HADD_sickhomes This information is very important to TN residents and more....

[Tamara R Pearlman]

Safe and Effective Mold Cleanup Guidelines after the Floods
by TransWorldNews | Top Story

Safe and Effective Mold Cleanup Guidelines after the Floods To ensure
a safe environment, many of the flooded properties will need
environmental testing to determine if mold, bacteria, viruses and
chemical contaminants are now present.

Nashville, TN -- Following torrential downpours and 100-year flooding
that has ravished the Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi region,
residents are returning to what could be potentially dangerous
environments. The storm soaked the southern states pushing rivers
over their banks, closing roads and schools, and requiring thousands
of people to evacuate. The rain has finally tapered off, and is
expected to be the most severe flooding to hit the south.

Renowned microbiologist Dr. Rajiv Sahay, Director of the accredited
AHIA laboratory Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab), reminds
residents to be wary of what floodwaters leave behind – bacteria
(coliform e.g. E. coli ), molds and more specifically, mycotoxin
trichothecenes (toxin producing molds) growing on walls, behind walls,
in the ceilings, under the carpets, behind cabinets, or in their
ductwork.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that
microorganisms in water left behind after flooding can infect open
wounds and anyone venturing into a flooded yard or basement should
wear rubber waders, surgical gloves and other personal protection
equipment (PPE).

To ensure a safe environment, many of the flooded properties will need
environmental testing to determine if mold, bacteria, viruses and
chemical contaminants are now present.

EDLab recommends that consumers and business owners use the following
minimum guidelines to qualify and quantify any contractors, both
testing and remediation, before they hire:

1. Obtain references from your health department, insurance
company, friends and neighbors
2. Know your contractor (check references)
3. Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) – Look for A+
contractors that are certified by BBB
4. Make sure the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured
(including professional liability insurances)
5. Obtain a copy of their license and insurance certificates. Make
sure their liability/general liability covers mold.
6. Hire contractors certified by reputable trade organizations such
as AEE, IAQA, IIRC, ASCR, AIHA, NADCA
7. Differentiate between a “Restoration contractor” and a
“Remediation contractor.” Most restoration contractors are not
knowledgeable in environmental remediation techniques and protocols.
8. Certified contractors should follow a strict code of ethics (ask
for a copy of their respective “code of ethics” they plan to work
with)
9. For mold/bacteria damaged buildings, request pre-remediation
(baseline study) and post-remediation environmental testing be
performed.
10. Request a post remedial environmental clearance study. This is
essential to assure good indoor air quality (health and safety) and
may be required when you sell your home.
11. Request that the microbiology laboratory used is accredited by
the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Environmental
Microbiology Laboratory Accreditation Program (EMLAP). Be careful
that the lab of record is accredited and that the consultant and the
remediation firm have not forged laboratory data. Call the laboratory
directly for confirmation if you have any questions.

For a professional evaluation of your home or business contact Pure
Air Control Services division of toll free at 1-800-422-7873
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-422-7873
end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext 802

Contractors who perform mold cleanup services should do so according
to established industry standards and guidelines, including but not
limited to:

* ACGIH Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control
* EPA Mold Remediation for Homeowners
* New York City Department of Health - Guidelines on Assessment and
Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments
* EPA Mold Remediation for Schools and Commercial Buildings
* IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide for Water Damage
Restoration, Guide for mold remediation
* NADCA ACR 2005, Assessment, Cleaning and Restoration of HVAC
Systems

For professional environmental cleanup of your home or business
contact Building Remediation Sciences division of toll free at
1-800-422-7873 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
1-800-422-7873 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext 804.

About Pure Air Control Services:

Alan Wozniak founded Pure Air Control Services, Inc. in 1984 as a
small mechanical contracting firm today sets the industry standard for
indoor environmental quality diagnosis, laboratory services and
remediation. Pure Air has serviced more than 600 million square feet
of indoor environments in over 10,000 facilities.

Pure Air’s nationally performed services include: Building Sciences
Evaluation; Building Health Check; an AIHA accredited Environmental
Microbiology Laboratory; Environmental Project Management; and Mold
Remediation Services, among other indoor environmental services. The
company’s expanding client roster includes the General Services
Administration (GSA); Allstate Insurance; Carrier Air Conditioning;
Naval Air Warfare Center, Orlando; and Naval Air Station - King's Bay,
Georgia, and many other Fortune 500 companies, school boards, and
city, state, and county governments, making Pure Air a reliable
industry leader.

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