Why We Don't Test For Mold?

7/14/2017 (Permalink)

Most people think a company that remediates mold would also do the testing of mold? Here at SERVPRO of Mobile County, we do not, and this is why:

Given we are a Cleaning and Remediation Company, we have determined being a certified Industrial Hygienist (IH) is veering too far from our profession.  Mold remediation and mold testing require different sets of training, certifications, and professional equipment. For remediation purposes, the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) offers a course called Applied Microbial Remediation Technician.  In this course, technicians learn how to properly remediate mold, not test for it.  For testing purposes, you must have a 4 year bachelor’s degree in the particular field  as well as specific IH courses. We are trained professionals in remediating your mold concerns and that is where we focus our expertise.

In addition, a company that does both testing and remediation of mold could potentially be perceived to be skewing test results and protocols to serve their own needs (i.e. - to provide their own “passing” remediation status or inflate a remediation protocol to increase the cost of the job).  To avoid this, we not only have another company do the testing, but we also have the customer call in the IH rather than bringing them in ourselves as a subcontractor of our services.  This ensures that the IH is working for the customer’s best interest. At SERVPRO of Mobile Northwest, we make sure our customers can be fully confident they are receiving the most ethical and trustworthy service. 

So what do you do if you find Mold?

If you believe that you have a mold problem, contact SERVPRO of Mobile County to evaluate your site and assess the source and extent of the issue. We will provide you with a written assessment of our findings and recommendations of next steps. If the mold issue is severe enough, your next step may be to contact an Industrial Hygienist. The IH will test the area for mold and create a remediation protocol and report with their findings. Adhering to the protocol from the IH, we will properly remediate the site to ensure a return your home or business to preloss condition.