Mold Certification

Local Inspection Issues Florida and SUNachi Inspectors
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Mold air samples can help determine the extent of a mold problem and sometimes the presence of a mold problem. Too often homebuyers and homeowners are under the impression that mold air sampling is an inspection or assessment for the presence of mold in a home or structure.
Mold air sampling will not identify the source of the mold problem, and may not even indicate there is a mold problem. Some mold spores don’t generally become aerosolized / airborne unless they are disturbed or there is a drastic humidity change, some may not be airborne at certain times of day.
It should be understood by homebuyers that although hundreds of “mold tests” are sold each week by home inspectors and people involved in Real Estate; a mold inspection (assessment) is the only way to be sure “home does or does not have a mold problem”.

With an elevated mold air sampling report only, recommendation should be to have a mold inspection/assessment which will identify the source and location and extent of the problem, and provide written detailed remediation protocols. You cannot label a home as having a mold problem based solely on mold air samples alone.
Tip: request that home be in closed house conditions 12 hours prior to “inspection” sampling and that NO heavy cleaning or vacuuming is done during the 12 hours prior.
This may save us some work, seems every week someone calls with an elevated mold report from an HI and then we find there is no mold problem. We learn later that homeowner /maid vacuumed and cleaned prior to home inspection which probably caused elevated count.

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Using Assured Bio Labs, LLC seems to be the new way for many inspectors in our area to collect money from their clients and stay out trouble. We still have to collect samples again, no way we can trust the sampling when there are so many variables. So the client does pay twice in my mind.

Assured Bio Labs, LLC usually has a page(below) in their report that recommends finding the source and location of any mold contamination by a CIE. Example: FES: 2

Mold Scan Legend
Assured Bio Labs, LLC
Direct Examination Analysis

FUNGAL ECOLOGY SCORE(FES)*—This score(below each sample’s results) is based upon the
total spores present, spore load levels, and spore types detected in the spore trap, as well as a
comparison of the indoor sample to the outdoor sample. The conditions calculated from the Fungal
Ecology Score are based upon the conditions present in the 2003 Standard and Reference Guide for
Professional Mold Remediation S520 published by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and
Restoration Certification (IICRC), as well as other current publications in the field of mycology and
indoor air quality. The FES can be interpreted using the chart below.

FUNGAL ECOLOGY SCORE INTERPRETATION

1=BALANCED—At the time of sampling, the indoor air spore load and spore composition, alone, is not suggestive of mold contamination or mold reproduction.

2=MINOR DISTURBANCE—At the time of sampling, the indoor air spore load and spore composition suggest that mold contamination may be occurring or has occurred in the past.** Further investigation, by a Certified Indoor Environmentalist,** may be necessary to determine if mold contamination is currently a problem.

3=MAJOR DISTURBANCE—At the time of sampling, the indoor air spore load and composition suggest that mold spores are becoming airborne at a high rate, and that certain indicator mold species are present.** Further investigation, by a Certified Indoor Environmentalist**, may be warranted to determine the extent of mold contamination.

“*Air Samples alone may be insufficient to determine whether real mold contamination is occurring in a building or structure. Only a certified mold inspector is capable of evaluating the occurrence and extent of mold contamination in a building.”

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Why would a buyer care? if it has mold they walk, problem solved. :roll:

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This air sample or visual sample collection is meant to be done during the home inspection. A good inspector should in most cases determine where the moisture is at least coming from to at least a couple different scenarios. It’s not like we would say I think it’s wet in the garage when it’s actually leaking in the rear bedroom? cmon… lets be realistic. Some clients during their walk through have either smelled something or saw something and that’s why they want a mold test. They have not bought the property yet. So in combination with the inspection and testing it helps them come to a decision. Don’t know about anyone else but I use moisture meters , picks, thermal imaging and my own nose and inspector sense to guide me in the right direction. This is not about going willy nilly with mold testing.

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Just about every week some home inspector in our area (many with mold assessor license) collects mold air samples and tells the client they have “mold” and tells them to call the remediator and then we find the home does NOT have a mold problem.
The opposite is often true too.
This has gone on for years and I don’t expect it to change.

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Yeah Doug… Sorry, this just doesn’t pass the smell test. You are either outright lying or pushing an agenda to feather your own nest, either way it stinks and I don’t buy it. -X

Again I ask, why would a home inspector suggest a buyer contact a remediator for a home they don’t own? :-k

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HI gives his report to buyer & agent, then tells them to contact the remediator to find the mold and determine the cost of cleanup. It’s a fact in SW Florida, goes on almost everyday. I have too many HI reports sent to us by remediators to suggest otherwise.
Housemasters and a few other HI’s with a mold license in our area are doing the right thing and recommending a “real” mold inspection by CIE or CIH after they collect mold air samples.
Home inspectors have done a great job of marketing and have often convinced themselves they are good mold inspectors.
I’m sure it will work out in time, but I would like to slow down myself. I retired in 95, this was suppose to be part time.
But I do like buying show cars. :slight_smile:

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Whatever… One thing we can agree on is you slowing down. :roll:

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The money in mold is in remediation. Not in assessments. And if you are going to be really good at assessments, you need to understand water and the science of drying. Those certs are an important foundation. Getting certs in applied structural drying is the best first step. You can combine this with A M R T training in some programs. From there, train to do assessments. Writing good plans and protocols requires that you understand how to dry something and without creating cross contamination in other parts of a home. Moisture and microbial activity go hand in hand. NACHI offers great courses for most things. But you really want to seek I I C R C level training in this realm. As they are more the industry standard and leader with drying and microbial activity training. Look up the name Kurt Bolden. He used to have a lab in Indiana. Go there for a week and do your training. You will have an amazing time and get your hands on every piece of gear in the business. You will learn proper drying techniques and get your mold training. This training and material is the gold standard. From there, you can get mold certs from all over the place and really have a keen understanding of what you are doing.

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