On July 1, 2011, the State of Florida passed a law requiring anyone performing mold remediation or mold assessment to attend required educational classes, and apply to the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for licensure.
The Florida Legislature found it necessary in the interest of the public safety and welfare, to prevent damage to real and personal property, to avert economic injury to the residents of this state, and to regulate persons and companies that hold themselves out to the public as qualified to perform mold-related services. Prior to enactment of this law, anyone could perform these services without proper credentials, so this new law has raised the standard for everyone performing these services.
Most property owners are unaware of the difference between a Mold Remediator and a Mold Assessor. We receive a lot of inquiries from property owners asking us to perform Air Quality testing or asking what the difference between is between mold remediation and mold assessment. We always advise property owners that the company who performs the inspection and testing should be independent of any mold remediation companies. This is the industry’s #1 conflict of interest, therefore, the State of Florida is regulating the industry to prevent this conflict of interest. For example, it’s in the best interest of the mold remediation contractor to find mold in your property if they performed air quality testing so they can benefit from their findings, however, this can lead to unscrupulous contractors taking advantage of homeowner’s who simply do not know better. Below is an explanation of Mold Assessment and Mold Remediation:
Mold assessment is a process performed by a mold assessor that includes the physical sampling and detailed evaluation of data obtained from a building history and inspection to formulate an initial hypothesis about the origin, identity, location, and extent of amplification of mold growth of greater than 10 square feet.
Mold remediation is the removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventive activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter of greater than 10 square feet that was not purposely grown at that location; however, such removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventive activities, may not be work that requires a license under Chapter 489, Florida Statutes, unless performed by a person who is licensed under that chapter or the work complies with that chapter.
According to the Florida State Statute 468.8419 Prohibitions; penalties.—
(1) A person may not: Perform or offer to perform any mold assessment to a structure on which the mold remediator or the mold remediator’s company provided a mold remediation within the last 12 months; Perform or offer to perform any mold remediation to a structure on which the mold assessor or the mold assessor’s company provided a mold assessment within the last 12 months.
The safest and most protective approach to a mold problem is to follow the 3-step Process:
1) The establishment of the problem – (Mold Assessment and Mold Remediation Protocol) by a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor
2) The repair of the problem – (The Mold Remediation) by a Florida Licensed Mold Remediator
3) The verification that the mold remediation was successful – (The Post remediation Verification Inspection or Clearance Test) by a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor
Following the 3-step process will protect your financial investment, and ensure you are resolving your mold problem effectively and safely as best as possible.