This article describes an independent, expert building onsite forensic building investigation services under which we inspect and test for toxic mold, allergens, gases, odors, sewage backups, other indoor particles or other indoor contaminants

This website provides free, in-depth information and procedures for finding, testing, cleaning and preventing indoor mold, toxic black mold, green mold, testing building indoor air quality, and other sick house / sick building investigations.

We give in-depth information about mold and other indoor air quality problems: causes of respiratory illness, asthma, or other symptoms such as neurological or psychological problems, air quality investigation methods, and remediation procedures such as mold cleanup, handling toxic mold contamination, and building or mechanical system repairs.

Field Investigation Services, Building Environmental Inspection & Testing by Daniel Friedman

• See MOLD INSPECTORS & MOLD TESTERS for our online directory of mold inspection and testing experts.
• See MOLD CLEANUP COMPANIES for our online directory of mold cleanup companies - mold remediators.

To avoid a conflict of interest we recommend that mold inspection, testing, or post-cleanup inspection and testing should be performed by an expert who has absolutely no financial or business relationship with the mold cleanup or mold remediation company.

Before hiring any onsite test or investigation expert for a field investigation, inspection, or testing, be sure to

review MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT, HIRE ?.

Mold Services: Site Inspection & Lab Testing:

 Our Field Investigation Service our senior expert goes where no one else wanted to look, uses non-invasive tools and sophisticated testing equipment for mold, gases, moisture, air quality, contaminants, Building problem diagnosis. New York State License # 16000005303 [ret].

Our Building investigation services include thorough on-site studies for residential and commercial buildings in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. We also provide expert 24-hour mold testing lab service for our clients and the public.

The result of field and lab work is a complete field investigation report indicating our field findings, laboratory test results, and detailing just what remediation or other actions are appropriate. Basic medical information about allergenic or toxic mold or other contaminants is also included when available. (New York State License # 16000005303, inception to 2008)

Typical in-house forensic and aerobiological laboratory services are described

at LABORATORY SERVICES.

We investigate complaints of respiratory illness, asthma, allergies, neurological and other health concerns, and we identify sources of these and other hazards that may contribute to a wide range of health complaints associated with buildings.

To identify and address indoor air quality problems, we identify conditions which may cause or contribute to allergy, asthma, "sick Building syndrome -- SBS," other respiratory illness and distress, as well as possible neurological or other health problems which may be caused or aggravated by mold or other particles in the air.

Field investigation methods include

• Taking site and client history of concerns or complaints, noting any special health concerns or vulnerabilities
• Diagnostic visual inspection of the entire property and building and its mechanical systems, both to identify mold or other problem reservoirs, and to identify building conditions that create special risk of hidden problems
• Invasive inspection where needed: borescope, test cuts, disassembly where appropriate, while respecting the building, its contents, its occupants, with minimal disruption.
• Bulk/surface/vacuum sampling at each location where history or observations warrant, multiple samples collected to permit corroboration of important conclusions
• Calibrated air sampling combined with
• Light microscopy and laboratory analysis to identify common bioaerosols, allergens, pet dander, dust mites, fleas, mold, pollen, fibers, and other potential irritants.

We also are equipped to test for specific contaminant gases such as produced by Building fires or heating equipment as well as mold or other contaminants.

Our Indoor Gas Sampling Plan for Residential buildings describes gas testing procedures, instruments, detection limits, and it lists some of the toxic (or other) indoor gases for which we can test, depending on the Building complaint and Building conditions. No one needs to wield an axe to investigate a Building. And no one needs to bury important findings among pages of vague language.

We use special equipment such as this borescope permitting examination of hidden wall/ceiling/floor cavities using non-destructive methods.

We may use other equipment to actually obtain particle samples from wall/ceiling/floor cavities by the Wall Check™ method,

When conditions warrant and permission is obtained, we also are equipped to make modest test cuts or to perform other more invasive inspection methods. A variety of non-invasive infra-red and moisture measuring tools may also be employed if recent or current leaks are suspected.

A most-useful mold and air quality investigation report includes the following information:

• Field observations and summary of building history and client complaints
• Laboratory test results supporting the conclusions and recommendations of the investigation
• Medical information regarding toxic or allergenic mold or other contaminants identified, and
• Remediation advice including both mold cleanup and Building repairs which are necessary to help avoid future problems.
• Technical documentation is accompanied by photo documentation of field and lab findings.
• Action Plan: A simple report summary provides a "guide to action" for each property we inspect.

See MOLD LAB REPORTS for more about how to interpret your mold test laboratory report.

Mold Test Laboratory Procedures are described below at Laboratory Services. More information about our indoor air mold testing and field and laboratory investigation methodologies and a description of some of our equipment is at Investigation methodology.

Principal field investigator & website editor/author: Daniel Friedman, Member: American Industrial Hygienists Assoc. AIHA#149892, American Society of Home Inspectors ASHI#00577, BOCA, IAEI, ICBO, NPCA. Mr. Friedman has previously offered sick Building, air quality, and mold investigations and home inspections and for problem diagnosis, research, expert witness, legal documentation, & failure claims assistance.

If you want to collect and send your own mold or other particle test samples to a lab,
see TEST KIT for DUST, MOLD, PARTICLES: INSTRUCTIONS.

Readers interested in laboratory procedures should also
see TECHNICAL & LAB PROCEDURES

as well as DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY & the MICROSCOPE.

...

Continue reading at ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• FORENSIC INVESTIGATION of BUILDINGS - home - Building Failures & Defects: Methods, Tools & References
• FORENSIC BUILDING MOLD & IAQ INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES - Indoor Environment Investigations
• FORENSIC LAB TECHNICAL PROCEDURES - home
• IAQ LABORATORY SERVICES

Suggested citation for this web page

FORENSIC BUILDING MOLD & IAQ INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to MOLD CONTAMINATION & REMEDIATION

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