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| Serving Florida since 1999 |
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| Radon & Mold Professionals |
Mold is found everywhere but Mold Growth should not be inside your Naples, Marco
Island, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral or Ft Myers, Florida home.
Never use just the "mold test" to determine if home has a mold problem.
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EPA
Considering Bioaerosol Sampling
http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldcourse/chapter7/lesson2.html
"remember
that a negative sampling report must not be used in place of a visual survey. Factors such as barometric
pressure, inside and outside temperatures, activity levels, and humidity may dramatically reduce or increase the spore levels
within a building. Air sampling for mold provides information on what was in the air only for the moment when the sampling
occurred. It is important, therefore, that sampling not replace visual inspection."
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Can your home inspector interpret your
mold lab results?
http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldcourse/chapter3/lesson3.html
"Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific
experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting the results." EPA
"Experience in interpretation of
results is essential.” EPA
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AmIAQC Certified Indoor Environmentalist or a Certified Industrial Hygienist
is qualified to determine if a home has a mold problem and determine what should be done to correct mold problem!
Remember: "The inspector
decides if the home has a "mold problem", no one else, just the inspector. (mold E&O is essential)
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WallRadon Testing, Inc.
Radon & Mold Professionals
AmIAQC Board Certified Indoor Environmentalists (CIE)
AmIAQC Board Certified Residential Mold Inspectors
Office: (239) 498-4619
Toll free: (800) 881-3837
Fax: (239) 949-5948
Radonman suggests you hire an
Question: How do you know if you need a mold inspection?
Answer: If you’ve ever had a water intrusion, damaged building materials, musty odors, health complaints or if
the owner / buyer has an immune problem; a mold inspection can identify an existing or potential mold problem.
Question: How do I choose a mold inspector?
Answer: You should choose your mold inspector based on their knowledge and experience of using the "best available
science" and not scare tactics or hype.
We have been trained
and certified by the nation's most respected environmental associations.
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http://www.iaqcouncil.org
American Indoor Air Quality Council, (AmIAQC)
AmIAQC certifications accredited by CESB
The Only Independently-Accredited Certifications in the IAQ Industry!
Accredited
by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards
The
recognized accreditation body for engineering and scientific certification and specialty certification programs.
American
Indoor Air Quality Council, all certifications including:
- Council-certified Indoor Environmentalist
- Council-certified Microbial Remediator
- Council-certified Microbial Remediation
Supervisor
- Council-certified
Residential Mold Inspector
No other mold certifications
are independently-accredited in the United States.
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Question: How is a mold inspection performed?
Answer: A visual assessment should be made of the subject property to identify potential conditions
condusive to mold growth and/or visible mold. Subsequent sample collection should be based from the information
aquired during the visual assessment. Occupant testimony about property history and occupant health issues (if any). Data
interpretation of lab analysis. The inspector can now take all of the information collectively to confirm or rule out
potential sources of moisture and/or mold contamination. Mold presence should never be determined soley on air testing
alone. The source of any elevated mold condition needs to be identified.
Mold Facts:
Mold
growth can start as soon as 24 hours after water intrusion has occurred. Mold can often be seen in the form of a discoloration
or a stain. When molds are present in large quantities, called colonies, they become a health concern.
Molds are divided into three basic groups based on health effects:
Allergenic molds: Can cause allergic symptoms such as headache, fatigue, itchy eyes or throat, etc.
Pathogenic molds: Can cause suppressed immune systems, or serious health effects in a person who already has a decreased
immune system.
Toxic molds: Can cause serious health effects in almost everyone. These effects may be short-term irritations to even cancer.
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| stachybotrys |
Protect
yourself:
At the moment their is no current regulations
on who can do mold testing in Florida. Protect yourself and your client!! Make sure to ask for credentials. Your mold assessor
should have Errors & Ommisions insurance which can only be attained if they have taken a certification class for mold
assessment by an accredited instructor. We follow the mold assessment protocols
of the Indoor Environmental Standards Organization.
Visual
Assessments:
A visual assessment of the subject property is a very important part of the mold assessment. During
a visual assessment, conditions conducive to mold presence are noted by location including photograghs and as part of our non-intrusive moisture inspection methods we use a Protimeter (moisture meter) & Infrared
Thermal Imaging Technology. We've seen many instances where air
sampling showed that no elevated mold conditions existed, however there were locations of elevated moisture behind substrates.
When there is elevated moisture, typically there is elevated mold; the mold may not be airborne yet and trapped behind
the substrate. But given enough time and water the mold literally eats the substrate and eventually will become airborne. Again, the visual assessment is a very important part of the mold
assessment.
To view a short movie about Infrared Thermal Imaging. Click the link below.
A particle counter is an instrument
that detects and counts particles.
In a clean home or
room the number of particles in the air should be lower than in a room with mold growth producing mold spores
into the air.
The room with mold, particles should
be higher. A particle counter is just another tool for the mold inspector. As with air sampling (tests) or infrared thermal imaging cameras many things can influence
the results. Hopefully the more sophisticated instruments an inspector use in
the inspection, the more accurate your results.
Mold inspectors / environmentalist
can determine indoor air quality more quickly.
“The main use for handheld particle counters is checking contamination
levels and locating sources of particle emissions. The small size and weight of these
particle counters make them ideal for point-of-use measurement of particle contamination at critical locations. Hand held
particle counters have proven themselves in many settings.”
Sampling
Basics:
Indoor Air Sampling:
Indoor air samples should be collected
near the main return with the fan in the "on" postion. An additional air sample should be taken for each HVAC system.
If there is more than one level to the property, at least one air sample should be taken per level. If a room has any "Red Flags" such as visible mold, signs of water intrusion or musty smell, an additional
air test or swab set may be recommended.
Outdoor Air
Sampling:
Outside samples should NOT be collected under any
overhang of the property (not on lanai, under carport or porch). Also, outside samples should not be taken when it's raining.
Swab/Tape Surface Sampling:
Surface samples should be taken if there is visible suspect
mold present.
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Mold Inspection
Fees:
Commercial building clients please call for
pricing.
We base our prices for
residential units on the number of HVAC units rather than square foot.
Visual assessment of Subject
Property:
excluding attic space, roof, penetrations,
crawl spaces
1 HVAC system ..... $ Please call
2 HVAC systems .... add $50.
3 HVAC systems ... add $100.
4 HVAC systems.... add $150
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Air / Tape / Swab Sample Pricing:
(with visual inspection)
EMSL Labs ...................... $ 125/ea.
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Visual Assessment of accessible
attic space, roof,
penetrations, and crawl spaces:
1 HVAC system ..... $ Please call
2 HVAC systems .... add $50.
3 HVAC systems ... add $100.
4 HVAC systems.... add $150
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Fungal Contamination:
A Manual For Investigation, Remediation
and Control
By : Hollace S. Bailey, PE, CIAQP,
CIE, CMR
“Data analysis: The assessment of a building cannot be based solely
on the results of the testing methods described above, as investigators must understand the significance of test results in
relation to conditions present at the test locations. The overall visual observations
made of the building must be considered in combination with the results of any testing, to determine the overall condition
of the building. Test results alone should
never be considered to give a definitive account of the building’s condition.”
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Quote:
New York City Department of Health (DOH), the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA), and the Mt. Sinai Occupational
Health Clinic ….. Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi
in Indoor Environments.
2.1 Visual Inspection ****** A visual inspection is the most important initial step in identifying
a possible contamination problem. The extent of any water damage and mold growth should be visually assessed.
This assessment is important in determining remedial strategies. Ventilation systems should also be visually checked, particularly
for damp filters but also for damp conditions elsewhere in the system and overall cleanliness. Ceiling tiles, gypsum wallboard
(sheetrock), cardboard, paper, and other cellulosic surfaces should be given careful attention during a visual inspection.
The use of equipment such as a boroscope, to view spaces in ductwork or behind walls, or a moisture
meter, to detect moisture in building materials, may be helpful in identifying hidden sources of fungal growth and
the extent of water damage.
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http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/i-e-r.html#Sampling
“Sampling
may help locate the source of mold contamination, identify some of the mold species present, and differentiate between mold
and soot or dirt. Pre- and post-remediation sampling may also be useful in determining whether remediation efforts have been
effective.”
“Keep
in mind that air sampling for mold provides information only for the moment in time in which the sampling occurred, much like
a snapshot. Air sampling will reveal, when properly done, what was in the air at the moment when the sample was taken. For
someone without experience, sampling results will be difficult to interpret. Experience in interpretation of results
is essential.”
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Mold Cleanup Companies
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Storm / Fire / Water / Mold
office: (239)
567-0001 (Lee)
(239) 992-0061 (Collier)
toll free: (866) 760-6653
fax:
(239) 997-0016
Contact: Brian
Bland
cell:
(239) 707-7931
email: brian@H2O911.com
Infrared Thermal
Imaging Cameras
Mold remediation with clearence certification
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Gulf Coast Restoration & Construction
Commercial & Residential Specialists
Water ~ Mold ~ Fire ~ Rebuilds
CGC1508232
1-877-267-9420 or 239-267-9400
24/7 on-site within 2 hours
http://www.gcrcinc.com/index.html
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Puro Clean
Kevin Koch cell (941) 979-7677
PuroClean 1st Restoration Solutions
Charlotte (941) 205-3131 * Lee (239) 628-1040
Sarasota (941) 244-9440 * Fax (941) 637-9693
website: http://www.puroclean1strestoration.com/
Our services
include:
- Water Removal, Dehumidification, and Deodorization
- Fire, Smoke and Soot Damage
- Mold Mitigation and Remediation
- Specialty Services
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Mold Remediation:
(We believe it is not ethical to test and
do remediation work)
The source of the following information about mold remediation is the:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Here's the direct link to the document:
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture
and Your Home"
For more information about radon & mold visit: www.certifiedradonmold.com
For mold in the attic, many recommend cleaning it with
bleach, allow to dry then cover with a mold prevent paint.
Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors.
One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly
a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following the guidelines below. However:
- If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth
covers more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide: Mold Remediation in Schools
and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document is applicable to other
building types. It is available free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318,
or here at epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html.
- If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service
provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold. Check references and ask the
contractor to follow the recommendations in EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygenists (ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.
- If you suspect that the heating/ventilation/air conditioning
(HVAC) system may be contaminated with mold (it is part of an identified moisture problem, for instance, or there is mold
near the intake to the system), consult EPA's guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? before taking further
action. Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold - it could spread mold throughout
the building. Visit epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html, or call (800) 438-4318 for a free copy.
- If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other
contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.
- If you have health concerns, consult a health professional
before starting cleanup.
Biological Pollutants in Your Home - This document explains indoor biological pollution, health effects of biological pollutants, and how to control
their growth and buildup. One third to one half of all structures have damp conditions that may encourage development of pollutants
such as molds and bacteria, which can cause allergic reactions -- including asthma -- and spread infectious diseases.
Describes corrective measures for achieving moisture control and cleanliness. This brochure was prepared by the American
Lung Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The publication was updated by CPSC in 1997 www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/425.html
Managing Mold in Your Florida Home: A Consumer Guide (click here)
Photos of Mold Problems on attics (click HERE)
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