New Rules Regulate Mold Removal Businesses

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June 13, 2005

New Rules Regulate Mold Removal Businesses

Writer: Rod Santa Ana III, (956) 968-5581,r-santaana@...

Contact: Dr. Mani Skaria, (956) 968-2132,m-skaria@...

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WESLACO – New state laws require contractors to have training,

insurance and certification to assess and remove mold.

" Things have changed, " said Dr. Mani Skaria, a mycologist and plant

pathologist at the Texas A & M-Kingsville Citrus Center in

Weslaco. " Two years ago, there was no control. Contractors who

didn't understand the biology of mold were actually making the

problems worse, causing a lot of damage and increasing the health

risks to the public. But the new rules have weeded them out. "

Skaria worked with Texas Department of State Health Services and the

Texas A & M University System to disseminate proper mold remediation

techniques until the Texas Legislature acted.

State lawmakers passed House Bill 329, resulting in the Texas Mold

Assessment and Remediation Rules in 2003. The rules regulate mold

assessment consultants and technicians, and mold remediation

contractors.

Before they can test for mold or perform mold cleanup in a residence

or building in Texas, contractors must meet qualifications, take the

required training, pass a state exam, abide by rules of ethics, and

be covered by insurance.

Bobby , owner of Bio-Tech Solutions Inc. of Edinburg, said the

regulations have made a very positive difference.

" We used to have lots of what I call carpetbaggers, or fly-by-

nighters, who did hatchet jobs on people's homes and businesses

because they had no basic training, " he said. " They were

undertrained and overpriced.. They were actually doing more harm

than good. "

Since the new rules went into effect, the number of mold remediation

contractors in the Lower Rio Grande Valley has dropped from 50 or 60

to just a handful of licensed businesses, said.

" The new state rules are like the bible of mold assessment and

removal, " he said. " The rules call for a required protocol that is

now almost identical to the process of asbestos removal. It's very

strict. "

The rules call for a system of checks and balances. Consultants and

contractors sign certification attesting that mold was properly and

completely removed.

Valente Alaniz, owner of Ace Mold Remediation and Ace Builders of

Mc, said the new state rules have made the mold assessment and

removal business more professional.

" Having to get licensed and having to carry $1 million dollars in

liability insurance eliminated many unprofessional people, " he

said. " Here in the Valley, I'd say we're down to five or six mold

remediators and less than a dozen people who do assessment. But

things were so out of control, the state really had no choice but to

intervene. "

Skaria maintains homeowners and others should watch for mold and

eliminate it early to keep it from spreading.

" Remove it when it's a small problem because mold grows and it gets

spread passively by people, insects and mites, " he said. " When it

grows it can produce toxins that can cause serious health problems,

especially for the elderly, those sensitive to molds and those with

compromised immune systems. "

Skaria has studied molds and other antigens that cause Sick Building

Syndrome, which causes health problems for a building's occupants.

He has been invited to present his findings in a workshop at the

annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society this summer

in Austin.

The workshop will begin at 8 a.m. July 30 at the Austin Convention

Center. To register or attend, call (651) 994-3802. For more

information, e-mail Skaria atm-skaria@.... For a list of

licensed mold contractors, visit the Texas Department of State

Health Services Web site at www.dshs.state.tx.us.

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