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MOLD SERVICES |
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| TESTING SERVICES |
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| ANCILLARY SERVICES |
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| INFORMATION |
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ABOUT MOLD TESTING |
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QUICK LINKS: |
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Surface Samples
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Air Samples
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ERMI Dust Samples |
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The presence of mold in homes, schools and
business is of growing concern in the United
States. But before you can stop it in your
property, you first have to find it.
Mold inspections
and
mold testing
are the means to locating indoor mold problems.
Most often they work best in conjunction with
each other, however, there are instances when
certain questions can be answered with one or
the other alone.
For
more specific information regarding your
personal mold testing
questions
and concerns, call AMI to speak to a Certified
Professional.
1-800-369-8532
Check these links for more
detailed information:
-
Mold inspections
see our
Mold Inspection page
-
Extensive commentary on mold testing
see our
Mold Inspectors Blog
where you can interact with an AMI Certified
Mold Inspector and other industry professionals.
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 Mold
Testing Methods
There are several different ways to
test (or sample) for mold, many of which will be
explained on this page along with what each
method accomplishes. The following information
will help you better understand the various mold
testing services that AMI provides and what you can expect to learn
from the results of each one respectively.
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What Is
Mold Testing (sampling)? |
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Mold testing involves collecting samples in
order to:
1)
IDENTIFY the types of mold present
2)
QUANTIFY the levels
(amount) of molds present
The three most common types of samples used in
a mold inspection are:
1) Surface samples (testing
mold growth on surfaces)
2) Air samples (testing
airborne mold spores)
3) Dust samples (mold DNA analysis)
The primary
objectives of mold sampling are to:
1) Confirm or rule out the
probability that mold is originating from a
suspect
condition indoors
2) Assess the potential for
property damage caused by mold without
invasive procedures
3) Assess the potential negative
impact of mold on indoor air quality
For more information on mold testing visit our
Inspector's Blog.
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Surface Samples |
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The purpose of surface sampling is to evaluate
whether a suspected stain, discoloration,
blemish, or other irregular appearance on a
surface is mold.
When Should Surface Samples Be Taken for
Mold Testing?
Mold should not be growing on any construction
materials or your personal contents indoors.
Therefore, seeing visible mold growing indoors
is enough to confirm that there is a mold
problem. A surface sample should be taken if and
when your primary objective is to positively
identify the specific types of mold present on a
surface and whether it is viable or non-viable
(alive or dead).
NOTE: The results of a surface sample applies
only to the specific surface from which the
sample is collected, and are not appropriate for
conducting risk assessment or airborne mold
spore levels.
For more information on mold testing
surfaces visit our
Inspector's Blog.
[return to top] |
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Air Samples |
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The purpose of air sampling is to evaluate
whether or not an elevated or unusual mold
condition exists indoors when such a
determination cannot be by visual observation
alone.
In a non-invasive inspection it is not always
possible to visually determine if a
"suspect condition", such as water stains or
high moisture in ceilings, walls, floors,
is a mold problem or not (see pictures below of
hidden mold growth). Testing the airborne mold
spore levels provides valuable information
in identifying hidden mold issues, assessing the scope property damage
and cost of abatement, and in evaluating potential health
risks associated with exposure to high levels of
mold contaminated air.
When Should Air Samples Be Taken for Mold
Testing?
If you suspect you have a mold problem, don't
wait until you can visually see it. Half of the
people who call AMI say, "I don't see any mold".
The fact is, most mold problems go unnoticed
long before any visible signs appear, and the
costliest mold repair jobs are caused by mold
that no one knew was there. Mold growth can
spread exponentially inside walls, under under
cabinets and floors, above ceilings, and deep
into heating and air conditioning vents as long
as the right conditions exist. By the time
hidden mold is detected, it can cause thousands
of dollars in property damage and pose
significant health risks.
The time to test for mold is the moment you
suspect you might have a mold issue. If you
smell musty odors indoors, if your property has
experienced a roof leak, a plumbing leak, or a
flood - past or present, mold testing is warranted. Prompt action can mean the
difference between an inexpensive repair project
or a several thousand dollar mold remediation
job and health implications.
Below is an example of how hidden mold in a
bathroom can cause damage long before it becomes
visible. These pictures were taken on an actual
AMI inspection.
For more info on mold testing indoor air visit our
Inspector's Blog.
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ERMI Dust Samples |
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 According
to a recent survey by the Dept. of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) using a patented indoor
mold testing technology developed by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 75% of
homes with a history of water intrusion tested
positive for 26 specific molds that are directly
linked to asthma and other respiratory illness.
The test is called the Environmental Relative
Moldiness Index, or ERMI, and just one gram of
dust will show if these 26 molds are in your
home, office or classroom.The purpose an ERMI
dust sample is to provide a single-sample
solution to determine whether a building has an
elevated mold burden which may be an indication
of a current or prior water intrusion event that
resulted in mold growth, and an increased risk
of respiratory illness.
When Should the ERMI Sample Be Taken for Mold
Testing?
An EMRI sample is ideal for identifying mold
problems:
- If you have bought or are considering
buying a property and there is no visible
indication or disclosure of a mold problem
or prior water intrusion event.
- If you had a mold or water intrusion
episode in a building that was remediated
but no post-remediation clearance test was
done.
- If you are experiencing health problems
and you suspect your symptoms are linked to
exposure to high concentrations of mold.
ERMI mold samples report individual
quantifications of each mold species and
sub-species found in a building that are linked
to water intrusion and various respiratory
diseases such as Asthma, Chronic Sinusitis, and
Infant Wheezing. Then "scores" the sample to
determine the level of mold exposure to
occupants of the building.
The ERMI panel includes 26 mold species that
are known to thrive in water damaged homes and
10 species found in all homes, with or without
water damage. Each species and group of species
is enumerated from DNA extracted from dust
collected in the building.
Concentrations of each of the 36 molds are
then used to derive an “ERMI score” which rates
the over-all moldiness of the building compared
to other buildings tested by the US-EPA. ERMI
scores range from approximately –10 (low
moldiness) to 20 (high moldiness). Homes and and
other buildings that receive a high ERMI score
are more likely to have unwanted indoor mold
growth than those that receive a low ERMI score.
What are the advantages of an ERMI Test?
In addition to the simplicity of taking only one
sample, the ERMI offers several advantages over
traditional mold screening methods. Carpet dust
acts as a reservoir for mold spores and is more
representative of mold levels over time versus
short term air samples. The use of mold-specific
quantitative polymerase chain reaction (MSQPCR),
a highly specific DNA-based method for
quantifying mold species, allows for increased
precision as it is based on a biochemical assay
using calibrated instrumentation.
For more info on mold testing indoor dust visit our
Inspector's Blog.
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Examples Of Hidden Mold Growth |
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Suspect conditions in
this bathroom were a musty odor and high
moisture retention in the shower
wall. The tiles were dry to the touch
but moisture detection instruments
revealed wet conditions inside the wall
(see top half of picture). An air sample
showed that airborne mold spore levels
were over 40 times higher than normal,
confirming indoor mold growth. The
bottom half of this picture shows
significant mold growth inside
the wall. |
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Long before you can see or smell
a mold problem the water intrusion that
caused it has usually occurred for
some time without your knowledge. Once
mold begins to grow indoors you usually
smell it long before you see it.
In this example the client noticed a
musty odor in the bathroom for several
months but the thought of mold never
occurred to her. When her 2-year old
daughter developed a severe respiratory
infection she suspected more than just
an odor. The top picture shows no
visible mold growth or water
damage. However, high moisture retention
was detected in the drywall which
resulted in a significant amount of
black mold growing behind the baseboard,
inside the wall, in the carpet and
inside the cavity between the bathroom
floor and the kitchen ceiling below. The
cost of mold remediation and
re-construction exceeded $10,000. Had
the client acted when she first detected
the odor the cost would have surely been
less. |
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Mold growth can occur in places we would
never expect.
It can cause significant damage to
property, produce embarrassing foul
odors, and cost thousands of dollars to
repair. But the tragic side to mold is
the harmful effects in can have on the
health of people and animals that live
and work in mold contaminated buildings.
According to the Center for Disease
Control (CDC), exposure to molds can
cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness,
eye irritation, wheezing, or skin
irritation, chronic lung illnesses, and
may develop mold infections in their
lungs. The CDC concluded that "excessive
exposure to mold-contaminated materials
can cause adverse health effects in
susceptible persons regardless of the
type of mold or the extent of
contamination."
1
For more info on
health effects
of mold click here. |
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What Credentials Do AMI Mold Inspectors Have? |
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AMI Inspectors carry multiple certifications
from one or more of the following certifying
bodies;
The AmIAQC
- American Indoor Air Quality Council -
promotes awareness, education and certification
to Indoor Air Quality Professionals and
establish credible Council-certifications that
provide lasting value to IAQ professionals,
their clients and the public. Only AmIAQC certifications are fully accredited
by the Council of Engineering and Scientific
Specialty Boards (CESB).
The CESB
was created in 1990 by the engineering and
technology communities as an independent body
which accredits certification programs organized
and operated consistent with sound
credentialing practices tailored to the needs
of engineering and technology specialties.
The ESA -
Environmental Solutions Association - is a
membership-based training organization formed
exclusively to provide industry professionals
with the training and education necessary to
confront today's Indoor Air Quality issues. ESA
is a major provider of educational courses for
the IAQ issues of Radon, Mold, VOC's, Allergens
and Bacteria. Our courses are recognized to be
the most up-to-date in the IAQ industry.
In addition to qualifying for these
prestigious industry certifications, AMI
Certified Mold Inspectors are required to meet
rigorous standard practices and annual
re-certification credits to maintain their
certifications.
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REFERENCES:
1 Mold Prevention Strategies and Possible Health
Effects in the Aftermath of Hurricanes and Major
Floods - Center for Disease Control & Prevention
June9, 2006
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MOLD IN YOUR VEHICLE |
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Can Mold In Your Vehicle
Cause Fungal Infections? |
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Yes. Have you ever turned your
vehicle's air conditioner or heater
and smelled mold?
Our cars, trucks, SUVs, RV's,
motor homes, boats, and airplanes
can all be a source for
exposure to high levels of airborne mold
spores.
If you live or work in a moldy
building, mold spores that cling to
your clothing often end up in your
car's air conditioner or heater. Water-damaged vehicles
and even vehicles that have been
cleaned but the upholstery or carpets have not
been dried properly can all be
infested with mold.
For more information visit our page
titled
ALL
ABOUT MOLD
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HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
VENTS |
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Can air ducts become
contaminated with mold?
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Yes. Dusty HVAC ductwork provides an
ideal environment for mold and other
allergens to grow in. Air duct
systems may be constructed of bare
sheet metal, sheet metal with
fibrous glass insulation on the
exterior, or sheet metal with an
internal fibrous glass insulation.
Bare sheet metal systems and sheet
metal systems wrapped in fibrous
glass insulation can be cleaned and
disinfected. If ductwork made of
sheet metal with internal fibrous
glass liner or ductwork made
entirely of fibrous glass becomes
water damage or mold growth occurs,
replacement may be necessary. For
more information visit our page
titled
ALL
ABOUT MOLD
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Call AMI today for a quote on
testing your recycled indoor air.
1-800-369-8532
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ALL ABOUT MOLD |
Are you concerned about mold?
With the abundance of
information available on the
internet and other media sources
it can be difficult to separate
the facts from all the hype. But
not anymore. Now you can get
straight talk from some of the
Nation's leading experts with
AMI's Certified Mold
Inspector Hotline.
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Click here
to read it online
OR call toll free
1-800-369-8532 to speak to a
Certified Inspector now. |
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MOLD SCAMS
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Are Free Mold Inspections
and Samples Really Free?
Free always sounds good until you find out
what it really costs.
In a perfect world you could trust
everyone, but it's not perfect yet. Be aware of
the most common mold scams and how
to avoid becoming the next victim... click here.
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TECHNOLOGY AT WORK |
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AMI sets the standard for mold
inspections with state-of-the-art building
diagnostic technology.
See the AMI difference!
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TOXIC MOLD IN NEW HOME
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As Seen On Fox News
Click to watch it now.
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