Mold Inspection and Assessment

A mold inspection is the first step in a mold assessment.

During a mold inspection, I gather visual impressions of the room to be inspected. With the aid of a flashlight and an infrared camera, I look for potential thermal bridges and existing or past water damage. The search also takes place in room corners, under carpets and behind furniture, if accessible.

After I have found potential thermal bridges and water damage, during moisture testing I measure indoor air parameters and building physics parameters (surface humidity and material moisture) whether mold growth is possible under the current circumstances or not, or investigate the causes of a visible mold infestation. The moisture testing is the second step in a mold assessment.

Basically, there are only two possible causes for mold growth!

Either they are caused by

1) leaks in/on the building structure or by a

2) problematic temperature and humidity ratio (condensation damage caused by thermal bridges or incorrect heating and ventilation behavior by users).

During the full mold assessment, the location (flat, office, etc.) is visually inspected for moisture and mold and the following parameters are determined in each room:

• • Air temperature

• • Relative humidity

• • Surface temperature of the walls, especially at possible damaged areas

• • Surface humidity of the walls, especially at possible damaged areas
  • Material humidity of the walls, especially at possible damaged areas
  • Water activity on the surface to determine, if mold growth is possible or not.

 

After the moisture testing, I carry out a rapid protein test. This enables me to distinguish whether the coating on the surface is organic material or inorganic material, such as soot, dust or ‘magic dust’. In case the test is positive and organic material is detected, a mold testing can be done in different ways in order to have them examined for mold in a laboratory.

This can often determine whether it is mold, what kind of mold it is, and whether it is still an active infestation or already dead mold. This is the third, optional step in a mold assessment. 

After I gathered all available information and testing results, I compile a report with the findings and recommendations how to change the situation or how to remediate. You will receive the report as pdf via email.

This is step four – the final step – in a mold assessment.