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

January 2008

Home
MOLD TESTS NAPLES
Mold Inspectors
Mold Cleanup
Florida Mold Law
Real Estate Sellers
Mold Glossary
Mold Photos
Mold Certifications
Mold in the News
Home Inspector List
Links page
Orlando Mold Inspections
EPA Mold Course FREE

Home inspections in Naples, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and Ft Myers, Florida should include a radon test. Most home inspectors are not FL DOH certified to perform radon tests, a Florida requirement.  Consumers should hire a Florida Certified Radon Business for radon testing and radon mitigation.
January is national radon action month.  The Florida Department of Health and the EPA believes there is a need for a special study of the causes of elevated radon levels in Collier and Lee Counties
 
This issue also concerns some of the do's and don't  of clearance inspections for mold remediation projects.

Radon & Mold Professionals Newsletter
 
January 2008
 
John Cosgrove, CIE                                                       Doug Wall, CIE
Radon & Mold Professionals
office: (239) 498-4619
 
 
 
 
Best Wishes to Everyone In 2008
 
We want to thank all of our clients for a great 2007, we 
look forward to assisting you with your Radon & Mold
concerns in the coming year.

EPA grant

FL DOH to study why high radon levels in Condos, Collier & Lee

 http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/radon

 
FLflag

"South Florida High Rise Radon Study- Register to Participate
The Florida Department of Health is conducting a study, funded by a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant, to investigate the causes of elevated radon levels in mid and high-rise multi-family residences in Lee and Collier Counties.  To apply to participate in this study go to http://survey.doh.state.fl.us/survey/entry.jsp?id=1197399679774and complete the questionnaire. If you have any questions regarding this study, or would like additional information to assist you in reaching a decision about participation, please contact this office at 800-543-8279 or 850-245-4288. You can also reach us by email (Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing) at radonstudy@doh.state.fl.us." 

"RADON IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER AMONG NON-SMOKERS"
 
"In some areas of Florida, one out of two homes has excessive amounts of radon."
FL DOH
______________________________________________
WallRadon Testing, Inc.,  RB1938 
Florida Department of Health certified
Radon Measurement Business
(239) 498-4619     (800) 881-3837
Best Service / Best Test / Best Report
Radon & Mold Professionals
Many Real Estate agents and homeowners ignore the
possibility of elevated radon levels in Southwest Florida.
It seems the EPA and the FL DOH feel the need for a special study
concerning the causes of elevated radon in our area.
Remember, elevated radon levels are a serious health concern but they are just a home repair.

Post Remediation Clearance Inspection/Testing

 Did your mold inspector really perform a clearance inspection ?
 

Many remediation companies have gotten sloppy over the years and by checking their own work when finished, questionable work habits are overlooked. 

Too many mold remediation companies just don't know the proper procedures to clean up mold problems.  Until the new Florida law is enforced, consumers need to beware.  Remember a large ad in the yellow pages is only an advertisement, not a guarantee of qualifications or experience.
 

Ethical mold remediation companies are beginning to hire independent mold inspectors for initial and post remediation inspections and testing as will be required by the new Florida mold law.

 

It's unfortunate but many companies are failing their post inspections because of bad habits or lack of understanding the nationally accepted remediation standards.

 

Adding to this problem are unqualified mold inspectors performing clearance inspections.  Too many inspectors lack the knowledge or understanding of the nationally accepted industry standards for mold remediation, clearance inspections and testing.

 
Consumers should KNOW:
  • Post Remediation Clearance is not just taking a couple air samples, but also requires a visual inspection.
  • Clearance inspection / testing is done BEFORE build back.
  • An independent mold inspection company (3rd party) should perform initial  inspection and clearance inspection.
  • Part of the Liability for clearance goes to the mold inspector, who should carry at least $1million liability and errors & omissions insurance.
 
 
Build Back AFTER Clearance Inspection
post pic 
It is logical that the clearance inspection be performed before the problem area is covered up with drywall, cabinets etc.
 
Nationally accepted industry mold cleanup standards require clearance inspection before build back
of a mold remediation project.
ALL water intrusion areas must be dry.
 
1
 
Photo shows wet
wall during post or clearance inspection.
 
 
 
 
If the mold inspector did
not perform a clearance inspection, he would not know if there are moisture problems still present in the structure.
 
Air samples are only part of your post remediation verification inspection.
You cannot properly clear a mold cleanup without a visual  inspection which includes moisture meter and infrared thermal imaging camera checks.
 
Mold needs moisture to grow!

All Mold must be removed.

  1
 
Sounds silly but this photo was from a clearance inspection last month.
 
 
To protect the consumer, a
3rd party, qualified independent mold inspection
company should perform
clearance inspection. 
 
 
 
 
A Certified Indoor Environmentalist or a Certified Industrial Hygienist is qualified to perform initial and post remediation mold inspections.

Tid Bits from the Indoor Environment Connections On Line News

 http://www.ieconnections.com/index.asp

 "AT PRESS TIME
Air Traffic Controllers Sue Over Mold

By Staff

At Press Time -- Detroit Air Traffic Controllers Sue Over Mold

 

"One controller in the tower, Vince Sugent, local president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, told of obstruction by government officials and airport administrators and incompetence by remediation contractors."

 

"California Air Resources Board: No-Go on Ozone
By Jonathan Miller
 http://www.ieconnections.com/archive/nov_07/nov_07.htm#article1

On Sept. 28, the California Air Resources Board banned such air purifiers, saying "studies have found they can worsen conditions such as asthma that marketers claim they help to prevent," according to the Los Angeles Times.

 

"People with respiratory problems need to be protected from ozone," Nichols stated in a press release. "Consumers ... bought these devices hoping to reduce suffering for themselves or a loved one, only to make the situation worse."

 

Mold Clearance

Post Remediation Testing
 
FLflagClearance Inspection / Testing should be performed by an independent company that has at least $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.

 
 
A Mold Inspection should include the use of an Infrared Thermal Imaging Camera.  There are just too many places where possible moisture intrusion in a structure could be missed without one.
 

Just Some of  over 60 "wet spots" found by 1 inspector during one month.  There are about 14 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"

 

 
 
 
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 logo·          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.

 

·          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.

 

·          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.

 

·          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.

 

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

 

·          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.

 

·          Assessment cost is covered by most insurance companies:

 

·          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.
 
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
 
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. 
________________________________________________________

The Southern - Carbondale, IL
... Beginning Jan.1, anyone looking to sell a piece of residential real estate in Illinois will be required to pass along information about radon, the invisible ...

See Also

: Laws to live healthier by, Southtown Star - Chiago, IL; Raft of new laws apply to Illinois residents in 2008, Belleville News Democrat - Belleville, IL; Radon must be disclosed in home sale after Dec. 31, Aurora Beacon News - Aurora, IL.

Business Directory

 

Termite Inspections 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 5,300 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.
 
Mold Inspections / Mold Testing / Radon Testing
 

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 clearance 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
Mold Cleanup
 
femtotech 

MPSSEnvironmental

   

  http://www.mpssenvironmental.com

 

Contact:  Steve Wirtjes

office: (239) 992-6255

fax: (239) 992-6640

email: info@mpssenvironmental.com

 

Mold remediation with clearance certification
AmIAQC logoAmIAQC
 
Certified Indoor Environmentalists (CIE)
       http://