John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
I’m a Building Envelope & Indoor Environment Consultant, specializing in indoor environmental assessments, mold & odor investigations, as well as cause & origin forensic water intrusion investigation and building envelope failure for commercial and residential structures.
I am a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor, Radon Measurement Technician and Radon Measurement Specialist, a Council-certified Environmental Thermography Consultant, CETC. Council-certified Indoor Environmental Consultant CIEC. I am a member of the Building Enclosure Technology and Environment Council (BETEC) a National Institute of Building Science Council focusing on energy efficient and environmentally responsible homes and buildings. I am also a member of the American Council for Accredited Certification the ACAC National Certification Board.
As a CIEC, I have earned the most respected certification in the field of indoor environmental consulting based on my training and field experience in building sciences, industrial hygiene and indoor environmental risk assessment.
The certification documents my skills and knowledge regarding design, construction and operation of buildings with respect to the quality and efficiency of the indoor environment in a manner that could be relied upon by individuals and organizations seeking my services as a consultant or advisor for the assessment and management of new or established indoor environments.
I can identify the causes of poor indoor air quality even when problems seem vague or unrelated to visible causes. I am able to gather and interpret data from various systems operating in a building. I can Isolate and Identify the source of IAQ Issues in Homes or Offices and provide a solution to IAQ concerns such as, Mold, Bacteria, Infectious Disease, & VOC’s (volatile organic compounds).
For the past 10 years I have worked with Builders, Contractors, and Building Managers Isolating and identifying the source of building envelope failures and IAQ concerns and providing solutions. I have the knowledge and experience to conduct Cause and Origin Building Envelope Analysis – Investigations & Assessments, and Forensic Water Intrusion Investigations.
I have performed Indoor Air Quality; mold and bioaerosol investigations, field investigations, and forensic diagnostic inspections throughout Central Florida for both commercial and residential properties. I have prepared hundreds of remediation protocols using the ANSI approved IICRC S-520 for both commercial and residential projects. I have conducted mold causation, water entry diagnosis, risk evaluation, odor source diagnostic investigations since 2001. My first certifications were with the IICRC in the early 90’s involving water restoration and smoke damage. I have experience and training in the collection and measurements of specific indoor air contaminants, including respirable particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, mold and bacteria.
Finding and identifying the cause and origin of an unhealthy indoor environment involves the knowledge and experience I have in building sciences, industrial hygiene and indoor environmental risk assessment.
Identifying an unhealthy indoor environment is not why my clients hire me.
They hire me to determine the Cause and Origin of the unhealthy indoor environmental and provide a specific scope of work designed to return their indoor environment to a Healthy Indoor Environment.
Specialties
Cause & Origin Forensic Water Intrusion Investigation and Building Envelope Failure, Building Envelope Analysis, Indoor Environmental Diagnostic Inspections, Investigations & Assessments, and Indoor Air Quality Assesment, Investigation and Testing.
I manage the LinkedIn Groups for the IAQA, Indoor Air Quality Association, Indoor Environmental Standards Organization, and the NAHB National Association of Home Builders. These Groups were established on LinkedIn February of 2008 with the goal of promoting the Indoor Air Quality Association, NAHB National Association of Home Builders, and IESO Indoor Environmental Standards Organization. within the LinkedIn network and encourage discussion regarding the IAQ industry in the Groups Forum.
Links:
www.Microshield-ES.com
www.linkedin.com/in/johnlapotaireciec
www.Microshield-es.com/Microshieldtestimonials.html
Certifications
CIEC Council-certified Indoor Environmental Consultant The American Council for Accredited Certification ACAC
CETC Council-certified Environmental Thermography Consultant The American Council for Accredited Certification ACAC
RMT Radon Measurement Technician Florida Department of Health
RMS Radon Mitigation Specialist Florida Department of Health
CIT Level I Infrared Thermographer Snell Group / American Society of Nondestructive Testing
CRRT Certified Remediation Response Technician Global Environmental Resources and Training
State Licenses
Mold Assessor 4 Florida FL Dept of Business & Professional Regulation DBPR http://www.myfloridalicense.com
Radon Measurement Technician R2197 Florida Department of Health http://www.floridashealth.com/
Radon Mitigation Specialist R2206 Florida Department of Health http://www.floridashealth.com/
Advanced Course Work And Training
IAQ Training Institute, LLC (IAQTI) ACAC Council-Certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor (CMRS)
Indoor Sciences, Inc. ACAC Council-Certified Microbial Consultant (CMC) 1/29/09
IAQ Training Institute, LLC (IAQTI) ACAC Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant (CIEC) 9/20/07
Snell Infrared Thermal/ Infrared Thermography, Level 1
Global Environmental Resources & Training Certified Remediation Response Technician
Logical Green Institute LEED AP for New Construction Accreditation Exam Course
National Environmental Health Assoc Essentials for Healthy Home Practitioners, Healthy Homes Specialist
University of Florida EPA Lead Renovation, Repair & Painting RRP
Radalink, Inc Radon Measurement Technician
Radalink, Inc Radon Mitigation Specialist
Indoor Air Quality Solutions, IAQS 
Hi John,
Love your article on the Florida Mold Law Repeal. Very informative and well written!
John you state: This Mold Remediator violated the current state legislation stating that he cannot provide mold remediation and assessment on the same job.
However this is not how the law works at all. An assessment is defined ONLY as initial “and” more than 25 sq feet “and” taking sample. Anyone can remediate and also do his own assessments by simply not doing assessments that meet those three criteria. Very easy to do. How often is there post remediation assessment and more than 25 sq ft of mold. Never. So a mold remediator can ALWAYS do his own PR Assessment.
One of the reasons that there is a bill to repeal the mold law is that many people think incorrectly just as you do in regard to what can and cannot be legally done. So people think the law is too restrictive. In practice it is not very restrictive. It is well balanced
You might want to correct this misinformation in your blog. Besides this inaccuracy I find your blog very helpful and hope you keep up the good (maybe not 100% accurate) work
Gary Rosen
State Lic Mold Assessor
Gary
I’m really not sure where you got the information regarding “25 square feet”. The current law states “mold growth greater than 10 square feet”. As shown below in Section 468.8411 Definitions.
The law is very clear in its intent to create a separation between Mold Assessment and Mold Remediation. Section 468.8419 Prohibitions; penalties.— (1) A person 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.
The remediator that was arrested in Orlando is someone I know personally. That remediator was in direct violation of the law in that he collected air samples in homes with mold growth greater than 10 square feet. He then altered the laboratory results to show a substantial elevation of mold spores and then provided the remediation services for the customer.
As stated in the post the mold remediator now, faces more than three dozen criminal charges ranging from grand theft to insurance fraud to violating the RICO Act. The remediator was not charged with violating the current mold law because Section 468.8419 Prohibitions; penalties.— isn’t Effective until July 1, 2011
When you stated that ”An assessment is defined ONLY as initial” “and” more than 25 sq feet “and” taking sample. “Anyone can remediate and also do his own assessments by simply not doing assessments that meet those three criteria.”
That would actually be an inaccurate statement and a clear attempt at circumventing the intent of the law for personal financial gain. This was an area of the law that was expected to be challenged by those providing both remediation and assessment. Rest assured the intent of the law will be enforced.
You have me confused when you stated “How often is there post remediation assessment and more than 25 sq ft of mold. Never.”
I really don’t know what you are referring to unless you actually think that the law is referring to Post Remediation Assessment with mold growth still there? A Post Remediation Mold Assessment falls under the same definition as a Pre Mold Remediation Assessment. This is clearly described in Section 468.8411 Definitions. The difference is that a Post Remediation Assessment is to confirm the successful remediation of the “Greater than 10 Square Feet” of mold as defined in Section 468.8411 Definitions.
The Law clearly states that a mold remediator my not Perform or offer to perform any mold assessment to a structure on which the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company provided a mold remediation within the last 12 months. So I don’t see how you could miss interpret the current law and State that “a mold remediator can ALWAYS do his own PR Assessment.”
I don’t recommend you continue that practice beyond July 1st 2011.
The remediator that was arrested in Orlando was also charged with falsifying his post remediation mold assessment by again altering the laboratory results. In fact he was charged with never even sending the samples to the laboratory at all.
You stated that “One of the reasons that there is a bill to repeal the mold law is that many people think incorrectly just as you do in regard to what can and cannot be legally done. So people think the law is too restrictive.”
That would be completely untrue. The introduction of the current bill to repeal the mold licensing law HB 4171, SB 1244 were a result of a New Jersey company 1-800-Got Mold. Jason Earle sent me his position 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.”
No confusion there. Jason Earle and 1-800-Got Mold understands the intent of the law is to create separation between Mold Assessment and Mold Remediation. Jason had very clear motive to attempt the repeal.
As for the broad and all encompassing Proposed Committee Bill PCB BCAS 11-01. It was introduced along with more than two dozen other regulated professions in an attempt by the House to create more available jobs in the state. Not due to confusion about the current mold licensing law.
In the years that I have been working in this industry and with the current law I can say that there are very, very few who are confused about the intent of the law. It seems that those who are confused are also providing both mold assessment and mold remediation services and looking for a way to legitimize and continue what is now very clearly against the law.
No correction to any blog post necessary on my behalf.
468.8411 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
“Mold assessment” means a process performed by a mold assessor that includes the physical sampling and detailed evaluation of data obtained from a building history and inspection to formulate an initial hypothesis about the origin, identity, location, and extent of amplification of mold growth of greater than 10 square feet.
“Mold assessor” means any person who performs or directly supervises a mold assessment
Florida Mold Law 468.8411 Definitions.–As used in this part, the term:
“Mold remediation” means the removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventive activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter of greater than 10 square feet that was not purposely grown at that location; however, such removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventive activities, may not be work that requires a license under chapter 489 unless performed by a person who is licensed under that chapter or the work complies with that chapter.
“Mold Remediator” means any person who performs mold remediation. A mold remediator may not perform any work that requires a license under chapter 489 unless the mold remediator is also licensed under that chapter or complies with that chapter
Ch. 2007-235 LAWS OF FLORIDA Ch. 2007-235 15 CODING: (d) Perform or offer to perform any mold assessment to a structure on which the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company provided a mold remediation within the last 12 months.