Great image, thank you to Pedrik http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrik/with/3489689513/

Hello, this post will focus on the educational side of Mold training.  Specifcally, training for Mold Assessors and Mold technicians of the Indoor Air Quality field.  

We asked Doug Brown, MS, an Instructor at Gebco Associates of Ft. Worth Texas, about his work.  Doug has an extensive background in the Indoor Air Quality profession.  His career has included both field work and lab work, so you really can’t ask for a more qualified instructor.   Gebco Associates is an OSHA certified and nationally recognized training facility in the DFW area since 1987.  Without further delay, let’s get started. 

Moldlab asks:

1.  What is the first question you always get asked by students?

Doug answers:

“When is class over?”

2.  What is the most common misperception your students have about mold?

Doug answers:

The most common misconception is that the Texas Mold Assessment and Remediation Rules do not address mold related activities in residences.

3.  What is the difference between licensed and certified in the mold industry?

Doug answers:

State law requires those who work in mold related activities (unless they fall under exceptions and exemptions) to be licensed.  To be licensed you must take a TDSHS approved course ,  pass a state exam and satisfy other requirements.  Workers are registered, they don’t have to take a state exam.

***Looking for a HUB certified Mold Laboratory?  click here for a try us free coupon!***

4.  As an instructor, what do you recommend students do after completing a course to stay current on new techniques and information?

Doug answers:

Visit the TDSHS, EPA and OSHA websites periodically.

5.  I notice a lot of acronyms like IEQ, CIAQP, CIEC, IH, CIH etc.  What do they mean, is there a hierarchy of training?  Do you need more than one, is one like another etc.

Doug answers:

CIH means Certified Industrial Hygienist, but regardless of your credentials you have to take certain TDSHS approved courses to be licensed to perform mold related activities (unless they fall under exceptions and exemptions).  The following are acronyms of licenses available from TDSHS; MAT mold assessment technician, MAC (mold assessment consultant) and for cleaning and removing mold MRC (mold remediation contractor).

Doug answers:

Hearing new questions in each class.

7.  When selecting a training school what credentials should students look for?

Doug answers: 

Make sure they are accredited by TDSHS (list found on website), found out how long the training provider has been in business and ask if they will cancel class if only one student shows up.

Awesome, thanks Doug.  

Gebco offers classes both online and in person at their Dallas / Ft. Worth office.  Their curriculum includes not only mold, but asbestos, lead, OSHA and HAZWOPER certifications.  If you are interested in taking a course please give them a call at (817) 268-4006.

Did you find this Q&A informative?  If so you might want to check out: 

                                                               1).  Interview with a Mold Remediator

                                                              2).  Interview about VOCs with an IAQ expert

                                                              3).  Interview with a Mold Assessment Consultant

References:      

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mold/default.shtm  

Key words:  IAQ training, GEBCO, mold school, Moldlab blog, mold blog, Mold training, Mold certifications, mold training class, Dallas mold training

Welcome back! 

     For this installment we are focusing our attention on the ins and outs of being a licensed Mold Assessment Consultant (MAC). Many of you may or may not know that Texas is a rare bird as far as mold regulation and licensing are concerned.  In fact, anyone associated with mold and mold related procedures must be licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services.   I believe that Texas is the only state who requires special licensing; however Google shows both Virginia and Louisiana possibly having some type of regulations of mold as well. 

     For help understanding the Consultant’s role in Indoor Air Quality projects, we contacted Garey Hackney of EcoSystems Environmental, Inc. (ESEI)   ESEI established in 1989, is a full service environmental consulting firm with an in house NVLAP accredited asbestos lab.  The home office is based in the Dallas area with an additional office located in Austin.   Garey alone has over 22 years of environmental industry experience including asbestos, mold, and lead.  Below you’ll find an informal interview where I asked Garey some questions about his work.  Are you ready to jump in?

Moldlab asks: 

1.  Are there any significant differences between an Asbestos containment set up and a Mold containment set up?

Garey answers: 

Depending on the type(s) of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) being removed, there can be significant differences. 

• For example, if a spray-applied acoustical ceiling is being either scraped or demolished, critical barriers must be placed over all openings and penetrations (windows, doors, HVAC vents, etc.); all walls within the containment area must be covered with a minimum of two (2) layers of four-mil polyethylene sheeting, overlapped six to twelve inches; the wall poly should wrap the floor poly typically a minimum of twelve inches; the floor poly in turn will wrap the wall poly typically twelve inches.  Floors and walls are typically installed in alternating fashion (1 layer of wall, 1 layer of floor; 2^nd layer of wall, 2^nd layer of floor).
• A full three stage wet decontamination chamber must be attached to the containment area.  Some states require five stage decontamination chambers.  Oftentimes on a large project, a wet waste decontamination chamber is attached to the containment for decontamination of the waste as it comes from the work area.
• Full negative pressure, minimum of at least 0.02 inches of water column differential (verified by a manometer with a tape print out) between the containment and outside and a minimum of four air changes per hour.  Negative air machines must run continually until final air clearances are achieved.

 

This next question is completely hypothetical, but I think it would be really informative to understand the thought process of seasoned professional.  Below is a typical mold containment project.   

2.  Given the following situation, how do you determine if the job passes clearance or not?

Scenario:

• small mold contamination project less than 1,000 sq. feet
• 10 ft. x 8 ft. of visible growth on sheetrock, no wall cavity damage
• Initial tape lift / surface results were positive for Aspergillus / Penicillium types
• Unoccupied building, realtor is trying to sell commercial property
• Remediation company has completed the written protocol
• Clearance air sampling tests results show all mold type counts lower than the outside control except for Aspergillus. The Aspergillus count in containment is 350 spores/ M cubed and the Outside Aspergillus count was 100 spores per/Mcubed.

Do you pass the project? 

Garey answers: 

As your scenario is written, I would not pass the containment from the air sample results.  Our company makes that decision based upon what our clearance criteria was for the project.  After subtracting our outdoor totals from our containment sample totals, our clearance criteria is that no single genus can be greater than 200 spores/m³.  If this happened to be Stachybotrys, the clearance result is much less than the 200 spores/m³.

3.   What is the difference between a Mold Assessment Consultant and a Mold Assessment Technician?  Can a person be licensed as both?

Garey answers:

A Mold Assessment Technician (MAT) is authorized to determine the extent of mold or suspected mold in a facility.  He/she can record visual observations; take measurements (temperature, relative humidity and moisture levels) during an initial or post-remediation mold assessment; prepare a mold assessment report; and as directed by a onsite Mold Assessment Consultant, collect samples during a post-remediation mold assessment.

A Mold Assessment Consultant (MAC) can do all of the above and is not required to be licensed as both.

 4.  If you were just starting out in the industry given what you know now, what advice would you give a ‘newbie’ to field?

Garey answers: 

Start with a good training program.  The Texas Mold Assessment and Remediation Rules (TMARR) require a training class before taking an examination for a license.  Attend seminars and conferences; read (numerous good books available); get assistance from experienced individuals.

 

5.  Do you think having years of experience in the Asbestos industry has helped or hindered the Mold side of your business?

Garey answers:

I think it has helped the mold side of our business.  There are many people in the industry who have no asbestos experience and do not realize that if a mold project which involves drywall and acoustical ceilings falls under TMARR, and it is in a “public access building”, which is regulated by the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules (TAHPR), then an asbestos survey to determine the presence or absence of regulated asbestos-containing materials is required before any mold remediation can occur. Mold remediation in Texas is deemed a renovation activity.  Under the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules (TAHPR), “§295.34 ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT IN FACILITIES AND PUBLIC BUILDING (c) Conditions requiring a mandatory asbestos inspections for ACBM” an asbestos survey is required prior renovation or demolition activities.  A renovation for the purposes of the TAHPR defines renovation as “additions to or alterations of the building for purposes of restoration by removal, repairing, and rebuilding”.

If the analytical data from the samples of the materials that require mold remediation result in a concentration of >1%, then the material is regulated as asbestos-containing material (ACM); now the project becomes a dual project.  Two notifications are required with the asbestos notification superseding the mold notification.  Instead of a 5 business day notification, you now have a 10 business day notification with no abatement starting until the 11^th day.  You now have two sets of clearances, asbestos first then mold. If the MAC is not licensed for asbestos, then he/she cannot enter the containment until the asbestos clearance sampling is completed and met clearance criteria.  If a protocol calls for “ceasing negative pressure” after the final visual assessment is complete and has passed, then that has to wait until the asbestos clearances have passed, because negative pressure must be maintained until asbestos final clearances have been achieved.  In this scenario, the mold portion of the project could be delayed for 24 – 48 hours depending on how the MAC wrote the protocol and if air scrubbing was required or recommended for 24 hours (+/-) in the remediation protocol.

Need a HUB certified lab?

Great reports, complete with full color comparison charts and graphs… Try us free! click here for coupon.

6.  In your opinion, how likely to you think it will be that Mold will become regulated like the Asbestos industry did about 20 years ago with the AHERA rules?

Garey answers: 

My personal opinion is that I do not believe that will happen.  AHERA required identifying     suspect asbestos-containing material, where it was located, assessing the condition of the known or suspected ACM and putting a plan in place to manage it.  Known health effects have resulted from exposure to ACM (lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma and other cancers).  Latency periods for these diseases range from 15 – 40 years following exposure.  There are established exposure limits.  There is no known dose response.

Please understand that I am not minimizing exposure to molds.  I have a client that basically cannot walk into a building with mold, whether visible or not.  She is very sensitive to it.  I have worked with her on projects that resulted in her missing 1 – 3 days of work following her exposure.

I can’t tell you how many times over the years I’ve had people tell me that they have worked around asbestos all their lives and it hasn’t bothered them yet.  And I have had people tell me that mold is mold and it can’t hurt anyone. 

 7.  What are some of the requirements to keep your Mold Assessment Consultant current?

Garey answers:

In Texas, an 8-hour refresher course is required every two years.

8.  Are there any differences between a commercial and a residential Mold job?

Garey answers:

In my opinion the answer is no.  Mold is mold and it shouldn’t be there, but there is a reason it is there, whether it is in a residence or a commercial building.  Find the causation and fix the causation (which in many cases can’t be done until the remediation is completed).

However, when it comes to the people involved, I believe that most people are more concerned when it comes to their residence, especially if there are children involved, than if it were at their workplace. 

 

 

Thank you Garey for taking the time to be interviewed.   If you need a phase I, II assessment, a mold or an asbestos consultant, give ESEI a call at (972) 416-0520.  With over 80 years of combined experience you will be in excellent hands.  Oh, and tell them the Mold Lady sent you! (just kidding)

Enjoy the Q&A?  If so, you might want to check out other great interviews:

•  Interview with a Professional Mold Remediator
•  Interview with a Indoor Air QualityConsultant:  VOC talk

 Resources:

1. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mold/rules.shtm  TMARR:  Texas Mold Rules and Regulations
2. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/asbestos/rules.shtm TAHPR: Texas Asbestos Rules, Regulations and Clarifications

 Images courtesy of: Asbestos on PVC Pipe, a photo by Asbestorama on Flickr.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): asbestos

Test Air for VOC

Q & A with an Indoor Air Quality Professional:  Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)

V-O what?  Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) , what are they and why are they an indicator of healthy indoor air quality?  Hello and welcome!  This post is one in a series called “Q & A with IAQ professionals” where we interview seasoned professionals in the indoor air quality field about various specialties.  For this installment, we will be discussing the topic of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC). 

Randy Penn with Envirochex,  a Dallas air quality consultant, has agreed to share some of his knowledge with us on the topic by answering a few questions on the subject.  With over 37 years of experience in engineering & construction and one of the authors of “Comparison of Metrics for Characterizing the Quality of Indoor Air” for ISIAQ IndoorAir2011, it is safe to say Randy knows his stuff.   Now let’s get started.

Moldlab asks: 

1. What are VOC’s and where do they come from?

Randy answers:  VOC’s are volatile organic compounds – a very broad group of carbon-based chemicals (organic) that easily vaporize at room temperatures (volatile).  They are emitted from a wide range of building materials & finishes, furnishings, cleaning/maintenance products, personal care products, combustion sources, and occupancy activities.

2. How common is it to have VOC’s present?

Randy answers:  Virtually all indoor air has VOC’s at some concentration level depending on ventilation rates.  And in tightly built structures without ventilation, levels are often elevated.  We commonly see air in these structures as a mixture with 20-50 individual chemicals when tested in the parts-per-billion (ppb) range.

3. What are a few indicators that someone might have a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) problem in their home or place of work?

Randy answers:  All odors are chemicals so the first indication might be at your nose; however, not all chemicals or levels present produce detectable odors so you may not notice them by smell alone.  Other examples of exposure symptoms include eye, nose, and throat irritation, headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, etc.  People may experience sensitivity to a single chemical, a mixture of two or more, or the sum total of all (commonly referred to as a total volatile organic compound level or TVOC). 

 4. What are some key issues professionals consider when selecting a VOC test method?

Randy answers:  One of the most critical considerations is the measurement range and limit of detection of the method selected.  Methods limited to 1 part-per-million (ppm) will not reveal conditions we see using 1 part-per-billion (ppb) techniques which are a thousand times more sensitive.   Think of how much more you’ll see using a 1000X microscope instead of the naked eye. 

Another challenge is to select methods for the types of compounds you are interested in since there is no single test which will identify everything.  Many standard VOC methods have limited lists of compounds or exclude key groups like aldehydes.

 5. What are some common testing methods? 

Randy answers:  Hand-held meters are available that report TVOC levels; however, they typically don’t quantify all constituent chemicals of the mixture.   Similarly there are meters that can quantify specific chemicals if you know them in advance. 

 To get to a full breakdown, specimens collected in the field must be sent to an analytical laboratory and there are two predominant methods: a) collecting a specimen of the air containing the chemicals using specialized equipment (i.e. canister); or b) collecting a specimen of the chemicals from the air using sorbent devices. 

 

6. Why do some test kits specify Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) and Formaldehyde separately?

Randy answers:  Primarily because formaldehyde can be difficult to retain on general sorbents and the lab analysis requires different analytical methods.

 

7. What is the difference between a VOC and a MVOC?

Randy answers:  MVOC is a descriptor often used to describe VOC’s produced by microbial organisms.  Examples include constituent compounds that yield the musty odor of molds or pungent odor of sweat socks. 

8. Have regulating institutions like the EPA, NIOSH or OSHA determined permissible exposure limits (PEL) for VOCs?

Randy Answers:  In general terms, EPA’s regulates outdoor air with NIOSH and OSHA focusing on occupational settings with defined exposure times (e.g. a standard work shift).  There are currently no mandatory standards and very few guidelines for non-occupational indoor air where low-levels and long-term exposures are key factors.  Furthermore, studies have shown mixtures of chemicals appear more significant than individual compounds.

9. What are 3 things people can do in their own homes/offices to reduce possible exposure to VOCs?

Randy Answers:

• Source control is preferred – eliminate the substance or use materials with lower content (e.g. Low-VOC paint). 
• Secondly, reduce levels by diluting with outdoor air – automatic ventilation systems are available and recommended.  
• Lastly, some VOC’s may be reduced through capture or converted in an air cleaning device (unfortunately, no single technology has shown to be 100% effective on every compound or mixture and some have unintended consequences).
  

  Sources of Volatile Organic Compounds

 

Thank you very much for you time Randy, we really appreciate it.  Oh and if anyone calls and reports the smell of ‘sweaty socks’ I’ll be ready!  And yes the kitty picture to the right is silly, but was too cute and I couldn’t resist posting it. 

If your organization is interested in a lecture or presentation on IAQ topics like Mold or VOCs, Randy Penn can be reached at (214) 236-5047.  Envirochex consulting company is also available for on site investigations and evaluations.

We know VOC’s is a big topic to tackle and hope to publish more on the subject in the future.  

If you found our interview informative, please use our easy ‘share’ buttons below and share it with your professional groups and associations.  We think the topic is important and invite your questions and comments.

Enjoy the Q & A?  If so, you might want to check out

• “Interview with a Professional Mold Remediator”  
•  Interview with an Indoor Air Quality instructor
•  Interview with Mold Assessment Consultant

Helpful VOC resources:

1. www.epa.gov/IAQ
2. California’s list of VOC Publications