Indoor Air Quality Solutions, IAQS

The Formaldehyde Council, Inc. (FCI) engaged an industrial hygienist to explain formaldehyde testing methods. Larry Newton, CIH, CSP, has performed over 400 indoor air quality investigations.

Newton expressed concern that some modern homes do not bring in adequate fresh air. He agreed with our statement, “lack of fresh air allows chemical contaminants to concentrate inside the home”.

Newton explained how he tested homes for formaldehyde in the 1980s.

When I began indoor investigations, I used a CEA 555 continuous environmental analyzer (CEA) based on the wet chemistry of pararosaniline. This chemistry is highly specific and sensitive (< 100 ppb) to formaldehyde…The CEA 555 monitor not only allowed me to obtain real-time ambient formaldehyde concentrations I was able to sniff out sources by placing the probe between walls; inside cabinets and drawers; beneath the floor; and at surfaces of suspected emitters. Whenever possible, I used the chromotropic acid method as my referee method. You used your Interscan 4160 in the same manner I did.

Technology has progressed in the decades since Newton measured formaldehyde in homes. The Interscan 4160 formaldehyde meter is considerably more accurate than the CEA 555. Sample collection for laboratory analyses is simpler than in the old days.

We used the Interscan 4160 extensively to confirm that many new homes have elevated formaldehyde in room air. Our data indicate that well-sealed homes are more likely to concentrate formaldehyde, just as Newton expected.

The Interscan 4160 serves well to locate formaldehyde sources in homes where clients are ill. As Newton recommended, we use the Interscan 4160 to identify cabinets, furniture items, and building materials that emit formaldehyde.

The Interscan 4160 is a direct read meter that measures concentration in air. It does not provide a written record of test results. We recommend laboratory analysis when clients are preparing for litigation.

A South Bay woman had health problems soon after her kitchen cabinets were refaced. She suspected formaldehyde from the MDF facing material was responsible for her illness. However, her contractor was adversarial and refused to replace the material that made her ill.

The Interscan 4160 confirmed the facing material emitted considerable formaldehyde. A lab test confirmed the formaldehyde concentration in the woman’s kitchen was high enough to make her ill. Combining the two test methods, she has adequate evidence to support her suit against the recalcitrant contractor.

August 24, 8:24 AM San Jose Environmental Health Examiner Linda Kincaid, MPH, CIH

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The American Indoor Air Quality Council promotes awareness, education and certification in the field of indoor air quality.  Our mission is to establish credible certifications that provide value to certificants, their clients and the public.  It is their goal to serve the public interest with integrity as an independent certifying body.

As the Council grew, so did interest in starting similar organizations in other states. In 1998, the corporation changed its name to the American Indoor Air Quality Council, and began to grow nationally.  By September 2000, the Council had grown to over 500 members with 23 corporate sponsors.  By 2002, the IAQ Council had reached approximately 3000 members, 200 corporate sponsors and had 46 local chapters in 26 states and several international locations.

On January 1, 2006, a major event changed the scope of the Council’s activities. As part of a unification agreement with the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) and the Indoor Environmental Standards Organization (IESO), the Council no longer offers membership services, but instead focuses exclusively on certification programs.  At the end of 2006, the IAQ Council had 5351 certificants in nine disciplines related to IAQ consulting, investigation, remediation and administration.  Governance of the IAQ Council, The operations and governance of the IAQ Council function at three levels. Final executive authority is vested in a Board of Directors by the Council’s bylaws.

The Board of Directors in turn appoints a National Advisory Board to assist them in their decisions. The National Advisory Board is composed of both IAQ professionals and members of the public sector, and offers the Directors an independent perspective on issues facing the IAQ industry. The National Advisory Board also oversees the implementation of basic certification and operational guidelines common to all Council  certification programs.

Finally, each Council certification program is operated by a separate Certification Board, which presides over the awarding of certifications in its category. Certification Boards are composed of experts who have field experience in the values required for eh certification, and each of them holds the certification that he or she votes to award. Certification Board members develop and approve all examination materials and eligibility requirements, and review all application materials. They approve the awarding of certifications by unanimous vote.

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Like any other industry, the mold remediation and inspection business has its share of scams, cons, and rip off artists who seek to profit from your lack of knowledge about mold.  

The worst perpetrators of mold scams are mold removal/remediation contractors who also offer mold inspections and mold testing services.  Their scam is creating non-existent mold problems and charging you thousands of dollars to fix them.

If you encounter a mold inspector who also does mold removal/remediation, (or visa-versa) Just Say NO! There are plenty of quality contractors available that don’t do both.

And especially watch out for contractors who offer “FREE MOLD inspections”. That’s a major red flag!

Many contractors offer “FREE” clearance testing also, (which is equivalent to grading their own test). Don’t fall for it! Clearance testing is crucial to the mold remediation process and should never be performed by a mold removal contractor waiting to get paid for his work.

The best way to avoid getting scammed is to avoid using mold removal/remediation contractors for mold inspections.  A certified inspector that is not in the mold removal business will have no vested interest in how your inspection and testing comes out.  The inspector’s position should always be unbiased, neutral, and without conflict of interest.  Be sure whoever you do choose isn’t looking for remediation work for their own company.  Sadly may unscrupulous companies use the “FREE MOLD INSPECTION” as a tool to justify their inflated remediation proposals.  These contractors play on your fear of mold and use their testing and inspection to foster and justify this fear.

If you have any questions or feel you may have a mold problem visit us at www.Microshield-ES.com

Florida Senate Bill 2234 was. This law will prevent conflicts of interest; require education and licensing amongst other requirements for mold inspectors and removal companies alike.   This law was designed to protect the consumers.    The law will be effective in 2010; until then there are no requirements.  “Caveat Emptor”  “Let the Buyer Beware” when hiring a mold inspection company.

These few basic tips and information can help you avoid getting scammed and ensure that your mold issues are handled ethically, honestly and professionally. Take the time to read it. If you have any questions, please call us.

1.    Make sure your mold inspector is not in the mold removal/remediation business.

We believe it’s a serious conflict of interest for the company you pay to “inspect” for mold also profits from the “removal” of mold. There are plenty of companies out there that do both, the question is; how can you ever truly be sure that they are not creating more work for themselves – work that doesn’t really need to be done? The opportunity for corruption is far too great. The only way to know for sure that you’re not being “set up” and scammed into spending thousands of dollars you don’t need to spend is to make sure the person you hire for mold inspections has no affiliation with any mold removal contractor.

2.    Check your mold removal/remediation contractor’s experienced and references.

AND CALL THE REFERENCES! Don’t take anyone’s word for it when it comes to shelling out thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of dollars for remediation work. Ask for references for jobs that are at least 10 to 12 months old. Why? Because every mold remediation job looks great as soon as it’s finished. But if remediation work is not done correctly, it can take several months to realize it.  As a rule, if mold does not reoccur in that time, then the work was done correctly. A remediation contractor, who has nothing to hide, has no problem giving you references. If a contractor gets offend by your request, say Good-Bye!

3.    Never allow a contractor to provide clearance testing for his own remediation.

Many remediation contractors will offer to provide FREE clearance testing after they’re work is complete. Nice gesture, but don’t fall for it. The reason they do that is so they pass their own work and get paid. Also, they more than likely quoted you a firm price in order to get the work in the first place and if a third party inspector fails his post-remediation clearance test, he has to keep coming back until he gets it right. A “free clearance test” from a contractor offering to pass his own work is not a good deal for you. Always insist on an independent third party post-remediation clearance testing and make sure your agreement with the contractor states that he will come back and correct his work if it fails.  And don’t settle the account until you see the clearance report in writing and be sure to have a post-remediation clearance test that CLEARS       your home before you pay your remediation contractor. If you agree to make progress payments, make sure the final payment is a significant percentage of the total job price so the contractor is motivated to finish the job correctly.

4.   Ensure your contractor is a Florida Licensed Contractor.

Anyone can print “Licensed and Insured” on a business card but not everyone can actually pass the Florida Licensing Exam.  Many remediation contractors will tell you that they don’t need to be licensed but the truth is that each governing body of each Florida municipality has different requirements.  Some municipalities require that you be licensed if your remediation work involves any other licensed contractor such as an electrician, plumber or Air Conditioning Contractor.  Not many remediation jobs won’t involve an electrician or plumber.  Other municipalities require no license for those only conducting “repair” work or the removal and replacement of wallboard and cabinets.  Regardless of the current status of any Florida municipality Governor Crist has recognized the need to provide Florida citizens a law that requires the licensing of all mold inspectors and remediation contractors and will no longer allow a remediation contractor to conduct his own testing or clearance.  Senate Bill 2234 signed into law on June 28, 2007 effective 2010.

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