Legislative Update: The NDAA Is Now Law Moving Mold + IAQ Standards Forward
If you clean, inspect, or restore HVAC systems, this new federal law sits within a much larger story, one centered on the health and safety of our military families.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 is now law, and it requires the U.S. Department of Defense to use recognized industry standards when addressing mold in military housing and facilities. This update aligns with growing evidence that unsafe living conditions, including mold and poor indoor air quality, are affecting both the wellbeing of service members and the readiness of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Change the Air Foundation’s recent Safe Military Housing Survey revealed a force-wide crisis: hazardous conditions, unresolved maintenance issues, and health impacts that are neither acceptable nor sustainable for military families. Their efforts provided lawmakers with trusted, independent data showing why standards-based practices in mold remediation are essential.Contractors are now required to follow the IICRC S520 Standard. And when HVAC systems are involved, S520 directs contractors to follow ACR, The NADCA Standard.
Military housing is one of the largest building portfolios in the country, and tying remediation to recognized HVAC standards sends a clear message:
Indoor air quality and HVAC systems matter to occupant health.
Why This Matters for Military Housing and IAQ
HVAC systems are a critical part of mold remediation
Microbial growth, including mold, can spread through HVAC systems, making thorough inspection, cleaning, and protection essential for effective remediation and healthier living environments.
Standards improve consistency and accountability
IICRC S520 and ACR provide clear, technical guidance that helps ensure mold and IAQ issues are addressed thoroughly, consistently, and with proper documentation, an important safeguard for families who rely on safe, stable housing.
Health-focused, long-term solutions
Standards-based approaches emphasize source control and prevention of re-exposure, supporting long-term indoor air quality rather than temporary fixes.
Qualified expertise matters
Addressing mold and IAQ in complex building systems requires training, credentialing, and adherence to established standards, critical steps in protecting occupant health.
This Is Just the Beginning
The NDAA applies to military housing first, but history shows that when the federal government adopts health and safety standards, they rarely stay confined to government spaces. Accessibility requirements, workplace protections shaped by OSHA, and environmental health benchmarks from the EPA all began federally before becoming common practice in schools, housing, and commercial buildings. The same pattern is now emerging for mold and indoor air quality, signaling that standards-based IAQ practices are becoming the new baseline, not a bonus.
That means what you’re seeing in military housing today could soon shape:
- Public housing
- Government buildings
- Schools and universities
- Large property portfolios
And that reinforces the role of professional standards-based HVAC cleaning and restoration within the broader indoor air quality framework.