Re: ServPro admits mold can hurt anybody

September 24, 2009

,

Thanks for the good find! Excellent information to read and

understand.

A critical point, however, is to realize the information is an opinion

and not authoritative in the sense it would prevail in the court

room. It is the opinion (a very good one!) by a franchise company

who is a remediation contractor. They are in the business of

doing mold remediation. Their expertise is different than

determining what should be done, or if anything needs to be

done, or if mold causes harm. Which leads to...

Second critical point is this sentence:

* " Beyond taking actions on your own to prevent mold, it´s

important to know when it's time to call an indoor air quality

professional who knows what he or she is doing, Isaacson

said. SERVPRO has been restoring properties since 1967. "

I totally agree with the first sentence. And with the second one.

But not with the two of them together because they are as

different as apples and rocks.

By putting the two sentences together it gives the impression that

SERVPRO has been an indoor air quality professional since

1967. They are not, they are a remediation contractor. Here is

why the distinction is so important.

Some of the franchises may have an IAQ professional on staff.

And that is fine. But the IAQ professional who decides what

should be done and the remediator who does the work should not

be from the same company. If they are there is a conflict of

interest.

The interest of the IAQ pro (consultant) should be identifying and

documenting the conditions, including your individual concerns,

totally separate from how much the job will cost or how much

money the remediation contractor can make. SERVPRO's

interest is in doing the work for a profit. They should determine

their cost to you based on a scope of work determined

independantly.

Without the separation of contractor and consultant you don't

know if you are paying a fair price for necessary work or are

being overcharged for work that doesn't need to be done.

In a previous post a couple of weeks ago I cited a range of

$1,200 to $10,000 as typical when different remediators bid on a

project because they each determine what they think should be

done and what they want to charge. If an independent consultant

writes the scope of work and you ask several remediators to bid

on the same scope, then the differences in cost should be within

10% or so.

So, good information but it isn't authoritative and remediation

companies are usually not IAQ professionals (consultants). If they

have them on staff you should get an independent company to do

the work.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

Local ServPro Owners Offer Advice on How to Fight, Prevent Mold

One might think mold only affects " at risk " people, such as children,

senior citizens, those who are immune-suppressed or those suffering

from chronic inflammatory lung diseases like asthma and severe

allergies. In recognition of Mold Awareness Month this month, however,

local cleanup and restoration professionals are correcting that

misconception and explaining how mold can really affect anyone who is

exposed to it.

" It's true that those who suffer from health

problems are more inclined to have harsher side effects when exposed to

mold, but it´s important to know that mold does not discriminate, " said

Rick Isaacson, executive vice president of Servpro Industries, Inc.

" People of all ages and health statuses are vulnerable to health

problems associated with exposure to mold. These side effects can

include something as minor as a runny nose, sneezing or coughing, to

things more intense like aggravation of asthma, sore throat and

inflammation of the sinuses. "

Water intrusions may lead to the

growth of mold, and many times that intrusion is the result of storm

damage, plumbing or equipment failures, long-standing leaks and poor

humidity control. " If water intrusions are not addressed right away,

the resulting damage may present an increased risk of harmful mold

growth. Excessive mold growth can lead to indoor environmental

conditions that pose a health threat, " said Isaacson.

In

observation of this month's awareness campaign, Isaacson is offering

helpful information about the fungus that often lies hidden in many

homes and business buildings in the local community. The following

advice can help people tackle mold in its early stages: Understand Mold

There are over 100,000 species of identified mold, Isaacson said. We

are consistently exposed to thousands of different types of fungi in

our everyday lives. Certain types of fungi exist naturally in soils,

plants, fruits and textiles and are generally not harmful, but others

that grow in water, moisture and high humidity in buildings are just

the opposite. Take Precaution

Mold is more likely to spread

when an environment has been subject to moisture for a long period of

time. If your property has sustained recent water damage, it is

important to remove excess water and dry the structure promptly. If you

notice an ongoing moisture problem, be on alert for the following signs:

The presence of visible mold

Strong, musty odors

Evidence of past moisture issues that might have caused undetected

mold growth

Excessive humidity Fight Mold

Periodically inspect your property. Look for water and moisture in

and around your home. Pay special attention around pipes, in basements

and crawl spaces, behind boxes and contents in dark areas of your

property. Note: you may have to hire a professional, such as those at

SERVPRO. Mold can live in unseen areas such as ceilings or wall

cavities.

Control the humidity in bathrooms and wherever

water is repeatedly used. Exhaust fans, proper caulking and effective

cleaning with an appropriate cleaning product will help keep mold

problems away.

Regularly have your HVAC system and air

conditioner inspected to identify moisture problems or drain clogs. " By

following these tips, you can help keep your insurance costs down and

protect your property, " Isaacson said. " Do not procrastinate. The most

important step you can take is to identify any humidity, moisture or

water damage problems before they create bigger problems such as mold

growth or structural damage. In many cases, the mold problem can be

addressed without having to make an insurance claim. "

Beyond

taking actions on your own to prevent mold, it´s important to know when

it's time to call an indoor air quality professional who knows what he

or she is doing,

Isaacson said. SERVPRO has been restoring

properties since 1967. SERVPRO responds to mold problems around the

clock and has equipment to professionally test for moisture, extract

water completely and dry properties in the local community.

http://garnernews.net/pages/full_story/push?secure_

comments=true & need_to_add=true & content_instance

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b 3015479e139bd465c75

September 25, 2009

This was the comnpany that did the damage here in this aprtment building. Noiw

are unwilling to give MSDS for application on Monday which has made us ill.

This is the second time they injure us. Another injury by another company

applying pesticdes.

It is just that a franchise, in business, our local franchise in their words " we

do not care what we put down that may kill you " end quote.

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

________________________________

From: Carl E. Grimes <grimes@...>

Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 6:03:21 PM

Subject: Re: [] ServPro admits mold can hurt anybody

,

Thanks for the good find! Excellent information to read and

understand.

A critical point, however, is to realize the information is an opinion

and not authoritative

September 25, 2009

Carl, I agree with your comments. I just thought it was interesting/surprising

to see these types of comments from a ServPro franchisee, because some ServPro

locations have been sued in mold situations. Maybe they are learning.

_______________________________

From: Carl E. Grimes <grimes@...>

Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 3:03:21 PM

Subject: Re: [] ServPro admits mold can hurt anybody

,

Thanks for the good find! Excellent information to read and

understand.

A critical point, however, is to realize the information is an opinion

and not authoritative in the sense it would prevail in the court

room. It is the opinion (a very good one!) by a franchise company

who is a remediation contractor. They are in the business of

doing mold remediation.

September 25, 2009

It is hard to tell sometimes why people and businesses say what

they say. This one could be to protect themselves from

accusations they don't sufficiently appreciate mold harm.

Sometimes these types of statements are to increase business

by contributing to the fear factor. I have a colleague right now

dealing with a franchise whose ideas of remediation are based on

outrageously expensive methods of questionable effectiveness.

Decisions need to be based on the simplest methods proven to

work and which protect the rest of the building and occupants.

That requires an understanding and appreciation of the biology of

mold, moisture characteristics, building materials and types, etc.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

Carl, I agree with your comments. I just thought it was

interesting/surprising to see these types of comments from a

ServPro franchisee, because some ServPro locations have been

sued in mold situations. Maybe they are learning.

From: Carl E. Grimes <grimes@...>

Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 3:03:21 PM

Subject: Re: [] ServPro admits mold can hurt

anybody

,

Thanks for the good find! Excellent information to read and

understand.

A critical point, however, is to realize the information is an opinion

and not authoritative in the sense it would prevail in the court

room. It is the opinion (a very good one!) by a franchise company

who is a remediation contractor. They are in the business of

doing mold remediation. Their expertise is different than

determining what should be done, or if anything needs to be

done, or if mold causes harm. Which leads to...

Second critical point is this sentence:

* " Beyond taking actions on your own to prevent mold, it´s

important to know when it's time to call an indoor air quality

professional who knows what he or she is doing, Isaacson

said. SERVPRO has been restoring properties since 1967. "

I totally agree with the first sentence. And with the second one.

But not with the two of them together because they are as

different as apples and rocks.

By putting the two sentences together it gives the impression that

SERVPRO has been an indoor air quality professional since

1967. They are not, they are a remediation contractor. Here is

why the distinction is so important.

Some of the franchises may have an IAQ professional on staff.

And that is fine. But the IAQ professional who decides what

should be done and the remediator who does the work should not

be from the same company. If they are there is a conflict of

interest.

The interest of the IAQ pro (consultant) should be identifying and

documenting the conditions, including your individual concerns,

totally separate from how much the job will cost or how much

money the remediation contractor can make. SERVPRO's

interest is in doing the work for a profit.. They should determine

their cost to you based on a scope of work determined

independantly.

Without the separation of contractor and consultant you don't

know if you are paying a fair price for necessary work or are

being overcharged for work that doesn't need to be done.

In a previous post a couple of weeks ago I cited a range of

$1,200 to $10,000 as typical when different remediators bid on a

project because they each determine what they think should be

done and what they want to charge. If an independent consultant

writes the scope of work and you ask several remediators to bid

on the same scope, then the differences in cost should be within

10% or so.

So, good information but it isn't authoritative and remediation

companies are usually not IAQ professionals (consultants) . If they

have them on staff you should get an independent company to do

the work.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

Local ServPro Owners Offer Advice on How to Fight, Prevent Mold

One might think mold only affects " at risk " people, such as children,

senior citizens, those who are immune-suppressed or those suffering

from chronic inflammatory lung diseases like asthma and severe

allergies. In recognition of Mold Awareness Month this month, however,

local cleanup and restoration professionals are correcting that

misconception and explaining how mold can really affect anyone who is

exposed to it.

" It's true that those who suffer from health

problems are more inclined to have harsher side effects when exposed to

mold, but it´s important to know that mold does not discriminate, " said

Rick Isaacson, executive vice president of Servpro Industries, Inc.

" People of all ages and health statuses are vulnerable to health

problems associated with exposure to mold. These side effects can

include something as minor as a runny nose, sneezing or coughing, to

things more intense like aggravation of asthma, sore throat and

inflammation of the sinuses. "

Water intrusions may lead to the

growth of mold, and many times that intrusion is the result of storm

damage, plumbing or equipment failures, long-standing leaks and poor

humidity control. " If water intrusions are not addressed right away,

the resulting damage may present an increased risk of harmful mold

growth. Excessive mold growth can lead to indoor environmental

conditions that pose a health threat, " said Isaacson..