IESO is an accredited standards development organization by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

VANCOUVER, Wash. (September 4, 2008) – On August 7, 2008, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) notified the IICRC Standards Committee of the approval of the IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation. The S520 is the second ANSI-approved IICRC standard, along with the IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration, which was published in April, 2006.

Find INSURED  American Indoor Air Quality Council  (AmIAQC)  certified companies by zip code:

Water Damage / Intrusion

In the event of storm damage or a plumbing failure it is important that the consumer / homeowner understand the proper approach to water restoration save money and minimize possible damage to your possessions.

Unfortunately, to minimize assessment and immediate costs, many homeowners, property managers and homeowners associations are deciding to use unqualified personel to extract water with “wet vacs”, install low capacity fans and spray a deodorizer to cover the smell.

This approach (do it yourself) often creates secondary damages:

1. the delaminating of carpeting and flooring;
2. unwanted effects of humidity on pictures, documents, clothing and more;
3. the absorption of moisture in gypsum board (drywall), baseboards, and insulation;
4. the growth of mold.

A qualified mold inspector can determine if the structure has been dried properly using non intrusive moisture detection equipment such as thermal imaging infrared cameras and moisture meters. Hire an independent “Certified Indoor Environmentalist” to perform this assessment.

The following steps are recommended by a IICRC water damage restoration company:

• Protect all occupants from electrical danger
• Remove as many contents off the floor as possible
• Evaluate the damaged areas
• Extract all standing water
• Create wall opening for ventilation
• Install Dehumidification equipment
• Install high velocity air movers
• Install specialty drying equipment if necessary
• Return daily to monitor the drying process

HAVE A QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT “AmIAQC Certified Indoor Environmentalist”

Assessment the moisture removal and possible mold contamination.

Remember:

water intrusion from a unit above down thru the walls is not considered “clean water” and can create possible health concerns.

We hear to often about homeowners calling on a carpet cleaner when their carpets are wet or they have two or three inches of water in their building.  Hire water damage restoration professionals, the cost of water damage restoration is much less than the cost of mold remediation.

Note:

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http://www.iaqcouncil.org/about/accreditation.htm

The American IAQ Council operates eight accredited certification programs. What does it mean to be accredited?

Third-party Approval

Following the requirements of ASTM Standard E 1929, Assessment of Certification Programs for Environmental Professions: Accreditation Criteria, the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) has established a national reputation for accrediting certification programs in engineering and science-related fields. CESB-accredited programs that you may recognize include the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).

The Council’s CIEC program underwent an intensive, six-month examination in 2005, and was fully accredited by CESB as an engineering-related designation effective January 1, 2006.

The Council's CMC program underwent an intensive, six-month examination in 2006, and was fully accredited by CESB as an engineering-related designation effective October 31, 2006.

The Council's CIE, CMR, CMRS, CIAQM, CMI and CRMI programs were all fully accredited by CESB at engineering-technician level effective January 1, 2007.

High Standards

According to CESB, certification is designed to recognize knowledge and verified field experience. Accredited certification programs must therefore require both. In order to qualify for CESB accreditation, a certification program must also meet high standards of program operation:

·    It must be administratively independent of other organizations in matters pertaining to certification;

·    Its certifying body must consist of a majority of certified individuals;

·    It must provide the public and consumers with an opportunity for input into its policies and decisions;

·    It must follow strict rules for public disclosure of certification-related activities;

·    It must follow strict rules for test development, evaluation and administration;

·    It must enforce stringent eligibility requirements for all candidates, including eight years of education and/or field experience for engineering-related designations such as our CIEC and CMC and two to five years of education and/or field experience for engineering-technician designations such as CIE, CMR, CMRS, CIAQAM, CMI and CRMI.

Though the Council’s board-awarded designations meet all these requirements and more, the same cannot be said of most IAQ certification programs. Other organizations allow office staffers to grant certification in exchange for payment of fees and passing a simple examination based on a mandatory course with limited information. Field experience is rarely required, much less verified. As a result, "instant certifications" from such organizations are nearly worthless when challenged in court.

Contact: (800) 942-0832  info@iaqcouncil.org 

IAQ Council News

Click on a link for more information...

    Sept. 20 -- ABIH Recognizes IAQ Council Certifications

    July 26 -- EPA Praises IAQ Council Program

    July 15 -- IAQ Council lists insured companies

    June 8 -- IAQ Council recognizes EPA program for RCs

    June 1 -- IAQ Council Certifications: A Mark of Integrity

In general, gypsum board should not be exposed to elevated levels of moisture for extended periods. Examples of elevated levels of moisture include, but are not limited to, exposure to rain, condensation, water leakage, and standing water. Some board exposed to these conditions may not need to be replaced, depending upon the source of the moisture and the condition of the gypsum board being considered for replacement. However, IF THERE IS EVER A DOUBT ABOUT WHETHER TO KEEP OR REPLACE GYPSUM BOARD THAT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO MOISTURE -- REPLACE IT.

ASSESSING THE NEED FOR REPLACEMENT OF GYPSUM BOARD

When gypsum board is exposed to elevated levels of moisture, an assessment of the potential damage to the

gypsum board must be made as to whether board exposed to these conditions must be replaced. Gypsum board may

experience limited intermittent exposure to moisture from a variety of sources, such as improper storage, construction

or design defects, water leaks, and janitorial activities. Gypsum board exposed to water should be replaced unless all of the following conditions are met.

· The source of the water or moisture is identified and eliminated.

· The water or moisture to which the gypsum board was exposed was uncontaminated1.

· The gypsum board can be dried thoroughly before mold growth begins (typically 24 to 48 hours depending on

environmental conditions).

· The gypsum board is structurally sound and there is no evidence of rusting fasteners or physical damage that

would diminish the physical properties of the gypsum board or system.

CAUTION: When replacing gypsum board in a fire resistance or sound rated system, care must be taken to

ensure that all repairs are consistent with the specific fire or sound rated design initially constructed (gypsum

board type, fasteners and their spacing, and staggered joints).

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DRYING CONDITIONS

These are general recommendations; for more detailed information, a water damage restoration specialist may be

contacted.

· Adequate ventilation, air circulation, and drying are essential to minimize the potential for mold or other fungal

growth.

· The source of water or moisture must be eliminated.

· Damaged gypsum board and other wet materials that are to be replaced must be removed from the building to

facilitate drying.

· The interior of the building must be thoroughly dried immediately.

· The indoor humidity can be lowered by using fans and portable dehumidification equipment and by opening up the

1 Gypsum board that has been exposed to sewage or flood waters must be replaced.

building when the outside air is drier than the air inside the structure.

· Closets, cabinets, and doors between rooms should be opened to enhance circulation of air.

· Fans should be used to increase air movement. (Central HVAC systems should not be used for this purpose if the

air ducts were covered with water during the incident that created the wet conditions.)

· For information on safe practices to be followed when working in water damaged structures, publications of the

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)2 should be referenced.

Note: Once the gypsum board has been thoroughly dried, it should receive a final inspection for defects before

redecorating.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

The following Web sites and standards provide information and recommendations for treating mold growth; other

Web sites also provide similar suggestions.

California Indoor Air Quality Program at http://www.cal-iaq.org/iaqsheet.htm

Federal Emergency Management Agency at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/hazards/fststpbr.pdf

New York City Department of Health at http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.html

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency at http://www.epa.gov/iedweb00/pubs/moldresources.html

Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation, IICRC S520 (Available from Institute of

Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, 2715 East Mill Plain Road, Vancouver, WA 98661.)

Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage RestorationI, IICRC S500 (Available from Institute of

Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, 2715 East Mill Plain Road, Vancouver, WA 98661.)