Indoor Air Quality Solutions, IAQS

Dear Colleague,

Indoor Air 2011 in Austin, Texas, is only one month away and should be one of the most exciting in the Indoor Air conference series. Members of IAQA are eligible for exclusive registration fee discounts to this important and unique international forum on IAQ.

A record number of abstracts were submitted for Indoor Air 2011. The technical program will involve nearly 600 podium presentations and 250 posters by authors hailing from 51 countries. There will also be 40 hours of special forums, workshops, panel discussions, and debates on timely and important issues relevant to indoor air quality and comfort.

The organizers of Indoor Air 2011 (The University of Texas at Austin) are committed to a robust program for practitioners and have structured the conference in a way to maximize interactions between practitioners and researchers.

The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) is a Platinum Armadillo sponsor of Indoor Air 2011 and will hold mid-year business meetings in Austin two days prior to the start of Indoor Air 2011. IAQA’s annual member business meeting will be held on June 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., for the primary purpose of installing newly elected IAQA Directors. IAQA members will receive election ballots in the mail this week. The annual member business meeting takes place at the Radisson Hotel, 111 Cesar Chavez at Congress, Austin, Texas.

Many activities related to professional practice are designed for the first two full days of Indoor Air 2011 (June 6th and 7th). And many of these involve direct participation by members and officers of IAQA! Specific technical program activities that should be of interest to practitioners include:

Monday
• Keynote presentation by Joe Lstiburek on Weatherization and Indoor Air Quality
• Forum on Biological Exposures and Health
• Forum on Mold and Dampness Policy
• Panel discussion on Mold, Moisture and Remediation with questions developed by practitioners for internationally-recognized researchers
• Forum on Physician-Informed IAQ Assessments
• Workshop on Residential Health and Safety Assessment (sponsored by HUD)
• Technical session on Weatherization and IAQ
• Technical sessions on Standards and Guidelines (4 hours)
• Technical session on Field Studies
• Technical sessions on Formaldehyde (including measurements and control) (5 hours)
• Technical sessions on Allergy and Asthma (4 hours)
• Lunchtime discussion on Residential IAQ for Expectant Parents (with panel input from researchers and practitioners)
• And more!

Tuesday
• Forum on Indoor Sampling for Emerging Pollutants
• Panel discussion on Emerging Contaminants and Controls (including hydroxyl generators) with questions developed by practitioners for internationally-recognized researchers
• Forum on the Professional Practice of IEQ
• Workshop on IAQ and Affordable Housing (sponsored by HUD)
• Session and workshop on Climate-Change and IAQ (sponsored by the USEPA) (4 hours)
• Technical sessions on Health Symptoms and Assessments, and Interventions (4 hours)
• Multiple technical sessions related to Field Studies (VOCs and particles) (6 hours)
• Multiple technical sessions on Bioaerosols and Biological Agents (6 hours)
• Technical session on Case Studies and IAQ Practice
• Lunchtime discussion on A Rating System for Healthy Office Buildings (with panel input from researchers and practitioners)
• And more!

And there is a lot more from Wednesday through Friday including sessions on emerging contaminants, green and sustainable buildings, soil vapor intrusion, microbes in buildings, SVOCs, emissions from consumer products, psychology and perceptions, and much more.

Additional
• CEUs available!!!
• Great social program with Sunday opening ceremony (Ballet Folklorico and opening keynote), Monday Margarita fest and rockabilly music by Austin Music Hall of Fame inductee Rosie Flores, Tuesday evening mixer at the LBJ Presidential Library, and Wednesday BBQ at the world-famous Salt-Lick in the legendary Texas Hill Country.

The entire conference program with a special itinerary planning tool is now available on the conference website (click on “Program” to access program information). Additional information about the conference, including registration, hotels, social and companion programs and much more is now available on the Indoor Air 2011 website at www.indoorair2011.org.

We look forward to seeing you and many members of IAQA in Austin next month!

Sincerely,

IAQA Headquarters

• www.Microshield-ES.com

What a difference the professionals in our industry can make when we come together with a common goal. 

When the initial house bill was introduced the outlook was daunting.  Many thought that we would simply be overrun by the out of state deep pockets making a run at our repealing our state licensing requirements. 

Not a chance.  Not in our state.  Quickly FABI, IEAQC, NORMI, and MARC came to gather to defeate the move to either repeal or amend our current Mold Professional Licensing Law.

The fight began in February of this year and ended just last night May 6^th at 10:06pm.

Here is a quick re-cap of the fast paced legislation of the past four months.

February 16^th, 2011 just 12 days before the current mold related services licensing law grandfather time period elapsed, Representative James W Grant, District 47, filed HB 4171 in an effort to repeal the current legislation requiring mold remediators and mold assessors to obtain a state license.

February 21^st, 2011 just seven days before the grandfathering time period elapsed, Senator Bill Norman, District 12, filed SB 2214 a sister bill intended to repeal the current Mold Related Services provision requiring both mold remediators and mold assessors to be licensed by the state.

Let’s not forget the WHY the bills were filed; The Lobbying firm of Florida Capitol Advocates, which includes former Sen. John Grant, was hired by the founder of the franchise 1-800-Got-Mold, Jason Earle.  1-800-Got-Mold, Mycelium Holdings is a New Jersey based Franchise with no current franchises in Florida.

Florida Capitol Advocates (Dad former Sen. John Grant) lobbied (son) Representative James W Grant, District 47 who introduced the bill as HB 4171 February 16th.  Senator Norman filed the sister bill in the Senate SB 1244. February 21st.

Jason Earle stated in an email sent to me that his position regarding the repeal of the current mold licensing law are as follows. “the law would inhibit our ability to expand our business in a state which needs to create jobs, not restrict commerce. We are opposed to the educational and experiential prerequisites” Jason also stated “I made it clear that I’m in favor of regulation and enforcement in the mold industry.”

Well lucky for Mr. Earle we still have regulation in the Mold Industry!

HB 4171 and SB 1244 died in committee and never made it to the floor for a vote!

This was primarily due to the introduction of HB 5005 and HB 5007.

March 15^th, 2011 The introduction of PCB BCAS 11-01 (proposed committee bill) is being heard tomorrow morning in the House Business & Consumer Services Subcommittee.

This is the introduction of a proposed Bill that is “An act relating to the deregulation of professions and occupations; amending s. 20.165, F.S.;”

March 15^th, 2011 CS/HB 5005 – Deregulation of Professions and Occupations, GENERAL BILL   by Economic Affairs Committee and Business & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee and Hukill.

May 6^th, 2011 Failed to Pass as amended by Conference Committee Report; YEAS 6 NAYS 32 on Friday, May 06, 2011 9:51 PM

March 15^th, 2011 CS/HB 5007 – Reducing and Streamlining Regulations, Mold Related services removed from HB 5005 via HB 5007.

HB Bill 5007 would amend the current Florida Mold Licensing Law by:

1. Eliminating the education language requiring advanced education and would only require an applicant to possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent.
2. Eliminating any documented training in water, mold, and respiratory protection and would only require an applicant to pass the current approved licensing examination.
3. Eliminating the requirement of an applicant passing a certification examination offered by a nationally recognized organization and adds the phrase “or state”
4. Eliminates the training in water, mold, and respiratory protection requirement in section 468.8419 Prohibitions: penalties.-
5. Reduces the applicants experience requirement of 3 years to 1 year.
6. Reduces the number of mold assessments or remediation invoices prepared by the applicant from 40 to 10.

These proposed amendments to the current licensing law would reduce the license to nothing more than a tax on the industry.

May 6^th, 2011 HB 5007 Failed to Pass as amended by Conference Committee Report; YEAS 18 NAYS 21 on Friday, May 06, 2011 10:06 PM

The efforts to prevent the repeal and amendment of the current Mold Licensing Law seemed endless and overwhelming at times. 

If it were not for the combined efforts of the Mold Professionals from across the State which included, Industry Suppliers, Laboratories, Professional Organizations, Private Corporations, as well as Individual Mold Assessors and Remediators I’m convinced we would have either no licensing law or no education and experience requirements for a license.

I want to personally thank

• Our M.A.R.C Lobbyist Dan Pollock of Pollock & Associates.
• Harvey Gordon of IEAQC and Lobbyist, Gene Adams of Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar, P.A.
• Bill Hunter of FABI Florida Home Inspectors Council, and Lobbyist Wayne Bertsch, ,
• Doug Hoffman of NORMI,
• and all of the Florida Mold Professionals who took time to write emails and make phone calls.

This is a monumental shared success for Florida Mold Professionals and M.A.R.C. of Florida.

Thank You All

John P. Lapotaire, CIEC

M.A.R.C. of Florida

Below are some of the Political Cartoons used to get our message across to the Florida House and Senate. Enjoy.

• John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
•  Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
•  Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
• www.Microshield-ES.com

Thank you to all of the M. A. R.C. supporters across the state of Florida who helped in this fight to maintain our Florida mold professional license status.

M. A. R.C. of Florida worked together with Florida mold professionals from across the state represented by several independent professional organizations to defeat first the “out-of-state interest” pushing to repeal the current Florida mold professional licensing law and then the push to deregulate the current Florida mold professional licensing law by eliminating any and all education and training requirements.

Tonight, as I watched the live broadcast online and Dan Pollock watched from the fourth floor of the Senate building, and after a lengthy and a hotly debated session the Senate voted against Bolt HB 5005 and HB 5007.

The vote came in at roughly 10:10 pm this evening at the tail end of a long and hard five Senate Budget Committee meeting with the final vote on House Bill 5007 22 nays and 18 yeas.

The fight on the front lines of the Hill was fought by Dan Pollock of Pollock and Associates.  Dan Worked extremely hard on behalf of M. A. R.C. of Florida and all of Florida’s license mold professionals.

The real fight takes place every day in the homes and offices of Florida’s mold professionals as they made calls to their individual district representatives and senators and sent hundreds if not thousands of e-mails to their individual representatives and senators in support of maintaining their current professional licensed status.

This is an extremely stressful legislative session that ended in the Senate the victory for Florida mold professionals.  We maintain the current mold licensing law as it stands with the grandfathering period over and the education and training requirements in place.

M. A. R.C. of Florida still needs your continued support as the issue most certainly will rear its ugly head in the next session.

Tonight we celebrate our victory as license mold professionals.

Thank You All.

John Lapotaire, CIEC
M.A.R.C. of Florida

• John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
•  Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
•  Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
• www.Microshield-ES.com

Dear Senator/Representative

I am writing to you with my concerns regarding HB 5007. Please DO NOT accept HB 5007 without the following revisions:

1) Testing should be required and that testing should be performed as a proctored examination by a nationally recognized, independent and State accepted Training Provider who has been approved by the MRS Board.

2) Training in water, mold, and respiratory protection are crucial to the safe and correct assessment and remediation of mold, protection of the public and workers. The necessary training is in accordance with ANSI and OSHA. American National Standard Institute Approved S500 – Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration American National Standard Institute Approved S520 – Standard and Reference Guide for Mold Remediation Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA – Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134 and 29 CFR 1926.103) OSHA is the main federal agency charged with the enforcement of safety and health legislation

Please amend this bill or oppose it as written.
Thank you.

Click This Link to Send the Email

• John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
•  Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
•  Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
• www.Microshield-ES.com

The Florida Legislature has for consideration legislation – HB 5007 – which will significantly reduce the licensing requirements for future licensing and dilutes the licensed profession in Florida. 

A majority of you obtained your Mold Services License thru the Grandfathering Provision which expired on March 1, 2011.  As it now stands, if a person, after March 1, desires to be licensed as a mold assessor or remediatior, they must pass the required examination and one of the following:

(a)

1. For a mold remediator, at least a 2-year associate of arts degree, or the equivalent, with at least 30 semester hours in microbiology, engineering, architecture, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, or a related field of science from an accredited institution and a minimum of 1 year of documented field experience in a field related to mold remediation; or

2. A high school diploma or the equivalent with a minimum of 4 years of documented field experience in a field related to mold remediation.

(b)

1. For a mold assessor, at least a 2-year associate of arts degree, or the equivalent, with at least 30 semester hours in microbiology, engineering, architecture, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, or a related field of science from an accredited institution and a minimum of 1 year of documented field experience in conducting microbial sampling or investigations; or

2. A high school diploma or the equivalent with a minimum of 4 years of documented field experience in conducting microbial sampling or investigations.

However, House Bill 5007 the Reducing and Streamlining Regulations legislation, and as proposed by the Budget Conference Committee last week, it will change those above provisions to only require a high school diploma and pass a “required examine.”  HB 5007 was only heard in the House and while there was never a companion measure filed or considered by the Senate, circumventing the legislative process.

Guard your future and that of the industry!

Please email or call (only) your state Senator TODAY, ask them to VOTE NO on HB 5007.

As licensed professionals, we are proud of the current education, training, experience, rules of conduct, continuing education and background checks that give consumers confidence when choosing a licensed professional.
This email has been sent in cooperation with the Florida Home Inspectors Council and the Indoor Environmental Air Quality Council.

• John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
•  Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
•  Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
• www.Microshield-ES.com

Why do we need TRAINING and regulation in the Mold Industry???

The Orlando Sentinel ran the following story Tue Feb 22, 2011

Orlando Sentinel By Amy Pavuk,

The owner of an Orlando mold inspection and remediation business was arrested Monday on charges that he falsified testing records and defrauded customers, the Department of Environmental Protection said.

The mold remediator now, faces more than three dozen criminal charges ranging from grand theft to insurance fraud to violating the RICO Act.

According to DEP, the mold remediator offered his services to homeowners, businesses and apartment complexes in Orlando, Fort Myers and the West Palm Beach areas from April 2007 to November 2008.

During that time, DEP alleges, mold remediator obtained samples that he told his clients would be tested, however, no testing occurred.

Authorities say mold remediator provided fictitious laboratory reports to clients that were extremely technical.

He then offered assistance in performing “remediation,” for the mold problems — tearing out walls, carpet, flooring and cabinets — in order to remove the supposed mold.

During the “remediation,” the mold was not always removed properly, leaving clients with continuing problems.

Many clients moved or lost their homes, DEP said.

During that timeframe, authorities say, mold remediator received more than $239,000 for fraudulent laboratory testing and remediation work.

There are more than 29 victims, DEP said.

Without the required training in the current licensing law we will have more untrained but licensed mold professionals taking advantage of Floridians!

VOTE NO TO HB 5007

M.A.R.C. needs your help in sending this email to the Florida Senate.  Please send this email to the Florida Senators listed below with the subject line of “Vote No to HB 5007!”

Florida Senators

alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov; altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov; benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov; bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov; bogdanoff.ellyn.web@flsenate.gov; braynon.oscar.web@flsenate.gov; bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov; dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov; detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov; portilla.miguel.web@flsenate.gov; dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov; evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov; fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov; flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov; gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov; garcia.rene.web@flsenate.gov; gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov; haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov; hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov; hill.tony.web@flsenate.gov; jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov; joyner.arthenia.web@flsenate.gov; latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov; lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov; margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov; montford.bill.web@flsenate.gov; negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov; norman.jim.web@flsenate.gov; oelrich.steve.web@flsenate.gov; rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov; richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov; ring.jeremy.web@flsenate.gov; sachs.maria.web@flsenate.gov; simmons.david.web@flsenate.gov; siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov; smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov; sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov; storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov; thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov; wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov; dan@dp2win.com

• John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
•  Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
•  Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
• www.Microshield-ES.com

M.A.R.C. Contributors and Florida Mold Professionals

As you know the Budget committee refused the House mold language in HB 5007 and sent it up the ladder to the committee chairs.

This weekend the Budget Committee Chairs have decided to send the HB 5007 Mold Amendment forward as it stands to the Committee Presiding Officers and then to the floor for a vote.

We need to now focus on sending emails and phone calls to the presiding officers.  The message remains the same.

M.A.R.C. is still in need of your support both financially and through your emails.  If you are not currently listed on the M.A.R.C. website as a supporter please go to the M.A.R.C. website www.MARCFL.com and fill out a contribution pledge to STOP the amendment of the Current Mold Licensing Law.

Please send this email out and ask all of your peers to do the same.

The email subject should be “No to HB 5007” 

Dear Senator/Representitive

As the session continues I am writing to you with my concerns regarding HB 5007.

Please DO NOT Amend the Current Mold Licensing Law.  Training in water, mold, and respiratory protection are crucial to the safe and correct assessment and remediation of mold. The necessary training is in accordance with ANSI and OSHA.

American National Standard Institute Approved S500 – Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration

American National Standard Institute Approved S520 – Standard and Reference Guide for Mold Remediation

Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134 and 29 CFR 1926.103) OSHA is the main federal agency charged with the enforcement of safety and health legislation

Please oppose this bill.

Thank you.

Budget Committee

alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov, negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov, altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov, benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov,
bogdanoff.ellyn.web@flsenate.gov,
fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov,
flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov,
gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov, hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov, joyner.arthenia.web@flsenate.gov,
lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov,
margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov,
montford.bill.web@flsenate.gov,
rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov, richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov,
simmons.david.web@flsenate.gov,
siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov,
sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov,
thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov,
wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov

• John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
•  Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
•  Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
• www.Microshield-ES.com