Growth in crawl space

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by ldapkus

And if you had the capacity to do bulk sampling of suspected asbestos containing material, would you offer this service to your clients? Absolutly. Makes good business sense.

Asbestos = carcinogen = death = on EPA hit list.

Mold = ???

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Mold.....is TBA.........remember Asbestos was accepted at one point before they realized it = DEATH.......never know where Mold may go......like Radon....even if the EPA has elevated it...and is the # 2 cause of lung cancer......it was at one point....ignored.

Are you prepared to say the entire Pro-Lab company is stealing the money from the HI industry to fuel a "MYTH" that is a total lie?

If mold has no effects or does not cause any issues....and if chosen to identify or not, sample or not...is the choice of the client...I fail to find any harm in it....

Why have "Forensic Industrial Hygienist" to determine if their is MOLD if it is not a concern...lets just blanket statement it and say mold is never an issue...it should be ignored.?

Why have Home Inspectors comment on anything...if the fear is always propogated by them doing so?

Their are "carcinogen's" in almost every shower we take if public water is used.......chlorine is one.....when I sold water softeners in our company it was one of the things we keyed in on.......and I happen to have a softner in my house....to remove the city clorine.....the vapors I worred more about....However the Hamburgers I eat at Wendy's is probably killing me faster than Radon, Mold, and Chlorine all together...lol

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by pabernathy

Mold.....is TBA.........remember Asbestos was accepted at one point before they realized it = DEATH.......never know where Mold may go......like Radon....even if the EPA has elevated it...and is the # 2 cause of lung cancer......it was at one point....ignored.

Did any home inspector sample asbestos or radon before it was regulated or had scientifically accepted limits? What about fiberglass---should we sample that now and spread fear in case it becomes a recognized health hazard in the future?

Originally Posted by pabernathy

Are you prepared to say the entire Pro-Lab company is stealing the money from the HI industry to fuel a "MYTH" that is a total lie?

The home inspectors aren't being ripped off. It's the home buyers.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

What about someone like me who paid $ 599.00 for my Commercial & Residential MOLD class...am I not being ripped off...lol

Ah..I'm for Fiberglass testing...you ever get that crap in your fingers as splinters...man I am AGAINST that fiberglass....it's killing us all slowly...

[Erby Crofutt]

I'm not smart enough to be a rocket scientist, but I was smart enough to inspect the rocket scientist's prospective home purchase, as he wasn't smart enough to inspect it himself, but he was smart enough to hire me as I'll be smart enough to hire him when I'm ready to plan my rocket launch.

[Barry Adair]

EPA's view on Sampling

Is sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. In specific instances, such as cases where litigation is involved, the source(s) of the mold contamination is unclear, or health concerns are a problem, you may consider sampling as part of your site evaluation. Surface sampling may also be useful in order to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling should be done only after developing a sampling plan that includes a confirmable theory regarding suspected mold sources and routes of exposure. Figure out what you think is happening and how to prove or disprove it before you sample!
If you do not have extensive experience and/or are in doubt about sampling, consult an experienced professional. This individual can help you decide if sampling for mold is useful and/or needed, and will be able to carry out any necessary sampling. It is important to remember that the results of sampling may have limited use or application. Sampling may help locate the source of mold contamination, identify some of the mold species present, and differentiate between mold and soot or dirt. Pre- and post-remediation sampling may also be useful in determining whether remediation efforts have been effective. After remediation, the types and concentrations of mold in indoor air samples should be similar to what is found in the local outdoor air. Since no EPA or other Federal threshold limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building's compliance with Federal mold standards.
Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals with specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpretation of results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional guidelines (see Resources List). Types of samples include air samples, surface samples, bulk samples (chunks of carpet, insulation, wall board, etc.), and water samples from condensate drain pans or cooling towers.
A number of pitfalls may be encountered when inexperienced personnel conduct sampling. They may take an inadequate number of samples, there may be inconsistency in sampling protocols, the samples may become contaminated, outdoor control samples may be omitted, and you may incur costs for unneeded or inappropriate samples. Budget constraints will often be a consideration when sampling; professional advice may be necessary to determine if it is possible to take sufficient samples to characterize a problem on a given budget. If it is not possible to sample properly, with a sufficient number of samples to answer the question(s) posed, it would be preferable not to sample. Inadequate sample plans may generate misleading, confusing, and useless results. Keep in mind that air sampling for mold provides information only for the moment in time in which the sampling occurred, much like a snapshot. Air sampling will reveal, when properly done, what was in the air at the moment when the sample was taken. For someone without experience, sampling results will be difficult to interpret. Experience in interpretation of results is essential.

good enough for me

here's the entire story source if you want to take the time to properly inform your clients: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/images/moldremediation.pdf

[Michael Bazzo, CMI]

June 21, 2004 -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) began distribution this month of the new Form HUD-9548-E Radon Gas and Mold Notice and Release Agreement. The form notifies prospective purchasers of single-family property that “radon gas and some molds have the potential to cause serious health problems,” and encourages them “to obtain the services of a qualified and experience professional to conduct inspections and tests regarding radon and mold prior to closing.” By the end of June, all purchasers will be required to sign the release forever discharging HUD, their marketing and management contractor (M&M Contractor), and the sales agent from any and all claims and liabilities resulting from the presence of radon or mold on the property.

[Michael Bazzo, CMI]

Radon Gas and Mold Notice U.S. Department of Housing
and Release Agreement and Urban Development

• • Office of Housing

• • Federal Housing Commissioner

Property Case #:

Property address:


PURCHASERS ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED AND UNDERSTAND THAT RADON GAS AND SOME MOLDS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS.

Purchaser acknowledges and accepts that the HUD-owned property described above (the “Property”) is being offered for sale “AS IS” with no representations as to the condition of the Property. The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, his/her officers, employees, agents, successors and assigns (the “Seller”) and [insert name of M & M Contractor], an independent management and marketing contractor (“M & M Contractor”) to the Seller, have no knowledge of radon or mold in, on, or around the Property other than what may have already been described on the web site of the Seller or M & M Contractor or otherwise made available to Purchaser by the Seller or M & M Contractor.

Radon is an invisible and odorless gaseous radioactive element. Mold is a general term for visible growth of fungus, whether it is visible directly or is visible when barriers, such as building components (for example, walls) or furnishings (for example, carpets), are removed.

Purchaser represents and warrants that Purchaser has not relied on the accuracy or completeness of any representations that have been made by the Seller and/or M & M Contractor as to the presence of radon or mold and that the Purchaser has not relied on the Seller’s or M & M Contractor’s failure to provide information regarding the presence or effects of any radon or mold found on the Property.

Real Estate Brokers and Agents are not generally qualified to advise purchasers on radon or mold treatment or its health and safety risks. PURCHASERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO OBTAIN THE SERVICES OF A QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL TO CONDUCT INSPECTIONS AND TESTS REGARDING RADON AND MOLD PRIOR TO CLOSING. Purchasers are hereby notified and agree that they are solely responsible for any required remediation and/or resulting damages, including, but not limited to, any effects on health, due to radon or mold in, on or around the property.

In consideration of the sale of the Property to the undersigned Purchaser, Purchaser does hereby release, indemnify, hold harmless and forever discharge the Seller, as owner of the Property and separately, M & M Contractor, as the independent contractor responsible for maintaining and marketing the Property, and its officers, employees, agents, successors and assigns, from any and all claims, liabilities, or causes of action of any kind that the Purchaser may now have or at any time in the future may have against the Seller and/or M & M Contractor resulting from the presence of radon or mold in, on or around the Property.

Purchaser has been given the opportunity to review this Release Agreement with Purchaser’s attorney or other representatives of Purchaser’s choosing, and hereby acknowledges reading and understanding this Release. Purchaser also understands that the promises, representations and warranties made by Purchaser in this Release are a material inducement for Seller entering into the contract to sell the Property to Purchaser.

Dated this ____ day of ____________, 20__.



Purchaser’s Signature Purchaser’s Signature


Purchaser’s Printed Name Purchaser’s Printed Name

Form HUD-9548-E (6/2004)

[Erby Crofutt]

I don't think anybody is saying mold "can't" be harmful. Just following the EPA and CDC guidelines indicating that in "most" cases sampling or testing is unnecessary.

PURCHASERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO OBTAIN THE SERVICES OF A QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL TO CONDUCT INSPECTIONS AND TESTS REGARDING RADON AND MOLD PRIOR TO CLOSING.

And that where it is necessary they should use a "qualified and experienced professional" to test or sample the mold, not a one day wonder.

My client today wanted to know if he needed to test this.

Why would you (if you do mold testing) test this instead of following the EPA and CDC guidelines (other than making some money doing unnecessary testing).

[Dale Duffy]

Look like baby Oyster Mushrooms Erby....yum....