1. business and industrial
2. business operations
3. management
4. project management

w w w . R a n d R m a g o n l i n e . c o m
RR
Restoration & Remediation
September 2013
Not Drying...
28 It’s
Why?
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Hydro
Boost
• Extreme Whitening
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Ideal for restoration and remediation projects that demand maximum cleaning and stain removal, HydroBoost is an additive
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is an extreme whitening reaction that will remove the toughest stains. In addition, the energized emulsifying agents and
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800.342.3755
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RR
Restoration & Remediation
w w w . R a n d R m a g o n l i n e . c o m
RR
Restoration & Remediation
8Z Fire Rips 100,000 ft2 Carpet Factory
18Z A Two-Step Solution to Managing
the Risk of Subcontractors
26Z What You Need to Know About
Vehicle Biohazard Remediation
September 2013
Features & Columns
8◗
Not Drying...
28 It’s
Why?
12 ◗
Devastating Fire Leads to Massive
Restoration Undertaking at
100,000 ft² Carpet Factory
22 ◗
The PPE of Bio-Recovery
26 ◗
By Eric Fish
Compiled by Eric Fish
16 ◗
September 2013
18 ◗
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It’s Not Drying... WHY?
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A Two-Step Solution to Managing
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20 ◗
What You Need to Know About
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By Kevin Reifsteck
Overhead & Profit: What are Yours?
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Vol.7 No.6
The 2013 R&R
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36 ◗
Toxic Mold Litigation:
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Editorial Comment
By Eric Fish
Who’s Watching You?
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y now, many of you have likely seen – or at least heard of – the video that went
viral in July of Tennessee man Jim Mongiat secretly filming his wife in the midst of a
meltdown that not even my 18-month-old at home can rival. The reason for this epic,
NSFW meltdown? Because he wouldn’t take her to the lake.
Like so many videos that go viral these days, Mogniat shot the footage on a strategically
positioned cell phone and then broadcasted it for the world to see on YouTube. It’s probably needless to say that divorce papers have since been filed.
So just what does this have to do with restoration? Simple – it just goes to show you that
being filmed is easier – and more discrete – than ever before. There’s cell phones, surveillance systems and small cameras that can be positioned anywhere. Now that’s not to say
your clients are filming you as you’re drying out their basement or removing contents
from their property. But just think – what if they were?
Remember, the restoration industry is a service industry. And it’s a somewhat delicate
service, as the people you’re aiding are likely to be in a fragile state of mind after seeing
their property nearly devastated. That’s why professionalism and courtesy is so important
on the job – because this isn’t a service that someone wants to have, it’s a service that
someone needs to have.
So the next time you’re on a job site, ask yourself if you’re working in a professional,
courteous way. You never know who could be watching or what could be rolling. And the
last thing you’ll likely want is a video popping up on the Internet exposing you or your
staff exhibiting poor, unprofessional behavior on the job.
Just like the case with Jim Mogniat and his wife, it could lead to a flurry of unwanted
attention and – ultimately – a bitter divorce.
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LIST RENTAL
For the record: In addition to Larry Carlson, the August R&R story “What You Need to Know About Desiccant
Drying” was also authored by Mike Steffes, Lab Scientist, Therma-Stor, LLC.
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Circle 7 on the Free Information Page
Devastating Fire
Leads to Massive Restoration Undertaking at
100,000 ft² Carpet Factory
By Nivek Large Loss Division
F
ire losses are some of the most time
consuming, labor intensive and resource
utilizing jobs that we run into in the restoration industry. They put nearly every
aspect of our industry to work, simultaneously. We are often required to dry
the structure, clean and pack contents,
deodorize, mitigate smoke and soot, rebuild, paint, secure and protect the building. The list goes on. Needless to say, it
requires a substantial amount of labor and
resources to effectively restore any fire loss.
The average residential loss typically runs
anywhere from 1,000-10,000 square feet.
Recall all that is required to process a job
within that range. Now, imagine what
About the Author
8
it would take to do all of the above on a
100,000 square foot industrial facility. A
job that is at least 20 times larger than a
large residential loss requires an exponentially larger amount of everything. Here’s a
look at the complexity of one such project.
On February 25, 2013, a fire erupted
in a carpet factory in North Atlanta. The
fire took almost all of the local fire department’s resources and nearly 24 hours
to fully extinguish. It is estimated that
25% of the facility was damaged beyond
repair and the remainder of the building
sustained heavy smoke damage. In a typical fire, contents that must be protected,
cleaned, tested and returned to pre-loss
condition usually cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. A single machine in this
facility had an estimated cost of more than
$4 million to replace and can take up to
two years to build. Factor in that there
were other machines ranging in cost from
the hundreds of thousands each, to $1
million-plus, and the scope of work continues its expansion. Needless to say, the
highest level of detail is required on a project of this magnitude.
As with any loss, minimizing the damage
takes priority to everything else. However,
in a residential loss, any contents that cannot be cleaned are usually written off and
replaced. What do you do when you have
To contact Nivek, visit the company online at www.nivek247.com or contact its industrial division at (866) 977-3791.
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
|
S e pte m b e r 2013
Circle 19 on the Free Information Page
Devastating Fire Leads to Massive Restoration Undertaking at 100,000 ft² Carpet Factory Continued
something that is so vital to production
and takes two years to rebuild? You protect it, plain and simple! No stakeholder
in the claim wants to see that type of loss
on their report - the agent, carrier, adjuster
and business owner(s) all would prefer to
see it salvaged.
But where do you begin? A particular
machine in this facility is such a highly intricate device that two years are required to
assemble it. This is where your coordination skill comes into effect. Nivek knew
the company that fabricates and maintains the machines should be contacted.
So phone calls were made to Austria and
Canada to have the respective maintenance crews come to the facility and help
bring the machines up to specs. Nivek was
tasked with coordinating crews from two
different countries and a third-party engi-
10
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
|
neering firm to clean the highly specialized
machines. This was far from a simple task.
Until these crews could mobilize, a protective barrier was erected to seal off the
room. Afterwards, every square inch of the
machines was covered with a protective
polymer barrier to minimize particle settling. Surface cleaning was conducted to
reduce the potential for pocking (the process where chemicals in the soot cause pits
or holes in metallic surfaces). Then, the internal workings of the machines were left
for the highly specialized foreign crews.
Next was the arduous task of itemizing, packing, cleaning and storing the
salvageable contents in the factory. When
dealing with a 100,000 square foot facility, which holds a substantial amount of
contents, meticulous planning is required.
The office space had the typical array of
desks, tables, chairs, electronics and multitudes of office supplies, which had to
be immediately processed, thus allowing
the business to coordinate the current
orders. Chronicled documents had to be
repacked in such a manner to provide for
easy re-storage and efficient re-filing upon
completion of the project. Multi-material
storage racks required varying degrees of
detail and multiple chemicals for the corresponding material to be cleaned. It was
a tedious task that required nearly 50
dedicated technicians working non-stop
throughout the project. After cleaning had
occurred, every on-site structure was covered with plastic to ensure that the articles
were protected.
A larger force was assembled for the
seemingly daunting task of cleaning the
structure. Keep in mind that 100,000
S e pte m b e r 2013
square feet does not adequately reflect the
cubic footage of the building. The majority of the structure had walls that were at
least 20 feet tall and had peaks at or above
30 feet. This accumulated to an enormous
cubic footage, which required dozens of
cleaning technicians to complete the initial clean-to-paint phase of the project.
Afterwards, commercial painting crews
were called in to seal and paint the exposed surface areas of the structure. The
areas were prioritized in a manner to sequentially bring the most vital phases of
the plant online, therefore restoring operations and minimizing business interruption. The first phase of plant operations
were brought on as early as one week into
the project. Nivek maintained constant
coordination with all personnel, project
managers, contractors, adjusters, owners,
managers and all other stakeholders in
the process by having a centralized point
of contact in their state-of-the-art, mobile command unit. Communication is
among the most essential practices in any
loss, particularly in a large industrial loss.
The drying phase was among the easiest, yet most time consuming, processes
of the project. Four 7,500 CFM desiccants were online throughout the project
to ensure proper drying and atmospheric
control. The delicacy of the manufacturing equipment negated the potential use
of supplemental air movement, as particle
disruption could not be risked. Although
the structure was mainly comprised of
concrete substrate and metallic skeleton
and shell, a substantial amount of water
was introduced into the environment
during the 24-hour extinguishing of the
fire. The prevalence of the moisture could
have caused substantive damage to the
operating computers or the machinery
themselves.
Large Loss Focus Points
These are some standard things you should look at
when taking on any large loss. Keep in mind that every
project is different, but here are some focus points:
1. Scope: It is vital to know what needs to be done and
what it will take to get the project completed.
2. Resources: If you don’t know what you need, you will
find yourself without it when the time comes.
3. Communication: Know who you need to communicate
with and the most effective means of communication.
Also know what needs to be communicated.
4. Execution: The best laid plan will go to waste if you
don’t follow through with it. Take the extra time to make
sure you are focused on the task(s) at hand.
5. Response: Understand up front that things will
change. Be prepared to shift gears when they do.
6. Follow up: This is the area that most people fail on.
There is a lot going on but you must make sure that
nothing has slipped through the cracks. The devil is in
the details.
7. Walk-Through: Make sure that the project leader
knows what needs to be done and that it is getting
done. Oversight is crucial to a project’s completion.
8. Service. Service. Service” Written three times to make
sure we get it. There is nothing more important than
realizing that you are serving the customer and all of
their needs. Go the extra mile or you will pay for it later.
Any large loss tests even the most experienced of restoration experts. The obstacles, and the skill and precision required to overcome them, makes the routine losses pass with ease. When you
challenge your personnel with some of the most difficult tasks
with substantial scope and near impossible deadlines, seeing them
excel in their duties renews the faith you will place in those who
take care of your clients. We have processed a project that from
the initial loss to the full operation of the salvageable areas took
four weeks in total.
These losses are beneficial to the growth of not only the company, but to the base of knowledge of each and every employee
that participates in the mitigation. Projects of this level require
everyone to perform at the highest possible level and the retention
of the experiences gained will expand the professionalism, customer service and overall performance of the entire claims process
for any company.
Each project introduces new obstacles. Each project teaches
you something. If you aren’t trying new things, you aren’t keeping up. No matter how long you have been in the industry, the
ever changing dynamics offer some of the most rewarding learning
experiences across all sectors. We must continue to learn in order
to continue to grow. When you can streamline your process to
exceed expectations for your largest clients, it makes the everyday
routine that much more productive and gives you a sense of appreciation and achievement for all that you have and will accomplish.
The total project time lasted 26 days. Nivek took a phased approach in bringing the facility online. The offices were operational
in a matter of days, while the production facilities were brought
online in the order of their respective production process, to facilitate a steady flow in the mill’s operational processes. The end
result was a fully operational carpet mill with no trace that a fire
had occurred just a short three-and-a-half weeks prior.
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S e p te m b e r 2013
|
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
11
The PPE of
Bio-Recovery
P
ersonal protective equipment, or PPE,
is extremely important for safeguarding
restoration and remediation professionals.
Its importance also can’t be downplayed
when it comes to bio-recovery work, when
professionals are dealing with blood borne
pathogens and harmful bacteria.
“Having the right stuff, having it rated
properly, is really critical,” says Kent Berg,
Director of the National Institution of
Decontamination Specialists (NIDS).
“Any technician should always dress for
the worst-case scenario.”
Berg is well-versed in bio-recovery. He’s
taught the practice to over 800 companies
across the country and has supervised over
Compiled by Eric Fish
1,000 crime scene and trauma cleanups.
He’s also written a handful of training
manuals and is currently chairing a committee that’s in the process of developing
an IICRC Standard on the practice, a
standard that he expects to be published
sometime within the next 18 months.
Here’s a look at Berg’s recommendations
for bio-recovery PPE:
Face Shield: The vast majority of jobs that we go out on, the risk, other
than touch, is splash. So we want to wear something that protects the entire face from splash – eyes, nose and mouth. Disposable face shields work
extremely well for that. A critical element is making sure the shield is long
enough down the face so that blood splashing up doesn’t reach the mouth.
Respirator: I may have a different take on respirators than some people. My
thoughts are this: There are very few respiratory hazards in our work – they are blood
borne pathogens, not airborne pathogens. And the only way blood borne pathogens
become airborne pathogens is if you aerosolize them. So the routine use of respirators
on the majority of scenes may be only for the psychological comfort of the wearer and
really not based on sound hazards. From a health standpoint in protecting you from
viruses and bacteria and so forth, there may be some risk - there haven’t really been
any significant studies. So we err on the side of caution on those types of jobs. It’s always a ggood idea to wear a respirator, even if it’s just to make breathing more pleasant.
Suits: There are only a couple of manufacturers of suits that are actually
rated for blood and blood borne pathogen penetration. That’s important.
It’s also recommended that you buy suits with all the options – the built-in
booties, the built-in hoods, the storm flap over the zippers, the elastic at
the wrists – these are all great benefits to adding additional protection. The
hood, (because) things can drop on your head. The booties, so you don’t
cross-contaminate your shoes. We wear the suit with the booties and then
we take individual disposable booties and put those over top. We do that for
the same reasons we double glove. It’s pretty common to step in something
on some of these scenes and it makes it so much easier to slip off that bootie
and put another one so you don’t track it through the house.
Gloves: Gloves should be a minimum of about six mils thick. The
gloves should be about 11 inches from fingertip to wrist to allow enough
material at the wrist to overlap the suit (and) allow for full taping of the
gloves to the suit. We always double glove. The first pair of gloves you
put on is taped to the suit. The second pair is not, so that they can be
removed when contaminated. The type of glove that we recommend is a
medical-grade glove, primarily used by paramedics. Any other material
for gloves, like vinyl, is not suitable nor is it approved.
12
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
|
S e pte m b e r 2013
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Circle 6 on the Free Information Page
THE SIMPLEST WAY TO PROVIDE ON-SITE OZONE, HYDROXYL, & DEHUMIDIFICATION TREATMENT
The PPE of Bio-Recovery Continued
Selecting a Respirator
The three main types of respirators used by bio-recovery specialists are filtering
face piece respirators, half-face air purifying respirators (APRs) and full-face APRs. All
require fit testing by a medical professional. Here’s what Berg had to say about the
types of respirators:
On face piece respirators: They’re basically dust masks. Even though they’re very
basic, you still need to be fit tested on them to make sure they still make a decent
seal. Their efficiency is very limited. They’re rated with a protection factor of 10,
which means if you have 100 particles in the air, they’ll filter out about a factor of 10.
They’re great when you’re using an electric saw or something that’s going to put large
particles out into the air. (However), fine particulate like bacteria and viruses… these
types of masks aren’t efficient at filtering these small parts out.
On APR respirators: Half-face APRs – these are better (than face piece ones), but
half-face respirators are still only rated with a protection factor of 10. The best
respirator to routinely use, in my opinion, is a full-face APR.
Circle 18 on the Free Information Page
14
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
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S e pte m b e r 2013
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What’s Keeping You From
the Next Level of Success?
Circle 27 on the Free Information Page
Marketing?
Technology?
Finding Good People?
Organization?
Overhead & Profit:
What are Yours?
By Les Cunningham
T
he Florida Supreme Court just
ruled this past July in the case of Trinidad
v. Florida Peninsula Insurance Company,
that “... an insurer’s required payment
under a replacement cost policy includes
overhead and profit, where the insured is
reasonably likely to need a general contractor for the repairs, because the insured would be required to pay costs for
a general contractor’s overhead and profit
for the completion of repairs in the same
way the insured would have to pay other
replacement costs he or she is reasonably
likely to incur in repairing the property...”
I believe this is great news for both the
contractor and the insurance company.
This clears the discussion table as to what
both entities should be charging for their
About the Author
16
services to the policy holder. The Supreme Court went on to say what exactly
it considered to be overhead and profit.
It stated: “Specifically, overhead includes
fi xed costs to run the contractor’s business, such as salaries, rent, utilities, and
licenses, and profit is the amount the contractor expects to earn for his services.”
I have been collecting sales, direct
costs, overhead costs and profit information since the mid-80s from thousands of
contractors. The data has been submitted to me on our forms with our definitions. What this has allowed me to do is
to average any and all contractor data. It
has also allowed me to identify and rank
contractors as to who is better regarding
their submitted data. All of the compa-
nies that have submitted data have signed
a statement that the numbers are correct
to the best of their ability and knowledge.
There are line items that they have assigned their data for sales, direct cost,
overhead cost and profit. If the line item
isn’t clear to those submitting their numbers, they can refer to the definitions that
are attached to each line item. If they are
still not clear, they can discuss it with our
staff and resolve their questions. At first
one might think that people might not
be honest in their submittals. In order
to decrease their concern, the first thing
that they are assured of is that their data
will only be reviewed by people that they
authorize to see it within their network.
After that scrutiny by their network and
Les Cunningham, CGC, CR, CCR, CGRa, is a highly-respected industry consultant and author of Accountability
through Transparency. He can be contacted at 800-525-1009, ext. 14 or by e-mail at [email protected].
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
| S e pte m b e r 2013
by our Business Networks staff, their
numbers are averaged in with every other
company that has gone through the same
process, but no names are attached to
anyone’s data. As a result, we have averages that are rock solid and are used by
companies to measure their progress,
or lack of progress. This then allows for
benchmarking. We are estimating that
our 2012 averages will be ready to share
with industry contractors this month.
you should be, produce what you did
charge for the same amount that you
bid it for.
3. Produce every job that you do at the
numbers you estimate them at.
4. Produce what you bid it for and know
the reason(s) why it did not go as estimated.
5. Get involved with your local and na-
tional associations, so that you can
have what has been done in Florida.
I look forward to talking with you at the
various shows this fall. In the meantime,
here’s to suggesting that you bid and complete profitable work and leave the rest of
the jobs being offered on the bidding table for others to do!
Hydroxyl Group
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A lot of contractors have been looking
for the Holy Grail of numbers for a long
time. A few have found them by being
willing to share their numbers with others and others feeling comfortable enough
to share their numbers back.
So, where does this Florida Supreme
Court Ruling take us? I’m for sure that
if you are working in Florida, it’s good
news for you! If you are working in any
of the other 49 states, you might say good
for Florida… and only 49 more state Supreme Courts to go.
So while the other 49 states are working to get the issue to their state Supreme
Court, each contractor must continue to
work and work the best that they can. So
here are some tips that you might want to
consider doing while you are fighting for
the same issue to be adopted by your state
Supreme Court:
1. Apply your direct costs, overhead costs
and profit to every job that you bid.
2. If you do not charge every job like
Contact
C
t t us to
t receive
i copies
i off our comprehensive
h
i
safety and physical chemistry testing results.
W W W. O D O R O X H G . C O M
Tom McArdle
Tom Conroy
305-338-8506
[email protected]
804-240-9917
[email protected]
Circle 23 on the Free Information Page
S e p te m b e r 2013
|
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
17
Photos courtesy of FEMA
A Two-Step Solution to
By David J. Dybdahl
Managing the Risk of Subcontractors
H
iring subcontractors in the restoration business is a way of life. Very few
owners of restoration firms appreciate how
risky subcontractors can be or how easily
this risk can be reduced.
As I look back on 10 years worth of loss
records on the restoration firms we insure,
more than 90% of the reported claims involve a subcontractor. The really bad losses
involved a “pollutant.” In those situations
it is very common for our client to have a
lot better insurance coverage in place than
the subcontractors they hire. Guess who’s
insurance ends up footing the bill?
If you ignore the risk issues inherent in
the work performed by subcontractors,
About the Author
18
your restoration firm as the general contractor on the job will end up paying for
all of the losses on a job. It does not need
to be this way. By implementing just a few
simple risk management strategies that
you can actually copy from others who are
good at it, you can shift the subcontractor
risk away from your firm and your insurance loss records.
If you want to see a real live example of
good risk management of subcontractors
in practice, just look at the contractor selection and insurance requirements used
by the restoration networks. Go to their
websites and see what it takes on insurance
to become part of their network.
The restoration networks manage risk in
a simple two-step process:
1. They look for firms that evidence expertise and quality in the work they do.
2. They specify and verify that the contractors working for them purchase
insurance coverage that actually works
to insure the firm for the work to be
conducted.
How simple is that?
Most restoration firms do a good job
with Step 1 above when hiring subs. In
most towns, it is not very difficult to figure out if an artisan contractor does quality work.
David Dybdahl, CPCU, ARM, MBA, is the president of American Risk Management Resources Network, LLC. He is an
insurance broker specializing in restoration contractors’ insurance programs in all 50 states. He can be reached at
(608) 836-9590. For more information go to www.restorationinsurance.com
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
|
S e pte m b e r 2013
Where things fall apart in the restoration firm’s risk management strategy is in the insurance requirements that the firm uses
to hire their subcontractors. There is no reason for this - there are
plenty of readily available examples of good insurance specifications floating around the restoration contracting industry.
The first step in protecting your insurance loss record is to get a
robust insurance specification built into your subcontractor agreements. You need to make it difficult for a subcontractor to insure
you as an additional insured under a policy that excludes a lot of
things that are important to have insurance coverage for. A complete insurance specification for a subcontractor can be found on
our website at www.restorationinsurance.com. This sample document needs to be reviewed by your lawyer before you incorporate
it into your subcontract agreement, but it is a starting point.
Some insurance specifications in the restoration business are 12
pages long for good reason. This is just a thumbnail sketch.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pollutants
Contaminants
Fungus
Mold
Bacteria
Asbestos
Lead
Silica
Category 3 Water
Those exclusions apply to a lot of things that are common to
restoration work. So no, CPL is not meant only for mold contractors. Any subcontractor who can create a water loss can hand
you an uninsured liability claim if the word “mold” or “Category
3 Water” becomes involved in any sequence to the loss. Getting
CPL from you subs is the best strategy. There are CPL policies
What Types of Insurance is it Reasonable to Ask a Subcontractor for?
COVERAGE
LIMITS OF LIABILITY
EXTENSIONS
General Liability
$1,000,000 per occurrence
$2,000,000 policy aggregate
You need to be an additional insured for operations
and completed operations.
Automobile Liability
$1,000,000
Workers Compensation
As required by law
Contractors Pollution
Liability
$1,000,000
Umbrella or
Follow Form Excess
$1,000,000
These are very basic insurance requirements with the exception
of the CPL coverage which I will address separately below. If a
subcontractor says “I cannot meet these requirements,” red flags
and buzzers should be going off at your firm. There are only three
reasons someone cannot meet these insurance specs:
1. They are voluntarily uninsured to save themselves money by
transferring their risk to you,
2. They have such a poor loss history nobody will insure them at
any price,
3. They have engaged an insurance agent that cannot perform the
task of finding insurance.
No. 3 is fixable, but find a different subcontractor if Nos. 1 or
2 become evident.
Why should you ask for CPL coverage from subs, isn’t that insurance just for mold remediators? A lot of insurance agents and
contractors think that by mistake. A CPL policy fills the insurance
coverage gaps created by common exclusions in General Liability
policies for losses associated with:
Fungus/mold/bacteria/Cat3 water need to be
insured “pollutants”. The policy cannot exclude
“property damage to you work,” “clean up costs
from faulty workmanship” or “impaired property”
are not acceptable. You need to be an additional
insured for operations and completed operations.
available for as little as $2,500 that work pretty well for smaller
artesian subs.
The second step in managing the risks of subcontractors is to
monitor compliance with your insurance specifications. Your local insurance agent can be a helpful resource in this process. They
should be able to point out inconsistencies with certificates of insurance. It is impossible to really know what the insurance policies purchased by your subcontractors really do cover simply from
reading a certificate, but it is a good start to managing subcontractor risks and a lot better than doing nothing at all.
Where we see most of the CPL losses in the restoration business
is the inadvertent exposure to asbestos, usually caused by a subcontractor on a job where no one expected asbestos. Because most
contractors do not carry CPL coverage today, 100% of the claim
ended up in the restoration firm’s loss records where they will stay
for years and may make it difficult for you to obtain insurance
even at very high premiums.
Implementing the simple two-step risk mangement process for
subs is one of the most important things you can do to manage the
risks in your overall operations.
S e p te m b e r 2013
|
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
19
Mold Remediation Products Spotlight
USGPC
USGPC (www.usgpc.com) $3.50 per Gallon of Ready-to-Use “HydroKlenz,” a
new super-concentrated, safe and nearly odorless cleanser by… Green Performance
Chemistry.
Source removal, deodorization, organic stain removal, surface preparation!
The removal of accumulated organic buildup and gross soiling on surfaces is the
most important step in R&R processes. HydroKlenz needs no additional boosters,
antimicrobials or additives to buy or mix in - everything is in this power-packed
product. HydroKlenz’s low cost cannot be competed with. HydroKlenz is guaranteed
to help you remain green in your services with G.R.A.S. (generally recognized as safe)
ingredients. The environmental compliance keeps working and living environments
safe during and after the job for true peace of mind in your proprietary service endeavors. Private labeling available too!
Anabec Systems
If you are already using our Anabec products, you know the power behind our mold
remediation and prevention systems. Anabec has been instrumental in saving thousands upon thousands of building structures from ground zero to Katrina and Sandy.
Anabec has been a powerful force in the industry with product systems that address
mold, bacteria and viruses.
Our company has been pioneers and the first to: develop a hydrogen peroxide
cleaner; develop nanotechnology microbial barriers and a biodegradable deodorizer;
provide a corporate warranty program; provide a cost-effective “less is best” chemistry product line; and provide manufacturer to contractor technical and training
support 24/7. We welcome your call for any questions at 800-369-8463 or visit us
at www.anabec.com.
BoraSol-MC™
• Provides long lasting protection on wood from many types of household molds,
mildew and algae.
• Effective on concrete, sheetrock, block and steel.
• Useful on millwork, decking, wood shingles and more.
• EPA registered.
• Successfully tested by ASTM D3273 .
• For a safe, healthy home use BoraSol-MC.
• Works very well with BoraSol-WP, a borate for complete wood protection.
• Inhibits fungal growth with invisible antimicrobial shield.
• Is easily prepared with water and can be applied by spraying or brushing.
• Is very economical. It costs as little as $0.01/sq.ft.
• Recommended for mold and flood remediation, new roughed in construction.
Go to www.qualityborate.com for more information.
20
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
|
S e pte m b e r 2013
Mold Solutions
MMR mold stain remover is quickly becoming the industry’s go-to product for fast
and effective mold stain removal. Manufactured weekly and shipped daily, MMR
provides superior results to competing products that become diluted through product distribution channel lag. MMR is ideal for porous building materials like OSB,
plywood, wall studs, truss, joist, hardiboard, concrete, cinder block, etc. A spray-on,
ready-to-use product – MMR does not require sanding or scrubbing. The result is
impressive results at a fraction of the cost of labor-intensive abrasion techniques. To
order MMR at the low price of $29.99/g, call 708-441-7982 or view our video at
www.fastmoldremoval.com.
See this product in action in the digital and online
versions of this issue.
Concrobium
Concrobium Pro Restoration Products’ Attic Attack! is a new methodology developed in consultation with industry leaders and consistent with the industry Standard
of Care. It uses two innovative liquid technologies that save time and money: Concrobium Mold Stain Remover, a solution that removes mold staining with no scrubbing and no toxic chemicals, and Concrobium Mold Control, a unique, zero-VOC
antimicrobial that remediates mold spores and prevents the recurrence of mold. Learn
more at www.concrobiumpro.com/attic-attack.
Everyone
Wants
More R&R!
(Restoration & Remediation that is)
You asked for more… we’re giving you more!
Get your Free Subscription Today!
www.randrmagonline.com
S e p te m b e r 2013
|
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
21
The 2013 R&R
Market Trends Study
By Eric Fish
W
hat are the current and future
expected usage and purchase of restoration
and remediation tools and equipment?
How are products sourced and what’s the
extent of online purchasing? What is the
importance of product attributes during
purchase decision making?
If you’re curious about either of the
aforementioned three questions as they
pertain to the restoration and remediation fields, then you’ve come to the right
place. We targeted 5,626 active, qualified
Restoration & Remediation subscribers to
help answer these questions. The majority
of the respondents noted that their primary business is water damage restoration
(42%), while 13% respectively identified
smoke/fire damage restoration, remodeling contracting or other restoration as
their primary business categories. Mold
remediation contracting, indoor environmental professionals and other contractors
rounded out the study participants. Fur-
22
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
|
S e pte m b e r 2013
Chart I
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Circle 5 on the Free Information Page
The 2013 R&R Market Trends Study Continued
thermore, over 80% of respondents use
dryers and dehu equipment in their work,
while 61% use mold remediation products
and 59% use water, smoke and fire damage restoration chemicals.
To kick the study off, one of the first
questions we posed to participants is
how they foresee business conditions in
the restoration and remediation industry
moving forward. The results were very favorable. Three-fourths of all respondents
expect growth in 2013, with 40% noting
that they expect business to grow by more
than 10%. Additionally, 85% expect business to grow in 2014, with almost 60%
predicting growth to be greater than 10%.
(See Chart 1)
Tools and Equipment
More than half (55%) of all study respondents belong to organizations that
own more than 10 types of equipment,
with 89% owning moisture meters, 88%
owning air movers/blowers and 87%
owning dehus. Curious to see what our respondents identified as areas of purchasing
interest in the future? You can see Chart
II for a complete look, but not surprisingly, products that are more disposable
like PPE equipment and area containment/wall barrier products were among
the leaders. Equipment such as dehus, air
movers, moisture meters and air scrubbers
are also projected to be highly sought after
in the future.
In terms of spending, about threefourths of respondents identified spending
up to $50,000 on new tools and equipment last year. In the future, 53% of respondents expect spending to increase,
while only 15% identified a projected decrease in spending.
Chemicals
Chart III
There are a lot of chemicals involved in
the restoration and remediation fields. To
get a look at what our respondents currently use as well as what they expect to
use in the next year, see Chart III. Here are
some of the highlights:
• The three top chemicals – anti-microbials, disinfectants and deodorizers – are
expected to continue to be used at a
similar pace.
• Four percent of respondents expect to
24
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
Chart II
|
increase their usage of preventative coatings/sealers.
Product Sourcing/Purchase
Criteria
How do professionals acquire the products and equipment to get the job done?
Fifty-five percent of all respondents indicated that they use a local distributor or
S e pte m b e r 2013
supplier (respondents, on average, use six
different suppliers), while 20% purchase
directly from a manufacturer and 16%
from a big box home center. Additionally,
respondents indicated that 61% of their
chemical purchases are completed online,
while 72% of tools and equipment purchases are done through the Internet.
Nearly all respondents indicate product
quality/reliability as the most important
factor in their buying decisions. This is
followed by past experiences, product
availability, price and customer service.
See Chart IV for complete details.
The survey was conducted
and findings were compiled by
Clear Seas Research, a division
of BNP Media. For information
about ordering or to find out
more about Clear Seas Research
services, contact Ulka Bhide at
[email protected].
Chart IV
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S e p te m b e r 2013
|
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
25
Photos Courtesy of Bio-Clean of New Jersey
What You Need to Know About
Vehicle Biohazard Remediation
By Kevin Reifsteck
M
any bioremediation projects
happen at structures such as homes and
hotels, but what few people know is how
frequently there are calls for non-structure
biohazard clean-ups, such as autos and
machinery. Some of the more interesting
challenges include industrial incidents,
suicides or accidents in cars and other vehicle contaminations. Nationally, training
programs are popping up to teach this as
an additional service offering for traditional cleaning companies, but what may not
be generally understood is that vehicle remediation is subject to the same rules and
About the Author
26
regulations as structural biohazard jobs.
Also, not all vehicle insurance policies
will cover bioremediation, so remediation
companies that are considering expanding their services to include this type of
bio work should be prepared to help clients understand the complexities up front.
The following outlines a general set of best
practices related to proper cleaning and remediation of vehicles.
biohazard situations can vary widely, from
simple to complex. Some cleanups involve
vehicle break-ins, where a careless perpe-
To Remediate or
Not to Remediate?
As with all remediation projects, vehicle
Kevin Reifsteck is Aftermath’s Vice President of Operations. Contact him at [email protected].
R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
|
S e pte m b e r 2013
trator was injured during the crime. This
means crews are responsible for the removal of sharps, in addition to blood and
biohazards. In cases involving suicides or
accidents with injuries, damage to the interior can be more widespread.
Sometimes the cost of cleaning ends up
being higher than the value of the vehicle.
However, particularly in cases involving
specialty fleet or rental cars, semi-trailer
trucks or high-value luxury cars, the client may still find it cost-effective to salvage the vehicle by having it professionally remediated.
Test, Clean and Test Again
Just as with structural remediation projects, vehicle cleaning involves a thorough,
multi-step program to ensure the surfaces
are free of bio and safe to use. Here’s a look
at these steps:
1. On first inspection, a technician in full
protective gear should perform an ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) test on affected surfaces before beginning the cleaning process. This procedure employs a
hand-held device and swab to test the
presence of ATP molecules, which indicate that cellular activity is taking
place (all living organisms give off ATP
as they use energy). ATP testing is used
frequently for measuring contamination in food processing and hospital
environments.
2. Any materials affected by biohazard
which can’t be truly cleaned and sanitized should be removed and disposed
of in accordance with local regulations
for biohazard removal, transport and
storage. Consumer vehicles typically
feature porous cloth or leather-covered
surfaces such as seat cushions or carpet
floor mats, which frequently can’t be
cleaned. Since they can’t be cleaned,
they must be removed and disposed
of before the sanitation and disinfecting process can begin. Commercial and
public service vehicles such as cars and
vans used by law enforcement or first
responders are specially designed with
non-porous surfaces that make them
fairly simple to clean and disinfect.
3. Once all non-cleanable materials are
removed, the vehicle’s interior and
contaminated exterior surfaces should
be manually wiped down with a proprietary degreasing agent that removes
any remaining visible signs of the biohazard material, such as blood. Exterior
surfaces such as handles should also be
treated and wiped down. Literally every surface potentially affected should
be wiped down with the cleaning solution - every nook and cranny has to be
cleaned of all surface dirt and material
in order to facilitate proper sanitization
and avoid future odor or damage. Finally, spray a disinfecting solution over
every affected area to ensure all blood
borne pathogens are destroyed.
4. After the disinfecting spray cures (proper disinfection requires a minimum of
10 minutes wet contact time), wipe all
surfaces manually a second time before
adding a deodorizing stage for the comfort of the driver and passengers.
5. To certify that all surfaces are truly
clean, test surfaces with a product that
reacts to the presence of contaminants.
At this point, perform the second ATP
test to ensure the surfaces are free of
bacteria and safe for use.
Adding vehicles to your list of services
provides a valuable extension and can also
include auto accident remediation and
other variations.
Circle 17 on the Free Information Page
S e p te m b e r 2013
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R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
27
It’s Not Drying...
WHY?
Just because your moisture meter is reading “wet” doesn’t necessarily mean
you’re not making drying progress.
By Kevin Fisher
A
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EA
AN
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G A
AN
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D R
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STTO
OR
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ATIIO
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STTR
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Y E
EX
XP
PE
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RIIE
EN
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S!!
TM
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Jim Holland, Restoration Consultants,
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This group of disaster restoration
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and commercial buildings in one cohesive presentation.
WoolSafe Fibre Care Specialist
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Dr Ágnes Zsednai, Managing Director, The WoolSafe
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Jay Bowen, FLIR. This 8-hour
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Circle 22 on the Free Information Page
It’s Not Drying... WHY? Continued
Y
ou’ve been there. It is day two of
a drying project and the numbers on
your moisture meter are the same on as
they were on day one. Your wet materials
don’t seem to be making drying progress. At this point, the most common
response is to grab the demolition tools
and start removing the wet materials…
which may be the completely wrong
course of action.
These wet materials might be making
perfectly acceptable drying progress, but
your meter is not able to show it. This can
happen for a number of reasons, including
false positives, surface moisture and meter
scale limitations.
FALSE POSITIVES
False positives are readings on a moisture
meter that indicate “wet,” even though
the material is actually dry. If your meter
is returning a false positive, the material
would appear to be wet when it is actually
making progress – or even dry. Moisture
meters are subject to false positive readings
for a number of reasons that are well documented in the industry.
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Non-invasive meters have more false
positives than penetrating meters. The
most common cause is metal hidden in
or behind the material being checked.
Corner beads, metal studs, foil-backed
insulation and metal lath in plaster walls
are all common examples. Dense materials such as concrete and plaster also read
“wetter” on a non-invasive meter. These
phenomena occur because a non-invasive
meter is sending a signal into the material
and looking for what energy is reflected
back. The more energy reflected back, the
higher the reading. Denser materials tend
to reflect more of this energy back. The
meter reads “wet” even though the material may not be wet.
Solutions to false positives on a noninvasive meter: Double-check the reading
with a penetrating meter or a thermal imaging camera.
Penetrating meters are not immune to
false positives. A penetrating meter’s most
common false positive is produced by the
presence of certain chemicals in the material. These chemicals could be salts from
urine or wood treatment chemicals. Adhesives in engineered wood materials can
occasionally read “wet,” but this is rare.
Another possible false reading results from
a meter malfunction – especially from a
loose or broken wire in a hammer probe.
Since penetrating meters are just measur-
Circle 31 on the Free Information Page
It’s Not Drying... WHY? Continued
ing the resistance between the two pins, anything that reduces the
resistance will read “wet.” Salts, chemicals and a crossed wire in
the hammer probe head can all reduce this resistance and cause a
material to appear wet when it’s actually perfectly dry.
Solutions to false positives on a penetrating meter: Double-check
the reading with non-penetrating meter. Compare the penetrating
reading to the same unaffected material in the structure to see what
a reasonable drying goal is. Use an ultraviolet light to inspect for
urine salts.
SURFACE MOISTURE
Surface moisture has a dramatic effect on non-invasive meters.
All non-invasive meters will read higher when the moisture in the
top 1/8 in. of a material is high – even if the rest of the material is
fairly dry. Some non-invasive meters only read the wettest layer of
the material – and will completely ignore the dry areas.
Penetrating meters, if used improperly, have the same weakness.
Many penetrating meters use non-insulated pins. Non-insulated
pins simply report to the user about the wettest layer they are
touching – which is most often the surface. Since electrical current
follows the path of least resistance, the wet surface will be the only
part of the material the meter is reading.
Solutions to surface moisture: Look at the surface – is it visibly wet?
When using non-invasive meters, take multiple locations to view
progress more clearly – especially wicking height in the walls. When
using penetrating meters, use insulated probes whenever possible to
determine the moisture at different depths of the material.
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This versatile pin and noninvasive meter is ergonomically
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with unparalleled durability and accuracy.
To learn more about how you can protect buildings against
moisture-related problems, visit www.surveymastermeter.com.
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To order, visit EdCross.com or call 760-773-4002
It’s Not Drying... WHY? Continued
METER SCALE LIMITATIONS
All moisture meters have limits. Just as
your 25-foot measuring tape couldn’t tell
you the height of the Golden Gate Bridge,
sometimes the scale on a moisture meter is
not large enough to show how wet a material is. Moisture meters (both penetrating and non-invasive) are most accurate
between 7% and 30% moisture content
in wood. Since wood and several other
materials are able to hold more than 30%
moisture content, meter manufacturers
have a decision to make: How high should
the scale go?
Some manufacturers stop the scale at
30% with the idea that since readings
above 30% are not that accurate, why
display them? Some meter manufacturers
stop the scale somewhere between 40%
and 100% with the statement in the manual explaining about how readings aren’t as
accurate above 30%.
Whichever stopping point a manufacturer chooses for their meter – there will
still be times when a material’s actual
moisture content is above the limit. Some
wood species, for example, can hold almost 250% moisture content! So even the
100% meter wouldn’t know when the material is higher than the scale maximum.
Here’s the lesson: You will have situations where your moisture meter reads the
maximum value on day one. Then, on day
two, the meter still reads the maximum
value. Many restoration companies would
give up at this point and perform demoli-
tion on the material. This decision might
be a common response in the industry but
it might not be the best decision for your
company or your customers.
Solution to meter scale limitations: Train
technicians that when meters are reading
the maximum value in one location on day
one to also document an area which is not at
maximum. This second area may show more
clearly whether progress is being made.
PULL THE PLUG
I am not suggesting that removing a wet
material is always wrong. If materials are
contaminated or damaged, or if the structure has multi-layer wall or floor assemblies, demolition may be the best choice.
If at any time during a drying project you
detect strong or unusual microbial odors,
the best course of action is to investigate
further and find the source of the odors.
Ultimately, a skilled restorer with a good
moisture meter will be able to dry more
wet materials efficiently, leading to happy
customers and fatter wallets.
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Accelerated Desiccant Drying
Restoration and Construction Drying • Temporary Humidity Control
S e pte m b e r 2013
www.IMACCconference.com
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
x Keynote
Speaker: Fausto Martin, The Auto Club Group
Vice President and Chief Claims Officer
x Exhibit Space available.
MotorCity Casino and Hotel
AAA Four Diamond Award-Winning Hotel
Sponsorship Opportunities available.
2901 Grand River Avenue, Detroit, MI
Network with the industry’s top restoration contractors and decision
makers in the industry.
x Agents, Adjusters and
Insurer Representatives are welcomed to join us
at NO CHARGE. Don’t miss “Contractor Confrontation, Appraisal
Procedures” designed especially for the IMACC Conference.
x Receive up
to 6 hours of continuing education credits with your registration
(Law Safety and Updated Builders Codes/Asbestos Awareness and Lead
Refresher).
x Class Highlights—All Day Xactimate Training, Special Guest Speaker Chip
Lackey of JD Powers & Associates, Problem Resolution and
Documentation, Contents, High Stakes Problems, Hazards of Biohazards,
Symbility Training, the IMACC Family Feud and much more.
x Monday Night Charity Concert and
Reception — This year we will be holding a
Charity Concert and Reception with all proceeds donated to Toys for Tots.
Circle 32 on the Free Information Page
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Kathy Crotty
630.527.9052 X 14
See our website for updated information.
WWW.IMACCCONFERENCE.COM
Cross Examination
By Ed Cross and Julie B. Isen, Esq.
Edward H. Cross, the “Restoration Lawyer,” has devoted his career to the representation of cleaning, restoration and remediation contractors nationwide. He earned certifications in water damage restoration from the
IICRC and as an indoor air quality professional from AEE, and he was part of the standards-writing committees for the IICRC water and mold standards. He can be reached at 760 773-4002 at [email protected]
or via www.EdCross.com. This article is for general informational purposes and is not intended to be legal
advice. Legal questions should be directed to a licensed attorney.
Toxic Mold Litigation:
2013 Update (Part II)
I
n the August R&R, we looked at
some big mold lawsuits and examined
how mold claims are proven in court. In
Part II, we’ll examine how a jury will react
to mold claims in a court of law as well as
how to handle such a situation if going to
court is unavoidable.
Consider How a Jury
Will React To This Evidence
Science is, oddly enough, not always an
exact science. And science changes over
time. The Earth was once flat, blood-letting was an effective medical treatment,
and Pluto was a planet. Just as in most
professions, those who work in mold remediation must stay abreast of the current
state of the discipline.
The CDC reported that indoor mold
exposure can be linked to upper respiratory problems (see www.cdc.gov.) Mold
exposure can be linked to asthma symptoms in those people who have asthma or
who have other hyper-sensitivities. The
Institute of Medicine (IOM) also found
that there was “limited” or “suggestive”
evidence that indoor mold exposure is
linked to respiratory illness in otherwise
healthy children. Basically, more research
needs to be done, but from our perspective as risk managers the main health issues to be concerned about are allergies
and asthma.
The CDC says “toxic mold” is a misnomer and courts will often grant motions
prohibiting witnesses from using the word
“toxic” when they testify. Nonetheless,
many molds produce toxins. However,
the production can be very inconsistent.
Proof of toxin production is extremely
rare in mold litigation. So, as a general
rule, the molds are considered potentially
toxic, i.e., “toxigenic.” Some toxins are
carcinogenic but this author is aware of
no studies that have proven that indoor
mold exposure has caused cancer in a hu36
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Circle 10 on the Free Information Page
Cross Examination Continued
man. However, the prudent restorer will
refrain from giving medical advice.
Stachybotrys chartarum is much less
common than other molds, but the CDC
states it is “not rare.” It is most common
in cellulose rich material such as gypsum
board and wallpaper that has been subjected to moisture for extended periods.
In a publication released by the World
Health Organization (WHO), studies
were classified with regard to the strength
of evidence they contained. One study
with a higher evidence strength concluded that dampness in buildings seems to
increase risks of health effects in the airways (like asthma), and the causal association is strong, but the mechanisms of
illness are unknown. (WHO Guidelines
for Indoor Air Quality, 2009.)
There is sufficient evidence of an association between mold and asthma development, respiratory infections, upper
respiratory tract symptoms and certain
hypersensitivities. Otherwise, there is no
evidence sufficient to conclude a causal re-
lationship between mold and any specific
human health effect. In most jurisdictions, the proponent of scientific evidence
of a health effect must prove causation to
a “reasonable degree of medical certainty.” Many courts interpret this to mean
“probability” rather than true certainty. It
is relatively easy to find a physician, who,
for $500 an hour will testify that the client of the lawyer who hired him probably
had a health effect from mold. Whether
he can withstand cross-examination is
quite another story.
There is plenty of uncertainty sur-
rounding toxic mold and the affect mold
has on human health, all of which is good
for defendants in mold cases. The relative risk for health problems is unknown.
The mechanism of action of these health
problems is unknown. The percentage of
people who may be affected by the mold
is unknown. The job of the effective defense team is to make the claim seem as
uncertain and speculative as possible. The
more unknowns there are, the less likely
a judge is to allow evidence of a certain
theory to go to a jury.
Be Proactive
Seeing or smelling mold can be a very
disconcerting experience for a building
owner. It is important to point out to customers that the proper diagnosis of medical conditions should not be confused
with exaggerated attention to indoor air
quality issues. When you get a call about
suspected mold, the customer will most
likely be genuinely concerned about his
or her health, or the health of his or her
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remediate the mold, but also to guide the
owner and occupants through the process
so they believe it has been resolved.
Knowledge is Power
A major part of the comfort that owners need is obtained through information.
The fear that comes with finding mold in
your home is partly due to false informa-
AL
CO
AL
C
HOL FR
Fresh
Scent
OH
EE
family. There will probably be a sense
of urgency on their part. Be empathetic.
The customer has been through a trauma
in his eyes and the last thing he needs is
a condescending contractor telling him
his problems are all in his head. Without
admitting fault, assure the customer that
you understand his concern and you will
do your best to properly address the issue
and protect the building from further intrusion. It’s also best to take swift action
to help calm their fears and ensure the
problem doesn’t get any worse.
So, what steps should you take? Keep
in mind that spending some money up
front may save you from spending much
more money later on in litigation when
you have an unhappy customer with an
aggressive attorney.
1. Engage the services of a qualified environmental professional;
2. Consider the risks and benefits of disclosing the professional’s findings and
recommendations to the owner; and
3. Select certified and qualified personnel
to execute the recommendations.
EE
the amount of mold contamination, the
species of mold or the workmanship of
your staff.
Always remember to document and
explain all the key events and circumstances, following the adage: “If it’s not
in writing, it didn’t happen.” Maintain a
copy of the environmental professional’s
findings. Make it your goal to not only
R
OL F
Sampling may create good evidence or
bad evidence. Plaintiffs in illness cases
are at a serious disadvantage without it.
However, for ordinary maintenance and
remediation purposes, many publications
and institutions involved in public health
issues suggest avoiding mold testing in
many cases. This includes the California
Department of Public Health, The Minnesota Department of Health, the United
States Environmental Protection Agency,
the Michigan Department of Community Health, and many more.
Your professionalism, proficiency and
sincerity are all key to a successful resolution. They are more important than
Circle 3 on the Free Information Page
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Cross Examination Continued
tion surrounding mold and the effects
mold can have on humans. Mold is everywhere. No amount of remediation will remove every spore from a customers’ home,
and the remediation contract should indicate that it is not the goal of mold remediation to remove every spore but to bring
the concentrations down to acceptable
levels. The “clearance” criteria should be
agreed upon before the contract is signed,
and incorporated into the contract.
When Litigation
Cannot Be Avoided
If a customer gives you the opportunity
to discuss the matters before attorneys are
involved, do so and keep an open mind. A
little bit of work now to remediate a perceived problem is much easier to deal with
than an unhappy customer filing a complicated and messy mold lawsuit.
There are times when a customer just
cannot be satisfied. Lawsuits will be filed.
Not all of them will be justifiable, and
many of them will never reach a jury.
However, just as the team you bring with
to fight the mold is important, so is the
team you build to help fight a lawsuit.
The defendant in a mold case needs
experienced defense counsel with the
technical proficiency and ability to understand the scientific issues of the case.
The effective attorney will be gathering
evidence from different members of the
defense team and prepare to present it in a
crisp and organized fashion.
The available “science” on mold has
changed drastically over the years. For a
while, “toxic mold” was the reason people
were sick. It was believed to be the reason
those infants tragically died in Cleveland,
but then the deaths seemed to stop for no
apparent reason.
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TURNING TECHNOLOGY INTO TOOLS FOR SUCCESS
Circle 16 on the Free Information Page
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People are constantly trying to understand mold in ways that it cannot be understood. In 2001, California passed the
Toxic Mold Protection Act which mandated that the California Department
of Public Health (CDPH) determine the
feasibility of setting Permissible Exposure
Limits (PELs) for indoor mold. In 2005,
the CDPH reported back that it was not,
in fact, feasible. Certainly that was something the IICRC already knew.
The CDPH released a Statement on
Building Dampness, Mold, and Health
in September 2011. In that Statement, the
Department concluded that water damage, dampness, visible mold and mold
odor in buildings is unhealthy. Hopefully
they didn’t spend millions just to arrive
at that conclusion. While acknowledging
the inability to determine PELs, the De-
partment nonetheless is clear in its belief
that building dampness can cause various
health problems. The CDPH associates
dampness with the development of asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections,
wheeze, cough, difficulty breathing, and
other symptoms. Children may be more
sensitive than adults.
The CDPH, along with other public
health organizations and publications,
does not believe that “toxic mold” is any
great indicator of possible health risks.
Evidence that has been linked to health
problems are current and past water damage, damp materials, visible mold, and
mold odor - not what type of mold is present. The CDPH recommends not wasting
time measuring or identifying the particular mold in the home or building, and
just jumping in to remediate the problem.
This was reiterated in July 2012 in the Indoor Air Quality Info Sheet produced by
the CDPH.
Avoid knee-jerk reactions to scientific
“facts.” Assumptions are made constantly
in areas where scientific evidence may or
may not exist. Defense counsel sometimes
try to make the analogy that mold-related
illness theories are like the “myth” that
being cold will ensure that you actually
catch a cold. Actually, when you’re cold,
your body needs to work extra hard to
regulate your body temperature. When
you’re working hard to regulate body temperature, you don’t always have the energy
required to fight off germs that are constantly bombarding you. Therefore, being
cold can in fact make you sick.
Perhaps mold could act the same.
For Today’s Restoration
al
and Remediation Professional
Get you FREE print copy now at www.randrmagonline.com
S e p te m b e r 2013
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R e s to r a t i o n & R e m e d i a t i o n
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Delmhorst
Instrument Company
News and New Technologies
Delmhorst introduces pinless ProScan moisture meter
Delmhorst Instrument Company (www.delmhorst.com) has released ProScan, a pinless moisture meter
with species corrections that is designed to be an accurate solution for restoration professionals, manufacturers of flooring and furniture and general contractors.
“The launch of ProScan expands Delmhorst’s presence in the marketplace with pinless meters,” said Paul
Laurenzi, vice president of Sales & Marketing for Delmhorst Instrument Co. For more information,
circle 250 on the Reader Service Page.
Viking’s (www.vikingairmovers.com) new LGR 8500 sc dehumidifier is purpose-built for the restoration professional. It features stacking capabilities, is “smart controlled” and offers 130 pints per
day in terms of performance. Its operating range is between 37° F and 115°F and it weighs just 100
pounds. For more information, circle 249 on the Reader Service Page.
Jon-Don celebrates 35th anniversary
The year 2013 marks 35 years in business for Jon-Don (www.jondon.com), a company that
was founded in 1978 by John and Nick Paolella.
“Our success has always been tied to the success of our customers, employees and vendors,”
says John Paolella. “We work to understand their goals and objectives and then develop a plan
to assist them. From day one, Nick and I have always believed that when the people we do business with are successful, Jon-Don is successful too.”
Portable. Electric. Affordable. Meyer’s 220 Insulation Blowing Machine
Meyer’s (wmwmeyer.com) Model 220 Electric Insulation Blowing Machine is designed for contractors who need to move from job to job quickly and effectively. The device is lightweight - but
not short on power - and easy to operate. It also features a high capacity, plastic hopper that can be
removed with ease for seal inspection and replacement. For more information, circle 248 on the
Reader Service Page.
An electronic checklist on your smartphone
Invisi-Tag
Wm. W. Meyer
& Sons
Jon-Don
Viking
Viking introduces new LGR 8500 sc dehu
Invisi-Tag’s (www.invisi-tag.com) mobile app is designed so that restoration professionals will
never leave behind a piece of equipment again. Specifically, it provides professionals with an electronic checklist so that equipment can be accounted for, saving time, money and frustration on the
job site. For more information, circle 247 on the Reader Service Page.
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S e pte m b e r 2013
September is National Emergency Preparedness Month, so it’s only fitting that Armchem (www.armchem.com) is now offering a
167-piece Emergency Preparedness Kit as a means of continuing to grow its safety division.
“It’s critical for businesses and institutions to be prepared for any natural disaster or crisis, and a key component of being ready is
having the necessary supplies in one place, all set to use,” says Andy Brahms, Armchem CEO. For more information, circle 246 on
the Reader Service Page.
Armchem
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USGPC
United States Green Performance Chemistry (USGPC; www.usgpc.com) has introduced HydroKlenz, a foam-forming professional-grade cleaner that utilizes the power of oxygen to remediate, clean and restore nearly any surface quickly and safely. It’s super-concentrated, odorless and
designed to allow professionals to stay “green” in their service offerings, as it features low toxicity
and is VOC compliant. For more information, circle 242 on the Reader Service Page.
Munters
Property Industry
Conference
ZipWall
News and New Technologies
It’s absorbent, leak-proof and reusable –
introducing ZipRunner
Designed to be superior to drop cloths, runners and carpet films, the new ZipRunner from ZipWall (www.zipwall.com) is leak-proof, absorbent and reusable, which
makes it better able to protect any surface from impact and spills. Available in 10and 30-meter lengths, ZipRunner can also be used with the company’s dust barrier
system products on the job. For more information, circle 245 on the Reader
Service Page.
Next PIC Conference to focus on social media
The next Property Industry Conference (PIC; www.propertyindustryconference.
org) will take place on Monday, November 18, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency in Jacksonville, FL from 1-4 p.m. prior to the PLRB Conference.
Ellen Carney, principal analyst for Forrester Research, Inc., will deliver the keynote
presentation on how to effectively use social media in the insurance claims process.
John Langowski, VP of claims for United Property & Casualty, Jeff Vanderpool,
senior VP and chief claims officer for Sunshine State Insurance, and Teresa Heller,
VP of claims for American Integrity, will also participate in a panel discussion at the
event. Cost to attend the meeting is $60 per person in advance and $70 at the door.
Desiccant dehu systems now offered to rental fleets
PLR Expo
Munters (www.munters.us) manufacturers the HCD series dehus for large scale
projects and its DryCool Rental Series hybrid desiccant systems work by using
waste heat for reactivation. They’re part of Munters’ initiative to expand its current
production of rental desiccant dehus for customers around the world who need
temporary drying or humidity control. For more information, circle 241 on the
Reader Service Page.
PLR Expo returning September 23-25 in Toronto
The PLR Expo (www.plrexpo.ca), which is returning to action this September 2325 at the Doubletree Hilton at the Toronto, ON, CA Airport, is currently accepting
registration. Registration gets attendees into the welcome reception, special events,
breakout sessions and keynotes, and covers all lunches and snacks.
Circle 25 on the Free Information Page
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IICRC Exam OK’ed for FL mold remediation licensure
IICRC
The IICRC’s (www.iicrc.org) Mold Removal Specialist (MRS) certification exam has been
accepted for applicants seeking mold remediation licensure in the state of Florida. The MRS
program is the IICRC’s first standalone, single exam certification that recognizes professionals who have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform a variety of duties.
“This approval validates the integrity and high quality of the MRS program and further
advances the IICRC curriculum and certification as an industry-leading resource for those looking to become specialists in the cleaning and restoration industry,” said Scott Armour, Chairman of the IICRC’s Mold Removal Specialist (MRS) certification program.
“We anticipate Florida will be the first of many states that will adopt our exam and certification program for licensure requirements.”
faciliSmart enabled to help prep for hurricane season
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If you want to get into the lucrative game of disaster
restoration, or want to grow your existing business,
then you should mark your calendar today!
The “No Bull Transformational Tour: Breaking the Code,”
hosted by ShowMe Marketing Solutions, is coming to a city
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Ebac Industrial Products Inc
700 Thimble Shoals Blvd, Suite 109,
Newport News, VA 23606-2575
Te
el: 757-873-6800
Fax: 757-873-3632
Toll Free: 1-855-873-6800
www.ebacusa.com
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faciliSmart
South Florida’s Dean Mitchell Restoration has added the faciliSmart (www.facilismart.
com) web-based emergency preparedness and building management tool to its offerings,
as it is designed to better help clients prepare for hurricane season and for any other
emergency situation.
“faciliSmart puts managers at the helm of their emergency preparedness with this facility management software,” says Paul Licata, Dean Mitchell Restoration director of
business development. “The program is fully customizable and allows the entire team
instant access to their critical systems, no matter where they are, enabling them to shut
down and protect the systems in real time to reduce damage.” For more information,
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News and New Technologies
RZ Mask
Mask filtrates 99.9% of particulates and allergens
The RZ Mask (www.rzmask.com) is made from neoprene material and equipped with an active carbon filter, making it able to filtrate 99.9% of particulates and allergens from the air, all
while absorbing odors. It covers the nose and mouth and is suitable for restoration uses, among
others. What’s more is that it comes in over 20 different designs and colors. For more information, circle 244 on the Reader Service Page.
Chemspec
Chemspec hires Sean Eubanks as Director of Product Development
Fresh off of celebrating its 45th anniversary, Chemspec (www.chemspecworld.com) has tasked Sean Eubanks with developing and
producing new chemical technologies for the carpet, hard surface and upholstery care fields. As Director of Product Development,
Eubanks will also direct research and development, product formulation and efficacy and performance testing.
Eubanks has over 15 years of experience in laboratory management, formulation, research and development, and quality control.
He also operated his own truckmount carpet cleaning business and developed a line of allergen removal cleaners for carpets and
hard surfaces.
make you smile...
We can help!
www.InSite-360.com
Phone: (800) 682-8412
Email: [email protected]
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