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U.S. Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act:
By Michael Buettner: Back to Environmental Page
Homeownership has often been defined as the American Dream. The good reasons for homeownership are numerous, ranging from financially rewarding to emotionally stabilizing. However, the recent housing construction push enabling many Americans to become homeowners may have turned this dream into a nightmare.
In efforts to provide energy efficient low cost housing, the building industry may have inadvertently provided the American public with the perfect habitat for mold. Sheltering the occupant from the outdoor environment remains important but may have taken a back seat to the focus of energy efficiency. Many modern homes are little more than an attractive, stucco covered, Styrofoam cooler. Typical residential construction consists of a wood frame supporting pressed foam panels, wrapped by a wire mesh, covered with stucco. The finished product is very energy efficient but lacks structural resistance to puncture. A child’s ball, bicycle, or other toy can become a projectile that easily pierces the outer stucco and foam layer, creating an avenue for water intrusion. Within 48 hours mold moves into an environment eager to support it’s growth.
The problem has gone largely unnoticed. But recent media attention has propelled increased awareness of this issue. Mold does not distinguish between the million-dollar home and the fifty thousand dollar home. Mold has become a modern day plague that strips individuals of their financial investment and causes emotional instability and in some cases death.
With over 120,000,000 housing units in the United States there is an emerging need for trained inspectors to screen for indoor air contaminants, including mold. To complete this task within a year and ease the current tension between builders, insurance companies, real estate professionals and consumers, over 271,000 inspections would need to be performed daily; a truly impossible task.
A new industry is on the verge of creation. Congress has been introduced to the “United States Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act” several times over the last couple of years. The new bill being proposed to congress would require states to license and monitor mold inspectors, call on the CDC to authorize a long-term study, allow states to tap federal dollars to clean up mold disasters, provide mold insurance and require homeowners and real estate developers to disclose mold problems during the property transfer.
With over 6,000,000 homes sold each year in the United States the current environmental consultant population is not large enough to handle the anticipated demand for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) inspections and screens. The obvious and best-trained professionals to assist the environmental consultants are the Home Inspectors. The stage is set to require IAQ inspections for every home sold. Currently there are approximately 20,000 active professional Home Inspectors equating to 250 inspections per year for each Home Inspector, a much more manageable number. If a home is identified as having an IAQ problem, the owner of that home would then be referred to the Industrial Hygienist or Environmental Consultant for further action.
Respircare Analytical continues to explore innovative and cost sensible approaches to IAQ hazards and contaminants. The anticipated partnership of the IAQ industry and the Home Inspection Industry appears poised to provide manageable and cost effective solutions for the American public.
Mr. Buettner, a nationally recognized lecturer, trainer and consultant, has extensive microbial training and real estate experience; this combination lends a unique insight into the relationship between indoor environmental issues and real estate laws.
Michael Buettner, CRMI, CIE, CIAQM
office: 800.283.9512
fax: 480.275.3237
email: Mike@IAQUS.com
website: www.IAQUS.com
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