV Containment in an Occupied Wing.
Active occupied healthcare facility with water intrusion that aged past S500 thresholds before discovery, secondary mold growth behind vinyl wall base across multiple wings, and adjacent immunocompromised care areas that ruled out anything less than ICRA 2.0 Class IV containment. DRR ran the full project under continuous negative pressure, dual S500 + S520 documentation, and daily Infection Prevention sign-off — with zero patient disruption.
The challenge
Healthcare environments compound the technical complexity of mixed water + mold scopes with the regulatory layer of infection control. This project hit five constraints in parallel:
- Active patient-care environment — no shutdown option, no displacement of clinical operations.
- Water intrusion that aged past S500 thresholds before discovery, with secondary mold amplification visible behind vinyl wall base.
- ICRA 2.0 protocol mandated by the facility's Infection Prevention team — work could not begin until permit was issued.
- Adjacent immunocompromised care areas required Class IV containment with continuous negative-pressure verification.
- Carrier expected both S500 (water) and S520 (mold) documentation packets for the same physical scope.
The response — phase by phase
Seven phases coordinated with the facility’s Infection Prevention team. Containment never came down until written IEP clearance was on file.
Hour 0–4 — Mobilization + Infection Prevention coordination
DRR PM dispatched within the 60-minute target. Project manager met on-site with the facility's Infection Prevention Coordinator before any work began. ICRA permit application submitted with the Construction Activity Type and Patient Risk Group classification per ICRA 2.0.
Day 1 — Class IV containment build
Hard-wall barriers (drywall on framing, not plastic alone), full anteroom for clean entry/exit, sealed waste-removal pathway, sticky walk-off mats. Continuous negative pressure rig commissioned to -0.01 in. w.g. minimum. HEPA filtration on all exhausted air to verified outside discharge.
Day 1 — IICRC S500 + S520 dual classification
Water source identified and IICRC Category determined. Mold colonization assessed under S520 — Condition 2/3 hidden behind vinyl wall base across multiple wings. Both standards' classifications logged as the first entries in the field record. Dual documentation track started.
Day 2–8 — Controlled demolition + drying
Affected drywall, vinyl wall base, and saturated insulation removed under containment. Bagged in regulated-waste containers. Daily psychrometric and pressure-differential logs delivered to Infection Prevention. ICRA permit signed daily by DRR project manager and IP coordinator.
Day 6–12 — Antimicrobial + post-clean
Two-step antimicrobial application per S520 protocol — cleaning pass followed by EPA-registered disinfectant to specified dwell time. HEPA vacuuming of every accessible surface within containment. Continuous documentation throughout.
Day 12 — Independent IEP clearance
Independent Indoor Environmental Professional collected surface and air samples. Accredited lab analysis. Written clearance report — ATP and bacterial counts within IP-specified thresholds. Containment NOT removed until written IEP clearance was filed with Infection Prevention.
Day 13+ — Reconstruction phase
Drywall, paint, finish carpentry, and vinyl wall base replacement to like-kind-and-quality. Same DRR project manager throughout. Carrier received the dual S500 + S520 documentation packet plus the ICRA permit history and IEP clearance report as a single deliverable.
Technical highlights
- ICRA 2.0 Class IV containment built and maintained for the full project duration, no exceptions
- Continuous negative-pressure logging with real-time monitor — no daily-target gaps
- Dual S500 + S520 documentation tracks managed concurrently for the same physical scope
- ICRA permit signed daily by both the DRR project manager and the facility's Infection Prevention coordinator
- Independent IEP clearance — DRR did not certify its own work, and reconstruction did not begin until clearance filed
- Zero patient disruption — adjacent immunocompromised care areas operated normally throughout containment
- Single project manager from first arrival through final walkthrough — no contractor handoff
- Xactimate scope mapped to both IICRC standards and to the FGI / Joint Commission accreditation file the facility maintains
Outcome
Containment
ICRA 2.0 Class IV maintained continuously
Patient Impact
Zero patient or staff complaints
Clearance
IEP-verified, written report filed with Infection Prevention
Carrier
Dual S500 + S520 packet cleared first-pass review
Project references available upon request. Specific facility identification withheld per healthcare-industry confidentiality norms; DRR can confirm with a signed BAA / NDA.
Technical References
The standards that drove this project
Healthcare facility loss in an active environment?
ICRA 2.0 certified. IICRC Certified Firm #70021258. We coordinate ICRA permitting with your Infection Prevention team in parallel with mobilization so the on-site target stays under 60 minutes.

