What I consider a Mold Activity: The Primer
Clients frequently ask us, “How are you able to find mold problems when I don’t see anything and neither does anybody else.” Read More…
Mold Inspection: How is it Done?
The inspection process includes a general understanding of the building, including age, number of stories, roofing and siding type, and presence of basements or crawlspaces. Read More…
Mold Air Testing: Is there any value?
When folks call our office with a mold concern, they invariably ask for an air test. They say, “I need to know what we are breathing! Can you help us?” Read More…
Mold Testing: Strengths and Weaknesses
The objective of biological testing is to evaluate the affected components to determine the presence of amplified biological activity. The determination of biological sources is usually accomplished with bulk samples of materials such as carpet and fiberglass, or surface samples of materials such as drywall, wood and masonry. Read More…
Mold Remediation Procedures
We reference the industry standard Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control (1999), published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The ACGIH standard is the current authority on biological contamination, and is a practical guide for identifying and correcting suspected sources of microbiological amplification. Read More…
Mold Standards: Do They Exist?
We have stated that there are no accepted numerical standards for mold concentrations. Several previous attempts at suggesting numerical concentrations have failed due to the enormous diversity of the thousands of mold species that naturally occur, and to the wide variability in human responses to these species. Read More…
Asbestos Information and Awareness
Asbestos is a ubiquitous mineral product that has been widely used for more than one hundred years. It has been used in numerous building products, including thermal insulation (pipes, boilers, water tanks), fireproofing, acoustical plasters, and an enormous number of miscellaneous products, including floor tiles, ceiling tiles, textiles such as gloves and blankets, vehicle brake and clutch linings, and various roofing and siding materials. Read More…
Asbestos Hazard Recognition
While asbestos products were widely used in building construction since the early 1900’s, the recognition of health hazard evolved slowly. The occupational hazard of asbestos was identified in the 1930’s in Great Britain and was recognized in the medical literature in the United States by World War II. The occupational disease asbestosis was the first asbestos disease recognized in the medical literature and was cited in the Worker’s Compensation laws in many states in the US. Read More…
Evolving Asbestos Standards
The concern regarding asbestos and health risk evolved quickly in the early 1980’s and resulted in a blizzard of standards and regulations. The very first federal standard that applied to building owners and operators was proposed by EPA in 1980 and promulgated in 1982. Read More…
Noise and Hearing Conservation
A noise survey is typically conducted with a direct-reading sound level meter such as the Quest Model 155 Precision Sound Level Meter. The meter and the dosimeters described below are calibrated with the CA-12B sound calibrator. Read More…
Indoor Air Quality Assessment – Technical Approach
Indoor air quality has become a major issue due to recent conservation efforts to reduce the cost of heating and cooling buildings, increased reliance on mechanical ventilation equipment, and growing awareness that air quality problems can impact the health, comfort, and productivity of building occupants. Since 1974, in the wake of the first oil embargo, the need to reduce building maintenance and operation costs has been a priority of building managers. Read More…
Indoor Air Quality Assessment – Walk Through Inspection
A thorough walk through inspection of each floor is conducted to investigate and determine potential sources of Indoor Air Quality contamination. The mechanical room air handling systems are visually inspected for microbiological contamination on the cooling and heating coils, drip pans and other system components. Read More…
