July 18, 2010
Some air cleaners are designed to produce ozone which is a strong oxidizing agent and a known irritant of the lungs and respiratory system. Studies have shown that ozone, even at high concentrations, is not effective at killing airborne mold or surface mold contamination. Even if mold was killed by ozone, the health threats would not be reduced until mold contaminants are removed through cleaning. Health experts, including the Minnesota Department of Health, do not recommend the use of ozone to address mold or any other indoor air problems.
John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
www.Microshield-ES.com
www.CFL-IAQ.com
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Commercial IAQ, Residential IAQ | Tagged: ACAC, air quality, Apartment mold, CETC, ciec, condo mold, Florida Mold Law, healthy home, HOA, iaqa, IESO, indoor air quality, john lapotaire, John P. Lapotaire, microshield, mold, mold inspection, mold pretreatment, mold prevention, mold remediation, mold removal, mold testing, new home mold, School mold | 
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Posted by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
July 16, 2010
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is the only nationally recognized indoor air quality standard developed solely for residences. It defines the roles of and minimum requirements for mechanical and natural ventilation systems and the building envelope intended to provide acceptable indoor air quality in low-rise residential buildings.
The 2010 standard encourages home retrofits to improve indoor air quality through allowance of alternative methods for meeting the standard’s requirements regarding kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. The standard currently requires fans in those rooms.
“This change makes the standard much easier to use in home retrofits, which is very important considering massive federal and state government efforts in this area,” Steven Emmerich, committee chair, said. “For example, installation of new equipment in some existing homes can be a barrier in terms of expense and practicality. Under the alternative compliance path, the overall whole-house ventilation rate can be increased to compensate for insufficient or non-existent bathroom exhaust.”
The overall approach to residential ventilation in the standard has not changed since the 2007 version was published, such as whole house mechanical for most houses, local exhaust in baths and kitchens and some source control measures.
Additional improvements to the standard include more accurate factors for intermittent whole-house systems; changes to better limit unintended (potentially contaminated) air transfer from garages, leaky ducts, adjacent housing units, and other such spaces; and deletion of an exception for certain climates that had allowed the use of windows instead of fans given that studies have shown that windows are not used enough and are unreliable for ventilation.
The cost of Standard 62.2-2010 is $54 ($46, ASHRAE members). To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, or visit http://www.ashrae.org/bookstore.
ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.
John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
www.Microshield-ES.com
www.CFL-IAQ.com
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Posted by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
July 16, 2010
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, sets minimum ventilation rates and other requirements for commercial and institutional buildings.
“Since first being published in 1973, the standard has provided the basis for ventilation system design throughout the industry,” Roger Hedrick, committee chair, said. “The 2010 standard furthers ASHRAE’s work in ensuring acceptable indoor air quality, while also heeding the need for energy efficiency as we strive to find ways to help designers tailor ventilation system designs to each particular application.”
Among the changes to the 2010 standard are modifications to the Natural Ventilation Rate Procedure, which now requires most buildings designed to meet the natural ventilation requirements also include a mechanical ventilation system designed to meet the Ventilation Rate or IAQ procedures. The mechanical system is to be used when windows are closed due to extreme outdoor temperatures, noise and security concerns.
“Most buildings using natural ventilation in the United States are high-rise residential buildings that often have no form of outdoor air intake other than operable windows,” Hedrick said. “This results in buildings with inadequate ventilation, because occupants often leave the windows closed in order to run the air conditioning, keep out noise, etc. The committee felt it needed to strengthen the existing prescriptive requirements to ensure adequate ventilation and their corresponding IAQ benefits are available to occupants.”
Another change relocates requirements related to exhaust systems to a new section, clarifying that exhaust requirements apply to all buildings regardless of the procedure used to determine outdoor air intake flow rates.
The IAQ procedure, which allows for the calculation of the amount of outdoor air necessary to maintain the levels of indoor air contaminants below recommended levels, has been made more robust by increasing requirements for using the “similar building” design approach and clarifying other requirements.
“The standard now contains, in informative Appendix B, a table of volatile organic compounds that designers might want to consider as possible contaminants of concern,” Hedrick said. “To encourage designers to consider ‘additivity’ when applying the IAQ Procedure, some guidance from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has been included.”
The cost of Standard 62.1-2010, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, is $69 ($59 ASHRAE members). To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, or visit http://www.ashrae.org/bookstore.
ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.
John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
www.Microshield-ES.com
www.CFL-IAQ.com
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Posted by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
July 14, 2010
Florida’s mold-related services law, which went into effect on July 1, 2010, requires that all mold assessors and mold remediators obtain a license to work in the state.
Individuals currently practicing mold assessment and remediation will be pleased to learn that the state law includes a “grandfather” clause allowing applicants to qualify for the license until March 1, 2011.
Florida will accept “grandfather” applications from two types of people:
1. Individuals who are certified as mold assessors or mold remediators by state or national associations that require a proctored examination in mold assessment or mold remediation. These grandfather applicants must also submit proof of completion of at least 60 hours of education in mold assessment or at least 30 hours of education in mold remediation.
2. Individuals who can demonstrate at least three years of field experience in mold assessment or mold remediation. As proof of field experience, these grandfather applicants must submit 40 invoices for mold assessment or mold remediation services.
Individuals who do not meet either of these criteria for grandfathering may obtain a license by taking one of six ACAC certification exams and completing Florida’s initial license application.
John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
www.Microshield-ES.com
www.CFL-IAQ.com
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Posted by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
July 14, 2010
Applying for the Florida Mold License is easy!
As of July 1, 2010, all mold assessors and mold remediators must obtain a state license to work in Florida. The Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) has delayed enforcement of the law until July 1, 2011 to allow license applicants to acquire the documentation, training and examination required by the law.
Additionally, the state law includes a “grandfather” clause, which allows applicants to qualify for the license until March 1, 2011 without taking an examination. ACAC certificants are already qualified for the license according to this clause, and ACAC recommends that certificants who wish to work in Florida take advantage of the grandfathering opportunity as soon as possible.
To complete the application, you will need:
•A copy of your current ACAC certificate
•Proof of a successful ACAC examination
•Proof of 60 hours of approved training for assessors and 30 hours of approved training for remediators
•Background check and fingerprints
•Proof of insurance: all applicants must hold $1 million dollars in general liability insurance (assessors must also carry $1 million in errors and omissions insurance)
John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
www.Microshield-ES.com
www.CFL-IAQ.com
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1 Comment | Commercial IAQ, Residential IAQ | Tagged: ACAC, air quality, Apartment mold, CETC, ciec, condo mold, Florida Mold Law, healthy home, HOA, iaqa, IESO, indoor air quality, john lapotaire, John P. Lapotaire, microshield, mold, mold inspection, mold pretreatment, mold prevention, mold remediation, mold removal, mold testing, new home mold, School mold | Permalink
Posted by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
July 14, 2010
Do I currently need a Florida State License to perform Mold related services (assessment or remediation)?
Yes, A license will be required after July 1, 2010; however, Florida Statutes provide that unlicensed activity will not be enforced until July 2011.
If my company does both Mold Assessments and Mold Remediations, will I be required to get two (2) licenses (one for Mold Assessor and one for Mold Remediator?
This would be considered a conflict of interest by the state, Section 468.8419(1)(d), F.S., provides that an assessor may not “perform or offer to perform any remediation to a structure on which the mold assessor or the assessor’s company provided a mold assessment within the last 12 months.” Section 468.8419(2)(d), F.S., provides that a remediator may not “perform or offer to perform any assessment to a structure on which the mold remediator or the remediator’s company provided a mold remediation within the last 12 months
John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
www.Microshield-ES.com
www.CFL-IAQ.com
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Posted by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
July 14, 2010
Chapter 468, Part XVI, Florida Statutes, provides for licensure and regulation of mold assessors and remediators. The law becomes effective July 1, 2010, and provides that the mold related services licensing program will be administered by Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
DBPR has chosen ACAC to provide the license examinations required by Chapter 468, and has approved six ACAC certification exams for this purpose:
Mold Assessor Exams
Applicants may choose any of the following:
Council-certified Indoor Environmentalist
Council-certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
Council-certified Microbial Consultant
Mold Remediator Exams
Applicants may choose any of the following:
Council-certified Microbial Remediator
Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor
Council-certified Indoor Environmental Supervisor
John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
www.Microshield-ES.com
www.CFL-IAQ.com
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Posted by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
July 14, 2010
Studies have shown that most people spend 90% of their time in indoor environments. Indoor air quality (IAQ) issues impact the lives of people across the globe. Problems with poor air quality in buildings and homes can result in health concerns, liability issue, lost productivity, and decreased property values.
IAQ problems in non-industrial buildings such as homes, schools and offices are often caused by complex, inter-related issues. Diagnosing and fixing the sources of poor IAQ may require the professional expertise of one or more consultants or contractors. It is important that individuals be highly qualified to fully investigate, identify and/or mitigate the total problem according to recognized industry standards and guidelines. Verification of contracting or remediation work, if requested, should be conducted by an equally qualified third-party consultant.
Many firms are available today to help find solutions to IAQ problems. However, in most parts of the country the IAQ industry is not regulated. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you utilize a qualified professional.
The good news is there is an easy way to make sure that only qualified individuals and firms deal with these complex problems. The largest organization of trades and professionals dealing with IAQ issues is the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA). Since 1995, IAQA has delivered the industry’s most prestigious and respected IAQ and mold training programs. Many IAQA course alumni with sufficient experience and knowledge have also become certified by the American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQ), prestigious, independent certification body for the industry. These trained and certified professionals are available to resolve your IAQ issues.
John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
www.Microshield-ES.com
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Posted by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
July 14, 2010
IAQA has made the process of finding these qualified professionals easy.
Click here to search for a member in your region by area code. A list of current IAQA members will appear.
IAQ Professionals Should be able to supply their customers with:
•Company qualifications, including certifications
•Start and completion dates for the project
•Certificate of insurance & applicable licenses
•References
John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
Microshield Environmental Services, LLC
http://www.Microshield-ES.com
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Posted by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
July 14, 2010
When hiring a professional consultant or contractor it is important to hire a company with qualified and certified staff that will be following industry standards and guidelines to ensure a job done right.
ACAC offers training course for various kinds of IAQ and mold specialists, including assessment and remediation programs available to IAQA members in the various indoor air disciplines.
Florida Chooses ACAC Exams for New Mold License
The ACAC is pleased to announce that as of July 1, 2010, the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC) is the exclusive provider of mold license examinations for the state of Florida.
ACAC signed an exclusive contract with Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) whereby all applicants for licensure by examination under Florida’s new Mold Related Services law must have passed one of six ACAC certification exams.
Applicants for the Florida mold assessor license may take the Council-certified Indoor Environmentalist (CIE), Council-certified Indoor Environmental Consultant (CIEC) or Council-certified Microbial Consultant (CMC) examinations.
Applicants for the Florida mold remediator license may take the Council-certified Microbial Remediator (CMR), Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor (CMRS) or Council-certified Indoor Environmental Supervisor (CIES) examinations.
If you hold one of these ACAC certifications in good standing, congratulations! You are already qualified for the Florida license. Simply download a Florida license application at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pro/mold/documents/mold_app_licensure.pdf and complete the “License by Grandfathering” section.
Florida’s decision to rely on ACAC exams reinforces our position as the industry leader for independent professional certifications. ACAC exams were chosen in part because they are based on widely accepted industry texts, not on proprietary training courses. They are developed by independent industry experts according to stringent psychometric principles and administered in compliance with international consensus standards. ACAC certifications are also the only IAQ designations to earn third-party accreditation by the Council for Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB), a nationally-recognized accreditation body.
The ACAC is constantly working to enhance the value and visibility of ACAC designations, and is pleased to add Florida to our list of accomplishments in this regard.
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Posted by John P. Lapotaire, CIEC
Indoor Air Quality Solutions, IAQS 