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Residential Services: Investigation

Home Owners, Property Managers, Banks, Realtors

Residential IAQ investigations primarily reference issues associated with water intrusion and subsequent fungal contamination.

Investigations are compliant with ASTM E 2418 Standard Guide. All service proposals require extensive site-investigations and analysis for IAQ and environmental conditions.

INVESTIGATION EXPLAINED

Each of our inspections includes the following services:

1)      Occupant surveys - complete survey of facility to specifically include complaint areas;

2)      Visual inspection;

3)      Moisture survey & documentation;

4)   Building defects leading to moisture/water intrusion;

5)      Photographic documentation;

6)      Invasive inspection of concealed building cavities (as contractually agreed);

7)      Microbial sampling & analysis (reference and complaint areas as contractually agreed). Understanding the species of bio-growth contamination assists in determining remediation requirements, potential health risks and degree of moisture intrusion.

8)  Particulate matter survey. Bio-growth in the form of mold spores are one form of airborne particulate contamination. Particulate surveys provide later evidence for clearance studies. 

9)     Environmental monitoring of common indicators of IAQ as required by the complaint (carbon monoxide, temperature, relative humidity, airborne particulate matter).

10) Remediation planning and definition

Atlanta Mold LLC can offers 24-hour turn-around times for mold laboratory sample reporting for an additional fee. 

Our investigations are conducted with the utmost attention to detail for issues requiring stringent documentation and objectivity.  Our reports include inspection summaries, photographic documentation, moisture survey results & interpretations, microbial sampling results & environmental monitoring results, and remediation guidance.

DETAILS OF INSPECTION

Purpose

• Establishment and documentation of building defect leading to moisture intrusion
• Determination of the scope of bio-growth or air quality contamination and establishment of Level I, II or III status (NY City DOH Remediation Guidelines)
• Determination of scope of bio-growth condition according to IICRC S520 Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration
• Estimation through visual inspection the cause of moisture intrusion

• Application
  • Residences with obvious and/or apparent bio-growth contamination
  • Residences wherein health complains arise
  • Residences desiring a formal determination and assessment of bio-growth or air quality
• Methodology
  • Visual Inspection
  • Moisture mapping measurement for determination of site of moisture intrusion
  • Moisture measurement for estimation of fungal contamination Level Status
  • Microbiology air sampling for determination of physical spore counts (2 are a minimum)
  • Air-borne particulate mapping and measurement for establishment of base-line.
  • Field Microscopy and surface sampling for office-based photography of contamination
• Remediation Planning
  • Condition specific remediation planning and description
  • Condition analysis specific to IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation
  • Report is sufficient for remediation bid proposals from remediation contractors
  • Referrals to remediation contractors
• Time on-site - Minimum of Two (2) to (4) hours
• Report Generation (3-5 hours for single story on-slab) available within 24 hours of receipt of the laboratory report by AtlantaMold
• Initial Remediation Planning Guidelines should bio-growth be detected.

Do you have a Bio-Growth or other pollutant

"Indoor Air Quality Concern"?

• Is there a health concern with asthma, allergies or other health symptom? 

  • Does anyone in the family have frequent headaches, fevers, itchy watery eyes, a stuffy nose, dry throat, or a cough? Does anyone complain of feeling tired or dizzy all the time? Is anyone wheezing or having difficulties breathing on a regular basis? 

  • Did these symptoms appear after you moved to a new or different home? 

  • Do the symptoms disappear when you go to school or the office or go away on a trip, and return when you come back? 

• Have you recently remodeled your home or done any energy conservation work, such as installing insulation, storm windows, or weather stripping? Did your symptoms occur during or after these activities? 

• Does your home feel humid? Can you see moisture on the windows or on other surfaces, such as walls and ceilings? 

• What is the usual temperature in your home? Is it very hot or cold? 

• Have you recently had water damage? 

• Is your basement wet or damp? 

• Is there any obvious mold or mildew? 

• Does any part of your home have a musty or moldy odor? 

• Is the air stale? 

• Do you have pets? 

• Do your house plants show signs of mold? 

• Do you have air conditioners or humidifiers that have not been properly cleaned? 

• Does your home have cockroaches or rodents?

• Is there a funny, odd, musty smell in residence?
• Do you see some sort of growth on walls, ceiling, in attic or crawl space?
• Is there softness of structural members - around toilet, dish washer?
• Unexplained moisture and wetness

You may have an Indoor Air Quality Problem if you answered yes to any of the above questions

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

After natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, excess moisture and standing water contribute to the growth of mold in homes and other buildings. When returning to a home that has been flooded, be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk for your family.

Mold may also occur as a consequence of building problems such as leaky roof, crawl space moisture, plumbing leaks, HVAC accumulation of dust and moisture, and building science problems such as air intrusion through walls and moisture condensation on the inside of exterior walls.

1. Stuffy nose, irritated eyes, or wheezing can occur in people who are sensitive to molds.
2. Wheezing, difficulty in breathing, and shortness of breath can be an allergic reaction to mold and can sometimes be severe.
3. Skin reactions can develop.
4. Mold infections can develop in the lungs of people with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung diseases such as obstructive lung disease.

1. Sight (Are the walls and ceiling discolored, or do they show signs of mold growth or water damage?)
2. Smell (Do you smell a bad odor, such as a musty, earthy smell or a foul stench?)

1. Protect your eyes with glasses or goggles.
2. Wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during cleanup.
3. Wear outer clothing (long-sleeved shirts and long pants) that can be easily removed and laundered or discarded.
4. Shorten the amount of time you are in the area.
5. Minimize the spread of airborne spores by using work practices such as
   1. decreasing foot traffic in the area,
   2. avoiding dry sweeping,
   3. avoiding rapid movements (such as jerking or throwing moldy objects), and
   4. covering moldy objects when removing them.

1. People should check with their doctor to ensure that they are physically capable of wearing a respirator. Wearing a respirator can pose a health risk. For example, if a wearer has preexisting respiratory issues, the pressure drop created by a well-fitted respirator can put the wearer at risk.
2. Wearers should read the instructions that come with the respirator on how to get the best fit. Proper adjustment and fit is important to lessen leakage into the respirator.
3. Without proper training, wearers often use respirators for purposes for which the respirator was not intended. The N-95 respirator is designed to protect only against dusts and particles the size of mold spores with 95 percent or greater efficiency. (The N-95 is the respirator to use for mold clean-up if the decision has been made to wear one.)
4. Wearers are not protected from disinfectant vapors.
5. Wearers often think they are protected in hazardous areas when they are actually not protected.

1. Make sure the working area is well ventilated.
2. Remove all porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. These items can remain a source of mold growth and should be removed from the home. When in doubt, take it out! However, homeowners may want to temporarily store items outside of the home until insurance claims can be filed. See recommendations by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at www.fema.gov/hazards/floods/whatshouldidoafter.shtm.
3. Porous, noncleanable items include carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, clothing, leather, paper, wood, or food.
4. Clean nonporous surfaces such as walls, floors, and counter surfaces with soap and water. (Use non-ammonia soap or detergent.) Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials such as concrete.
5. If you wish to disinfect, refer to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) document, A Brief Guide to Mold and Moisture in Your Home at www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/images/moldguide.pdf.

The key to preventing mold from coming back is to control moisture. Mold spores are found in outdoor air, so mold can grow again if conditions are suitable indoors.

Previously damp areas must be kept completely dry.

1. Clean fabrics (curtains, upholstery, bedding, etc.) often and keep them dry.
2. Store clean fabric items in well-ventilated areas.
3. Reduce moisture in the air with dehumidifiers, open windows, or air conditioners, especially in hot weather.
4. Keep the humidity in your home between 40% and 60%. Humidity in the home can be measured with a household humidity sensor available at your local hardware store.
5. Reduce condensation on cold surfaces by insulating. Examples include insulating air-conditioning ducts, cold water pipes, etc.
6. Routinely check potential problem spots such as the bathroom and laundry for moisture and moldy odors.
7. Fix leaks in pipes, and investigate any damp areas around tubs and sinks.
8. Vacuum and clean surfaces frequently.
9. Seek the advice of a mold remediation company if mold growth persists.

For more information, visit www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods, or call the CDC public response hotline at (888) 246-2675 (English), (888) 246-2857 (español), or (866) 874-2646 (TTY).