Limited and Complete Inspections
The Limited mold inspection does not include a visual examination of the entire building, but is limited to a specific area of the building identified and described by the inspector. As a result, moisture intrusion, water damage, musty odors, apparent mold growth, or conditions conducive to mold growth in other areas of the building may not be inspected.
A Complete Mold Inspection is a non-invasive visual examination of the readily accessible, visible, and installed systems and components of the building; recording moisture, temperature and humidity measurements and taking mold samples according to the IAC2 Mold Sampling Procedures.
Air, Surface (Tape and Swab) and Bulk sampling for testing.
Air / Spore Trap Sampling: Using air sampling, mold experts collect indoor air samples from the home. A control sample is also taken outside of the home. A comparison is made between the between the indoor and outdoor samples to determine if there are elevated levels of mold spores inside the home that are not naturally present in the outdoor environment.
Surface / Tape Sample: A piece of tape placed onto any areas to be tested, typically visible microbial growth. It is lifted and placed on a glass slide. The tape slide is then sealed and examined by the microbiology laboratory for mold spore presence
Surface / Swab Sampling: The swab tests use a cotton material swab to wipe the surface to be tested. After touching surfaces, the swab is sent to a lab for examination.
*Note: Tape and Swab Sampling do not typically identify spore count, which is essential to determining if there are elevated levels of mold in a home. Because all mold requires remediation, the mold spore counts are very important than the actual types of mold.
Bulk Sampling: Bulk sampling collects a destructive test of materials, such as pieces of building materials and carpet segments, and determines if they contain or show mold growth. A small portion of the material is collected that can be transported and handled easily by the laboratory (a 2” x 2” square piece is typically enough).