Canine Mold Detectives and Infrared Cameras - A New and Better Way to Wage 'War on Spores'
Princeton Company First to Combine Mold Dogs™ and Infrared Thermography in the Search for Mold and Moisture Problems in Commercial and Residential Buildings
PRINCETON, NJ (PRWEB) June 22, 2004 -- Lab Results LLC has become the first
company in the US to combine infrared thermal imaging and Mold Dogs™ in the
search for mold and moisture problems in commercial and residential
buildings.
Infrared thermal imaging is a proven, non-destructive,
non-invasive method for detecting moisture in walls and roofs, which can promote
mold growth and rot. Lab Results LLC’s certified infrared thermographers,
certified Mold Dog™ handlers and certified mold inspectors can now diagnose a
building from multiple perspectives and find hidden mold and moisture problems
early.
Infrared technology is especially useful for inspecting flat
roofing systems and synthetic stucco systems, which rarely give any visual clues
as to their condition or the location of leaks and moisture retention.
Litigation involving synthetic stucco, or exterior insulating finish systems
(EIFS), is rampant nationwide.
EIFS exterior cladding is blamed by
plaintiffs for retaining moisture that gets behind it and thus helping to allow
mold growth and rotting within exterior wall cavities.
Basketball legend
Michael Jordan and his wife, Juanita, filed a lawsuit in March against the maker
of a synthetic stucco system, Sto Corp., alleging that the system admitted and
trapped moisture that led to extensive rot, mold and other problems at their
Highland Park, IL home. Dryvit Systems Inc. also has been involved in multiple
litigations and has agreed to settlements in some cases.
Lab Results LLC
brought the first certified Mold Dog™, Oreo, to the Northeast last year and now
leads a network of independent certified mold dog handlers ready to take on big
jobs when needed. The scientific community has greeted Oreo and her kind with
enthusiasm.
Dr. George Carroll, mycologist at Mould Works said, “The
appearance of mold-sniffing dogs is a brilliant solution to the problem of
locating sources of household mould. Dogs when properly trained are in fact
exquisitely sensitive walking gas chromatographs with a proven record in
locating moldy substrates even when hidden behind partitions or on the insides
of walls.”
While a mold-detection canine can quickly find mold inside a
home or commercial building, infrared thermal imaging has the edge on the
exterior. Properly used under the right conditions, infrared thermography can
serve as an early warning system for flat roofs that tend to retain water long
before they actively leak. The technology also can detect temperature variations
that a certified infrared thermographer would use to find moisture accumulation,
condensation, infiltration and leakage in wall systems and windows, all of which
can provide an environment conducive to mold growth.
The combined use of
Mold Dogs™ and infrared thermal imaging during EIFS inspections is the most
effective non-destructive and non-invasive method of surveying a property for
potential mold and moisture problems. The combination can tell a property owner
or potential buyer whether there may be a serious hidden problem, before any
cutting or sampling is done.
Typical current inspection methods involve
much guesswork and the random cutting of core samples or pieces of walls – both
inside and out – to analyze for mold and moisture. Using the Lab Results method,
samples are taken only to confirm indications of mold or moisture found by the
Mold Dog™ or infrared thermal imaging.
A combined Mold Dog™ and infrared
thermal imaging inspection can protect a potential buyer from acquiring a lemon
property or from incurring repair and remediation costs far beyond a building’s
value.
Existing property owners can either obtain peace of mind in
knowing their problems are minor or nonexistent, or they can use the information
to pursue litigation, enforce warranty issues, or guide remediation and repair
efforts.
"This is an area in which what you don't know can hurt you
badly, said Jason Earle, founder of Lab Results LLC. "In any situation involving
real estate, knowledge truly is power, no matter which side of the deal you're
on."
"A mold problem is a moisture problem," Earle said. "When we find
moisture problems early, we can sometimes prevent mold and rot from taking hold.
This not only serves to save building owners and homeowners money but also can
help protect the health of the occupants."
Lab Results LLC is an indoor
air-quality improvement company based in Princeton, NJ. The company specializes
in the detection, location, diagnosis and prevention of mold growth and moisture
problems in all indoor environments including residential, commercial and
industrial spaces. The company also consults with property owners and
contractors to provide project guidance on remediation projects.
For more
information or photos, contact Jason Earle at Lab Results LLC: 1-800-630-9047
ext. 711, email e-mail protected from spam bots or visit http://www.StopMold.com.
# # #
Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/6/prweb135697.htm