Firece Hurricane Season Predicted - Restoration and Environmental Remediation Tips

The hurricane season is predicted to be "very active"

Fierce Hurricane Season Predicted - Restoration and Environmental Remediation Tips

by Alan L. Wozniak, CIAQP Pure Air Control Services, Inc.

This year's hurricane season will likely be more active than normal, the director of the National Hurricane Center warned today, one day after a leading researcher forecast a "very active" season. William Gray, a top hurricane forecaster on Tuesday predicted a ``very active" season this year with at least nine hurricanes, five of them major hurricanes, and a good chance that one major hurricane will hit the U.S. coast. With the hurricane season fast approaching, homeowners and building owners need to prepare in advance for what looks like to be an active hurricane season.

The Restoration and Environmental Remediation Tips provided by Pure Air Control Services and Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab™) is intended assist those living in areas affected by the hurricane, flooding and resulting mold, bacteria, mycotoxins and ubiquitous allergens.

Storm water damage should be dried within 48 hours to prevent mold contamination. However, as was the case with Katrina, due to the massive damage such rapid restoration and remediation is often impossible.

After a flooding disaster, consumers need to be wary of fly-by-night charlatan/shaman operators seeking to take advantage of water damage victims.

Pure Air Control Services recommends that consumers use the following minimum guidelines to qualify and quantify any contractors they hire:

Obtain references from your health department, insurance company, friends and neighbors
Know your contractor (check references)
Check with the Better Business Bureau
Make sure the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured (including professional liability insurances)
Obtain a copy of their license and insurance certificates. Make sure their liability/general liability covers mold.
Hire contractors certified by reputable trade organizations such as AEE, IAQA, IIRC, ASCR, AIHA, NADCA
Differentiate between a “Restoration contractor” and a “Remediation contractor.” Most restoration contractors are not knowledgeable in environmental remediation techniques and protocols.
Certified contractors should follow a strict code of ethics (ask for a copy of their respective “code of ethics” they plan to work with)
For mold/bacteria damaged buildings, request pre-remediation (baseline study) and post-remediation environmental testing be performed.
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.
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 their are any questions. See related article: Fla. Couple Charged with Faking Mold Remediation Lab Results

Contractors must work 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

Resources and Guidelines for Disaster Restoration and Environmental Remediation available at:

- U.S. EPA Mold Remediation for Home owners
- Building Health Check (BHC™) - Mold Remediation Guidelines www.BuildingHealthCheck.com
- Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab™) - Mold & Bacteria Bioaerosol Guidelines www.EDLab.org
- Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA): Steps to Take After a Disaster
- Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification (IICRC)

Find a Water Restoration Service Provider (to remove water and dry out the building):

- Association of Specialists in Cleaning & Restoration (ASCR)
- Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification (IICRC)

Find an Environmental Remediation/HVAC Service Provider (to perform mold/bacteria contamination clean up):

- National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA)
- American Indoor Air Quality Council (AMIAQ)

Find an Indoor Environmental Inspector (to perform environmental testing, draft specifications and provide clearance studies):

- Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) - Certified Indoor Air Quality Professionals (CIAQP)
- American Indoor Air Quality Council http://www.amiaq.org/Certified-Members/certified-iaq-consultants.htm
- American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)

Specific Tips for Homeowners Having Restoration or Environmental Remediation Work:

Compare the amount of the insurance check with the estimate by the restoration and remediation contractors. They aren’t always the same but should be close to each other for the covered part of the loss.
Ask the remediation contractor to provide a Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule detailing the work schedule, start and completion dates.
Pay a minimal deposit, 10% (if any)
Pay a portion of the cost at halfway, typically 40%
Confirm quality of materials installed with those specified, inspect and verify satisfactory completion of work before paying the final 50%
Request a clearance study before final payment

Warning Signs:

Contractor wants 50% deposit plus cost of materials
Contractor offers financing of the deductible or other significant costs
Contractor offers to act as the homeowner’s agent in representing them to FEMA and lists themselves as beneficiaries
Contractor offers to work on behalf of the insurance carrier (without the carrier’s approval)
Contractor emphasizes cost saving over relationship, trust and final warranty of satisfaction
Contractor is not able provide a list of references
Contractor is not capable or able to provide professional environmental clearance for your home

About Pure Air Control Services:

Pure Air Control Services (http://www.pureaircontrols.com) has an in-house microbiology laboratory accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), one of only 42 in the U.S. and the first in Florida (http://www.edlab.org). The firm has over 500 million square feet of building/home diagnostics/remediation experience in over 10,000 buildings/homes and has analyzed over 100,000 environmental laboratory samples. In addition, the professional staff has served as expert witnesses in over 100 mold/IAQ-related cases.

Pure Air Control Services is under contract with the General Services Administration (GSA), Contract #GS-10F-0488R, linking them directly to federal government agencies to provide IAQ consulting, laboratory analysis, as well as HVAC system cleaning and mold remediation.

The firm has offices in Tampa, FL, Atlanta, GA, West Palm Beach, Fl., Mobile, AL., Houston, TX, Orange, CA. and Washington, DC, while servicing the entire country.

The firm provides the following indoor environmental services on a national basis:

Building Sciences Evaluation
Building Health Check
Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (AIHA Accredited)
Environmental Project Management/ IEQ Training Courses
IAQ-Screen Test Kits/EvaluAire and EvaluAire Pro
Mold Remediation Services
HVAC System Remediation

Clients of Pure Air Control Services include: General Services Administration (GSA); Johnson Controls; Allstate Insurance; Carrier Air Conditioning; Siemen's Building Systems; Naval Air Warfare Center, Orlando; Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia; The Haskell Company; Leon County Government, Tallahassee, Florida; Pinellas County Government, Clearwater, Florida; Collier County Government, Naples, Florida; Bayfront Medical Center, St. Pete, Florida; US Army - Ft. Bragg, Kentucky; Naval Station - Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Montgomery County School District, Maryland; Citrus County School District, Florida; and many others.

For additional information, please contact: