Home/Welcome Products Services Mold & Bacteria Warning Signs Contact Us
Start
Breathing
Fresh
Air!
Start Breathing Fresh Air!
We spend over 90% of our day INDOORS!
The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that the air
indoors is 5-10 times more harmful than outdoor levels.
Don't Stop Breathing!
But take control of the air that you breathe
Start Breathing Fresh Air!
The Option is Yours
Why Be Concerned About Your Indoor Air Quality?
In 1973 expectations about energy changed dramatically causing the supply to dwindle while the price for energy skyrocketed. One spin off, however, was the way buildings were being built. No longer was it acceptable to tolerate the outdoor air to freshen up the indoor environment as was the acceptable standard of the early 1900's. We were in a sense being shielded from the outdoor air as if we were living in a plastic food storage bag complete with a twist tie.
A heightened awareness of
conserving our precious energy resources was about to become a world-wide
concern.
Construction methods began to emphasize insulation and climate controls which increased air tightness in buildings. The result was a new phenomenon called "Sick-Building Syndrome". TIME Magazine reported this condition in its December, 1998 article entitled, "This Place Makes Me Sick". It described Sick Building Syndrome as a disease of modern architecture, where sealed, energy conserving buildings recycle contaminated air. Inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants from indoor and outdoor sources, and biological contaminants such as molds bacteria, pollens and viruses contribute to this problem. Once growth has occurred, harmful organisms can be spread by improperly designed and/or maintained ventilation systems and bad maintenance practices.
The extent of "Sick-Building Syndrome", and the degree to which offices or homes are affected, can be difficult to pin down. Doctors haven't determined what concentration of pollutants are necessary to cause illness, or exactly how they make people sick. Symptoms such as headaches, weariness, nausea, malaise, sneezing, wheezing and rashes may be brought on by chemicals in cleaning supplies, insecticides, and even high concentrations of molds & bacteria caused by standing water or they could simply be signs of flu, allergies or depression.
Over the past two decades scientists have been carefully examining the indoor air environment of our offices, factories and homes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that the air indoors is up to 5 times more hazardous to our health than the outdoor air. Why is that? Indoor air contaminants can originate within the building or be drawn in from outdoors. Particulate matter can come from far away places like blowing desert sands & volcanic eruptions or from nearby sources such as pollinating trees, industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, cleaning chemicals & pesticides. If these contaminant sources are not controlled, indoor air quality (IAQ) problems can arise. Statistics show that 1 out of 5 (50 million) Americans suffer from allergies caused by substances found in the home and office. Deaths related to asthma have risen 40% in the past 20 years.
Benefits
and Qualities of a Healthy Indoor Environment
A healthy indoor environment is one in which the surroundings contribute to:
1. Productivity
2. Comfort
3. A sense of health and well-being
The qualities of good indoor air include:
-
Introduction and distribution of adequate ventilation air
-
Control of airborne contaminants
-
Maintenance of acceptable temperature and relative humidity
What is an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Assessment?
The IAQ Assessment is designed to examine and identify problems within the indoor environment, draw conclusions based on the findings and provide a list of recommendations for an effective solution. The FACTS inspector will use his experience, being certified by NORMI (National Organization of Remediation and Mold Inspectors, information available at http://www.normi.org/ ), to perform a complete, visual, six phase process. The inspection process typically takes approximately 3 hours for a single residential property and 3 to 8 hours for most commercial properties.
Phase I - Assessment Interview:
One very important step in
properly diagnosing a potential mold problem is to inquire by phone of any
current, existing problem/ conditions, such as but not limited to the
following: moldy odors, humidity problems, condensation problems, any known
past or present roof leaks, plumbing leaks or past floods and any visible
mold observed.
Phase II - Visual Inspection:
We will do a complete visual
inspection of all accessible areas of your California home or commercial
property, locate potential water penetration and other problem conditions,
and search for any visible evidence of mold growth throughout the habitable
areas of the property. It is common to find mold growth in and around air
conditioners and AC ductwork, under kitchen and bathroom sinks, behind
toilets, on shower stall walls, on garage interior walls, under and behind
aquarium stands, on drywall material, carpets, and ceiling acoustical tile
as well as many other areas in need of inspection. If necessary, devices
such as moisture meters (for detecting moisture), hydrometers (for
measurement of indoor humidity), may be used during an inspection. Digital
photographs may also be taken to document your particular conditions.
Phase III - Sampling:
Often, evidence of mold
cannot be visually seen but must be detected instead by taking samples of
microscopic mold spores for analysis. Typically, air samples are taken of
the outdoor and indoor air by using Air-O-Cell or VIA-cell traps for spore
collecting. This is done to determine if mold spore counts filtered from the
indoor air are unusually high in comparison to the mold spore count filtered
from the air just outside your property. It also indicates types of mold at
the property. This is a typical and basic test that is often done as part of
a professional mold inspection routine. Other types of mold sampling may be
required, depending on visible conditions, may include but are not limited
to the following: viable spore sampling using a Zephon Impactor
Plate; mold spore sampling of carpet by utilizing a carpet cassette;
surface-lifted samples of actual mold using samples of mold scraped directly
from building material surfaces or surface samples obtained with the aid of
swabs and/or simple, clear tape; and, bulk samples taken by cutting away
actual small samples of building materials contaminated with mold. These
samples are sent to our testing lab for analysis.
Phase IV - Lab Testing:
It is crucial that a professional lab be used for analysis of any mold
or mold spore samples obtained at the property. Test samples collected are
analyzed by an accredited professional microbiology lab. Their testing
results will be provided to you, often giving information on the number of
spores per cubic meter of air, and the specific types of molds found,
including their potential health effects.
Phase V - Reporting:
What we see will be recorded,
and a written report will be provided for you that will collaborate with any
lab findings. Written reports of findings as well as
printed lab results specifying what types of mold were found will be
provided to you. Only when a professional inspector has reported locations
of visible mold infestation and a lab specializing in mold analysis has
analyzed the types of mold on your property, can you know what you are up
against. Much of the time, mold growth is not substantial or toxic; but,
occasionally, mold is found that constitutes a problem for you and your
family's health. Such problems must be dealt with before they get worse.
Phase VI - Remediation Or Mold
Clean-Up:
We at FACTS are indoor
air quality evaluators who are certified mold inspectors, not remediators.
Our primary business goals are to provide you with mold inspection, testing
and advice concerning remediation. In most cases, remediation may not be
needed just the implementation of SANITIZATION solutions. The mold inspection and
testing shall be performed in accordance with NORMI accepted standards and
in accordance with the NORMI Code of Ethics, as established by the NORMI,
Board of Directors (information available at
http://www.normi.org/
or click logo link below).
The Evaluation and Testing
fee, and any report based on the inspection and testing conducted, is based
on a single visit to the property. Additional fees may be charged for any
subsequent visits required by the client.
Fresh Air Consulting Technology Services
Toll Free (866) 51-FACTS
Top of Page Products Services Mold & Bacteria Warning Signs Contact Us