What method do you use? Is it a profitable service for you?
Do you even understand what a WDO is? If you did, then you would know the answer!
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Wood destroying organism.
Don’t believe Jim M. when he tells you that the lick test is as good as other resulting testing, Jacob.
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Thanks Larry lol
Your knowledge & brain AND license if state required.
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Put your index finger on your left hand on the wall. Put your right hand index finger in your ear. If you hear silence it’s the test you need a brain.
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That’s the WDO hokey pokey test for Bostrichidae ~ OMG
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That doesn’t answer the question… What-is-a-Wood-Desroying-Organism-(WDO) ???
An insect that destoys wood.
Try on for size
Arthropod or plant life which damages and can reinfest seasoned wood in a structure
You’re welcome
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(Obviously, different states may define the term differently), but… Wrong, that would be a WDI.
Even if you were correct, how would you test for that??
Bait traps?
Jacob Dude!
There is no test
There is post #6 though
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I see. You just look?
@lkage - Legendary!!!
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I’m telling you put one finger on the wall using your left hand. Put your right hand index finger in your ear and you will hear all those little buggies squirming around your brain.
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Here’s a verysmall start for you - Oh boy… … …
When you have mastered this much then into the fun biology.
Study this & then call me with any questions.
Your state may suck with standards.
My state is based on good practices & the law.
Purpose: to develop “good industry practices” that describe the manner in which a 13645 inspection is conducted in accordance with Chapter 482 Florida Statutes and Chapter 5E-14 Florida Administrative Code.
Chapter 482.226(1), Florida Statutes states in pertinent part that “The WDO inspection shall be made in accordance with good industry practice and standards.
The following good industry practices establish guidelines for the performance of a wood-destroying organism inspection (Form 13645). These recommendations set forth the requirements for a minimally acceptable inspection.
The recommended practices do not preclude a more stringent and
comprehensive inspection.
It should be understood that the purpose of the Form 13645 inspection is to communicate the condition of the structure regarding the presence of WDOs at the time the inspection was performed. The report thus becomes a “snapshot in time” and provides no data as to the conditions of the structure before the inspection was made, or afterward.
Expectations: Licensees and Certified Operators in Charge should ensure that they obtain Wood-Destroying Organism Identification Cards only for persons who possess adequate knowledge of wood-destroying organisms based on appropriate validation by the licensee or certified operator in charge and that the individual has the ability to perform wood-destroying organism inspections. Additionally, the Licensee and Certified Operator in Charge should provide the training, tools and equipment necessary to perform an inspection in accordance with these good industry practices.
Objectives: The resulting standards delineated herein represent a “bare bones minimum” set of WDO inspection practices.
Projected Results:
Industry-wide acceptance of a set of standards offers a reasonable first step toward making needed improvements in the performance of WDO inspections in Florida by “raising the bar” on the performance of an inspection.
By following these standards a licensee may help mitigate some of the high costs of litigation related to WDO complaints.
Regulatory Requirements:
Inspection for wood destroying organisms is regulated as a pest control activity under the Florida Structural Pest Control Act, Chapter 482, Florida Statutes. § 482.226 requires that when an inspection for wood destroying organisms is conducted for the purposes of a real estate transaction, and either a fee is charged, or a written report is requested, that a person qualified under Chapter 482 FS issue the report. § 482.226 are provided below.
Section 482.226 also includes requirements as to what the report must include (482.226 (2) FS), and a requirement that a notice of the inspection be posted in the access area to the attic or crawl or other accessible area of the structure inspected (482.226 (4) FS).
Licensees who perform wood destroying organism inspections for real estate transactions are required to have a minimum of $500,000 in insurance coverage for professional liability for errors and omissions (482.226 (6) FS).
The report must include at a minimum (482.226 (2)(a) FS):
- The licensee’s name.
- The date of the inspection.
- The address of the structure inspected.
- Any visible accessible areas not inspected and the reasons for not inspecting them.
- The areas of the structure that were inaccessible.
- Any visible evidence of previous treatments for, or infestations of, wood-destroying organisms.
- The identity of any wood-destroying organisms observed or discovered and any visible damage caused.
- A statement that a notice of the inspection has been affixed to the property in
accordance and a statement of the location of the notice.
The inspection report must also include a statement certifying that neither the inspector nor the licensee by whom the inspection is made has any financial interest in the property inspected or is associated in any way in the transaction with any party to the transaction other than for inspection purposes (482.226 (2)(d) FS).
In addition, if treatment is made to the structure at the time of the inspection, the report must include information on the name of each WDO for which treatment was provided at the time of the inspection, the name of the pesticide used, and the conditions and terms associated with that treatment (482.226 (2)(b) FS).
An inspection report does not constitute a guarantee of the absence of wood-destroying organisms or damage unless the report specifically states the extent of such guarantee (482.226 (2)(c)), F.S.
The Department has adopted a rule (Chapter 5E-14.142 (2)(c), (Florida Administrative Code) that specifies form 13645 (rev. 05/08) be used to report any inspection conducted under Chapter 482.226 (1) FS. Form 13645 includes all of the information required under Section 482.226(2)(a) FS and the statements required in Section 482.226(2)(b), (c), and (d) FS.The rule also states the general standards that must be met when conducting an
inspection.
These include:
- inspection of all areas accessible by normal means, except those areas that are enclosed or inaccessible, areas concealed by wall coverings, floor coverings,
furniture, equipment, stored articles, insulation, or any portion of the structure
in which inspection would necessitate removing or defacing any part of the
structure,- that the inspection be visual but that it may include probing and sounding of
structural members as deemed necessary by the inspector, based upon a
preliminary finding of visual evidence of infestation or damage, and that the inspection shall include an examination for visual evidence of wood decaying
fungi and damage caused by wood-decaying fungi.- Section (3) of 5E-14.142 (2) (c) states that wood-decaying fungi are fungi that can cause damage to wood, such as those that produce white rot, brown rot, poria, and cubical rot, but not surface molds that do not cause damage to sound wood.
Damage and deterioration in structures caused by exposure to water and sunlight are not reportable on a WDO 13645 report.
Definitions Pertaining to WDO Inspections
For purposes of performing a wood-destroying organism’s inspection for a real
estate transaction, the following definitions shall apply:
- “Attic Access” – a visible and unobstructed opening, scuttle or ladder installed
specifically for physical entry into attic area of a structure.- “Accessible Area” – an area of a structure to which the person performing the
inspection can either gain physical entry in order to identify and/or determine the
presence of wood-destroying organisms.- “Access Panel” – a visible and unobstructed removable cover, plate or panel installed specifically for the purposes of conducting a visual inspection of the interior of a wall or void.
- “Damage” (caused by WDO’s) – any degradation or deterioration of wood,
cellulosic, or non-cellulosic components of a structure through the activity of WDO.
Damage is not limited to wooden structural members.
Examples of damage include insect consumption of cellulose materials (galleries and mining), or WDO created holes (adult emergence holes, kick out holes, swarm holes) in any structural material.
Additionally, the deterioration of any cellulose material by the presence of wood
decay fungi creates damage. Areas of a structure that may have been obscured by paint or patching materials but that can still be identified by the inspector as WDO damage, must be reported as damage.- “Defacement to property” – when the inspection process causes damage or creates unsightliness to the structure being inspected whether it be intentional or accidental.
- “Evidence” – visible signs of wood-destroying organisms other than damage or live activity the presence of which indicates possible infestation. Examples of evidence include; termite wings, dead insects, drywood termite fecal pellets, powder post beetle frass, old house borer frass, subterranean mud shelter tubes and carton material. Areas of a structure that may have been obscured by paint or patching materials but that can still be identified by the inspector as WDO evidence, must be reported as evidence.
- “Good Industry Practice” – performance of wood-destroying organisms inspections in keeping with guidance set forth in this document developed by the
structural pest control industry in cooperation with the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services.- “Inaccessible Area” – any area of a structure which is not accessible including, but not necessarily limited to those areas that are enclosed or concealed by wall
coverings, floor coverings, furniture, equipment, stored articles, insulation or any
portion of the structure in which inspection would necessitate removing or defacing any part of the structure, or cannot be inspected due to the area’s height, width, or safety concerns.- “Live” – the detection and observation of living immature or adult wood-destroying insects and active wood decay fungi.
- “Multi-Unit Structure”—after 5E-14.102(9), F.A.C. A structure, consisting of one or more stories, composed of functionally distinct units, such as stores, offices, apartments, town houses, and condominiums, in which units share a common wall of wood or metal studs or single masonry walls, including fire walls.
- “Normal Means” – inspection of visible and accessible areas performed following the guidance in this document.
- “Probing” – the act of penetrating through the surface of a suspected area to
determine the type of WDO present/ Probing will cause some degree of “defacement to the property”. Defacing property shall be strictly limited to that which is required to determine the type of WDO damage/evidence present.- “Sounding” – the non invasive act of tapping on suspected areas of the structure with a tool in order to detect possible evidence of a WDO that may not be visible.
- “Structure” – a building with a roof built for habitation or storage, including attached decks, and the portion of any fence touching or adjoining to a structure, on the designated property.
The following are
not considered structures for the purpose of an inspection, unless specifically requested to be inspected:
Vehicles
Transport trailers
Boats
Treehouses
Detached pumphouses
Pet houses
Play houses
Detached storage sheds constructed entirely of metal or plastic
Transportable storage units
Docks- “Substructure” - a shallow space below the living/occupied areas of at least a
partially basementless structure normally enclosed by the foundation walls.- “Substructure Access” – a visible and unobstructed removable cover or opening that provides for physical entry beneath a structure.
- “Tools” – see Tools and Equipment section for the list of required tools.
- “Treatment” - is any method or device or the application of any substance routinely performed by a Pest Control Company for the purposes of preventing, controlling, eradicating, mitigating, diminishing, or curtailing a WDO in, on, or under a structure.
- “Visible” - Can be seen by the person performing the inspection at the time of the inspection without the need for visual enhancement other than illumination.
Tools and Equipment
Minimum tools and equipment that must be available are:- Flashlights or portable lights sufficient to illuminate areas which need to be
illuminated during inspection.- Ladder sufficient for inspector to safely reach up to 8 feet to access interior attic openings.
- Slotted head and Phillips head screw drivers.
- Inspection notices as required by Chapter 482 FS.
- Hand lens or magnifying device1 with sufficient power to distinguish and identify wings, pellets, frass, etc., of a WDO.
- Measuring device or tape measure.
Inspection Procedures
Attic Inspections
General:
Attic inspections must provide for the following clearance for inspection purposes.
Height to Access Opening:
The maximum (with out a pull-down ladder or staircase) should be 8 feet. No furniture, debris, permanent fixtures, shelving, appliances, household or stored items are to be under or around the opening/access area that hinders safe access. Opening or access area
to attic must be specifically designed for the function of accessing the attics. Dropped ceiling panels are not to be considered as an access opening. There must be sufficient room to safely place and utilize a ladder (if necessary to gain access) without causing damage to the home or items in the area of the attic access.
If any of these conditions exist, that particular attic access is considered inaccessible for the purposes of this inspection.
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Here’s the format for notice of inspection - get 'em printed out soon! 
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WDO/WDI is very different in different regions. In Oregon that inspection in generally included with the HI. Most inspectors are (or should) be licensed through our Dept. of Agriculture but there is essentially no enforcement as lender don’t check our licenses. Many other areas the “termite inspection” is performed by another party and I assume there are licensing laws, rules, etc.
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