Mold inspections and mold testing are
two distinctive services that work in conjunction
with each other to confirm or rule out indoor mold
growth. The following information will help you
understand the difference between mold inspections
and mold testing and what you can expect to learn
from each one. AMI is and has been the number one
mold inspection company in Los Angeles and all of
Southern California with the only certifications in
our industry that are accredited by the Council of
Engineering and Scientific Specialty Board (CESB).
What Is A Mold
Inspection?
AMI
mold inspections are non-invasive,
non-destructive visual inspections for mold and
conditions that cause mold.
Non-Invasive means
we do not cut open walls, tear up floors, rip out
cabinets, etc. AMI inspections are technology-based
using state-of-the-art inspection equipment such as
infrared cameras and moisture detection instruments
to avoid unnecessary destructive inspection
procedures. For more information on the role of
infrared cameras
click here or scroll down.
Mold and Conditions That
Cause Mold means
the inspection focuses on more than just visible
mold growth. We inspection the interior interior
and exterior of the structure for any conditions
that are commonly associated with indoor mold
growth.
As
a rule, identifying mold problems and their
source is fairly straightforward and can be done
with just a cursory visual inspection. But even with
the latest and greatest technology available, a
non-invasive inspection can have certain
limitations. When a red flag or suspicious condition
is detected, such as water damage, high moisture
retention in a wall, etc., but no visible mold
growth is seen. At that point the visual inspection
has reached its limitation. That's where testing
comes in.
What Is Mold Testing?
Mold testing involves the collection of samples
for one or both of the following purposes:
- To assess the likelihood that mold growth
has occurred in a suspect area where no mold is
visible at the time of inspection.
- To assess the likelihood that indoor mold
growth has negatively impacted the indoor air
quality of a building.
Mold testing answers the questions that the
visual inspection cannot answer, which are, Is
mold growing in indoors where it cannot be seen; and
Is it a health risk.
Mold Sample Types:
There are three primary methods of
testing for mold indoors; surface samples, air
samples, and dust samples.
1. Surface Sampling:
The purpose of surface sampling is to
evaluate whether a suspected stain, discoloration,
blemish, or other irregular appearance on a surface
is mold. Just as the name implies, surface
samples are used to identify what type of mold - if
any - may be growing on the surface of construction
materials, personal contents, etc. Surface samples
are usually taken with a sterile cotton swab or tape
lift and are only relevant to the exact area where
the sample is taken. As such, surface samples are
not to be relied upon for conducting risk assessment
as it relates to airborne mold spore levels.
When Should Surface Samples Be Taken in a Mold
Inspection?
As a rule, surface samples are unnecessary.
Seeing visible mold growth indoors is usually
enough to confirm that there is a mold problem. Mold
should never be growing on any construction
materials indoors or on anything stored indoors.
Occasionally however, it can be difficult to
distinguish the difference between mold and dirt
with a visual inspection alone. For that reason,
it is important to define your objective before
deciding on whether or not to sample a surface for
mold.
The four most common questions people have for
sampling surfaces are:
- Is a certain stain or discoloration mold or
dirt?
- What are the specific types of mold present
on a surface?
- Is the mold on a surface viable or
non-viable (alive or dead)?
- Is the mold on a surface the same mold that
was found in an air sample taken from the same
location?
If your objective for sampling suspected mold on
a surface is not one of these four reasons, surface
sampling may be unnecessary. To discuss your
specific situation and whether or not surface
sampling will answer any questions you have, call an
AMI Certified Inspector for a no-cost consultation.
2. Air Sampling:
The purpose of air sampling is to
evaluate the probability that an elevated or unusual
mold condition exists indoors when such a
determination cannot be made by visual observation
alone.
In a non-invasive inspection it is not always
possible to visually determine if a "suspect
condition", such as water damage or moisture is in
fact a mold problem or not (see pictures of hidden
mold growth - right). Testing airborne mold spore
levels near a suspect condition provides analytical
data that can be used to either confirm or rule out
hidden mold growth.
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.
Many people who call AMI say, "I don't see any
mold". But the fact is, most mold problems go
unnoticed long before any visible signs appear, and
the costliest mold repair jobs are the ones that no
one knew were there until after the damage is done.
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 when you suspect you
might have a mold problem. If you smell musty odors
indoors, you have a reason to have a mold
inspection. If you've had a roof leak, a plumbing
leak, or a flood (past or present) a mold testing is
certainly warranted. Prompt action can mean the
difference between an inexpensive repair project or
a several thousand dollar mold remediation job and
health implications.
To the right of this text 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.
3. ERMI Dust Sampling:
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 sample used 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 information or to speak with Certified
Mold Inspector about how these services apply to
your specific situation, call: 1-800-369-8532
Detecting Mold
Problems
Any of the following conditions around your property
warrant a professional mold inspection.
 |
Frequent Condensation on Window
Cause : Improper window seal, moisture
retention inside wall cavities,
temperature-humidity regulation.
Consequences: Moisture seeps past window
frame and into wall cavity causing water
damage and mold growth inside wall. |
 |
Surface Mold On Window Sill
Cause : Improper window seal, moisture
retention inside wall cavities,
temperature-humidity regulation.
Consequences: Moisture seeps past window
frame and into wall cavity causing water
damage and mold growth inside wall. |
 |
Surface Mold Inside Window
Cause : Improper window seal, moisture
retention inside wall cavities,
temperature-humidity regulation.
Consequences: Moisture seeps past window
frame and into wall cavity causing water
damage and mold growth inside wall. |
 |
Bathtub/Shower Mold
Cause: Water leaks due to cracked or
inadequately sealed grout, plumbing leas
inside wall, etc.
Consequences: Mold comes back with a few
days after cleaning, severe water damage,
degradation of construction materials, and
mold growth inside wall cavities. |
 |
Mold, Dry Rot, Water Damage on Eaves
Cause: Damaged or improperly installed
roofing paper or tiles.
Consequences: Severe water damage,
degradation of construction materials, and
water damage and mold growth spreading under
shingles, onto sub-roof materials. |
 |
Roof Leak
Cause: Damaged or improperly installed
shingles.
Consequences: Water damage and mold
growth spreading under shingles, eventual on
attic and interior construction materials. |
 |
Over-Exposure to Water on Stucco
Cause: Sprinklers, poor drainage,
excessive ground water, covered weep screed,
etc.
Consequences: Water damage and mold
growth on stucco and inner-wall materials
and interior walls of the structure. |
The Role of Thermal Imaging Infrared Cameras in Mold
Inspections
Thermal Imaging Targets Moisture
Thermal imaging systems have been used by
the military to detect and identify enemy personnel,
equipment, and buildings for years. Helicopters,
fighter planes and even some missiles use thermal
imaging for targeting. Law enforcement agencies also
use this technology for everything from tracking
criminals at night to spotting illegal crossings of
international borders.
Thermal imaging has now been in place for a number
of years within the building industry and has been
used to find problems with building materials, such
as: hidden water leaks, leaks within the HVAC
system, general plumbing leaks and faulty electrical
and mechanical systems. Thermal imaging cameras are
useful for energy loss audits because you can see
exactly where cold air is entering the home or heat
is being lost, along with energy dollars. Thermal
imaging has also been used successfully to help
locate loose electrical connections or overheated
breaker boxes by identifying “hot spots”.
The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) industry has made
significant strides in the use of this outstanding
technology as a way to provide accurate and reliable
results during investigations. In fact, it has been
determined that the proper use of this technology
can increase accuracy and help cut investigation
time significantly.
Thanks
to thermal imaging, AMI Inspectors have the ability
to examine roofs, floors and walls for moisture
intrusions, energy loss and electrical problems
faster and more thoroughly than the competition.
While infrared does not specifically detect mold, it
does provide Inspectors with the distinct advantage
of quickly and accurately identifying conditions
where mold typically grows.
Thermal imaging cameras have quickly become the
“must have tool” for IAQ Professionals. Not only is
this sophisticated technology is used in every AMI
mold inspection, it is also used in every
post-remediation verification survey to ensure that
building materials have been thoroughly dried out
before any reconstruction work begins. If
construction materials are not completely dry, mold
growth will reoccur. Infrared technology eliminates
the guesswork and provides quick visual assessment
of the thoroughness of dry out job.
The thermal imaging infrared camera is now the
standard by which true professional IAQ
investigators measured.
