Mold Inspection & Testing Information for Naples Mold Inspections, & Florida Mold Inspections 2008

November 2007

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Infrared Thermal Imaging Cameras are a neccesity for moisture detection and identifing possible sources of mold contamination. Home inspectors, mold inspectors, mold assessors must have an infrared thermal imaging camera to perform a complete investigation for moisture & mold in Marco Island,Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel Island, including all of Collier and Lee Counties as well the rest of Florida.

Radon & Mold Professionals Newsletter
November 2007
 
John Cosgrove, CIE              Doug Wall, CIE
newsletter, 1st of the month
business directory, middle of the month
 

 

Infrared Thermal Imaging Cameras
 
femtotechInfrared Thermal Imaging Cameras have become such
"must have" tool in mold / moisture investigation you need to know about them.
The cameras show temperature differences, often you can "see" the wall studs which leads many to think of the cameras as a x-ray.  This of course is not the case, the area where the wall stud is often not the same temperature as the rest of the wall.     Areas that are "wet" are usually a different temperature than areas that are dry making "wet" areas visible with a infrared thermal imaging camera.
Often you can not see stains or signs of moisture with your naked eye, but the infrared thermal imaging camera can.  With the high ceiling we have in Southwest Florida, it is common to find water intrusion on ceiling you would normally never detect without an infrared camera.
An inspector can scan the interior of a home in minutes with a infrared camera, to check the same area with a moisture meter would take hours (moisture meters check  about 1 sq inch at a time).
Remember: MOLD needs food and water (moisture) to grow.
A mold inspection without an infrared thermal imaging cameras increases the chances some moisture intrusion can be missed.
__________________________________________________________________

http://www.infraredsolutions.com/html/applications/moistureDetectionF.shtml

"Infrared inspection is a fast, non-invasive method to discover moisture intrusion within the building envelope. Infrared inspection does not directly detect the presence of mold, rather it may be used to find moisture where mold may develop. The limitations to obtaining accurate infrared images pertain to the ability of the surface being scanned to emit heat energy. Gypsum (dry wall) in interior walls emits quite well, whereas highly reflective surfaces do not. Since the temperature difference between the wet and the dry wall are very slight, a sensitive infrared camera must be used."

Infrared Thermal Imaging Cameras have become a invaluable tool for home inspection, mold inspection, moisture detection, energy audits, law enforcement investigations and much more.
 

Infrared images

http://www.nationalinfrared.com/image_browser3.php
 
fall pics 
"Center Phase of 3 phase electrical connection showing a 50+ degree temperature rise. Possible loose or dirty connection."
 
 
 
 
 
 
femtotech
 
"Suspect Marijuana grow facility detection with color IR imaging"
 
 
femtotech
 
 
"Hot water pipe flow detection underneath tile floor"
Ceiling Moisture
 
red4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

"This image clearly shows an area of moisture infiltration in a high ceiling of a residential structure. This classic pooling effect is usually indicative of moisture rather than improper insulation. Moisture damage like this can lead to mold conditions if not properly fixed." 

http://www.predictive-maintenance.com/energy.html
Home Inspectors often don't include moisture intrusion within the scope of their work (job).
Clients should read their inspection agreement.
Home Inspectors have many other tools for checking electrical problems etc., therefore don't feel the need for a expensive infrared camera.
 
b 360 
 
Infrared thermal imaging cameras are expensive, the common Flir B series camera have a starting price
of about $6,000 and go up.  Flir's newest camera the B360 is just under $18,000. (pictured on right)
 
 

New!

"The new ThermaCAMŽ  B360 is the most affordable feature rich infrared camera available!  The B360 now has FLIR FUSION!  FLIR's new FUSION functionality allows for easier identification and interpretation of infrared images.  This advanced technology enhanced the value of an infrared image by allowing you to overlay it directly over the corresponding visible image.  The functionality combines the benefits of both the infrared image adn visual picture at the push of a button
 
 
"If a Home Inspector provides mold inspections, they should
 
have an infrared thermal imaging camera."
Russel .. Home Buyers Inspection
 
 
 Moisture Detection:
Many new cameras insert the infrared image inside the digital photo for easy identification of the area of concern.  Flir cameras call it a fusion photo, Fluke cameras call picture in a picture.
_______________________________________
 
red5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

"The image to the right is what the infrared camera saw.  You can see that the water had gone into the wall over the window."

 

fussion2

fussion1

2
The three images above are the same area.
First image just infrared, second is fusion picture of same area, third is digital photo of area. All areas identified as suspected moisture with infrared should verified with a moisture meter.
Doug Wall
_____________________________________

 


"Moisture intrusion and potential mold in walls and ceilings. IR thermal imaging is much faster, noninvasive, and provides evidentiary-quality, intuitively understandable data having a much higher degree of accuracy and reliability than other moisture detection technologies used to trace the source and scope of water damage, and thus potential mold in buildings. Once the IR camera identifies areas with thermal differences, a moisture meter can be used to confirm that they represent moisture." http://www.adairinspection.com/InfraredThermography
 
 
Short Movie about Infrared Thermal Imaging Cameras (for inspections)
 
B CamFlir B Cam (just click on link below)
http://www.flirthermography.com/media/BCam/BCam.htm                                      (movie about infrared cameras)
 
Realtors need to understand that a mold inspection
done without Infrared imaging is not a complete inspection.

Just Some of  over 60 "wet spots" found by 1 inspector during the month of October.  There about 10 inspectors in Collier and Lee Counties with infrared cameras.

 

1  "wet area on high ceiling"

 

11 

"wet area behind stool"
1 "wet wall"
13 "wet wall"

 

 
 
 

Fluke Infrared Thermal Imaging Camera

http://www.inspectortools.com/tiirflthimfb3.html

1 
 
Business Directory at Bottom of Page
 New Florida Mold Law
 FLflag 
One very important aspect of the new law the consumer should understand is that Mold Inspectors and Home Inspectors are two different professions, with separate licenses and regulations.
 
When You have MOLD.
What are the benefits of a preliminary mold assessment?
 

AmIAQC logoˇ          Certified Indoor Environmentalist - third party assessment:  Inspector should not perform any type of remediation so there is no conflict of interest. Our goal is to provide accurate information without bias so that educated decisions can be made.

 

ˇ          Defined "Scope of Work": Defines the boundaries of the affected area(s) needing remediation. Additionally, knowing if the airborne levels are in a range of thousands, or hundreds of thousands may affect decisions regarding the timeliness of remediation, and the continued occupancy of the home.

 

ˇ          Documentation: Many insurance adjusters will not authorize or undertake mold remediation if the presence of mold growth is not scientifically demonstrated. We identify the presence or absence of mold growth with AIHA EMLAP accredited laboratory analysis. Elevated moisture presence is identified through non-intrusive visual inspection with the use of infrared thermal imaging and other moisture detection equipment.

 

ˇ          Recommendations for corrections: Know the extent of cleaning and what specific items/materials can be saved and how, plus what items/materials should be disposed based on nationally accepted industry standards.

 

ˇ          Receive accurate remediation proposals: Saves homeowners and insurance companies money.

 

ˇ          Achievement of "Clearance" is a significantly higher percentage: Providing useful information to remediation companies equals a successful project and allowsoccupants to return home quicker since additional cleaning after post remediation inspection and testing is reduced or eliminated.

 

ˇ          Assessment cost is covered by most insurance companies:

 

ˇ          Cross contamination? Many times when remediation is performed without a preliminary assessment and a containment is used; the post remediation air quality will pass inside the containment but will fail outside the containment. Knowing the extent of airborne microbial amplification before remediation begins eliminates questions of whether cross contamination occurred.

  •  Can be used as part of the Seller's Disclosure: Detailed documentation gives the prospective buyer a sense of comfort knowing the entire process was handled appropriately from start to finish while following accepted industry standards.
 
Realtors    (protect yourself and your client)
FLflag
   Recommend only Mold Inspectors that:
 
  • Carry at least $1million of general liability and mold Errors & Omissions insurance.
  • Use Infrared Thermal Imaging Cameras in their inspections.
  • Provide recommendations for corrections based on nationlly accepted industry standards.
  • Are certified for mold inspections by the American Indoor Air Quality Council or are certified Industrial Hygienists.
AmIAQC

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.

Only certifications for mold that require experience.
Did you know only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths than radon?
 
Elevated Radon levels can be found in new homes or old homes, condos even high rises on the 15th floor or above.  "The only way to know is to test".
"1 out of 4 homes tested in Collier and Lee had elevated Radon levels" FL DOH
 

Mold Clearance

Post Remediation Testing
 
FLflagClearance Inspection / Testing should be performed by an independent company that has $1million Liability and Mold Errors & Omissions Insurance.
 
New Florida law will require this for inspectors. Why
would a consumer not want their inspector to have
mold errors & omission insurance now.
 

Ch. 2007-235 LAWS OF FLORIDA Ch. 2007-235

17

468.8421 Insurance.-

(1) A mold assessor shall maintain general liability and errors and omissions

insurance coverage in an amount of not less than $1,000,000.

 
Mold Inspections / Protect your client
 

What consumers should require of their mold inspector until the New Florida Mold Law becomes effective:

 

Note:  The new law was signed by Govenor Crist in June.  Many sources believe if litigation occurs, inspectors are required to meet certain aspects of the law even though the Florida DBPR is not enforcing the law yet.

You may want to consult legal advice concerning this matter.

Example:

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070705/COLUMNISTS16/707050328/1014/BUSINESS

Mold bill became law July 1
By Joe Adams
Originally published on July 05, 2007

"The law requires mold assessors and remediators to maintain general liability, and errors and omissions insurance coverage in an amount of not less than one million dollars."

"The law also requires that all contracts for mold assessment or remediation services to be in writing (which includes electronic versions) and the contracts must be signed, or otherwise authenticated by the parties, in order to be valid."
 
Radon causes Lung Cancer
 
epa

http://www.epa.gov/radon/

"We know that radon is a carcinogen.  This research confirms that breathing low levels of radon can lead to lung cancer."
 
 
The U.S. Surgeon General, Richard Carmona, Issues National Health Advisory on Radon
The Surgeon General of the United States issued a Health Advisory in 2005 warning Americans about the health risk from exposure to radon in indoor air.  The Nation's Chief Physician urged Americans to test their homes to find out how much radon they might be breathing.  Dr. Carmona also stressed the need to remedy the problem as soon as possible when the radon level is 4 pCi/L or more.  Dr. Carmona noted that more than 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer each year. 
Business Directory
 

 Termite Tracker

 
Carrie Finegan
Inspector / Consultant
 
 
Phone: (239) 947-2025
Fax:    (239) 947-2297
27810 Pension Place
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
  company logo
WallRadon Testing, Inc
Radon & Mold Professionals
FL DOH certified Radon Business, RB1938
FL DOH certified Radon Technicians, R1751, R1867, R1778
AmIAQC certifed Indoor Environmentalists
AmIAQC certified Residential Mold Inspectors
 
John Cosgrove, CIE, CRMI   &  Doug Wall, CIE, CRMI
Office: (239) 498-4619    toll free: (800) 881-3837
 
In seven years we have performed over 13,000
radon tests and over 5,100 mold inspections with thousands of mold tests.
Best Service  /  Best Report  /  Best Test
Our insurance coverage has always exceeded the requirements of the new Florida law requirement of $1 million E&O.
How we list Mold Cleanup Companies
We list mold cleanup companies that hire independent 3rd party AmIAQC certified inspectors or a certified Industrial Hygienist for preliminary inspections and post remediation inspections and testing.
(minimum certifications)
American Indoor Air Quality Council
"Certified Indoor Environmentalist"
"Certified Mold Investigator"
New Florida Law requires independent 3rd party mold assessors.
 

http://www.naplesmoldinspection.com/id12.html

_________________________________________________________

 

468.84 Legislative purpose.-

The Legislature finds it necessary in the

interest of the public safety and welfare, to prevent damage to the real and personal property, to avert economic injury to the residents of this state, and to regulate persons and companies that hold themselves out to the public as qualified to perform mold-related services.

468.8419 Prohibitions; penalties.-

(1) A mold assessor, a company that employs a mold assessor, or a company that is controlled by a company that also has a financial interest in a company employing a mold assessor may not:

(d) Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation to a structure on

which the mold assessor or the mold assessor's company provided a mold assessment within the last 12 months.

_________________________________________________________
We try not to list remediation companies that perform their own inspections or use inspectors with "2 day wonder" certifications.  We try to list remediation companies that hire inspectors that carry the $1 million mold E&O insurance required by new Florida Law.
Mold Cleanup
H2O 

H2O 911  Restoration

        Storm / Fire / Water / Mold

               www.H2O911.com

 

Contact: Brian Bland

office: .. (239) 567-0001 (Lee)

              (239) 992-0061 (Collier)
toll free: (866) 760-6653

fax:  ...  (239) 337-9357

cell: ....  (239) 707-7931

email: brian@H2O911.com

Infrared Thermal Imaging Cameras

Mold remediation with clearence certification
Mold Cleanup
 
femtotech 
 
 
 
 
Lee  
                                                          Charlotte
(239) 542-1000                                           (941) 624-3100
Collier                                                        Sarasota
(239) 434-8555                                            (800) 226-4060
 www.DamexCorp.com                               CBC 1252046