Environmental Testing

Why Choose AccuPro for your Environmental Testing?

Environmental Standards Organization (IESO)

IESO Mold Assessments – Level I

IESO Mold Assessments – Level II

Allergen and Particulate Screening

Testing

Why Choose AccuPro for Your Environmental Testing?

1. Rich Schaefer is a trained, certified IESO (Indoor Environmental Standards Organization) Certified Residential Mold Inspector. Arizona does not currently require mold inspectors to be certified — virtually anyone can conduct them, regardless of qualifications.  You may be taking a chance on what is inspected, how it is inspected and whether the inspector has the training and skill to know what he/she is looking for if the company/inspector you choose does not have this certification.
2. We inspect and test to the IESO (Indoor Environmental Standards Organization) standards. For a Level II Assesment, this includes a comprehensive inspection of the entire home: indoors, outdoors, attic, roof, plumbing, ventilation systems, condensation drainage, duct work, etc. for any conditions conducive to mold. We inspect all of the same areas that we do in a home inspection, except that we are looking exclusively for issues relating to mold. Most other companies will only look at a few areas and don’t go into the attic, onto the roof or inspect all of the major areas where mold problems may originate.
3. We are an independent inspection and testing company, so we are totally unbiased.  Inspection/testing companies that also remediate have a vested interest in finding a “problem” and often recover the cost of the inspection by charging  thousands, or even tens of thousands, of dollars to remediate the problem. We charge a fair price for the service you receive with no vested interest in the outcome other than providing you with comprehensive knowledge to make informed decisions.

Indoor Environmental Standards Organization (IESO)

IESO is a non-profit organization founded in 2002 that provides a national forum for the development and publication of consensus standards for the indoor environment to promote public health, safety and the overall quality of life.

Awareness of indoor environmental quality issues has increased dramatically over the past several years.  People of industrialized nations spend as much as 90% of their time indoors, and it is estimated that 30% to 70% of all buildings have indoor environmental quality problems. The EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health.

In an effort to help mitigate these issues, the IESO has established standardized procedures and developed a certification program for inspection, sample collection methodology, documentation, chain of custody and testing of the environment and potential contaminants.  The  certification program requires in-depth training in each of these aspects using different sampling techniques and methodologies, as well as passing an industry administered test.  There are currently less than 200 IESO Certified Residential Mold Inspectors (CRMI) that have passed this stringent course of study. 

Additional information on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), its causes and its effects on health can be found on the Environmental Protection Agency’s IAQ web site.

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Mold Inspection

Level I Assessment

An IESO Level I Assessment is used to evaluate and characterize a visible suspected mold colonization on a surface.  It is used to determine whether a stain, discoloration, blemish, raised material or other irregular appearance on a surface is, in fact, mold.

A minimum of two physical surface samples must be collected and tested:  one from the suspect area and another from a non-suspect surface that is similar in material and physical characteristics but is free of stain, discoloration, blemish, mold-like substance or irregular appearance and appears to be free of active or dormant mold growth. 

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Level II Assessment

An IESO Level II Assessment is conducted to rule out potential sources of mold contamination when no visible suspected mold colony has been identified.  The Level II Assessment is more far-reaching in nature, requiring a full visual inspection, as well as preparation of the room and collection of air samples from at least two locations:  one indoors and one at least ten feet outside the exterior of the home.  Additional samples are required from any additional floors (second story, basement, etc.), or where conditions are deemed to be conducive to moisture and/or mold colonization.

A Level II Assessment conducted to the IESO standards includes a comprehensive visual inspection of the entire home (indoors and out) for conditions conducive to mold.  This information provides the basis for any needed repairs to eliminate the source of either potential or actual mold and so that any existing mold can be properly remediated and not return. 

The Level II Assessment includes a visual inspection of the following:

• Property– Grading and drainage within 10 feet of the structure- Exterior wall coverings and all penetrations- Decks and other attached structures- Adjacent potential sources of water that might impact the exterior of the structure (e.g. water features)
• Foundation– Stem wall/Foundation- Basement- Crawlspace- Ventilation systems
• Roof– Penetrations- Drainage and flashing- Type and condition of roof covering
• Attic– Insulation- Ventilation- Condensation drainage- Framing and sheathing
• Interior– Walls, ceilings, floors and floor coverings- Carpets, rugs and fleecy furnishings- Doors and windows- High moisture areas — laundry, bathrooms, kitchen
• Plumbing– Relevant fixtures, supply and drain lines
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems– Visible duct work- Air handling unit (if accessible)- Filters- Fans

For additional information on mold contamination, refer to AccuPro’s article:  “Mold:  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,”  Aerotech Laboratories’  IAQ News, or the Environmental Protection Agency’s Biological Pollutants web page.

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Allergen and Particulate Screening

Testing for pollens, animal dander, dust mites, cockroach particles and other particulates that may aggravate allergies, asthma or other sickness is done through air sampling throughout the residence.  The aggregate sample is then sent to the lab for analysis for testing and reporting.

Testing

AccuPro Inspection Services utilizes Aerotech Laboratories, Inc., one of the nations most eminent and trusted sources of testing, analysis and reporting on toxins and contaminates. Aerotech Labs is a full service indoor air quality testing facility with fully accredited (AIHA, A2LA) laboratories, specializing in the analysis of mold, bacteria, allergens and chemical testing.  The have been entrusted by the U.S. Government to perform testing for potential bioterrorism agents,  such as Anthrax.

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