Products to Keep Homes Dry - Restoration & Remediation · and much more. You’ll also become acquainted with our columnists, each of whom offers a unique and interesting view of

Jan-March 2005 | Volume 2 | Issue 1Jan-March 2005 | Volume 2 | Issue 1

The Magazine for Moisture Prevention and RemediationThe Magazine for Moisture Prevention and Remediation

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& M O I S T U R E M A N A G E M E N T M A G A Z I N E& M O I S T U R E M A N A G E M E N T M A G A Z I N E

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News ............................................4

Dry Eye.......................................19

Court*ship ..................................40

Regulation Review ......................41

Insurance Watch .........................42

Wet Science................................43

Newsmakers ...............................44

Reader Rant................................46

Calendar .....................................46

Marketplace................................47

Mold and Moisture 101...............48

An in-depth section just for remediators,featured in every issue.

News ..........................................12

Products .....................................14

Post Mortem...............................16

Spot on the Wall ...........................2

Industry Interface..........................8

Consultant’s Corner ....................10

Mold Litigation ............................18

I’ve Been Sued For Mold Damage … Now What?Follow this attorney’s advice and you’ll findyourself well prepared for the possibility ofmold litigation.

Building a Path to PreventionIf you think your toolbox is the place to findthe most important tools for preventing moldlawsuits, you might be underestimating theresults of effective communication.

Your Chance to BloomStart the New Year with new informationfrom dozens of exhibitors and seminarsoffering the best in advice and products.

Materials for a Mold-Proof HouseThe first step in building a mold-proof houseis using the right materials and we’ve got alook at what’s available.

Owning the ProblemWithout standards, it can be difficult toascertain who bears responsibility for moldproblems: the builder or the homeowner?Either way, there are steps each individual cantake to prevent potential moisture problem.

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January–March 2005 | Volume 2 | Issue 1

C ontentsfeatures

Mold & Moisture Management ©2005 by Key Communications Inc. All rights reserved. KeyCommunications Inc., 385 Garrisonville Road, Suite 116, Stafford, VA 22554; 540/720-5584;fax 540/720-5687. Unsolicited manuscripts and other materials will not be returned unlessaccompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. All contents are ©2005 by KeyCommunications Inc. Neither publisher nor its representatives nor its subcontractors assumeliability for errors in text, charts, advertisements, etc. and suggest appropriate companies becontacted before specifications or use of products advertised or included in editorial materi-als. Views and opinions expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Forpermission to reprint, contact editorial office. Printed in the U.S. No reproduction permittedwithout expressed written permission of the of the publisher. Questions? Call 540/720-5584.

columns

SPECIAL SECTION:remediation

departments

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[20

[24

[28[30[36

See the specialsection forremediators starting on page 12.

Jan-March 05 | 1Mold & Moisture Management

& M O I S T U R E M A N A G E M E N T

MMy favorite episode of the old TV show The Wonder Years had 10-year old Kevin Arnold spending a day at his father’s office. As partof a school project, young Kevin was to write a report about his

father’s career. It’s a hellacious day for his father. In the course of it, Kevinlearns that his dad, while king of the castle at home, is merely one in a longline of whipping boys at the office.

Ever the earnest student, Kevin dutifully begins to interview his fatherthat evening. “So Dad,” he says, “when did you decide you wanted to be amanager of distribution services?”

I thought about that scene when Mr. Fix-It himself, Lou Manfredini, wasinterviewing me on his Chicago radio show in early December. “So Deb,” hesaid, “when did you know you wanted to publish a magazine about mold?”

Like Jack Arnold, I am doing something I never expected to do. Butunlike him, I am doing something I love and enjoy doing besides. Oh I’veheard a few snickers from people who say “a magazine about mold?”incredulously, but those come purely from the uneducated who don’t haveto deal with the issues or costs of moisture control.

Mold & Moisture Management ((MMoollddmmaagg)) is the seventh magazine to bepublished by our parent company, Key Communications Inc. Originally con-ceived as a supplement to Key’s Door & Window Manufacturer™ magazine,we were surprised to learn how much information is available about moistureprevention, control and abatement, and that the industry lacks a centralclearinghouse of published information.

At nearly the same time, it became clear that major insurance companieswere beginning to exclude mold and moisture damage from their coverages,putting the onus—and the cost of remediation—right back on the builder,contractors and the manufacturers of products they use. As one expert toldme, “the burden for solution is moving from the insurer to the companiesthat actually constructed the edifice, and that’s quite a burden.”

So we premier MMoollddmmaagg with a special emphasis on homebuilders andwhat they must do to avoid moisture problems. Our special section beginson page 30. Also in this issue, you’ll find regular departments about sci-ence and technology (Wet Science, page 43), moisture litigation and courtdecisions (Court*Ship, page 40), the latest news (page 4), people (page 44)and much more.

You’ll also become acquainted with our columnists, each of whom offersa unique and interesting view of some aspect of moisture control. A spe-cial section just for remediators, which begins on page 12, will appear ineach issue. It’s designed to give those involved in mold and moistureabatement a special section of their own.

Finally, please take note of the advertisers in this issue. They have prod-ucts of such importance to the industry that they have chosen to advertisehere. It is only through their support that we are able to bring you this issue.

Please let us know what you think. Comments, suggestions and evencriticism are most welcome. Please feel free to contact me at 540/720-5584ext. 111 or e-mail to [email protected]. I look forward to working withyou and learning from you. —Deb Levy

m3Mold & Moisture Management

Publisher Debra [email protected] x111

Editor Megan [email protected] x114

Managing Editor Kim [email protected] x130

Contributing Editors Ellen Giard [email protected] x118Tara [email protected] x113

Assistant Editors Sarah [email protected] x117

Brigid O’[email protected] x124

Art Director Brenda F. [email protected] x131

Graphic Designers Chris [email protected] x132

Dawn [email protected] x150

Production James RobertsManager [email protected] x116

Advertising Pam MarthCoordinator [email protected] x119

Marketing Director Holly Carter [email protected] x123

Marketing Jeremy HittCoordinator [email protected] x133Customer Relations Janeen MulliganManager [email protected] x112Exhibit Manager Tina Czar

[email protected] x115Event Promotions Hayley SteeleManager [email protected] x151Web Designer Bryan Hovey

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Midwest, Brian WelshPlain States [email protected] Texas 215/679-8826 fax: 215/679-0408

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A Spot on the WallMessage from the publisher

2 | Jan-March 05

When exposed to excessive moisture, paper provides an easy food source for mold to grow. So the bestway available to eliminate the food source for mold is G-P Gypsum’s next generation paperless wallboard,

DensArmor Plus. Unlike that suddenly outdated paper-faced wallboard, DensArmor Plus has glass mats onboth the face and back of a moisture-resistant core to resist mold growth. And thanks to cutting-edge

technology, it now has a new interior glass mat facing that finishes with the ease and simplicity of regularwallboard. To find out more, go to www.gpgypsum.com. The end is near for paper-faced wallboard.

Sixteen years ago, G-P reinvented exterior sheathing with the introduction of DensGlass Gold .® With newenhancements, we’ve now reinvented interior wallboard. Join the “paperless revolution.”

1.800.225.6119www.gpgypsum.com

Introducing DensArmor Plus™

Paperless Interior Wallboard.

© 2005 Georgia-Pacific Corporation. All rights reserved. DENSGLASS GOLD andDENSGUARD are registered trademarks and DENSARMOR and DENSARMOR PLUS

are trademarks of Georgia-Pacific Corporation.

ASSOCIATIONS

Two Associations Expand Work in Moisture Arena

At the November meeting of theWindow & Door Manufacturer’sAssociation (WDMA), staff memberJeff Lowinski explained the activi-ties of the association’s mold moni-toring committee. According toLowinski, a wood material or com-posites task group has been formedto determine mold resistanceagainst k fungus. ASTM methodsare being looked at to determinewhat needs to be measured.

In addition, the mold committeementioned that the American WoodPreservers Association (AWPA) isdeveloping a test method to deter-mine mold and mildew. WDMAannounced that it may adopt themethod.

According to information fromAWPA, a subcommittee P-6 taskgroup has drafted a mold test stan-dard, which is being validated

through round-robin testing. Somedata has been received, and com-ments regarding the procedureitself may result in modifications tothe draft standard. A status reportwill be presented by the task groupto subcommittee P-6 when AWPAmeets again in May 2005.

➟www.nwwda.org or call 847/299-5200.

➟ www.awpa.com or call 334/874-9800.

MBA Mold White Paper In Development

A mold task force operatingunder the D.C.-based MortgageBankers Association’s (MBA) loanorigination committee announcedat its October 2004 meeting that itis in the process of developing amold white paper.

The MBA meeting’s minutes statethat the paper will look at informa-tion on the historical view of mold,current industry perspectives,health, research, insurance, litiga-tion, risk management, preventionand routine maintenance, detection,

remediation, new technologies andthe future. The committee antici-pates that the paper will be open forcomment by the MBA’s CommercialReal Estate Finance/MultifamilyHousing Convention (CREF),February 6-9, 2005, in San Diego.

➟www.mortgagebankers.org or call202/557-2742.

COMPANIES

Steril-Aire Announces MoveSteril-Aire Inc., which manufac-

tures and markets a line of UVCdevices and accessories, hasannounced its move to an expandedcorporate headquarters in Burbank,Calif. According to a company newsrelease, the move has tripled thecompany’s manufacturing capacity,as well as its sales and administra-tive office space. The new head-quarters also features a fullyequipped research laboratory.

“In less than ten years, the use ofUVC energy for mold and microbialcontrol in HVAC systems has gonefrom an unknown concept to a wide-ly accepted practice,” said RobertScheir, president. “Our move to anexpanded facility reflects this grow-ing demand in the marketplace.”

➟ www.steril-aire.com or call 800/278-3745.

CertainTeed Fiberglass ShinglesA Part of This Old House

CertainTeed Corp., of ValleyForge Pa., announced that theEmmy Award-winning televisionseries, This Old House, chose itsXT™ 30 AR fiberglass roofing shin-gles for the show’s 25th anniver-sary project in Carlisle, Mass. Theroof, chosen in moiré black, wasintended to complement the archi-tecture of the Greek Revival-stylefarmstead. The show premiered onPBS, December 23, 2004.

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N e w s

MM old & Moisture Manage-ment magazine has receivedits share of press in the

months leading up to its Januarylaunch. The magazine, published byKey Communications Inc., ofStafford, Va., has been featured onCBS news and in a radio interviewwith Mr. Fix-it Lou Manfredini for hishow-to show in the greater Chicagoarea. A variety of other media havealso expressed interest in learningmore about the new magazine.

➟ www.moldmag.com or call 540/720-5584.

Radio personality Lou Manfredini spokewith Moldmag publisher Debra Levyabout the launch of the new magazine.

4 | Jan-March 05 Mold & Moisture Management

Literature

Mold and Moisture Magazine in the News

By using fiberglass, the algae-resistant (AR) shingles remove asource of food for mold and mildew,helping prevent the growth of fungiin an area that is often overlooked.

“Over the years, it has been apleasure to build a relationship withThis Old House based on the phi-losophy that everything old can benew again,” said Marcia Hannah,vice president of marketing forCertainTeed’s roofing productsgroup. “Through out donation, weare delighted to help the series cel-ebrate its silver anniversary as wetoo celebrate a milestone of ourown—our 100th year of service.”

➟ www.thisoldhouse.com.

➟ www.certainteed.com or call610/341-7328.

SPOTTED

Boston City Council Holds Hearing on Mold

Boston City councilor Maura A.Hennigan announced that a citycouncil hearing was held inDecember to address the publichealth threat of mold and poorindoor air quality, as reported in anarticle from the Transcript. The dis-cussion focused on what Boston cando as a city, a state and a region toeducate the public and prevent fur-ther contamination.

U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Jr., D-Michigan, the ranking member of theHouse Judiciary Committee andsponsor of the U.S. Toxic Mold Safetyand Protection Act, HR 1268, spokeat the Boston hearing. Conyers’ pro-posed bill, also known as “The MelinaBill,” was designed to generate guide-lines for preventing indoor moldgrowth; establish standards forremoving mold when it does grow;provide grants for mold removal inpublic buildings; authorize tax cred-its for inspection and/or remediation

of mold hazards; and create a nation-al insurance program to protecthomeowners from catastrophic loss-es. An emergency appropriation billwas also included to help schoolsremediate contaminated buildingsand improve air quality. The bill iscurrently under review by the House.

The aim of Hennigan’s meetingwas to educate the public about theproblem of indoor mold and poor

indoor air quality due to water intru-sion in public and private buildingsin the city, according to the article.

“This is a serious public healthrisk, and I look forward to continu-ing to raise awareness and educatethe public about this issue by bring-ing in those who are knowledgeableon this matter,” Hennigan said.

continued on page 6

Celebrity Case Brings Attention to Homeowner’s Cause

AA fter four days of deliberations, anAustin, Texas, jury awardedactress Sandra Bullock nearly $7

million in a trial against the architect andbuilder who constructed her lakefronthome in Austin.

Three years ago the architect, M.B.Daneshjou, sued the actress, claimingshe owed money to his company fordesigning and building her $6.5 mil-lion, 10,000-square-foot home.According to the article, Bullockcounter-sued, claiming much ofDaneshjou’s construction workwasn’t good enough to be a standin for real craftsmanship.

Testimony during the two-month trial centered on thebuilder’s non-compliance withAustin’s building codes, con-struction defects including prob-lems with flashing that caused exces-sive water intrusion, defectively-installed materials,damage to framing, rotting wallboard and the presence of stachybotrysmold. Because of the problems, Bullock chose not to live in the homeand construction remained unfinished.

Daneshjou blamed problems on a former project manager and sub-contractors. The jury found the project manager had breached his con-tract, but ultimately held Daneshjou responsible for damages.

Bullock said in a written statement after the verdict was reached, “Ifelt firmly committed to see this process through to a just conclusion,no matter what the outcome, especially for all those homeowners whocould never afford to come this far.”

Daneshjou reportedly plans to appeal.

Actress Sandra Bullock was awarded $7million in a trial against the architect shesays caused her home’s mold problems.

Jan-March 05 | 5Mold & Moisture Management m3

Mold Plagues Historical Center of Russian City

Eighty percent of buildings in thehistorical center of St. Petersburg,Russia, are plagued by mold andtoxic microorganisms, according to areport by city doctors cited in an article from the St.Petersburg Times. Thearticle said that the city’sarchitectural ensemblesand monuments are suf-fering from mold as well.

Experts from the city’sState Sanitary andEpidemic Control Boardbegan surveying buildingsin 2000, when doctorsbegan receiving increasednumbers of complaintsfrom illnesses associatedwith mold, such as chron-ic rheumatism, asthma,skin allergies and tuberculosis.According to the board, one St.Petersburger dies of tuberculosisevery 20 hours and doctors are put-ting the blame not on bad weatherbut mold.

“Paris has about as much rain asSt. Petersburg does,” said VitalyAntonov, a leading researcher at theSt. Petersburg Institute of Mycology,in the article. “The only difference isthat there they repair the roofs on aregular basis, whereas our roofs arecovered with rusty holes. The sameis true for basements. If there ismold in a house—either inside oroutside—it is the result of the irre-sponsible and poorly supervisedwork of the communal service staff,

and in no way an inevitable attributeof humid climate.”

Corroding walls and ceilings, moldand fungi are leading to the disinte-gration and collapse of roofs, ceilingsand shelters over entrances, accord-ing to Antonov. Poor drainage sys-

tems are also blamed.Antonov said that when itrains, the water and allpossible microorganismsare absorbed into citywalls.

According to the article,doctors and restorers arerecommending a massprogram to drain base-ments and repair roofsaround town, as well as athorough upgrade of pro-tection systems that stoprising dampness.

Residents of Mold-InfestedApartment Staying Put

Residents of a mold-infested apart-ment complex in Newberry, Fla.,have refused to leave the complex toallow remediation and repairs,according to the local news station,WCJB. The owner of SchowandaApartments, Bishop Williams, hadnotified residents by letter that theywould need to leave before repairscould begin, however, most of theresidents can’t afford to move out.

According to the news report, theinsurance company will not sendmoney to make the necessary repairsuntil everyone has left, and as long aspeople stay at the complex no workwill be done.

“Some of us in this building havebeen sick,” said resident MarvaWatts, “but we don’t know if it’s somekind of virus or if it’s actually themold.”

KUDOS

EPA Honors County Schools for Exemplary Indoor Air Quality Program

Pinellas County Schools (PCS) inLargo, Fla., was among 12 schoolsand districts selected to receive theEnvironmental Protection Agency’s(EPA) Indoor Air Quality Tools forSchools (IAQ TfS) 2004 ExcellenceAward. The award was presented atEPA’s 5th Annual Indoor Air QualityTools for Schools NationalSymposium, December 2-4, 2004, inWashington, D.C.

According to an EPA news release,the award recognizes exemplaryindoor air quality programs and com-mitment to providing a healthylearning environment for studentsand staff. PCS was recognized for aprogram that was adopted shortlyafter a major mold outbreak morethan 10 years ago in an elementaryschool that was only a year old. Theoutbreak resulted in an epidemic ofbronchitis, headaches and ear infec-tions and forced the school to closefor 18 months for repairs that cost $1million. After the mold outbreak,PCS adopted a management plan andappointed a single coordinator tostandardize responses to IAQ concerns.

In 1995, EPA developed the volun-tary IAQ TfS kit and program inresponse to government studies high-lighting the deteriorating conditionsof the nation’s schools and the alarm-ing rise in asthma cases, particularlyamong school and preschool age chil-dren. The EPA estimates that 25,000schools and school districts acrossthe country are now using the kit.

➟ www.epa.gov/iaq/schools. m3

6 | Jan-March 05 Mold & Moisture Managementm3

N e w sc o n t i n u e d

Briefly …

Disaster Kleenup International Inc., a network of independent propertydamage restoration contractors based in Bensenville, Ill., has announcedthat four new members recently joined the organization. A.E. Fickert &Son, based in Dayton, Ohio; Evans Services, based in Springfield, Ill.; PrideCleaning & Restoration, based in St. Louis; and Woodland Cleaning &Restoration, based in Wilmington, Del., all came on board in September.

Experts say historicbuildings and monumentsin St. Petersburg, Russia,are contaminated by mold.

Mold.A Growing Concern:

Mold needs moisture to grow. In order to keep moisture off of glass, windows need to have

the warmest inside surface temperatures possible.

The world’s warmest edge occurs with Super Spacer®. This superior insulation means

improved energy savings and substantially reduced condensation for overall window

improvement.

Protect against window condensation! Simply choose Health SSmart WWindows® made with

Super SSpacer® high performance glass.

Condensation can lead to more than bacteria

and molds. It can increase the likelihood

of fungi, viruses, and mites that cause

respiratory infections, allergies and asthma.

www.superspacer.com

I ndustry Interface

➧Larry Livermore is the program manager for the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA).

WWhen it comes to the topic of mold, the multi-plier reflected in the old adage “an ounce ofprevention is worth a pound of cure” could be

increased 100,000 times. Over the past few years,AAMA members have been working on numerousefforts to help improve air and water performance ofinstalled windows and doors. Much can be done withproduct design to prevent the formation of mold in abuilding. However, using the best-designed and best-built fenestration product is no guarantee against thepotential of mold formation. Proper installation—usingapproved procedures—is an important safeguard forpreventing the occurrence of mold.

To that end, various AAMA member task groups areinvolved in developing standards and test methods thatwill help to reduce the potential causes of mold forma-tion. These groups include:• installation liaison task group;• gunnable expandable foam air seals for rough open-

ings task group;• expanded cellular tape task group;• self-adhering flashing task group; and• mechanically-attached flashing task group.

Installation Liaison Task GroupThe installation liaison task group was established to

develop a standard test method for residential windowinstallation. This testmethod allows indi-viduals and compa-nies to check variousinstallation tech-niques and materi-als. The conceptbehind the testmethod was to stan-dardize the require-ments for submittinga product for testingand the format forreporting the testresults, while alsoleaving room for vari-ations of materialsand methods used. Inother words, the

group hoped to establish a uniform standard that every-one could follow, but would allow any number of differ-ent materials and/or installation methods to be used toinstall the window or door frame. This test method willlet new products and procedures come to the market-place, yet provide a benchmark from which to test.While this effort has been ongoing for a few years, thework is near completion and a new standard testmethod should soon be approved.

Sealants and Adhesives Task GroupsThe expandable foam sealant and expanded cellu-

lar tape task groups were established to developmethods of testing how much pressure expandablefoams and tapes exert on a framing system afterinstallation. In the past, expandable foams—especial-ly those applied using an aerosol can—were found tobe the potential cause of excessive deflection of thewindow frame. This deflection was parallel to the faceof the wall (toward the center of the frame).Manufacturers found that products installed withexpanding foam around the perimeter had difficultieswith sash operation. The foam and tape manufactur-ers learned of these concerns and set out to developproducts that would reduce the level of expansionand movement of the frame. While these new prod-ucts seem to answer the problem, the development ofa test method was necessary to determine how muchpressure is placed on the frame. Additionally, themanufacturers wanted to establish expansion pres-sure limits based on the allowable deflection of thewindow frames. The new term often used to describefoam products that are reportedly appropriate forwindow and door installation is “low expansionfoam.” While these products are currently on themarket, the test method is still under development.Installers using these products should always consultwith the foam manufacturer and window manufac-turer to establish installation guidelines, limitationsand applicability.

Flashing Task GroupsSelf-adhering flashing is another product that is com-

monly used, and often misapplied, in the field. As withvarious types of sealant, self-adhering flashing mustcome in contact with a number of substrates and sur-faces. Many of these products may require the applica-tion of a surface primer, such as with oriented strandboard (OSB). The work of the self-adhering flashing task

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The Manufacturer’s LaboratoryA New Place to Start Reducing the Potential for Mold

by Lar ry L ivermore


AAMA hopes to develop a standardtest method for installing residentialwindows.

group is to establish a test method that will better predictthe performance of self-adhering flashing products in var-ious conditions. The work of this task group should becomplete in 2005. Based on the self-adhering flashing testmethod development, it was determined that similarissues should be addressed related to non-adhesive flash-ing products, so the mechanically-attached flashing taskgroup was formed in October 2004.

The Importance of Proper Training But mold prevention depends on more than just the

performance of quality fenestration products. Only prop-erly-trained window installers who understand the needfor following correct installation procedures can eliminatethe liability gap that exists between the manufacturedwindow and the framed rough opening. One nationwideprogram that addresses this issue in a positive manner isthe InstallationMasters™ program. Originally developedby AAMA, this training and certification program is aimedat installers of residential and light commercial windowsand glass doors. InstallationMasters™ teaches installersthe best practices and installation techniques for bothnew construction and replacement applications. Classesare conducted solely by accredited instructors, are basedon tested and accepted practices, and cover topics fromthe proper selection and use of installation materials tofinal cleaning and product maintenance.

The work being done by AAMA is an indication ofhow important proper installation of the product is toour members. While the formation of mold is an issue ofconcern, it simply reinforces the need to develop testmethods and procedures that will improve the installedperformance of fenestration products. We look forwardto continuing the development of test methods andstandards to answer these needs in the future. m3


“Only properly trained window installers whounderstand the need for following correct

installation procedures can eliminate the liabilitygap that exists between the manufacturedwindow and the framed rough opening.”

Resources

To learn more about the InstallationMasters program and how you can become certified, visitwww.installationmastersusa.com.

➧Want more info?➧Interested in

Weekly Updates?

www.moldmag.com

Visit Mold Magazine’s website,www.moldmag.com for the

latest up-to-date information.

C o n s u l t a n t s C o r n e r

➧Colin Murphy is a founder and managingpartner of Exterior Research & Design LLC, a

building envelope forensics, testing and designconsulting firm based in Seattle. Lonnie Haughtonis a senior associate at ERD.

IIt’s a hard truth that when build-ing envelope defects are claimed,virtually everyone involved in

the design and construction process-es gets sued. It’s an even harder truththat due to the high risks and costs ofgoing to trial, insurance carriers forsome of these parties will end up pay-ing some amount to settle a portionof the claim, even when there is littleor no clear evidence of direct respon-sibility for the water leakage andresulting damage.

When moisture damage or moldproliferation is claimed and the fin-ger-pointing begins, the primaryroles of the building envelope con-sultant are to:1. Establish how and why the leakage

occurred; and

2. Defend the client against unsup-ported or exaggerated claims.To this end, one of the key ques-

tions asked by each of the manybuilding envelope consultants repre-senting the plaintiffs and defendantsis: Does the project design and con-struction conform to building coderequirements and local industrystandards? Sometimes simpleanswers to this question are impossi-ble, especially when considering newstandards for construction practicepublished by national standards-writing organizations are not yet fullyaccepted at the regional and locallevels.

Consider ASTM E 2112, StandardPractice for Installation of ExteriorWindows, Doors, and Skylights,published in September 2002. Thelargest ASTM standard ever pub-lished, E 2112 provides detailed andcomprehensive step-by-step proto-cols for installing and flashing resi-dential and light-commercial win-

dows and doors. E 2112 is such animportant advancement in this fieldthat the American ArchitecturalManufacturers Association (AAMA)developed the independent nation-wide InstallationMasters program tospread the new gospel.

Even so, more than two years afterits publication, E 2112 typically hasbeen embraced by only the bestbuilding envelope designers and con-tractors and some forward-thinkingwindow manufacturers. For mostbuilding professionals, E 2112 eitherremains a complete unknown or it is simply dismissed as being too radical.

Unfortunately, some of theseunaware or dismissive designers andcontractors currently are construct-ing buildings that soon will allowwater infiltration through windowsand doors, resulting in deteriorationand/or mold growth. This, in turn,will result in a large building enve-lope defects claim against almosteveryone with insurance coveragewho ever stepped foot on the job site,including the designer, the contrac-tor, the window/door installer, theflashing installer and the claddingand sealant installers.

At that time, several years in thefuture, some building envelope con-sultant is certain to issue a reportasserting that E 2112 was the accept-ed local industry standard at theperiod of construction. He will fur-ther assert the failures by designer,contractor and installers to conformto its strict flashing and installationrequirements makes all of these par-ties partially responsible for the moldand water damage—even if thesource(s) of the leakage are not flash-ing or sealing failures. The defendingexperts then will issue opposingreports arguing that the E 2112 stan-dards for proper design/construction

m3

The Consultants CornerTaking a Proactive Approach toward New Industry Standards

by Co l in Murphy and Lonn ie Haughton


AA STM’s standard E 2112, Standard Practice for Installation of ExteriorWindows, Doors, and Skylights, was issued in 2001 to give buildersinformation on all aspects of installation of fenestration units in a sin-

gle opening in residential and light-commercial buildings. The standardaddresses the integration of windows, doors, skylights, flashing, anchors,shims, sealants and building wraps, and the general interface between wallsand openings.

“By far, the most important application is the recognition that the wall isone envelope with many components and there are different wall types whichmust be installed differently,” said Barry Hardman, a building-envelope con-sultant from Temecula, Calif., and chairperson of committee E06 on perform-ance of buildings. “We can no longer treat each component separately, as ifit lived in a universe by itself. It just makes sense that all areas which pene-trate the wall must be correctly integrated.”

According to ASTM, the standard prevents not only water leakage, moldand rot, but also energy savings, enhanced durability, minimized maintenancedue to professional integration of products, stability of the thermal envelopeand enhanced long-term building value.

The standard is available online from ASTM for $58. To order, or view moreinformation, visit www.astm.org and enter E 2112 in the standards search.

ASTM Standard E 2112

practices had not been “generallyaccepted” within the local market atthe time of construction.

Eventually, the case will reach thehands of an arbitrator or jury wholikely will conclude that: 1) anacclaimed window flashing standardpublished in 2002 surely should havebeen accepted locally after morethan two years of nationwide promo-tion by AAMA, InstallationMastersand others; 2) the severity of existingwater damage and mold growth ispartially attributable to the failuresto conform to E 2112 and; 3) thedefendants’ insurance carriersshould contribute significantly tofunding remediation of the waterdamage (most commercial policies

now exclude mold remediation). In other words, we predict that

within the next few years some read-ers of this column will experiencecostly retroactive imposition of theE 2112 standards by legal fiat andwill realize that the long-term risks ofignoring new standards can be muchgreater than the short term rewards.

Consider, for example, that E 2112calls for minimum 9-inch wide flash-ings at fenestrations and alsorequires flanged window and doorunits to be set into a continuous beadof sealant. From a long-term “risksvs. rewards” perspective, does itmake sense to save a few dollars nowby continuing to specify or install 4-inch wide flashings? What about the

potential future risks for the well-known window manufacturer whosenationwide promotions for their 3-inch wide self-adhering flashingmembrane includes assurances tocontractors that no sealant behindflanges is needed when their flashingis installed?

The moral of this story is that inan era where multimillion dollarawards for claimed mold damage arebecoming common, and the avail-ability of mold coverage is increas-ingly limited, the key to businesssurvival is to proactively embracethe new stricter standards anddesigns—don’t wait for the retroac-tive bombshells from a future lawsuit. m3


BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE JOB, CLOSE THEWINDOWS AND DOORS. BT20 XL Window & Door Sealing Tape creates an impenetrable,insulating air/vapor and water barrier around doors and windows.Easy to apply, the peel-and-stick 20-mil polyethylene-backed membraneprovides an easy upgrade opportunity for the homeowner interested inlowering heating and cooling costs and controlling mold-causing moisture. The only window sealing tape that can withstand180 days without UV degradation, it meets ASTM 2112,ICBO and ICC building codes. BT20 XL adheres to vinyl,plywood, OSB, concrete, metal, aluminum, polyethylene,building wrap and block and masonry surfaces, and it seals itself around nails, screws and staples. Justpeel and stick.

To seal curved/radius window and door instal-lations, use Protecto Flex Flashing Tape.

1.800.759.9727 WWW.PROTECTOWRAP. COMSTOP MOLD

Protection that sticksProtection that sticks

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NewsRe

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GUIDELINES

AIHA Releases Mold Guidelinefor Industry Professionals

The American Industrial Hygiene Association(AIHA), an association of 12,000 members based inFairfax, Va., has released a remediation guideline,Assessment, Remediation, and Post-RemediationVerification of Mold in Buildings. The guideline wasdeveloped by the association’s biosafety and environ-

mental microbiology, indoorenvironmental quality andlaw committees. A draft ver-sion was presented at a press conference at the American IndustrialHygiene Conference, May8-13, 2004, in Atlanta.

According to an AIHAnews release, the guide-line describes the rangeof exposure assess-ment, hazard assess-ment and re-occupan-cy post-remediationverification method-

ologies and techniquescurrently accepted and available to

conduct assessments of mold growth in residentialand commercial buildings. It also outlines the mini-mum qualifications and proficiencies that define acompetent remediation professional. These compe-tent professionals would include, but are not limitedto, certified industrial hygienists (CIHs) with educa-tion, training and experience in specific areas of sci-ence such as:

• exposure assessment;• indoor environmental quality;• heating, ventilating and air conditioning;• microbial assessment and remediation;• building science;• law/communication;• microbiology/mycology; and• health effects.AIHA is currently developing additional documents

that will provide further guidance in this area. Anupdated version of the Field Guide for theDetermination of Biological Contaminants inEnvironmental Samples is currently under develop-ment, and a new in-depth text on mold issues is also

being prepared. The field guide is scheduled to becompleted by the time of the AIHA national confer-ence, May 21-26, 2005, in Anaheim, Calif., and themold book should be released shortly thereafter.

Assessment, Remediation, and Post-RemediationVerification of Mold in Buildings is regularly $45 andcan be ordered at www.aiha.org/webapps/commerce orby calling 703/849-8888.

OSHA Names IICRC Mold Standard as Online Resource

According to a news release from the Institute ofInspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification(IICRC), the Occupational Safety & HealthAdministration (OSHA) has cited the newly-developedIICRC mold remediation standard, S520: Standard andReference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation, onits online list of indoor air quality resources. The OSHAresource site reported that the standard, “when prop-erly applied, can assist remediators and others in deter-mining criteria that trigger remediation activities orconfirm remediation success.”

According to the news release, the mold standardwas developed to address industry concerns such ashealth effects from indoor mold contamination; prop-erly addressing health and safety issues; recognition ofmajor mold problems; training and experience require-ments for professionals involved in remediation; liabil-ity issues; proper use of engineering controls to elimi-nate or reduce cross-contamination occurrences; judg-ing when contents can be cleaned and when theyshould be disposed; and use of proper techniques toclean and restore building components and contents.

The IICRC released its procedural reference guideafter four years of work with morethan 20 associations. It says thestandard provides a shift fromsetting numerical mold con-tamination action levels byinstead giving mold contami-nation definitions, descrip-tions and conditions, aswell as general guidance.

The standard is avail-able by contactingIICRC at 360/693-5675or through email at [email protected].

➟ www.iicrc.org or www.osha.gov/SLTC/indoorairquality/otherresources.html.


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Remediation

Mold & Moisture Management

REMEDIATORS IN ACTION

Home Solutions Subsidiary Awarded $1.3 Million Contract by Air Force Base

Home Solutions of America Inc., a Dallas-basedprovider of specialty residential services, announcedthat its PW Stephens Inc. (PWS) subsidiary hasreceived a contract worth more than $1.3 million toremove mold from more than 240 homes at CampPendleton Air Force base in Southern California.According to a company news release, additional serv-ices may be performed under the contract, which couldincrease its size and scope.

“Our strong position in the market due to our expert-ise and longevity in airborne contaminate removalfrom the home continues to provide growth opportuni-ties in California,” said Scott Johnson, president ofPWS. “The combination of continued backlog inCalifornia coupled with our recent contracts resultingfrom damage due to the hurricanes in Florida bode wellfor the 2005 fiscal year.”

➟ www.hsoacorp.com or call 214/623-8446.

MARCOR Remediation Works Around Guests in California Hotel

A new, 135-room residential-style hotel complex inNorthern California recently underwent extensive moldremediation by MARCOR Remediation Inc., based inHunt Valley, Md.

The hotel was experiencing rampant mold growth dueto leaks that developed in the plumbing system monthsafter the hotel’s opening in 2003. Shower pans, sink

drains, main sup-ply lines and otherareas involvingconnections tothe main watersupply were foundresponsible.

“It soon becameapparent that theoriginal plumbingcontractor had

made many errors and that extensive mold growth wasthe result,” said Blaine Frost, regional manager.

Over a one-year period, MARCOR set up contain-ment structures within 65 unoccupied units and insome hallway corridors, then began removing micro-bial contamination that was visibly apparent. In someareas, the company was required to perform interiordemolition of certain contaminated building compo-nents, followed by reconstruction services.

As the building was occupied, the company wasrequired to do therebuilding as dis-creetly as possible,according to a com-pany news release.

“Our staff had tomaintain a most pro-fessional demeanor atall times,” Frost said.

➟ www.marcor.com orcall 800/547-0128.

School’s Denial of Testing May Lead to LawsuitAccording to an article in Florida’s Sun-Sentinel, a

teacher from the St. Lucie County, Fla., school districtis facing disciplinary action for bringing in an unautho-rized mold remediation firm to test her classroom’s air.The incident is under investigation by the school dis-trict, which has refused to conduct tests for moldresulting from water damage caused by hurricanes.

Richard Lipsey, toxicologist at the University ofNorth Florida in Jacksonville, said that teachers’complaints of bloody noses, coughing, runny nosesand irritated eyes could be a sign of the presence ofstachybotrys. However, staff and school officials haveyet to schedule a meeting to track health complaints,according to the article. Once county disease track-ers scroll through the dozens of complaints filed withthe school facilities department in recent weeks, theycan analyze if mold within the buildings is causingillnesses.

“The school must test for mold or they may be suedfor bad faith,” said Lipsey. m3

Have you heard of people using herbal remedies or full containment units to get rid of mold? Has your remediation firm had to work around unusual

circumstances? Send your remediation stories and news to [email protected].

Jan-March 05 | 13

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ProductsRe

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TThe Air-Conditioning, Heating, RefrigeratingExposition (AHR Expo), February 7-9 inOrlando, Fla., will host more than 1,000

exhibitors with products and equipment from moldcontrols to all manner of air cleaning, filtering and puri-fying units. To learn more about the show, see our spe-cial preview on page 28, but to learn more about theproducts that will be featured, keep reading.

AIR PURIFICATION

AHR Booth# 4181: Drykor RCC-60 Integrates Four Products into One

Fayetteville, Ga.-based Drykor’s alpha-release resi-dential comfort conditioner RCC-60 integrates fourproducts into one: cooling/heating, dehumidification,filtration of particles and removal of bacteria andmicroorganisms. The conditioner was designed toadjust room temperature and moisture automatically,independent of one another, while filtering and purify-ing the air in a room.

According to a company news release, the portable,four-wheeled machine removes up to 94 percent ofmicroorganisms as well as 77 percents of particles largerthan 5 micron. With no need for pipes, pump drainagesystems or collection containers, it solves the problem ofcondensate water removal. In addition, it features lowpower consumption of only 800 watts.

➟ www.drykor.com or call 678/817-0299.

AHR Booth #4787: BreatheCLEAN Uses UV to Destroy Mold

Peterson Air Purifiers LLC, of Bloomington, Minn.,has introduced its BreatheCLEAN® whole home airpurification system. The system installs directly intoa home’s central ductwork and is designed to destroypathogens, including mold spores.

The purification systemapplies high-intensityultraviolet light to destroyairborne microorganisms.The system plugs into astandard electrical outletand operates continuous-ly, drawing less energythan a 75-watt light bulb,

according to company information. Two ultraviolet lightsare included in the system, for a UV wattage of 24, amper-age of .61 and total wattage of 72.

➟ www.breatheclean.com or call 866/332-7247.

AHR Booth #4769: Triatomic Introduces New UV Light Filter Systems

Triatomic Environmental Inc.,of Jupiter, Fla., has introduced agermicidal ultraviolet light filtersystem, Fresh-Aire. The ultravio-let light and 1-inch filter can becombined for installation into anystandard 1-inch filter slot or filtergrill. According to a companynews release, the light reacts with

the filter to increase its reactivity with captured air-borne particles. The combined approach is designedso that the ultraviolet light can target hard-to-reachareas downstream of the filter element, such as theAC coil, where it works to eliminate any remainingmold, mildew or fungus.

➟ www.freshaireuv.com or call 561/748-4864.

Mitsubishi Electric Introduces Portable Air Purifier

Mitsubishi Electric’s HVAC advanced products divi-sion in Lawrenceville, Ga., has introduced a portableair purifier that uses air quality sensors and threestages of filtration to find and eliminate contami-nants, including mold. PlasmaPure utilizes a HEPAcharcoal filter to reduce 99.9 percent of airbornecontaminants, according to a company news release.

The purifier uses sensors to detect concentrations ofcontaminants in the air, then adjusts its inverter-con-trolled fan motor accordingly. The inverter fan isintended to save on energy and filter costs, because itruns only when necessary.

The 17-pound purifier was designed to be transport-ed from room to room easily. A wireless remote controlis also available.

➟ www.plasmapure.com or call 866/475-2762.


Highlighting the Latest Technology For Managing Mold and Moisture Problems at the AHR

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DRYING

Moisture Solutions System Manages Problems from Capillary Action

Moisture Solutions LLC, of Madison, Wis., has intro-duced what it says is a new non-obtrusive drying tech-nology designed to rid masonry and concrete of excessground moisture. The electro-osmotic de-moisturizing(EOD) system is a green, low-energy, chemical-freemethod for managing moisture problems that resultfrom capillary action.

According to com-pany information,the surface mount-ed unit emits a lowfrequency radiowave to counteractforces that allowwater to “wick” upporous material.The EOD systemproduces an electri-cal field between thebuilding and earthto attract salt andwater from the wallsand slab to the sur-

rounding earth. In addition, the system acts as a shieldto prevent the re-entry of ground moisture. A MoistureSolutions dealer monitors system performance bymeasuring moisture content every two to threemonths.

➟ www.moisture-solutions.com or call 608/663-4735.

VENTILATION

AHR Booth #3363: RenewAire’s Breeze Exhausts Pollutants, Moisture

Breeze™ is an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) fromRenewAire LLC of Madison, Wis., that exhausts pollu-tants and excess moisture to the outside, recovers heatfrom the exhaust stream during cold weather and pre-cools and pre-dehumidifies incoming air during hotweather for high indoor air quality and little risk ofmoisture-related damage to homes.

According to a company news release, the key toBreeze’s performance is its static-plate exchange core.Exhaust and outside air streams cross paths in thecore, transferring both heat and moisture in theprocess. Because moisture is transferred in a gaseous

state, no liquid water accumulates, which means thatno drain or condensate pan is required.

Breeze features quick and easy installation to fur-nace/AC return air ductwork or to an exterior wall, andis sized for residences under 2,500 square feet.

➟ www.breeze.renewaire.com or call 800/627-4499.

AHR Booth #2139: E-Z Aire Brings in Fresh AirThe E-Z Aire series from Des Champs Technologies,

of Natural Bridge Station, Va., is an economical, self-contained, light-commercial make-up air systemdesigned for remediation and to improve indoor airquality. It allows 100 percent of outside air to bebrought in with virtually no auxiliary heating or sensi-ble cooling required.

According to company information, E-Z Aire uses acounter-flow air-to-air heat exchanger, in whichcounter-flow airstreams are brought into close prox-imity and separated by the heat exchanger, whichacts as a primary heat-transfer surface. This heat-transfer surface is configured to form a matrix withtwo separate air passages to ensure efficient heat-exchange that incoming air is never contaminated bythe polluted exhaust air.

The system features up to 85 percent energy recov-ery, double-width double-intake blowers and an airflowcapacity of up to 11,000 CFM. It includes integraldefrost control and is available with re-usable or dis-posable filters, a weatherization package and fresh-airbypass damper.

➟ www.deschamps.com or call 540/291-1111.

AHR Booth #4369: Power Vent Pro Designed for Residential Ventilation

The Power Vent Pro-4L (PVP-4L) from Soler & PalauInc. of Pine Brook, N.J., was designed to circulate airfor continuous low volume residential ventilationapplications. UL and cUL safety-tested and approved,the ventilation system was licensed to bear the AMCAseal for airflow performance and is performance-certi-fied by the Home Ventilation Institute (HVI).

PVP-4L is manufactured from high-grade galvanizedsteel and supplied with steel mounting brackets. It issuitable for working air stream temperature from –40 to140 degrees Fahrenheit. It features permanently sealed,self-lubricating precision ball bearings and thermaloverload protection cut-out. A backward curved cen-trifugal impeller is factory matched to an external rotormotor and dynamically balanced to eliminate vibration.

➟ www.soler-palauinc.com or call 973/439-1001. m3

Jan-March 05 | 15

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Flowing Downstream:The Case of the Hidden Flood

by Peter S ie rck

Rem

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tion

➧Peter Sierck is the director of Environmental Testing & Technology Inc., aninvestigative and consulting service for indoor environmental problems based

in Carlsbad, Calif. Sierck, a registered environmental assessor and a certifiedindoor air quality professional, has conducted indoor air quality, moisture andmold investigations for more than 15 years.

IIt happened in a beautiful house in Santa Monica,Calif., where a major remodeling had just beencompleted. The home featured an open space

design with a generous sunk-in living room, a formaldining room with fireplace, a kitchen with granitecountertops along all four walls with artisticallypainted cabinetry and a library on the first floor. Thecontemporary style was complemented with a raremaple hardwood floor throughout the house. Just onelittle detail was missing: the new sink did not have awater spray fixture.

Four days after the homeowner moved into thehouse, they contacted a plumbing company andinquired if a water spray fixture could be installed inthe present sink assembly. The plumber inspectedthe sink and decided that it could be done with somewelding work. The homeowner authorized the workto commence the next day.

The day after the plumbing company installed the

water spray fixture, the kitchen sink cabinet wasflooded. The water seeped into the cabinets andunder the hardwood floor in the kitchen.Immediately, the plumbing company contacted aflood restoration company and the drying processbegan. Dehumidifiers and blowers were utilized tofacilitate the drying. Since the flood had happened inthe kitchen, it was decided that the drying effortswould be limited to the kitchen area only. The dryingprocess lasted for nearly three weeks.

Soon thereafter, the homeowner noticed a lingeringodor and contacted an industrial hygiene company toinvestigate. During the walk-through, it was noted thatthe hardwood floors in the dining room and sunk-in liv-ing room showed signs of cupping (warping).Subsequent moisture testing showed elevated moisturereadings at the dining and living room hardwood floorswhile the kitchen floors were dry. No visible moldgrowth was observed in the accessible areas. It was alsonoted that drywall sandwiched behind the kitchen cab-inet’s back wall still tested wet when compared withreference areas.

The spore trap air sampling results yielded no ele-vated spore counts. However, the culturable air sam-pling results yielded a predominance of penicillium

and aspergillus species, indicat-ing the presence of fungal ampli-fication sites.

Problem Opened to Further Testing

It was decided that destruc-tive testing was necessary toevaluate the conditions presentunder the hardwood floor. Thefloor was installed on a sleepersystem, where wood slats calledsleepers are placed on the con-crete slab, ¾-inch plywood isplaced onto the sleepers and the¾-inch hardwood boards arenailed into the plywood. Theflooring system did not allowindividual floorboards to beremoved for inspection, so smallportable containments werebuilt for exploratory cut-outs inthe dining and living room.

Once opened up, visible fun-gal growth was present on the


This elegant new home featured a raremaple hardwood floor chosen tocomplement the home’s contemporarystyle, but …

Post Mortem: What Happened?

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plywood sheeting and the sleep-ers. The readings of the mois-ture measurements in the sleep-ers and in the plywood were ele-vated and a laboratory analysisof the surface samples collectedconfirmed the presence of peni-cillium and aspergillus.Removal of the drywall sand-wiched behind the cabinet alsorevealed active mold growth onthe drywall materials.

It was suspected that thewater had traveled throughoutthe first floor. More exploratorycut-outs confirmed that theory.The flood had affected the entirehardwood floor on the first floorand removal and reinstallationwas recommended. The kitchencabinets were removed toreplace the swollen particle-board and the moldy drywall.

Not to be UnderestimatedBy this point, the heavily inconvenienced homeown-

er demanded that the plumbing company cover allcosts. The plumbing company then filled a claimagainst its liability insurance to cover all associatedcosts. In the end, the insur-ance company paid a total of$170,000 for costs thatincluded: charges for the ini-tial drying, industrialhygiene investigation andsampling, moving and stor-ing costs for the contents,proper accommodation forthe homeowners during the floor replacement, removalof kitchen cabinets for remediation of the drywall,removal of the entire hardwood floor, replacement ofsub-floor plywood and sleepers, replacement of part ofthe wood flooring which was not in reusable condition,drywall reconstruction and reinstallation costs for thekitchen cabinets, hardwood floor reinstallation costs,touch-up repainting fees and final cleaning.

The bill was enormous because the distance watercan travel under hardwood floors had been underesti-mated. Also, materials that were enclosed and couldnot easily be dried should have been identified and

adjustments made to the drying procedures and meth-ods. Finally, no flooring specialist or industrial hygienecompany had been contacted during the drying.

So what is the moral of the story? It is of utmostimportance to initially identify the extent and degree

of all water-damaged materi-als to provide an accuratescope for the technical dry-ing efforts. This also pro-vides a baseline to verifythat the affected materialsare dry. The use of infraredimaging devices and pene-trating and non-penetrating

moisture testing devices could have eliminated theadditional damage, the mold remediation and floor-ing system replacement costs. When moisture isdetected early, hardwood floors with sleeper systemscan usually be dried in place since air movement ispossible throughout void spaces.

After months of inconvenience and legal maneu-verings, the homeowners could finally move backinto their newly remodeled home for the secondtime. The water spray fixture in the kitchen workswell and they do not want to hear the word “mold”ever again. m3

… There was nothingelegant about the extensivemold revealed beneath thehardwood floor.

Jan-March 05 | 17

“Once opened up, visible fungal growth was present on the plywood sheeting and the sleepers. The readings of the

moisture measurements in the sleepers and in the plywood were elevated.”

M o l d L i t i g a t i o n

➧J. Nick Badgerow and Kelly A. Campbell bothpractice law at Spencer Fane Britt & Browne

LLP in Kansas City, Mo.

MMold—“the new asbestos”—is causing claims to eruptall around the nation. A

number of factors have workedtogether to lead to this explosionin litigation. It is the purpose ofthis series of articles to discuss thephenomenon of mold litigation,and then to explore how one in thebuilding trades industry might dealwith it.

Publicity Causes Cases to Spread Like Mold

Most people have heard of atleast one case involving largehomes that have experiencedmold, and which led their ownersto file claims. For example, RonAllison and Melinda Ballard had an11,500-square-foot “dream home”on a 72-acre estate in DrippingSprings, Texas. After mold was dis-covered in their house, theAllisons and their son moved to aFour Seasons Hotel. The Allisonsrecovered a verdict of $32 millionagainst their homeowners insur-ance company, although thatamount was later reduced to $4million.

In another Texas case, a juryawarded $1 million in August 2004to 28 tenants of an apartmentcomplex, where the defendantshad hid and denied the existenceof mold in the apartments rentedby the plaintiffs.

A high-profile case that garneredthe public’s attention was relatedto the now-famous ErinBrockovich, who took the bonusmoney earned from the lawsuitportrayed in the movie bearing hername to purchase a million dollar

house outside Los Angeles.According to Brockovich, howev-er, the house became infested withmold, causing Brockovich and herfamily to become ill. This led to a48 Hours news report with nation-al network exposure. Ms.Brokovich recently settled hercase against the builder and home-owner’s association.

Ed McMahon likewise joined thefray, claiming that incompetentremediation contractors increasedhis exposure to mold in his home.

Perhaps it should not be a sur-prise, then, that these large caseshave captured the attention of thenews media. One notable and wide-ly viewed report was aired on theABC news program 20-20. Theshow, “Is Hidden Mold at HomeMaking You Sick?” aired March 23,2004, and showed heart-rendingscenes of families racked by asthmaand other lung conditions, as wellas cognitive impairments, and theloss of home and property.

“The New Asbestos?”Claims arising from asbestos led

to million dollar verdicts and thebankruptcy of any number of cor-porations. Asbestos claims maydecline if new federal legislationpasses, at which point the cottageindustry of plaintiffs’ lawyers andtheir experts may need a newenemy upon which to feed. Mold isa likely target.

Lawyers cannot create lawsuits

on their own, however. They need“experts” to get past the judge whomust act as gatekeeper to preventfraud on the jury. Thus appears thenew expert in mold and mold reme-diation, a topic that will beaddressed in a future article in thiscolumn.

Fortunately, juries are not soblind. When confronted with theactual facts, juries can figure it out:• Mold is everywhere and always

has been.• Mold can be treated when its

source (moisture) is promptlyand adequately addressed.

• Homeowners bear some responsi-bility for their own health bykeeping their homes dry andreducing exposure to knownallergens such as pet dander,grass or hay.

• There is more speculation thanscience in the expertise of self-proclaimed and self-certifiedmold experts.When juries are presented with

these facts fairly, they can and doarrive at the right decision.

A Paper TigerThe threat of mold litigation can-

not be minimized. There willalways be mold in houses. So longas contingency lawyers believethere is money to be made, so longas “experts” believe they can join inthe largesse, there will be claims.

The key is not to be alarmed or tooverreact. The key is to be aware,to deal with problems and issues asthey arise in a methodical and logi-cal manner. Then, hopefully, this“new asbestos” will disappear like aspore in the wind.

For a discussion of how the moldindustry experts created this indus-try, look for the next column inthis series. m3

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Mold LitigationA Reality or a Fantasy?

by J . N ick Badgerow and Ke l ly A. Campbe l l


So long as contingency lawyers believe there is

money to be made, so long as “experts” believe they can join inthe largesse, there will be claims.

Problems Solved By the Press

Mold Cleaners Tested For Most Effective Results An article in the October 12, 2004 Wall

Street Journal did the dirty work in deter-

mining effective ways to kill shower cur-tain mold. A combination of commercialsprays, recommended remedies andelbow grease was applied to the samemold-covered shower curtain to deter-mine which proved the most effective.

The most successful product, according to the

article, was Tilex’s Mold & Mildew Remover, which

required no scrubbing and began producing effects

after three minutes. After ten minutes and a rinse,

the mildew was gone except for two faint yellow

stains. Other methods included the chlorine-free Seventh

Generation Shower Cleaner, NOW tea-tree oil and a

mixture of vinegar and water, each of which

required soaking and scrubbing the shower curtain

to minimal results. Two hot-water washing machine

cycles with bleach resulted in large rust-colored

stains on the shower curtain and the lowest rating

of effectiveness. m3

Dry

Ey

e

TThere’s no getting away from mold in the media, but these days, the consumer pressis another place to find answers about what mold is, how to prevent it and how toget rid of it. These excerpts are examples of the concerns of homeowners seeking

information about mold.

Home Inspector Advises, Mold is Beyond an Inspector’s Scope In the October 30, 2004 issue of The Washington Post, home inspec-

tor Barry Stone offered some advice to a homeowner who received “anoutrageous estimate” on abatement for mold found on the wood framing inher attic. The original inspector had suggested using “foaming borade” to treatthe mold. Stone offered another option and also some advice on further inspec-tions.

According to Stone, mold evaluations are not within the scope of a home inspec-tor and should only be performed by a professional abatement specialist. It should notbe undertaken as a sideline by a home inspector who may not be aware of the mosteffective means of remediation. Stone added that he could find no product known as“foaming borade” in an online search, and that cleaning products that include boratecompounds shouldn’t be considered a cure-all.

Converting This Room Could

Mean Creating Room for Mold

A homeowner planning to convert

a dining room into a child’s bedroom

worried that covering up a window may mean creating

a breeding ground for mold, in an October 18, 2004

article from San Francisco’s The Chronicle. Bill

Burnett, the paper’s assistant real estate editor, and

Kevin Burnett, a former Bay area builder, agreed that

blocking the window with furniture or shelving would

make a warm, damp environment with sufficient air-

flow for mold growth. They recommended removing

the glass from the window and covering the opening

with plywood. As a more aesthetic approach, they sug-

gested building a temporary partition wall using 4-by-4

studs. They expected the partition would cost less than

$100 and cause no permanent damage to the room. In

that case, the advisors reminded the homeowner to

leave one end of the wall open, perhaps covering it with

a drape or making it large enough to use as a closet, to

allow for sufficient airflow to stop the growth of mold

and mildew.

m3Mold & Moisture Management Jan-March 05 | 19

m320 | Jan-March 05 Mold & Moisture Management

Now What?I’ve Been Sued …

An Attorney’s Advice on Preparing for Mold Litigation by Alvin Lodish

ou’re a builder who has been sued for mold relateddamage and possible personal injury. Did you see itcoming? Was it a complete surprise? It shouldn’t be.Under no circumstances should you be surprised to be

hit with a lawsuit alleging mold damages. If you are, eitheryou have not been attentive to complaints or you are deal-ing with a homeowner who has not properly informed youof the problem. In some states, such as Florida, the lawnow requires a notice of 120 days before a homeowner cansue for construction defects that lead to a mold claim.

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Before You Reach “The Last Resort”Certainly, the filing of a lawsuit should be

the last resort in a mold dispute. Thereshould have been reasonable efforts made toresolve the problems so that litigation wouldnot be necessary. What did you do to mini-mize the chance of a lawsuit? Did youpromptly respond to the homeowners’ con-cerns? Did you take any steps to identify thecause of the mold or attempt to remediate?Responsiveness is a key issue for homeowners, partic-ularly of recently built homes, and failure to respondin a timely manner to homeowners’ concerns can leadto a lawsuit.

In the event that something does go wrong, be surethat you have a mold protocol to call upon. If you donot have a protocol in place now, put one togetherpromptly. The protocol should list the steps to betaken if a mold problem arises and identify a “team”to handle the problem. The team should include areputable environmental consultant who is experi-enced in indoor air quality or water intrusion investi-gations and a mold remediation company that is cer-tified by the American Indoor Air Quality Council(AIAQ), the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning andRestoration Certification (IICRC) or the Indoor AirQuality Association (IAQA).

Having an established protocol is helpful in litiga-tion. It shows that you’re prepared and conscientious.

Documentation is the Key to Preparation Perhaps the most important aspect of preparing for

and successfully defending a lawsuit is to make surethat the problems and attempted solutions are welldocumented. This should start with the first contactby a customer service representative documentingthe time, date and nature of the problem.Photographs are very important and should be dated.The documentation should also include any com-ments made by the homeowner as to any alleged per-sonal injuries and any observations made by yourstaff. Employees should be instructed to assume thattheir notes and comments will be made public. Inthat way, their comments will be kept factual andspecific. Memos are helpful if they are kept factual,contemporaneous and do not contain editorial com-ments that can be used to try and show some bias bythe employee or the builder. It is a good businesspractice to keep complete notes and information foreach of your homeowners.

Also, any physical evidence that was gathered andremoved from the home, such as wood, insulation orportions of the HVAC system, should be saved in asanitary environment. Keep in mind that it is notunusual for a case to take four to five years to go to

trial and attempting to piece together what happenedwithout contemporaneous notes or documentationwill be very difficult.

After the Lawsuit Is FiledThe first thing to determine once a lawsuit is filed

is whether or not you have insurance coverage andwhether the claims made by the homeowner are acovered event. Reading and understanding the insur-ance policy is not easy and contacting your attorneyfor a coverage opinion may be necessary.

Clearly, it is also critical that you retain competentcounsel who is experienced in dealing with moldissues and construction defects. To make the attor-ney’s job easier and less expensive for you, a fileshould be put together that includes all of the rele-vant documents that you have been collecting con-cerning the homeowner, including the purchase andsale contract, any warranties, customer service doc-uments, notes or memos concerning the mold prob-lem and a list of employees who have interacted withthe homeowner on behalf of the company.

The next step should be to determine who the rel-evant witnesses are and what expert witnesses maybe necessary. Depending on the area of the countryin which you live, retaining the best experts early canbe important. Lawsuits, you will discover, are onereason why you should try to maintain good relation-ships with former employees. It is very common, dueto the length of time it may take a case to be tried,that employees who have worked on a homeowner’smold problem may no longer be with the company. Itmay be appropriate to have employees who are nolonger with the company sign an affidavit so thatthere is no confusion as to the employee’s recollec-tion. The affidavit can be referred to before deposi-tion or trial.

Inspection of the home is important at this point.There may be strategic reasons why your attorneywants to wait to have an inspection, but generally itis better to have it sooner rather than later, and makesure your expert or consultant attends. Picturesand/or videotapes should be made at the time of the

...a file should be put together thatincludes all of the relevant documents that

you have been collecting...


continued on page 22


inspection. If you wait too long for an inspection, thehomeowner may remediate the problem, makerepairs and thus change the condition of the home.

In addition, it is important to determine whetherpersonal injuries are being claimed by the homeown-er. If medical issues arise, records from the relevantdoctors or hospitals should be obtained. It is impor-tant to know what steps the homeowner has taken toprotect his own health. Obtaining a medical historyof the homeowner is important if there is a claim ofany personal injury since allergies and sinus condi-tions are the primary known side effects of exposureto certain kinds of molds.

Also, find out if the homeowner has insurance thatmay cover the damage and whether he made a claim.You need to see the policy to know whether theinsurance company has subrogation rights againstyou if it settles with the homeowner.

It is important to review any contracts with thehomeowner to determine your contractual and war-ranty obligations and to see if there is an attorney feeprovision. Many contracts have attorney fee provi-

sions that allow the prevailing party to collect fees. Inorder for a builder to analyze his risk and exposureproperly, attorney’s fees should be considered. Inmany states, such as Florida, attorney fee provisionsare interpreted to be reciprocal even if the languageappears to be one-sided.

An Ounce of PreventionAs with most things in life, preparation is the key

to defending a lawsuit successfully. You cannot con-trol whether you get sued, but you do control thedocumentation and preparation. Too often buildersare not prepared for the inevitable. If you areinvolved in any facet of the building industry andhave not been a party in a lawsuit, it could be simply a matter of time. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

➧Alvin Lodish is a partner in the Litigation Department with the Miamilaw firm of Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod. He is currently

handling numerous mold related cases throughout the State of Florida.

m3

I’ve Been Sued …continued

WWhen questioned about the history of moldgrowth in the structures his companybuilds, Michael Steffen, the quality directorof Portland, Ore.-based Walsh Construction

Co., couldn’t recall any noteworthy problems. But whenasked if he has any specific preventative measures inplace to deal with moisture problems, he laughed.

“If you don’t, you pretty much go the way of thedinosaur,” Steffen said.

As that response seemed to indicate, mold litigationis more than a distinct possibility for a builder whodoesn’t take any preventative measures.

“Mold-related claims may eventually generate morelitigation than asbestos,” said William Crawford, anattorney with Crawford & Bangs LLP, in Covina, Calif.,during a seminar on mold litigation. Today, manybuilders, homeowners and attorneys seem to agreewith that belief.

The problem of increasing mold litigation is attrib-uted in part to the outbreak of bad publicity given tomold in the 1990s, when homeowners began to fear itssupposed health effects. All of that negative publicityhas had one positive effect, however: homeowners arenow becoming more aware of the dangers of mold andlearning how best to prevent it. By serving as aresource to the homeowner, builders can further that

process. Whether explaining to the homeowner properpreventative maintenance or furthering coordinationbetween subcontractors, communication, if properlyused, is one of the most powerful tools available to thebuilder. It can also be one of the best measures for pre-venting the future growth of mold and mold lawsuits.

Becoming Aware of Homeowners’ Concerns At first, builders may feel that choosing materials for

a mold-free home may put them at a disadvantagewhen it comes to price. Materials such as fiberglassshingles or wallboard eliminate a food source for mold,but they are generally more expensive than traditionalmaterials.

However, Charles Perry, a principal with theEnvironmental Assurance Group, a consulting groupbased in West Hartford, Conn., feels strongly that asimple change in materials may go a long way towardreducing mold litigation.

“I don’t think there’s an overwhelming amount ofmistakes builders make,” said Perry. “I think it hasmore to do with materials being used.”

Perry suggested that there is no better way to expressthe importance of mold prevention to a homeownerthan just coming out and telling them why it’s a goodidea to go with a more expensive product.


Building a Path to Prevention

How Communication Can Be Your Most Important Toolby Megan Headley

A letter to the homeownerexplaining why their preferreddecision may not be the best oneprovides a builder with important

documentation, even if hisjudgement is ignored.

“Take a proactive stance with thehomeowner,” Perry said. “Tell them it’sgoing to cost $800 to buy this [fiberglass]sheetrock, but the average remediation last yearwas in excess of $40,000.”

While nothing can take the place of person-to-personcommunication, anticipating what concerns thehomeowner might bring to a project could also behelpful. For instance, Michael Flanagan, a partnerwith Orion Builders in Monee, Ill., says his companyhas not faced any specific issues with mold. But hisexperience with another building company that reg-ularly dealt with moisture problems gave him anawareness that many homeowners are concernedwith potential mold growth.

“There was more of a fear from the consumer,”said Flanagan.

Even though the company had not faced specificproblems with mold, to allay homebuyers’ fears theissue had to be addressed.

“We have put a clause in our contract,” saidFlanagan. “If their problem is a result of a delay in com-munication [from them to us], we are not responsible.”

If the problem is a result of improper construction,however, the builder is responsible—even if thechanges were made at the request of the homeowner.In these instances, Crawford advises writing a letter tocustomers saying what should be done before doingwhat the customer wants. One of the most commoncharges in a construction defects case is negligence,which Crawford defines as “deviating from normalindustry practices” or “doing or failing to do whatshould be done.” If the homeowner requests a changethat goes against a builder’s better judgment, a letterexplaining why the choice is not recommended maynot change the owner’s mind, but it could be the docu-mentation you need to prove the owner was aware ofthe potential danger of their decision.

In addition to warning the homeowner, this type ofdocumentation can be one of the most important meth-ods of protecting yourself from a lawsuit. Written doc-umentation provides a builder with proof that all deci-sions made during construction were made either as apreventative measure or at the request of the home-owner.

“We do this so the builder can say ‘I know I took theprecaution,’” said Teresa Orofino, marketing communi-cations coordinator with insulation manufacturerIcynene Inc.

Accordingto Steffen, docu-mentation is simplya built-in part of the job.

“It’s the architect’s job todocument the design,” said Steffen.“Our job as a builder is to documentchanges in the design.”

By keeping track of changes, from how many nailsare used in a specific area to the size and shape offlashing, the contractor will have on hand whatSteffen called “a record of issues raised in decision-making.”

Finally, even after the homeowner and builder dis-cuss every foreseeable precaution, a problem couldstill be found months or years after construction. Anadded service plan, in which a builder or contractoragrees to assist with future problems, will helpbuilders and trades people to stay in touch withhomeowners once the home is complete. If a problemdoes arise, quick action could lead to a solution otherthan litigation.

Sealing the Gaps Between the TradesAccording to Crawford, mold litigation is increasing

for two reasons. First, builders constantly use newproducts and face new problems, which is leading to“an evolution in environmental science.” Second, thereare construction defects—the results of poor construc-tion, design and maintenance. Both of these problems,however, can be improved through strong communica-tion among the individual subcontractors and betweenbuilder and homeowner.

“[It’s] definitely important to talk to other tradespeople,” said Orofino. “This is where building science



m3Jan-March 05 | 25


stems from, the idea of all the trades working together.”Building science is a method of design, construc-

tion, inspection and testing that considers how allbuilding components interact, including the founda-tion, walls, roof, doors, insulation and mechanicalsystems. By coordinating when and how componentsare installed, a structure can be designed that makesthe most of all available methods of preventing thebuildup of moisture.

According to Orofino, Icynene compares documenta-tion from other trades to see how its insulation isaffected by other systems, such as the HVAC, plumb-ing, building envelope and ventilation. Documentationof other elements of a building, including the mechan-ical systems, can show how the systems work togetherand what changes need to be made in the future.

“If there ever is a problem,” Orofino said, “[we] canlook at things like, ‘Was the HVAC system too large?’‘Did it not get enough of the moisture out?’”

The company recommends developing a buildingplan to ensure that the products are used whose per-formance has been tested in combination with theother building components with which they will inter-act once installed. By being aware of differencesbetween individual systems, the builder can work withtrades people to create a system that works effectivelyas a whole.

Steffen noted that coordinating trades people is oneof the most important ways his company preventsfuture moisture problems.

“The reality is, with building exteriors the moistureintrusion occurs with the interface between differentmaterials, which is also usually the interface betweenthe trades,” said Steffen, citing the coordinationbetween masons and glaziers as an example. “At theend of the day, when the building is sitting there in therain, those systems work the way they’re supposed to.It’s the joints that pose a problem.”

Perry sees the gap not so much between the“joints” of different products but between peoplewith different priorities on the job. According toPerry, the trades have not been overly concernedwith moisture problems in the past. He illustratedwith a description of a visit he had made to a build-ing site where he saw workers slicing through shrink-wrapped trim boards.

“The small pieces of lumber were absolutely black,”according to Perry. He asked the man unwrapping theboards why.

m326 | Jan-March 05

Using high quality, mold-resistant materials and coordinatingbuilding components can bring builders a step closer to a mold-free house.

Building a Path to Prevention continued


“Sometimes the pieces just come that way,” camethe reply.

“Do you know that’s mold?” Perry asked.“What do you mean mold?” was the answer.According to Perry, by that afternoon the builders

were putting up sheetrock on those trim boards. Headded, it takes only 24 to 48 hours for the mold tospread from those boards to the sheetrock.

While Perry attributes part of that particular problemto poor building materials—for instance, using materi-als covered in paper, a number one food source formold—he also recognized that there is a long way to gotoward teaching trades people, as well as homeowners,proper methods of moisture prevention. However, hedoubts that simple education will be enough to makethese practices permanent.

“When the EPA first formulated their environmentalefforts around the United States, nothing really workeduntil they put punitive damages in place, unfortunate-ly,” Perry said. Communication is crucial, especiallywith subcontractors.

There is still another reason communication withsubcontractors is crucial, according to Crawford.Breach of contract, the other charge often leveled in aconstruction defects case, is defined by Crawford asthe material failure to comply with contracts that arewritten, oral, implied or incorporated by reference—in other words, what is written in other people’s con-tracts. According to Crawford, subcontractors havethe right to see the general contractor’s contract, andshould in fact demand to see what is outlined in acontract for which they may be held responsible.

Homeowner Education Could Lead to Less Litigation

When questioned, Richard Testa, construction man-ager for Drummond Company in Lakeland, Fla., saidthat he has only run into one problem with mold.

“With the one incident we had, our solution was to getin there and mediate to the best of our ability,” said Testa.

Avoiding moisture problems in Florida seems partic-ularly challenging for a homebuilder these days, whenmany remediation companies are still dealing with theresults of this past summer’s rash of hurricanes. “Withthe hurricanes, you can’t keep the house 100 percentdry,” said Testa.

His plan for prevention, however, cuts straight to theheart of the problem.

“We try to educate them,” Testa said of the home-owners with whom he has worked.

Part of the problem of rising litigation may simply behomebuyer education; as information about mold andmoisture-related problems becomes more widespread,one expects that homeowners and builders alike willbecome aware of what to look for before moisture prob-lems get out of hand.

Everyone involved on a building project has the samegoal of creating a structure that will suffer little damagewith the passage of time. There are few tools more impor-tant to that goal than communication. While mold prob-lems may not be completely eliminated, perhaps the

results—wide-reaching lawsuits—can be.

➧Megan Headley is the editor of Mold & Moisture Management magazine.

m3

“I don’t think there’s anoverwhelming amount ofmistakes builders make. I think it has more to do

with materials being used.” – Charles Perry, a principal with the

Environmental Assurance Group

WWithin weeks of the NewYear, builders will findthe first of two upcom-ing opportunities to

raise their awareness of mold pre-vention to new heights. TheInternational Builders’ Show andthe International Air-Conditioning,Heating, Refrigerating Exposition(AHR Expo) both offer a wide vari-ety of exhibitors and seminars thatwill attack the problem of moldgrowth from different perspectivesfor similar results. Offered here is aglimpse at the shows that may helpyour business—not mold—flourish.

International Builders’ ShowThe International Builders’

Show, January 13-16, in Orlando,Fla., will start the New Year off rightfor builders, with a chance to learnfrom more than 200 educationalsessions, some of which are listedhere, at right. The show, sponsoredby the National Association ofHome Builders (NAHB), will be

held at the Orange CountyConvention Center and will featureapproximately 1,600 exhibitors, anumber of them devoted solely tomold and moisture control, includ-ing MMoollddmmaagg in booth W9227.

Pack your most comfortableshoes, since the convention coversmore than a million-and-a-halfsquare feet. A peek at some of theproducts that will be featured can befound in our special Homebuilderssection on page 30.


Your Chance to BloomTwo Upcoming Shows Provide Opportunities for Learning

IBS Seminars: All seminars will be held at the Orange County Convention Center indowntown Orlando.Thursday, January 13, 2005Moisture & Energy Performance of Closed Crawl Space Foundations8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.Speakers: Bruce Davis, research director, Advanced Energy; CyrusDastur, building science associate, Advanced Energy; Doug Bibee, DowChemical; and Jeff Tooley, owner, The Healthy Building Co.Thursday, January 13, 2005Mold and Moisture: Tips for Builders and Consumers1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.Speakers: Kevin Powell, NAHB Research Center, and Sharon Oxley,National Center for Housing and Environment.Saturday, January 15, 2005Mold: Preventive Medicine9 a.m. -10 a.m.Speakers: Brad Oberg, chief technology officer, IBACOS Inc., andJeffrey Inks, assistant staff vice president, construction and codes,NAHB.Sunday, January 16, 2005Cure for the Common Callback11 a.m. -12 p.m.Speakers: H. Edward Carr, Jr., president, Comfort Home of CentralPennsylvania; Mark Laliberte, vice president and principal trainer,Sheltersource Inc.; and Russell Nassof, principal, Environomics LLC.Sunday, January 16, 2005 Is Precast Concrete Viable for Single Family and Multifamily Homes?The program will discuss how panels prohibit moisture migration, virtu-ally eliminating mold problems, among other topics. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.Speakers: Brian Goodmiller, national marketing director,Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute; Gary Graziano, senior director ofmarketing and planning, High Concrete Structures Inc.; HaroldMessenger, vice president of development, Altus Precast Co.; andRobert Clauson, sales engineer, Molin Concrete Products.

m3Jan-March 05 | 29Mold & Moisture Management

2005 AHR ExpoThe AHR Expo will be held this

year February 7-9 at the OrangeCounty Convention Center inOrlando, Fla. The event, co-spon-sored by the American Society ofHeating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc.(ASHRAE), the Air-Conditioningand Refrigeration Institute (ARI)and the Heating, Refrigeration andAir Conditioning Institute of Canada(HRAI), is expected to feature morethan 1,600 exhibitors, with informa-tion on HVAC&R equipment, prod-ucts, components, systems andservices. A number of companiesare listed as exhibitors of mold con-trols, while others offer all mannerof air cleaning, filtering and purify-ing units. You can see some of theproducts from these exhibitors inour special Remediation sectionstarting on page 12.

Show-sponsored educational ses-sions and ASHRAE-sponsored pub-lic sessions, some of which are listedhere, are both free and open to thepublic.

AHR Seminars: Saturday, February 5, 2005Preventing Moisture and Mold Problems: Design and ConstructionGuidelines (Code 61)8 a.m. – 3 p.m.The Wyndham Palace Resort.Sponsored by the ASHRAE PDS.Speakers: David MacPhaul, P.E., CH2M Hill, and J. David Odom,Liberty Building Diagnostics Group Inc.Sunday, February 6, 2005Designing Residential Ventilation Systems to Meet ASHRAE Standard62.2 (Code 63)2 p.m. – 5 p.m.The Wyndham Palace Resort.An ASHRAE short course.Speaker: Don T. Stevens, Stevens and Associates.Monday, February 7, 2005Mastering Mold & Moisture in Southern Climates 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.Orange County Convention Center. An ASHRAE public session.Speaker information not yet available. Tuesday, February 8, 2005Preventing IAQ & Moisture Problems in Schools & Commercial Buildings 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Orange County Convention Center.Sponsored by AMCA.Speaker information not yet available. m3

STRUCTURAL PANELS

IBS Booth #W9023: Amvic Concrete FormsDesigned for Strength in Light Form

In response to demand for a moreefficient and reliable building form,Toronto-based Amvic Inc. has intro-duced a new reversible insulatedconcrete form (ICF) design.

The new Amvic Building Systemfeatures the company’s FormLock™interlocking system, which allowsforms to be easily interlockedregardless of which direction theform is placed. Full-length webshave duplicate rebar holders forassured strength in either direc-tion. Corners are quickly flipped to

stagger the reversing FormLock system.According to company information, theICF is light and easy to carry, and no leak-age or form separation occurs during theconcrete pour. It is easy to cut and shape,and makes unconventional wall shapesmanageable.

➟ www.amvicsystems.com or call 416/410-5674.

Gold Bond XP Wallboard to Reduce Threat of Moisture

The Gold Bond XP™ wallboard panelsfrom National Gypsum, of Charlotte, N.C.,were designed for use in interior areas forprotection against moisture.

The panels consist of a moisture- andfire-resistant core encased in heavy, 100percent recycled purple paper on the faceside and heavy liner paper on the back,both of which are moisture-, mold- andmildew-resistant. The face paper is foldedaround the tapered long edges to reinforceand protect the core, and the ends aresquare-cut and finished smooth. Accordingto a company news release, the panelsscore and snap easily, with no special han-dling requirements.

The panels are available in standard 8-, 10-and 12-foot lengths, with a width of 48 inches.

➟ www.nationalgypsum.com or call 704/365-7300.

Inorganic and Waterproof ICF Available from Reward Reward Wall Systems, of Omaha, Neb., has

designed its insulated concrete form (ICF) wall sys-tems, such as its iForm system, to prevent mold byremoving a source of food and moisture. The compa-ny’s ICF wall assembly consists of two inorganictypes of material, EPS and concrete, that form an air-tight building envelope and makes it easy to controlthe humidity and moisture in a structure.

Suitable for both commercial and residential con-struction, iForm flat wall forms produce steel-reinforcedconcrete walls thatare straight, squareand plumb. Ties, 6inches on centerhorizontally and 8inches on center ver-tically, provide strength

TThheeMMaatteerriiaallss

ffoorr aaMMoolldd--PPrrooooff HHoouussee

Special Section for Homebuilders


MMold and moisture problems are often seen asa difficulty handled by remediators who rushin with equipment to clean old homes.

However, there are ways of preventing mold beforeit starts with a plethora of building products, fromstructural panels to coatings and sealants to the all-too-crucial flashing. Some of the products listedhere will be exhibited at the International Builders’Show (IBS), January 13-16, 2004, (see YourChance to Bloom, page 28), but the descriptionshere will give you an immediate opportunity to takein all the different measures available for makingyour next house mold-proof.

Special Section for Homebuilders

during concrete pours. According to the company, thesnap-in design of horizontal rebar in five different loca-tions within the wall makes rebar ties unnecessary.

➟ www.rewardwalls.com or call 402/592-7077.

IBS Booth #W1293: USG Introduces Two New Mold-Resistant Gypsum Panels

Chicago-based USG Corp. has introduced itsSHEETROCK® HUMITEK™ moisture- and mold-resist-ant gypsum panels, specifically for use in interior areas.The panels feature tapered edges for easy finishing,they score and snap quickly and they require no spe-cial handling or installation procedures. In addition,they are classified by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) forfire resistance, surface burning characteristics andnon-combustibility. The panels are available in 1/2- and5/8-inch thicknesses and in 8-, 10- and 12-foot lengths.

In addition, the company hasintroduced a new type of interi-or wall panel for all types ofapplications. FIBEROCK®AQUA-TOUGH™ interior pan-els are made from 95 percentrecycled materials and wereengineered to provide increasedresistance to abuse while out-performing paper-faced or glass-mat-faced panels. Their uni-form composition provides water resistance through thecore, and the panels are approved for use in wet areas,including tub surrounds. Independent laboratory testsconfirm that the panels provide high mold-resistancewhen tested per ASTM D3273-00 standards.

➟ www.usg.com or call 312/606-4000.

Trespa Meteon Offers Resistance to All Types of Weather

Trespa Meteon, from the Netherlands-based TrespaInternational BV, is a flat panel based on thermosettingresins, homogeneously reinforced with wood fibers andmanufactured under high pressure and temperature.The resins are cured using the company’s electronbeam curing (EBC) technology and are suitable for awide range of exterior applications.

According to the company, the panel is extremelyweather-resistant, and moisture, including acid rain,has no effect on the surface or the core. Both the UV-resistance and color stability have a 4-5 classificationon the International Grey Scale. Similarly, large or rapid

temperature fluctuations do not affect the propertiesand appearance of the panel. In addition, it is highlyimpact-resistant and, because of its closed structure,dirt does not cling, according to company information.

The dimensional stability and workability of TrespaMeteon are comparable with those of hardwood, saysthe company, and standard tools for hardwood can beused for all kinds of processing. It is available in morethan 50 colors and comes in three standard sizes.

➟ www.trespa.com or call 800/487-3772.

Structure Insulated Siding From Alcoa Now Available Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Home

Exteriors has introduced its Structure™insulated siding, a premium siding per-manently bonded to STYROFOAM®

extruded polypropylene (XPP) foamfrom Dow. According to company infor-mation, Structure retains 97 percent ofits R-value over time and can improvethe resistance to heat flow of exteriorwalls by up to 25 percent, resulting inlower energy costs and improved cli-mate control. In addition, the siding’s XPP STYROFOAMhas a cellular structure that resists moisture.

Structure locks securely with Alcoa’s patented T3-Lok System, is capable of withstanding 160 mphwinds and also reduces high frequency noise andwind sounds by up to 50 percent. It is available intwo premium profiles, double 6-inch and wide-stylesingle 7-inch planks, and more than 700 baseline col-ors, including the new DreamColor.

➟ www.alcoahomes.com or call 800/962-6973.

UNDERLAYMENT

IBS Booth #S11051: Ice & Water Shield® Protects Roofs From Water Damage

Grace Construction Products, based in Cambridge,Mass., offers its Ice & Water Shield®, aself-adhered roofing underlayment, forpremium roof leak protection.

The Ice & Water Shield is a self-adher-ing protective membrane that sitsbetween the shingles and roof deck, pro-viding residential and commercial roofsprotection against the elements.




According to company information, it will not crack, dryor rot and can be applied to all standard roof coverings.The membrane is composed of two waterproofing mate-rials, a rubberized asphalt adhesive backed by a layer ofhigh-density cross-laminate polyethylene. Embedded inthe membrane is a “split-release on demand” featurecalled RIPCORD™.

In addition, Grace’s Vycor® Plusself-adhered flashing membrane isnow available with RIPCORD™ tosimplify the flashing installationprocedure and offer high-perform-ance flashing by enabling properintegration of the flashing withother key moisture protection ele-ments of the wall.

➟ www.graceconstruction.com or call 866/333-3726.

MOLDICIDE

IBS Booth #S10867: Nisus Offers Mold-Care™ MoldicideUnexpected severe weather during con-

struction and water used in constructionmaterials can create moisture buildup andturn homes into veritable mold incuba-tors. With this in mind, the Nisus Corp.,based in Rockford, Tenn., is offering itsBora-Care® with Mold-Care™ moldi-cide concentrate to control mold anddecay that otherwise could continuewhile, or after, a structure dries.

Bora-Care, a termiticide, insecticideand fungicide, includes a specific disin-fectant, also used to sanitize restaurantsand hospitals and the active ingredientin Mold-Care. The company recommends treating all ofthe wood framing of a new home, including structural

timbers, plywood, oriented strand board anddrywall, as well as other materials thatmay face water damage from leakingpipes or condensation.

Nisus has also introduced Mold-Clean™ wood cleaner and surfaceconditioner, designed to removemold and mildew stains and preparewood surfaces for Bora-Care withMold-Care.

➟www.nisuscorp.com or call 800-264-0870.

EnviroCare Corp. Introduces ForSite CoatingEnviroCare Corp., a manufacturer of mold- and

mildew-resistant coatings based in Wilmington, Mass.,has introduced ForSite. The patent-pending technologyutilizes EPA registered/FDA approved engineered silver,which the company says has long-proven mold-,mildew- and bacteria-resistant proper-ties. Unlike traditional, organicmildewcides, silver has long lastingsurface efficacy without a tendency towash away or degrade with time,according to company information.

ForSite can be used for most anyinterior and exterior application, istypically applied by spray, brush orroller and dries quickly.

➟ www.envirocarecorp.com or call 800/463-2628.

COATINGS

IBS Booth #S10893: Protective Coatings Group Introduces FortiCel

FortiCel™, from Protective Coatings Group ofJacksonville, Fla., is a proprietary combination of tech-nologies that prohibits mold growth on the appliedcoating surface of interior construction materials suchas lumber, concrete, sheetrock and steel. In accelerat-ed lab tests, the coating eliminated over 99 percent ofmold, according to a company news release.

FortiCel can be sprayed on surfaces when structuralframing is complete but before installing insulation. Allsurfaces must be free of debris, oil or grease and theproduct must be mixed thoroughly prior to and duringapplication. It does not wash off, degrade or negativelyimpact construction deadlines.

➟ www.protectivecoatingsgroup.com or call 904/378-8693.

IBS Booth #W9509: Wood Gard Mih Plus Serves Dual Purpose

No-Burn Inc., of Wadsworth, Ohio, has introduced itsWood Gard Mih Plus, a product with a dual purpose.Wood Gard Mih Plus has the same fire-resistant char-acteristics as the company’s Wood Gard, but it alsoexhibits characteristics that will prevent the growth ofstachybotrys charatum.

During the framing process, the product is appliedto all exposed raw wood, ensuring that all areas of thestructure are treated. After construction is completed,Wood Gard Mih Plus is already in the wall cavities,



Continued


attic space and other voids in the structure whereblack mold can grow.

The new product has been tested in accordancewith ASTM D5590-94.

➟ www.noburn.com or call 330/336-1500.

HOUSEWRAP

Three Sto Corp. Components Create Moisture Barrier

Sto Guard™, from Atlanta-based Sto Corp., is aseamless, fluid-applied air and moisture barrier. It wasdesigned to provide protection under a variety of appli-cations, including underneath brick, wood, vinyl,cement siding and exterior insulation and finish sys-tems, as well as with cement stucco if used in conjunc-tion with a bond breaker.

Sto Guard consists of three products, a spray ortrowel applied joint treatment, a 9.5- or 4.25-inchwide adhesive reinforcing mesh and a waterproof coat-ing applied to sheathing surfaces treated with the StoGold Fill joint treatment or to prepared concrete orconcrete masonry wall construction. The three com-

ponents create a durable structuralair barrier and moisture barrierwith high resistance to air leakageand water infiltration.

➟ www.stocorp.com or call404/346-0755.

WeatherTrek Promotes Water Drainage Tyco Plastics & Adhesives, a part of Tyco

International U.S. based in Princeton, N.J., is offeringWeatherTrek™ to residential builders looking to controlmoisture in exterior wall constructions.

The housewrap features Valéron® engineered venteddrain (EVD) technology, which promotes waterdrainage. WeatherTrek’s three-dimensional engineeredsurface was designed to direct any moisture that getspast the exterior siding down and away from the wall.Fastened directly to the sheathing, the housewrap

enables moisture to drainrather than pond along sid-ing edges. A crush-resistantsurface pattern provides adual airspace between thesiding and exterior wallsheathing, reducing inwardsolar vapor drive, in which water vapor is driventhrough the wall cavity by the sun.

➟ www.tyco.com or call 609/720-4200.

IBS Booth #S10773: Home Slicker Offers Two Products in One

The Home Slicker® and Home Slicker Plus Typar®from Benjamin Obdyke, of Horsham, Pa., wasdesigned as a cost-effective, labor and material sav-ing, moisture-eliminating rainscreen and weather-resistant barrier. The Home Slicker’s vertically chan-neled matrix speeds moisture movement downwardand air movement upward. The patented three-dimensional structure provides a continuous space for drying, channels for drainage, a thermalbreak and pressure equalization, allowing moistureto escape quickly before it damages the sidewallmaterials.

The new polypropylene matrix is rolled out on thewall system with the siding or cladding applieddirectly over it. According to company information,it reduces installation time since it acts as two mois-ture management products at once.

➟ www.benjaminobdyke.com or call 800/346-7655.

FLASHING

IBS Booth #W9834: Water Out Introduces New Window and Door Pans

Water Out Inc., of Charlotte, N.C., has introduced itspatent-pending Red Window and Door Pans, to effec-tively seal around windowand door openings.According to companyinformation, the new prod-uct is simple to use, doesnot require skilled assem-bly, does not depend oncaulk or glues and positive-ly channels water to the




Continued


outside of the structure. Since developing the pan flashing, the company has

added several new products including a roof kickoutflashing that works as both a right and a left, a doorflashing kit for shower doors and a window and doorhead flashing that has integral drain channels and enddams.

➟ www.wateroutflashing.com or call 704/771-9330.

IBS Booth #S10793: BOSIG Inc. Launches Two Products for Limiting Moisture Buildup

BOSIG Inc., of Fort Lee, N.J., has introduced itsbreathable Winflex® performance flashing. The 13-mil thick waterproof composite membrane wasdesigned for use as a concealed flashing in windows,doors and other wall penetrations. Its layering con-sists of PES fleece laminated with a PA co-polymer.The membranes have integral self-adhesive strips ofelastomeric resin and butyl placed on the undersideedges of the roll.

According to a company news release, the Winflexflashing allows for the transmission of interior watervapor, reducing the potential for entrapment and con-densation. It is also highly water-resistant. Winflex iscompatible with all typical weather-resistant barriers,sealants and exterior wall coverings and is available in9-, 13- and 15-inch width strips 82 feet long. It has beentested in accordance with ASTM and ICC-ES standards.

The company has also launched a new ridge ventila-tion product, Aeroflex 5000, designed to effectivelyreduce the moisture level in attic spaces.

➟ www.bosig.com or call 201/302-6081.

IBS Booth #W9926: CactusBoard Designed to Dry Out Basement Systems

Basement Systems, based in Seymour, Conn., isoffering a selection of products designed to reduce rel-

ative humidity and prevent mold growth,particularly in basements or crawlspaces.

The CactusBoard® and CactusBoard®

II floor edging is an L-shaped mouldingthat forms a space between the edge ofthe basement floor and the wall andacross the footing. This space allows allthe water from the perimeter and thewalls to drain down into the stone aggre-gate under the floor, which is drained bya sump or footing drains. Both

CactusBoard variations come with a free wall-leak andcrack repair for one year.

The company is also offering its CleanSpace®

crawl space encapsulation system, which uses pro-prietary materials and methods to completely seal abuilding from the earth. The system lowers the rela-tive humidity level within a structure to reduce oreliminate mold growth and rot.

In addition, the SaniDry™ basement and crawl spaceair system allows the homeowner to regulate the rela-tive humidity within a home through this powerfuldehumidification and air purification unit. A single100-pint SaniDry dries up to 2,800 square feet and runson 6.8 amps. It lowershumidity, prevents moldgrowth, removes mustyodors and other allergensand saves energy on air con-ditioning and heating costs.

➟ www.basementsystems.comor call 800/638-7048.

Jamsill Guard Offers Protection Against Water Damage

Jamsill Inc.™, of Talent, Ore., is offering its JamsillGuard door/window sill pan flashing for protectionagainst water damage. The flashing features seamlessinjection molded corners that completely wrap thesub-floor and plate. Its interior edge creates a continu-ous seal along the sill edge.

According to a company news release, the productshould be installed in the rough opening before a dooror window is installed, especially in extremely exposedareas. It is designed to fit most wood or aluminum sillwidths, and can be used with either 2-by-4 or 2-by-6wall construction and is not visible after installation.Jamsill Guard is available in six series.

➟ www.jamsill.com or call 800/526-7455.

IBS Booth #W6548: ASTROpan™ Designed to Prevent Rot and Mold

Astro Plastics willbe exhibiting itsn e w l y - c r e a t e dASTROpan™, a doorand window sill pansystem that it says protects property against water andmoisture damage. It channels water outside, limitingrisk of water intrusion that could result in rot and mold.

GG -P Gypsum, a subsidiary of Atlanta-basedGeorgia Pacific Corp., has enhanced itsDensArmor™ Plus moisture- and mold-resist-

ant paperless interior wallboard. The panels now fea-ture a glass mat facing, which results in a complete-ly paperless interior wallboard that offers moistureand mold resistance and finishes easily, according tocompany information.

By removing the organic paper face and back found onstandard wallboard and replacing both with inorganicglass mats, the new interior wallboard elim-inates a known food source for mold. Thecore of the newly-enhanced DensArmorPlus has also been reinforced with inorgan-ic glass fibers, increasing its strength and itsability to withstand weather.

According to company information, thewallboard features tapered edges for ease

in treating joints. The glass mat surfaces finish thesame as regular gypsum wallboard and conventionaldrywall nails and screws are used to fasten it. Theproduct displays high moisture and mold resistancewhen tested as manufactured per ASTM D 3273.

“Advances in G-P Gypsum’s patented glass matDensGuard® technology have made it possible for us tomanufacture the next generation of DensArmor Plus interi-or wallboard,” said Dave Fleiner, president of G-P Gypsum.“This truly revolutionary product finishes like paper-faced

drywall while providing important resistanceto moisture and the consequent moldgrowth. Builders and contractors will appre-ciate the finishing ease and homeowners andbuilding owners will appreciate the moisture-and mold-resistant benefits.”

➟ visit www.gpgypsum.com or call 800/225-6119. m3


According to company literature, it is easy toinstall on the job site. Adhesive caulk is included inthe kits, which are packaged in 24 sets for 3-0 roughopenings and 12 sets for 6-0 rough openings.

The system is available in standard jamb widths of4.56 and 6.56 inches, and in two lengths, 38.25 and74.25 inches.

➟ www.astroplastics.com or call 800/334-4474.

SureSill Flashing System Available for Window and Door Installation

SureSill Ltd. of Austin, Texas, provides a technical-ly-advanced, user-friendly flashing system for windowand door installations. The company’s system includesa sloped sill pan flashing, called SureSill™, and asloped head flashing called HeadFlash™. The systemwas developed from years of experience in homebuild-ing, expert testimony and forensic engineering,according to the company.

The company’s products and accompanying documen-tation, Water Management Guide and Assembly

Guide, were designed to meet and exceed anywindow or door manufacturer’s instal-lation requirements, as well as theInternational Residential Building Code2005, ASTM standards, AAMA guidelines

and generally acceptable trade practices.

➟ www.suresill.com or call 512/231-9469.

SEALANTS

DAP Kitchen and Bath Caulk Fights MicrobesBaltimore-based DAP has announced that its Kwik

Seal Plus® kitchen and bath adhesive caulk nowcomes in a new color: biscuit/bisque. According to acompany news release, the color was added to match

the best selling off-white shades in sinks,tubs, toilets, fixtures and appliances.

Kwik Seal Plus is formulated withMICROBAN® antimicrobial product pro-tection, which fights the growth of bacte-ria, mold and mildew that cause odors,stains and degradation of the caulk.According to company information,MICROBAN neutralizes bacterial andfungal growth where it lives and breedsso that the bead of caulk will be easier tokeep clean and will stay cleaner betweencleanings. In addition, the product fea-tures a watertight seal and maximumadhesion. It comes with a crack-proofguarantee and is easy to clean up afterapplying.

In addition to its new biscuit/bisque color,Kwik Seal Plus comes in white and clear. Itis packaged in 5.5-fluid-ounce tubes.

➟ www.DAP.com or call 888/327-8477.

IBS Booth #W3159: DensArmor™ Plus Offers Enhanced Mold Resistance

ho bears responsibility when a moldor moisture problem develops, the

homebuilder or the homeowner? Theline of responsibility is based on many

variables that, in the absence of stan-dards, remain unclear.

Douglas Buck, director of governmental affairsfor the Florida Home Builders Association, cutstraight to this point. “I believe there is a generallack of standards,” Buck said. He also pointed outa gray area that is difficult to define. “Sinceinsurers [who now have exclusionary clauses] donot provide mold insurance for homebuilders,this issue is both fluid and dynamic.”

Good Building Practices Make Perfect Undeniably the best way of dealing with a mold

problem is preventing it in the first place. Goodbuilding practices are an important part of that,as is homeowner maintenance. As more informa-tion becomes available about the best of both ofthese tactics, builders and homeowners should

find it easier to choose the products and makethe decisions that will make their home free ofmold problems.

“In our business, we haven’t had much of aproblem,” said Jeff Hansell, president ofHansell and Mitzel Homes, in Skagit Valley,Wash. “We are located in a damp climate wherewe have lived with this condition. Having saidthat, with the type of construction today, struc-tures are built with a tighter envelope. We mustpay close attention to moisture.”

Hansell said his only exposure to moldissues was a result of neglect by customers. Hepointed out that the homeowner has certainresponsibilities as far as maintenance, citingrecent legislation in his state—the affirmativedefense law.

“About five years ago … mold was a hot issuethat was covered extensively in many nationalpublications,” said Hansell. “Now we seem to bereturning to simply dealing with preventing andremoving it.”

m336 | Jan-March 05 Mold & Moisture Managementm3

Owningthe

Problem

by A lan Go ldberg

WWWW

When a Mold Problem Develops,Whose Problem Is It? Homebuilder or Homeowner?

When a Mold Problem Develops,Whose Problem Is It? Homebuilder or Homeowner?

Don Pratt, president of Wake-PrattConstruction Co. in Auburn Hills,Mich., and an expert witness in casesinvolving moisture and mold, pointedout that litigation generally takes placebecause a builder neglected to do some-thing that allowed water to infiltrate ora homeowner neglected to controlhumidity and created a climate formold to exist.

“From the builder’s standpoint, deal-ing with water infiltration is verydoable. Make the appropriate repairsand the root cause of the problem issolved. But where the problem is causedby the homeowner, it is more difficult tosolve because that often requires achange in lifestyle.”

Pratt explained, for instance, that thehigh humidity that often creates mois-ture on windows can be caused by any

number of conditions in the house and the home-owner has to be made aware of these and take somecorrective action.

“I like to see humidity in a homeunder 40, at a temperature of68 to 72º Fahrenheit,”Pratt said. “That is notdifficult to achievetoday because of thetightness.”

“As far as the mold prob-lem, we use standard practices to con-trol it,” said Pat Bunn, director of construction for JSHovnanian in Mt. Laurel, N.J.

Tighter buildings are a part of those practices, as isthe coordination of systems.

“Because of the temperatures in this region, webuild our homes with radiant, in-floor heating,” saidMike DeFelice, owner of Yates Excavating Inc. inPunxsutawney, Pa. “Instead of an air-handler, we usea hot-air furnace, which provides a dual-heating sys-tem. By circulating the air this way, we are able toprevent moisture and eliminate the conditions that

allow mold to form. This is really the key to a verycomplex problem.”

“Well-built homes using technologies such as air-to-air exchangers rarely have mold problems,” addedChristine Schwanke, director of communications forthe Wisconsin Builders Association.

Proper management of construction and implemen-tation of good practices is also essential. For instance,trusses should not be left exposed to the elements.

“We stress the importance of using care at the jobsite by telling builders not to accept material that iswet, keep materials dry and install only materials thatare dry,” said Kevin Powell, research analyst at theNational Association of Home Builders (NAHB)Research Center.

According to Buck, what makes the mold issuesomewhat complex is that it is often caused by a sec-ondary problem. For example, a construction defectcould potentially allow water intrusion that, in turn,could lead to mold.

Legislation Could Enforce Participation Understanding what causes mold problems is one

thing, but seeing that people become actively involvedin preventative measures is another.

In one state, mold was animpetus for legisla-

tion.“Mold is the cata-

lyst that led to theformation of a state

agency, The TexasResidential Commission,” said Paul

Cauduro, director of government relations for theHome Builders of Dallas. “This agency was formed … toimplement building standards for home construction,including standards related to mold and moisture.” (seebox page 38)

Cauduro pointed out that builders were a main forcebehind the formation of the commission because theyrecognized the need to educate the industry and the pub-lic and, as part of this process, to change long-held per-

m3Jan-March 05 | 37Mold & Moisture Management m3


“We’re talking about common sense actions that have been improved.” -Paul Cauduro, director ofgovernment relations for Home Builders of Dallas

m338 | Jan-March 05 Mold & Moisture Managementm3

HHoommeebbuuiillddeerr oorr HHoommeeoowwnneerr??Continued

ceptions and misinformation about mold and dealingwith litigation.

“We’re talking about common sense actions thathave been improved,” said Cauduro. “Take, for exam-ple, a problem where the homeowner plants trees orshrubs or installs a sprinkler system that is too closeto a home and there is intrusion of water, which cre-ates mold. Should the consumer have been aware?How much of an obligation did the builder have toinform the homeowner? These types of situations,which have always been gray areas, are now beingaddressed through standards.”

Cauduro explained that, prior to the formation ofthe commission, the homebuilder was always consid-ered responsible. It was never clearly defined whatwas tolerable and it was the builder who was oftenheld responsible for paying all costs. As a result, hous-ing costs skyrocketed as did liability insurance poli-cies held by builders. The new standards define whatis acceptable with regard to construction practicesand how the construction performs over time.

Statewide registration is another aspect of the com-mission. As of March 2004, builders in Texas must reg-ister their companies as well as every home they build.Cauduro said this procedure would make it possible totrack easily any problems that may develop.

Cauduro also commented on “right-to-repair” laws.With recent right-to-repair state legislation, a builderhas the opportunity to inspect areas in question andoffer to make repairs, rather than resorting to expen-sive and time-consuming litigation.

“We’ve told our builders that when a mold problemoccurs, treat it like a fire. Take care of it immediately,”he said.

An End to Mold Claimsand Problems?

It is clear that actionmust be taken during con-struction to prevent poten-tial mold growth. Some buildersfeel that education efforts andinspection of buildings have alreadygone a long way toward solving theseproblems.

According to Powell, the home-building industry has made substan-tial progress within the past five toseven years dealing with mold.

“Educating builders and their cus-tomers about mold—what causes it, how to prevent itand how to control it—has made quite a difference.We are seeing less and less of the serious mold issueswe confronted years ago.”

Powell said that he believes the simple and directadvice given to homebuilders and homeowners hashelped minimize the problem.

“Mold is an indication of a problem. If you notice[moisture], don’t sit back and address it when it is con-venient or you could face a serious mold problem. Fornew homeowners, we say, ‘call the builder immediate-ly. Don’t put it off.’”

Powell pointed out that larger builders have formedteams that deal with moisture management so theyhave more expertise.

“As far as educating the industry, we give seminars tohomebuilding associations throughout the country toeducate members on the causes and prevention ofmold. As a result of prompt and appropriate response tomoisture, a builder or contractor’s liability is alsoreduced.”

Buck added that there are new construction prac-tices for waterproofing and related activities availablethrough the NAHB, which offers guidelines for con-trolling or preventing mold. In addition to NAHB andits state affiliates, there are numerous other organi-zations that provide resources.

While that four-letter word and the control of mois-ture will always be a concern of homebuilders andhomeowners, the issues of costly litigation and liabili-ty insurance are being resolved through education,performance standards and creative initiatives.

➧Alan Goldberg is a contributing writer for Moldmag.

Resources:➟Learn more about Washington’s affirmative defenselaw from the Building Industry of Washington (BIAW)at www.biaw.com/legislative.asp.

➟Learn more about the Texas ResidentialConstruction Commission by visitingwww.trcc.state.tx.us.

➟Learn more about waterproofing and other guide-lines, or how to request a mold seminar, by visitingNAHB at www.nahb.org or its ToolBase Services atwww.toolbase.org.

m3Jan-March 05 | 39Mold & Moisture Management m3

BB efore home and business owners can decide howto fix a mold problem, they also have to considerhow to pay for it. According to the Insurance

Information Institute (III), a trade association based inNew York, mold contamination is covered under ahomeowner’s insurance policy only if it is the result of acovered peril. Like rust, rot and mildew, mold is specifi-cally excluded in standard policies, unless it follows acovered peril such as water damage from a burst pipe.The exclusion of mold puts a tremendous burden backon builders and contractors. Most mold problems, how-ever, stem from conditions such as excessive humidity,leaks, condensation or flooding. III recommends routinecleaning and maintenance to keep those types of waterdamage from growing into a mold problem. Other thanthat, there is little that insurance will do.

“The biggest problem that builders—like homeown-ers— face is that there used to be coverage for moldproblems,” said Charles Perry, principal with theEnvironmental Assurance Group, a consulting groupbased in Hartford, Conn. “That’s now gone.”

Even where coverage exists, it is limited. An articlefrom the Fredericksburg, Va., Free Lance-Star explainedthat mold problems had been specifically excluded fromcoverage until courts began to distinguish betweenmold caused by a covered peril or as a result of main-tenance problems. Some companies now may decide tocover all mold claims for a higher price, while othersmay exclude it while offering an endorsement thatallows mold coverage to be added or exclude it entire-ly. With the variations between policies and the confu-sion over what is and isn’t covered, many insurers areinserting language in their policies designed to preventconfusion about companies’ different stances on mold,according to III.

Regardless of how policyholders might feel, from theinsurance companies point-of-view these higher pricesand exclusions are the most effective way of keepingoverall rates down.

“There were more than 600,000 claims fromHurricane Andrew in Florida, most with water damage,and not a single mold claim,” said Sam Miller, executivevice president of the Florida Insurance Council, in a reportfor the council. “Mold claims were unheard of in otherstates as well, but there is now a national mold hysteria… Homeowners’ rates in Texas doubled in about twoyears because of mold claims filed by about one percentof the state’s policyholders. Mold claims produced sig-nificant rate increases in California as well.”

Florida in particular is in danger of increasing rates,

with repairs still being made at the end of 2004 fordamage resulting from the year’s particularly destruc-tive hurricane season. According to Miller, Florida’sOffice of Insurance Regulation moved to prevent aproblem in their state by capping mold coverage in thebasic homeowners insurance policy, while also offeringinsurers the option of additional coverage.

Before these caps and exclusions, awarding of dam-ages for mold caused insurers to raise rates nationwide.According to the Free Lance-Star article, it is the “rein-surance market” that affects national rates in that way,or the insurance that insurers use when they have toseek assistance due to a tremendous number of claims,such as after a national disaster. On the other hand, IIIstated that if insurers are going to be asked to payclaims for something that is not covered in the policy,the price of home insurance will inevitably rise.

III reported that before 2000, mold related claimswere generally around the thousand-dollar mark. By2002, homeowner claims averaged $100,000 ormore and commercial claims were in the millions.Insurers paid out approximately $3 billion in mold-related claims, more than double the $1.3 billion paidthe previous year. III also stated that the homeown-ers mold crisis reached its peak in 2002, but com-mercial areas are now spotlighted for their problemswith mold and insurance. Areas such as commercialproperty, commercial liability, products liability,builders’ risk/construction defects and workers’ com-pensation have all been affected, with claims thatcan reach well into the millions. Overall, expertsagree that this is a problem that is going to continueuntil specific federal standards are approved to helpregulate every aspect of the mold issue. m3

Home and Business Owners Struggle with Mold and Insurance

RResidents of a southernManitoba First Nation havefiled a lawsuit accusing the

Canadian government of ignoring atoxic mold problem, according to anarticle from CNEWS, a part ofCanada’s CANOE media network. Inthe statement of claim, theDakota Plains Nationdemanded compensationfor the government’s allegedfailure to address wide-spread contamination thatit has known about foryears.

“There are 32 dwellingsand they’ve all been con-firmed to have contami-nants in the air,” said Chief OrvilleSmoke at a news conference. “Ithink the lawsuit will bring atten-tion to something that has beenongoing.”

According to the article, two fam-ilies were forced by their doctor toleave the community because ofhealth problems attributed to mold.Many others have left as a result ofsimilar symptoms including respira-tory problems and chronic colds.

Gilbert Savard, a Manitobaspokesperson for Indian andNorthern Affairs Canada, reportedthat the Department of IndianAffairs had given the Dakota Plainsabout $700,000 for emergencyhome repairs during the past year.

He said department offi-cials have also met regu-larly with the communityto try to improve drainagein the area. Manitoba’sDaily Graphic reportedthat the cost of drainingthe land, which sitsbetween the AssiniboineRiver and Rossendalehills and acts as a natural

water channel, is expected to beapproximately $3 million.

The Graphic described the hous-es on the reserve as bungalows,many built more than 40 years ago.The houses sit on gravel beds in ahigh-moisture environment withoutbasements and have dirt-coveredcrawl spaces, providing a perfectenvironment for mold. All of the 32homes on the reserve are allegedlycontaminated and between 25 and

28 of the homes are still occupied. Stan Myran, the band’s health

adviser, said it has already cost morethan $1 million to fix the houses andit could cost about $18 million torepair or rebuild the houses in theircurrent location. According toMyran, relocation to drier groundwould be the best solution.

Mold Wrongful Death Case Sets Precedent

Kevin Gramling and Steve Prattwith Klinedinst Attorneys, a lawfirm based in San Diego, set aprecedent in successfully defendingmobile home owners and insurersagainst a wrongful death case attrib-uted to mold, according to a newsrelease from the firm.

The case, Dayton et al. v.Highlands Mobile Home Estates etal., began with the sale of a mobilehome to a 60-year-old woman andher two-year-old grandson. Theplaintiffs claimed that the home wasinfested with mold and that theyhad suffered physical ailmentsincluding respiratory problems, skinrashes, chronic fatigue and immunesuppression as a result of their expo-sure. When the elder plaintiff died in2001, pathologists determined thecause of death was an overwhelmingfungal infection in her lungs. Theplaintiffs had asked the jury formore than $7.5 million.

During the trial, Gramling andPratt established that the mobilehome was not infested with mold andthat indoor mold levels were consis-tent with outdoor levels. They alsoproved that the defendants were rea-sonable in their repair efforts, bothbefore and after the plaintiffs movedin. In addition, the attorneys showedthat any alleged exposure to mold didnot cause the illnesses the plaintiffswere claiming and did not cause thedeath of the lead plaintiff. m3

m3

Nearly 600 Plaintiffs to Receive Settlement for Mold Problems

C o u r t * s h i p


AA n article in the Brownsville,Texas, Brownsville Heraldannounced that a settlement

has been reached between buildersand designers of two local schoolsand the nearly 600 plaintiffs whosued on account of high mold levelsthat allegedly caused them personalinjury.

“This is the first case of its kind inthe country where students, parentsand teachers have brought a lawsuitfor personal injuries based on person-al injuries from so-called toxic mold,”said Peter M. Zavaletta, attorney forthe plaintiffs, in the article.

The case, Angel Castillo and MariaRosalba Castillo, et al. v. CarrollDusang and Rand Inc., et al, wasoriginally filed November 26, 2001,by 92 plaintiffs concerned about thehigh levels of mold found in theschool. In January 2002, the schoolswere closed and did not reopen untilMarch 2004.

According to the article, the set-tlement will be divided among par-ents, on behalf of the students, andemployees of Aiken Elementary andBesteiro Middle School. The amountwas undisclosed but said to beenough to cover medical costs.

Tribe Seeks Compensation for Contaminated Homes

TThe American Society forTesting Materials’ (ASTM)mold assessment committee,

a part of the ASTM environmentalassessment, risk management andcorrective action committee, E50.02,has been charged with creatinginspection guidelines for finding anddocumenting visible mold and waterdamage in commercial and multi-family buildings.

According to an ASTM newsrelease, committee E50 initiatedthe draft of its Guide for ReadilyObservable Mold in CommercialBuildings in October 2003 to pro-vide a basis for uniformity. Thegoals of the subcommittee are toestablish a standard practice for

screening commercial real estatefor readily observable mold,improve the quality and consisten-cy of mold screenings and ensurethat the practice of conductingmold screenings is appropriate,reasonable and reflective of cur-rent good industry practice. It isalso designed to help the userassess the need for further assess-ment or action beyond that identi-fied in the standard. The inspec-tion will be a stand-alone docu-ment, which can be added to otherproperty inspection forms.

“Mold-screening surveys provideinterested parties involved in real-estate transactions with informationregarding the presence of visible

mold resulting from water/moistureintrusion and/or generation withinbuildings,” said Robert Barone, R.A.,president of Moisture & IAQSolutions Inc., of White Plains, N.Y.,and co-chairperson of the E50.02subcommittee. “Involved partiesuse a wide range of assessment andscreening scopes to address visiblemold. Without a standard format,mold screenings lack a standardbaseline for assessment.”

The task group has been meetingfor more than 18 months and isclose to completing the standard.ASTM anticipates being finished byMay 2005.

➟ contact Barone [email protected].

R e g u l a t i o n R e v i e w


AA lthough crawl space ventilation is required by the2003 International Residential Code (IRC), a studyconducted by the U.S. Department of Energy and

the Raleigh, N.C.-based research company AdvancedEnergy (AE), A Field Study Comparison of the Energy andMoisture Performance Characteristics of VentilatedVersus Sealed Crawl Spaces in the South, has changedthe minds of some builders. The study had concludedthat crawl spaces with foundation vents actuallyincrease the buildup of moisture and cause houses tolose energy. At its September 2004 meeting, the NorthCarolina Building Code Council (BCC) voted to adopt newcrawl space code language reflective of the study.

According to Sharon Gladwell, AE director of corpo-rate communications, the language for the state code iscurrently undergoing final review by state attorneys. Ifaccepted, the new language will be included inthe next print version of the code, which will bereleased in January 2006. Some municipalitiesmay allow use of the accepted code prior to theprinting date, although it will not be activelyenforced until that time.

The joint study compared over a period of twoyears 12 nearly identical Habitat for Humanityhomes, four with the traditional vented spacesand eight with closed crawl spaces. The study

came to three conclusions. First, it found that founda-tion vents add excess moisture to crawl spaces duringhumid and wet weather, particularly in the summer. Theexcess moisture promoted mold-growing conditions.Next, ground vapor retarders such as polyethylene donot keep crawl spaces dry enough on their own to pre-vent mold growth. Finally, closed crawl spaces withoutfoundation vents were found to stay dry all the time,particularly during the summer and humid weather.

➟ www.crawlspaces.org or call 919/857-9000. m3

N.C. Building Code Council Accepts Study’s Conclusions on Crawl Space Ventilation

… and that closedcrawl spaces withoutfoundation ventsstayed dry all the time.

Photos courtesy of Advanced Energy

ASTM Standard Nears Completion

The study suggestsfoundation vents in crawlspaces may increasemoisture buildup in thesummer …

Following Hurricanes, Some Insurers Step Back While Lloyd’s Steps In

Following the series of hurricanesthat struck Florida in September2004, a number of U.S. insurersreduced coverage of disaster-proneareas as well as of homeowners whofiled multiple claims, according toan article in the Wall Street Journal.As a result, Lloyd’s of London hasstepped in to fill the void.

According to the article, growingmold problems were one cause ofinsurer’s growing claims, whichhave led to the reduced coverage.Lloyd’s, the British firm describedby the Journal as the “insurer ofthe uninsurable” for covering suchthings as oil tankers and moviestars’ legs, has picked up a growingshare of homes valued above$500,000 in coastal regions andfire-prone areas in the West. Thefirm has become a primary optionfor homeowners whose policies arenot renewed.

Lloyd’s is part of the surplusmarket, whose rates and policyterms are not regulated by stateinsurance departments. The firmis actually an insurance marketmade up of many smaller insurers

that write policies themselves orprovide capital to cover largerrisks. People who don’t qualify forsurplus coverage often turn tostate-operated insurers whocharge high rates and frequentlyoffer policies that don’t insure ahome’s contents or include liabili-ty coverage.

Homeowners “Clued” in to Insurance Report

According to an article in theSan Marco, Fla., Sun Times, ahomeowner’s insurance could bein danger of rising simply frominquiries about mold coverage,whether a claim is filed or not.

According to the article, insur-ance companies record any claimsor inquiries made by a homeownerin a comprehensive loss underwrit-ing exchange, or CLUE, report.ChoicePoint Asset Co., anAlpharetta, Ga.-based firm, initial-ly developed the reports to preventfraud. However, the article saidthat rising insurance losses overmold incidences has led insurancecompanies to use these reports todetermine the risk of insuring aproperty or customer.

According to the Colorado lawfirm Frascona, Joiner,Goodman and Greenstein PC,CLUE reports are generallyused to evaluate potential cus-tomers. This can pose a prob-lem for future homeowners iftwo claims have been filedwithin three years, showingthe individual as a high risk.Since moisture problems haveposed such an enormous prob-lem to insurance companies,even inquiries about mold sug-gest a high risk. Moreover, aninsurance company can turndown a homeowner based onthe history of their property as

revealed by the report. If the prop-erty’s previous owner filed claims,the potential homeowner’s policymay be canceled within 60 days ofpurchase. According to the article,homebuyers who don’t get theirinsurance until just before closingcould find out afterwards that theyaren’t covered. Once an insurancecompany has dropped them, it willbe difficult to find another compa-ny willing to take on the risk.

CLUE reports can be obtainedfor the home or property by theindividual who currently owns it.The reports are available fromChoicePoint for $9 for each reportrequested via standard mail and$12.95 for each electronic report,although some states offer free orreduced fee reports.

➟ www.choicetrust.com. m3

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I n s u r a n c e W a t c h

Residential Mold Related Insurance Claims:


By date of original water damage claim.

Year No. of Claims1987 11988 31989 31990 91991 71992 61993 131994 351995 391996 621997 491998 1291999 2,7742000 7,5642001 9,5632002 6,0932003 2,593Total Claims: 28,943

Source: Policyholders of America.

After the 2004 hurricans hit Florida, manyinsurers reduced coverage in disaster proneareas, letting Lloyd’s step in.

TECHNOLOGY

Invention Uses Electricity to Clean Mold

Physicist Paul Goudy Jr. likenedhis new mold-killing machine to amicroscopic bug zapper in an arti-cle from the Milwaukee JournalSentinel. The cold plasma genera-tor applies high-voltage electricityto ambient air to produce ionizedoxygen, or ozone, and ionizedoxides of nitrogen. Goudy’s newlyrenamed company, Cold PlasmaInc., manufactures the patent-pending machine.

According to the article, the gasesproduced by the machine seek andsuck up moisture, destroying moldas well as odors. Goudy says that theprocess improves on standard

ozone-producing machines, becausehe has found a way to ionize air athigher than usual voltages—25,000volts compared to more typical3,000- to 4,000-volt systems. Itcosts $600 or less to treat a house.

According to Goudy, for a shorttime the chemicals used by thesanitizer are highly reactive andunsafe for people, pets and plants.However, within an hour or so, thegases have dissipated and the build-ing is once again safe.

Researchers Developing Mold RadarResearchers at the Georgia

Technical Research Institute(GTRI) are working with radartechnology to develop a devicethat, when held against an area ofgypsum wallboard, will be able to

detect the amount of mold growingon the other side. Senior scientistsGene Greneker and Otto Rauschare hoping that the device willallow builders to minimizedestructive investigation of struc-tures and also prove less expensivethan current methods.

The researchers are hoping toproduce a small, handheld proto-type unit similar to a stud finder.Greneker envisions a system thatwould map mold behind a wall. Ifthe radar-based device indicateddampness, then a contractorwould know where to probe fordamage.

In an initial experiment inJanuary 2004, researchers used theradar system to scan a small panelof wallboard that had been soakedin water and injected with non-toxic fungal spores. They wereencouraged by the early results.

“Mold is a common problem,especially in humid, southern cli-mates, but people are often notaware of it because it’s occurringbehind a painted or wallpaperedwall,” said Victor DeJesus, a GTRIresearch scientist. “Then it’s toolate when they realize it. The wall-board must be replaced.”

According to DeJesus, the two-year government-funded study isexpected to be complete bySeptember 2005.

➟ www.gtresearchnews.gatech.edu orcall 404/894-2214. m3

W e t S c i e n c e


AA ir Quality Sciences (AQS), a Marietta, Ga.-based air quality testingand consulting firm for the commercial market, has released a newstudy on mold in homes, Air and Dustborne Mycoflora in Houses

Free of Water Damage and Fungal Growth. This is the complete reportfrom a study conducted by AQS in 2002 for the U.S. Department ofHousing and Urban Development.

The goal of the study was to determine typical types of mold found inhomes in the Southeast. Data was collected from 50 single-family homesin metro Atlanta, none of which had a history of water damage. Unlikemost studies, which look at complaint buildings, this one set out to lookspecifically at “healthy” buildings, or buildings that were free of any indi-cation of moisture problems.

“What people had thought for some time was exactly what we found,”explained Dr. Elliott Horner, director of the microbial laboratory at AQS andlead on the project, in an interview. “Predominantly the types of mold wefound were those found outdoors.”

Most importantly, according to Horner, “Indicators of water damagewere notably absent.”

Those indicator molds would include, for example, the well-knownstachybotrys. Since other studies had looked predominantly at complaintbuildings, it had not been proven that certain types of mold are naturallyfound indoors and others arrive only with moisture problems.

According to AQS, this new study is an important step in creating abaseline against which to compare data from suspected problem homes.

➟ www.aqs.com or call 770/933-0638.

Researchers at GTRI hope to develop adevice that will minimize the need fordestructive mold investigations.

STUDIES

New Study Looks at ”Healthy” Homes

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P e o p l e


GG lenn Fellman is the executivedirector of the Indoor AirQuality Association (IAQA), a

non-profit organization with morethan 2,400 members that was estab-lished to promote education andresearch for IAQ practitioners. Sinceeducation is the goal of the Rockville,Md.-based association, Glenn tooksome time to share with Moldmagwhat he knows about mold and theimportance of being aware of itseffects.

What was your involvement withthe IAQA prior to accepting theposition of executive director in2000?

I was a member of the IAQA boardof directors when the association’smanagement was being handled byone of its founding members. I hadcareer experience in running non-profit trade groups, so when thefounding member announced he nolonger wanted to do the work, theboard turned to me to take over.Prior to that, I worked with groupslike the National Air Duct CleanersAssociation; Institute of Inspection,Cleaning and Restoration Certifica-tion; National Air Filtration Associa-tion; Associated Air Balance Council;and a few others that are not relatedto indoor air quality.

What do you feel are some of thebenefits of joining the IAQA?

Information and education are themost tangible benefits. Our membersreceive a monthly IAQ newspaper,Indoor Environment Connections, anda bi-monthly newsletter, In the Air.IAQA conducts more than 50 trainingclasses each year in partnership withour training providers, plus we havean outstanding annual meeting andexposition that draws more than 800people. Other benefits of membership

include access to our online legisla-tive matrix that tracks IAQ and moldrelated bills in all 50 states, IAQ pub-lications that the association pro-duces alone and in tandem with otherorganizations, marketing support,referrals to potential customers andmuch more.

Why do you think it’s important forpeople to know more about mold?

A lot of times people focus on thehealth aspects of mold, but the truthis that the scientific community hasnot done nearly enough research toprove direct links between moldexposure and severe health conse-quences. Yes, mold can affect health,especially among those with asthma,allergies or compromised immunesystems. But I think another impor-tant issue that is overlooked is prop-erty value. Mold contamination dam-ages property and is very costly tocorrect. Preventing mold growth issmart economics: it’s a lot lessexpensive to be proactive by control-ling moisture and other factors thatresult in mold growth than it is to bereactive to a mold problem that isdestroying a home or building.

People also need to act morequickly when they find or suspect amold problem in order to minimizethe damage. If you had termites eat-ing away the structure of your build-ing, you would have it treated

immediately. Mold should beviewed the same way.

What is the mold question thatyou are asked most often? How doyou answer?

The question I hear most is: “Howdo I select a qualified investigator orremediator?” There are, unfortunate-ly, some charlatans out there in theunregulated mold industry. Of course,I tell people to look for a consultant orcontractor who has been trained andcertified by IAQA. Our CertifiedIndoor Environmentalist (CIE) pro-gram is great for people who diag-nose mold and IAQ problems, and ourCertified Mold Remediator (CMR) pro-gram is the best in the industry forthose who remove mold. There aremany other organizations that trainand/or certify, but only a few who Iam comfortable referring a consumerto for a mold consultant or remedia-tor. Some of the other organizationsfor whom I have respect include theAmerican Indoor Air Quality Council

A Minute With …

Glenn Fellman, IAQA

Glenn Fellman

“Yes, mold can affect health,especially among those

with asthma, allergies orcompromised immune

systems. But I think another important issue that is

overlooked is property value.”

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APPOINTMENTS

Tyco Names TwoCommunications Leaders

Tyco International, amanufacturer of adhesivesand housewrap based inthe U.S. in Princeton, N.J.,has appointed communi-cations vice presidents fortwo of its core business

segments. JJaammeess PPoommeerrooyy will over-see all strategic marketing and com-munications at Tyco EngineeredProducts & Services and GGwweennFFiisshheerr will lead the marketing andcommunications operations at TycoPlastics & Adhesives.

Previously, Pomeroy was vicepresident of communications forTyco Plastics & Adhesives. Prior to

coming to Tyco, Pomeroy worked invarious sales, marketing and com-munications positions during a 28-year career with GE.

Fisher joined Tyco International asdirector of corporate media relationsin November 2003. Prior to Tyco, shewas manager of global product com-munications at Merck & Co.

“Both Jay and Gwen bringtremendous talent and expertise totheir new roles and will play anintegral part in our efforts to buildTyco into a world-class operatingcompany,” said Charles Young, sen-ior vice president of marketing andcommunications. “We are fortunateto have leaders of their caliber inour organization providing supportfor Tyco’s key businesses.”

➟ www.tyco.com or call 609/806-2293.

NEW HIRES

DKI Appoints New Regional Marketing Director

Disaster Kleenup InternationalInc. (DKI), a network of restorationcontractors headquartered inBensenville, Ill., has appointedSSuummmmeerr SSttrreeeett regional marketingdirector. Street will be responsiblefor sales, marketing and industry-relations activities for the company,principally in the MidwesternUnited States.

Street comes to DKI from theChicago Conservation Center, afacility for the restoration of finearts, where she was vice presidentof marketing. Previously sheworked in marketing for suburbanpublic transportation. m3


(AmIAQ), Indoor EnvironmentalStandards Organization (IESO) andthe Institute of Inspection, Cleaningand Restoration Certification (IICRC).

In what direction do you see moldstandards and regulation moving?What do you see as being the mostimportant standard coming up?

The first (and only) standard formold remediation, IICRC S520, waspublished at the beginning of 2004.IAQA, IICRC and a group called theIndoor Environmental Institute werethe principal designers of the stan-dard. It is a very important standardand thankfully it has been widely-adopted in the last 12 months. I amnot aware of any other standards formold inspection or remediation beingdeveloped; however, there are anumber of guidelines being written.AIHA is expected to release impor-tant guides for inspection and reme-diation next year.

As far as regulation goes, don’tlook to the federal government.States continue to be the place forregulations. Texas and Louisiana

have licensing regulations governingmold inspectors and remediators.About a dozen other states saw leg-islation die in session last year thatwould have set up similar programs.We anticipate 2005 will be busy withIAQ and mold bills as well. IAQA hasa very active government affairscommittee that monitors state billsand comments to state lawmakers.

We read a lot in the news abouthigh profile law cases involving mold.What do you think of these cases?

If the insurance industry did a bet-ter job responding to water damagecases, we wouldn’t see so manyhigh profile mold cases. If you lookat the Melinda Ballard case or the EdMcMahon case, in both instancesyou see botched attempts to fixsmall problems resulting in hugeproblems a few months later.

Has your home ever been affect-ed by mold?

Unfortunately, yes. The home Ilive in now was constructed fiveyears ago and thankfully it is mold-free. But my previous residence was

a 45-year-old home with a leakybasement. We battled that moldproblem by having the foundationrepaired and an expensive remedia-tion performed.

In your own home, what preven-tative measures have you taken?

My current residence is newly-con-structed and well built. Still, I checkthe roof and basement after bigstorms to make sure they haven’tleaked. We also have several HEPA-filtered room air cleaners running inthe house. Also, we make sure ourHVAC system is well maintained.

If not constantly worrying aboutleaks and floods at home, how doyou spend your free time?

My wife, Lisa, and I have threechildren ages 5, 2 and 2 months. Wecan’t remember what “free time” is!

If you would like to share informationabout new employees, recent appointmentsor outstanding coworkers, or if you orsomeone you know is interested in beingprofiled in a future issue, please [email protected].

Gwen Fisher

2005

Putting A Face to the Court Cases I recently woke listening to an

interview on WGN radio in Chicagoabout the new magazine. I find it agreat idea to help inform those inthe industry as to the importance ofmold and moisture management.

One way you could possibly getthis point across to builders is toput a face to the devastation thatmold can do to families. There arefamilies whose lives are foreverruined, children permanentlyinjured, adults whose health cannever be restored. There are manyfamilies who have had to walk out

of their homes with only the clotheson their backs, everythinglost. Builders advertise their homesas THE ideal home, how aboutshowing them the devastation whenthey don’t deliver? There are otherfaces to the mold problem besidesthe court cases.

Sherry Wied,Mold Survivor

Good Luck and Success I received your news release and

must say, this is a great magazineidea. Many professionals like medeal with moisture and mold issues

on a daily basis and did not have apublication for our specialty. So,congratulations. We are looking for-ward to reviewing the magazine.

Good luck and success.Peter H. Sierck

DirectorEnvironmental Testing

& Technology Inc.Carlsbad, Calif. m3

January 13-16, 2005International Builders’ ShowOrange County Convention Center.Orlando, Fla.Sponsored by NAHB.Contact: NAHB at 202/266-8109.February 7-9, 2005AHR ExpoOrange County Convention Center.Orlando, Fla.Co-sponsored by ASHRAE, ARI and HRAI.Contact: AHR Expo at 301/694-5243.February 10-12, 2005Lumber and Building Materials ExpoSeaport World Trade Center.Boston.Sponsored by the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association.Contact: NRLA at 518/286-1010.February 14-16, 2005Building Science: Understanding andControlling Moisture in BuildingsHoliday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf.San Francisco.Sponsored by the American Industrial Hygiene Association.Contact: AIHA at 703/849-8888.February 27 - March 2, 2005AAMA 68th Annual Meeting Marriott Harbor Beach Resort.Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Sponsored by AAMA.Contact: AAMA at 847/303-5664.March 16-17, 2005Midwest Builders ShowDonald E. Stephens Convention Center.Rosemont, Ill.

Sponsored by Home Builders of Greater Chicago.Contact: tradeshow coordinator Kelly Cilek at 630/627-7575.April 4-7, 2005Indoor Environmental Health & Technologies ConferenceSheraton Hotel.New Orleans.Sponsored by the National Association of Lead and Healthy Home Grantees.Contact: Steve Weil at 800/590-6522.May 19-21, 2005AIA National Convention and Design ExpositionMandalay Bay Convention Center.Las Vegas.Sponsored by AIA.Contact: AIA at 202/626-7300.May 21-26, 2005AIHce 2005Anaheim Convention Center.Anaheim, Calif.Co-sponsored by the American Industrial HygieneAssociation and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.Contact: AIHA at 703/849-8888.May 31-June 3, 2005PCBC 2005Moscone Center.San Francisco.Sponsored by the California Building Industry Association.Contact: PCBC at 800/956-7469.June 21-24, 2005A&WMA 98th Annual Conference andExhibition ConferenceMinneapolis.Sponsored by the Air and

Waste Management Association.Contact: A&WMA at 412/232-3444.September 14-16, 200521st Century Building Expo and Conference Charlotte Convention Center.Charlotte, N.C.Presented by the North Carolina Homebuilders Association.Contact: NCHBA at 919/676-9090.September 27-October 1, 2005Insights 2005Las Vegas.Sponsored by Disaster Kleenup International.Contact: DKI at 800/567-8047. October 6-9, 2005IAQA, NAFA & IESO Annual Meeting and ExpoHilton at Walt Disney World.Orlando, Fla.Co-sponsored by the Indoor Air Quality Association,National Air Filtration Association and IndoorEnvironmental Standards Organization. Contact: IAQA at 301/231-8388.October 8-11, 2005AMD 42nd Annual ConventionNew Orleans.Sponsored by the Association of Millwork Distributors. Contact: AMD at 727/372-3665.November 16-19, 2005SMACNA Annual Convention Marriott’s Desert Springs Resort and Spa. Palm Desert, Calif.Sponsored by SMACNA.Contact: SMACNA at 703/803-2980.

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Reader Rant

C a l e n d a r


Ideas? Opinions? Feedback? Sendthem to Reader Rant at

[email protected].

Classified


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SolutionsLegal Support800-811-5991IAQsurveys.com

LEGAL

SERVICES CONSULTING SERVICES

ADVERTISING INDEX

Advertiser Page Phone Fax www.Edgetech I.G. 07 800/233-4383 740/439-0121 superspacer.comGeorgia Pacific Corp. 03 404/652-4709 404/230-5624 gpgypsum.comGlobal Prevention Services 50 480/951-3600 480/951-6565 nomold.comJamsill Inc. 09 800/526-7455 541/488-7472 jamsill.comMold & Moisture Magazine 09, 49 540/720-5584 540/720-5687 moldmag.comNational Gypsum Co. C2 704/365-7300 800/329-6421 nationalgypsum.comNisus Corp. 23 800/264-0870 865/577-5825 nisuscorp.comPemko Manufacturing Co. 22 800/283-9988 800/283-4050 pemko.comProtecto Wrap 11 800/759-9727 303/777-9273 protectowrap.com

OTHER

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Wagner • Hohns • Inglis, Inc.CONSULTANTS TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

100 HIGH STREET • MT. HOLLY, NJ 08060 3820 NORTHDALE BLVD. #309B • TAMPA, FL 33624TEL: 609/261-0100 • FAX: 609/261-8584 TEL: 813/962-1618 • FAX: 813/963-1229

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Handling Mold-Related Casesthroughout the State of Florida

For information, contact Alvin Lodish [email protected] or call 305/375-6129

Your Ad Could Be in This

Marketplace!Reach 25,000

Readers Concerned about Moisture

Problems.Call JaneenMulligan at 540-720-5584

ext. 112 or e-mailjmulligan

@moldmag.com

EEven if you can already explain the difference between a fungus and a mold, you may not have all theanswers to today’s mold problems. Because of this, each issue of MMoollddmmaagg will provide a basic tutorial onvarious aspects of mold and moisture management. This month we’re starting at the very beginning, with

an explanation of what makes up mold and what makes it a problem.

• What is mold? Mold is a natural presence in our environment. It is alive, but is neither a plant nor

an animal. Mold is a type of fungus and part of a group of living organisms that are verycommon and serve an important role in the environment—antibiotics and yeast aretypes of mold, for example. It is unknown how many species of mold exist, but someexperts estimate that there are more than 300,000. They are found in virtually everyenvironment and can be detected, both indoors and outdoors, any time of the year.

• How does mold reproduce? Mold seeks moisture, warmth and food to grow. It will form in wet or damp areas in

temperatures between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Mold spreads by creatingmicroscopic reproductive cells called spores, which waft through the air continually.When they land on a damp spot, they may begin digesting whatever they landed on in order to survive. Sporesthrive in warm, damp and humid conditions and can grow on items such as wood, paper, carpet, foods and insu-lation. They can be found outdoors in decomposing leaves and vegetation, among other places. Indoors, theycan be found where humidity levels are high, such as basements or showers.

• Is mold bad?A few years ago, it became evident that mold was an enemy of the home. In a paper for HomeSafe

Environmental Inc., John Gura, the company’s president and senior mold inspector, noted stories about toxicmold infestations accompanied by high-profile lawsuits that have made headlines. One report said a homeown-er’s house was so contaminated by toxic stachybotrys mold that it “cannot be cleaned,” so the local fire depart-ment burned it for practice. Another couple was featured on national TV giving a tour of the million-dollar man-sion they had to evacuate because of mold.

It is important to note that all molds have the potential to cause health effects. While outdoor molds are natu-ral in the environment, indoor molds should be avoided. Molds produce allergens, irritants and, in some cases, tox-ins. People can experience a variety of health problems from inhaling or touching mold spores, includingheadaches, breathing difficulties, allergic reactions and aggravation of asthma symptoms. The types and severityof symptoms depend on the types of mold present, the extent of an individual’s exposure, the age of the individ-ual and their existing sensitivities or allergies.

• How does mold get in a building?Mold can enter a building in many ways: through open doors and windows, on the fur of a pet or through a heat-

ing or air conditioning system, for example. Mold may also form inside the house. Prime spots for mold growth areareas where flooding or leakage has occurred in roofs, pipes, walls or areas around over-watered houseplants. In48 hours, a moist environment and an organic food source can lead to mold growth.

The presence of mold can also be the result of a building’s design. Over the past few decades, changes in build-ing practices in response to energy concerns have resulted in “tighter” buildings than in the past. Tighter build-ings mean an increased potential for inadequate ventilation. Buildings that can’t breathe can’t dilute indoor pol-lutants, such as mold, that are contained in the building.

• I’ve got mold; what should I do? Mold requires water to grow. If the moisture source is eliminated, so is mold growth. While it cannot be kept

entirely out of a home, regular housecleaning and maintenance can often prevent mold problems before they arise.If mold is detected in a home, it should be cleaned promptly and the waterproblem fixed. It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within24 to 48 hours. m3

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Get the Basics of MoldWhat It Is, How It Is Formed and How You Can Prevent It


Of the four things moldneeds to grow, moisture isthe easiest to control.

Mold & Moisture 101

➧Sarah Batcheler is an editorial assistant forMold & Moisture Management.

TECHNICAL INFO: 1-800-NATIONAL

nationalgypsum.com

Because mold belongs on cheese.

You can live with mold on cheese, but not on walls. Mold and mildew can ruin your whole project.That’s why architects are specifying XP Wallboard for interior applications. XP has a moisture-resistantgypsum core wrapped in heavy moisture/mold/mildew-resistant paper. Used with good design, handling and construction practices, it can help you keep mold and mildew in their proper place.

Gold Bond® BRAND XP™ Wallboard.

m3

Mold & Moisture Management magazine provides the latest in informationand news about the elements effecting construction of both commercial andresidential buildings. To receive a subscription, please complete this formand fax it to 540/720-5687 or mail to Mold & Moisture Management magazine,P.O. Box 569, Garrisonville, VA 22463.

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