It's a great day here in Orem, Utah! What a strange week that has just passed. Highlights included family activities on the soccer field, inspections, and an all day training at out Questar gas company training facility. I told the kids on Friday that I was going to school all day too and they looked at me funny. I was trying to impress upon them that learning is not just something that we force upon the young. If they see me eager to learn, then maybe they will continue to be excited about school also.
A day at Questar will make any Inspector stop and re-evaluate the way they are reporting on gas appliances. We spent a couple of hours on combustion venting alone. This made me step back and figure out what key phrases I needed to add to my heater and water heater reporting. We even went through the calculation tables for combustion and exhaust venting. This makes your head spin at first, especially when it comes to looking at the venting tables and learning that part of the reason that they use single wall verses double wall is because they can get away with smaller sizes. We covered many common situations and proved to ourselves through vent table calculations why it is sometimes okay to run two 40 gallon water heaters with 4" exhaust vents into a 4" exhaust vent. Typically this would require a larger diameter vent when they join and continue on as common venting.
The funniest part of the day at Questar was entering their training lab where they have over 30 different heating units. I was finally able to look down inside the combustion chambers at units without any plenums installed. I was shocked to see how different combustion chambers are made. Some are less that 1/4" thick, while others look like a tubular header system off a small block Chevy. The one that shocked me the most were the Lennox Pulse heaters that were under recall. The Pulse units have two champion spark plugs used on the minor combustion chamber to aid in the burning of the exhaust gases.... It is no wonder they seem to need repair.... Anything using spark plugs really does occasionally need a tune-up. I'll share more on the Questar edition in another edition of the MMM.
This edition of the MMM is very large. There is a lot of text covering a lot of topics. The majority of the information deals with molds; especially the popular Stachybotrys (pronounced Stocky-Bought-Truss). I found several informational articles while surfing the topic on the web and I have shared them in their entirety here. This is an edition that you will be glad to archive and refer back to at a later date. I hope that you enjoy it..... It took many hours to produce this issue..... Let me know if you benefit from it...... As a reminder, I appreciate all of those who regularly respond. I was amazed after referring to the readership list how many of you are just lurkers. Please take the time to let me know how you are feeling on the topics shared.... It is fun to hear from each of you and your opinions really are important.
It is rewarding for me to present a topic that spurs on continued conversation among Inspectors. This past week's MMM did just that. Jon Gudnason shared on the AII™ Inspector Hotline......
This is in response to a discussion in the MMM.
A termite inspector in our area reported that there was a lot of mold in the attic of a house. He determined that it was not wood destroying but most likely caused by the general lack of venting in the attic. His recommendation was to contact the county health department. Their recommendation was to remove the trusses, which is what ended up happening. As you can guess it was not a cheep fix.
When ever we find mold and/or mildew we write: "We observed mold and/or mildew at ___________ . Individual sensitivities to mold spores varies widely between individuals. Some individuals are very sensitive. Some molds are toxic. For further evaluation we recommend you consult an indoor air quality expert. " Jon Gudnason - CA
Has no one heard of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate? Very effective for killing mold, mildew,fungus,etc. The mammilian toxicity is .0001 ppm. Very safe to use. Many times structural members will have a white mold that is there when installed and will always stay unless scraped or treated. That strain is not wood destroying and does not grow or spread.
Seems to me that a solution could have been found verses replacing the roof structure. Did the health department identify the strain prior to their recommendation? Reggie Ayres - Medford,OR
Jon then responded back with........
I agree there was most likely a better solution to the situation than removing the framing, but we generally don't have much say as to what remedy others choose. The mold was black, not from original construction. I don't know much other details about the situation. The termite inspector told me the story. It does illustrate that mold can be a very big deal, and we should be on the look out.
I had a call from a client a few weeks ago. I inspected their house in July. They moved in and started getting sick. A mold expert was called in and after the carpet was pulled up mold was found covering a large portion of the subfloor. I had noted in my report that the crawl space was wet and that this was an undesirable condition that could lead to the growth of fungus and cause structural damage. I noted that the grading in the rear yard directed water into the crawl space and that remedial action should be taken to eliminate the moist crawl space condition. The client wanted to know why I had not told them about the mold and what I was going to do about it. I explained that we could not see under the carpet and did not inspect for hazardous materials as our agreement stated. The client told me they were obtaining other reports and speaking with an attorney. It has been a month and I have not heard back from them. My fingers are crossed. I have never heard of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate. I would guess that about 99.85% of the population has not heard of it either. Jon Gudnason - CA
Bill Schwahn continues to share first hand experiences with molds......
I have seen many molds in the attic, the last one was 6 ft wide and 24 ft long the full length of the attic. House:1952, no attic vents, poor roofing material many leaks framing members were wet, then they replaced the roofing material. High humidity , 20% or more moisture in the wood, no ventilation, and plenty of heat (almost no insulation in the attic, and no vents). Please use caution when you see mold anywhere, there are many different types of Fungi, and some are hazardous and some are not but will still cause allergic reactions. My phrase, "Observed Mold, Fungal growth at __________, we recommend further testing by a Microbiologist to determine the type of mold and further action. The two firms in our area that do Fungal cleanups , will not evaluate until it has been determined what type of mold is involved." Bill Schwahn - MT
Betty Buckley, our Executive Director responded with...... There will be a great class at the Annual Meeting, titled, "Scary Stories From the Attic". It covers mold and mildew in the attic as well as insulation failures. Betty Buckley - OR
Bill Schwahn continued and shared..... Molds, Fungi, and spores, USE CAUTION. I have had the recent opportunity to view a sample that was taken from a Home that I inspected in the last week. The Microbiologist, stated that the sample contained Stachybotrys, which can cause, headaches, vomiting,nosebleeds, nauseous, and even unconsciousness. Not to mention allergic reactions. PLEASE: Use a good respirator, rubber gloves,overalls, and eye protection when entering a crawl space or in attic. In this home, I had to use the above to retrieve the sample from behind the toilet in the bathroom!!! I will send pictures to Michael. So everyone can see what it looks like. BE SAFE---Good Inspecting - Bill Schwahn - MT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4 FEBRUARY 1999 * Contact: Cindy Ash, Director of Scientific Services * cash@scisoc.org * 651-454-7250 * American Phytopathological Society
ST. PAUL, MN (February 3, 1999) -- Have you found yourself suffering shortness of breath, headaches or are you just not feeling quite right, but you can't attribute it to any specific cause? Perhaps you've found it hard to concentrate and you feel fatigued easily, but haven't been able to figure out why. If you live or work in a house or building that has been flooded, or has sustained water damage, these symptoms may be a sign that you are affected by "sick building syndrome." Your environment may be toxic to your health, yet you probably have never even heard of one of the culprits, the fungus Stachybotrys chartarum.
"It's become notorious as a toxic fungus that can cause health problems in humans and animals," says Berlin Nelson, a professor at North Dakota State University and a member of the American Phytopathological Society. "Over the past 20 years in North America, evidence has accumulated implicating this fungus as a serious problem in water damaged homes and buildings." Since plant pathologists and mycologists have a wealth of expertise with fungi and molds they are able to help educate the public about home and building molds and specifically, the possible dangers of S. chartarum.
"The fungus is commonly found in homes or buildings which have sustained flooding, or water damage from broken pipes, roof leaks, sewage backups, condensation, etcetera," says Nelson. Spores of the fungus are in soil and are introduced along with flood waters or dust and dirt entering a building. The fungus is most common on the paper covering of sheetrock but can also be found on wallpaper, ceiling tiles, paper products, carpets with natural fibers, paper covering on insulated pipes, insulation material, on wood, and on general organic debris.
"Because leaks can occur behind walls and in covered ceiling areas, the fungus may grow profusely, but not be readily visible," says Nelson. When seen, the fungus generally has a black appearance and will be slightly shiny if wet; a powdery appearance if dry.
If you suspect that the fungus, Stachybotrys chartarum could be in your home, follow these steps:
For more information on this mold, visit the APS February web feature story with photographs and links to additional sites at http://www.scisoc.org.
The American Phytopathological Society (APS) is a professional scientific organization dedicated to the study and control of plant disease with 5,000 members worldwide. This information was found at:..... http://www.eurekalert.org/releases/aphyts-hfc020499.html
Bill Schwahn has continued to share information with me on this topic of molds. Here is his latest experience......
Michael, The following attachment is my latest mold adventure, if you want to call it that. I inspected a house that had a broken water pipe in the wall in the bathroom. They removed the sheetrock to repair the pipe, and found the following photo inside the wall. The fungal growth was coming out of the wall on the other side in the living room at the outlets, and big spots ranging from 2" in diameter to 12" in diameter were bubbling through the paint. After calling my friend the Microbiologist and explaining to him what this looked like. He advised me to take a sample, with permission from the buyer I took a sample and had it analyzed ( for a fee , of course). He identified this growth as Stachybotrys, which can cause,headaches, nausea, nosebleeds, allergic reactions, and even unconsciousness , with even short term exposure. The description of the details of this Fungi and others are included in the information that I mailed to you. Thanks again for your support, Bill Schwahn - MT
This is the photo of the outlet view of the mold (NOTE: If you click on the photos you can see a LARGE view of each photo). The mold around the outlet doesn't seem that dramatic or large. In fact, it is probably just another condition that everybody downplays the importance and says something like this..... "Yes that is mold. It will be important to paint it first with a primer designed for stains like KILLZ. This will keep the discoloration from bleeding through again. As for the mold, if you can stop the water source, it can dry out and molds should not get any worse without a source of moisture."....... Have you ever found yourself saying something like this???
Now take a look at the inside of the wall cavity when they opened it up to repair the leaking pipe. That is full coverage black Stachybotrys...... Very unhealthy at best!!! After our current and recent discussions has your opinion changed???
Your Name: Please include your name or else I don't know who it is from.
DEADLY MOLD IS FOUND IN CELLARS OF 2 HOMES - Sewers in Macomb Twp., Farmington spew substance that killed babies in Ohio.
By Kevin Lynch/ The Detroit News
A mold linked to ten infant deaths in Cleveland has been found in two Metro Detroit houses, according to a Troy-based air quality testing company.
Unnamed homeowners in Macomb Township and Farmington contacted Sanit-Air about eight weeks ago after sewer backups produced a suspicious slimy black mold in their basements.
Test results have confirmed the presence of the indoor mold Stachybotrys -- which when combined with exposure to cigarette smoke, can cause fatal bleeding in the lungs of babies under 12 months old.
While no babies live in the two homes tested, Sanit-Air vicepresident Connie Morebach and other experts said Thursday that the molds can show up any time woodbased fixtures are wet for long periods of time.
"The most recent two cases that we've found have been a result of sewer back-ups," Morebach said. "I can't say much about the specific homes. There were no deaths, but all of these individuals report not feeling well."
The Farmington family, whose home is near Northwestern and Middlebelt, includes children who are 8 to 10 years old, Morebach said. No children live in the Macomb Township home, which is near the Hall and Hayes roads.
"I'm a little leery of making too much of it, unless there are babies in the home," cautioned Dr. Dorr Dearborn of Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital near Cleveland.
In adults, Dearborn said, the worst symptoms attributed to Stachybotrys tend to be minor problems such as headaches, sinus problems and nosebleeds.
Still Dearborn, an associate director of the hospital's pediatric pulmonary division, knows that without careful scrutiny, infant deaths probably caused by the mold -- estimated to be present in 1 to 2 percent of all homes -- can easily be misdiagnosed.
It was Dearborn who first used a scientific study to finger Stachybotrys as the culprit in a widely reported case involving a cluster of unexplained infant deaths in the Cleveland area. In 1995, Dearborn and the Cuyahoga County coroner found both the black mold and an exposure to second-hand smoke in ten homes where babies died. At first, their deaths were believed to be Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 1995.
Dearborn theorizes that the mold weakens the small veins in babies' tender lungs, leaving them vulnerable to bleeding when irritated by smoke. In severe cases, their lungs fill with blood, causing death by suffocation.
Although he won't be able to confirm his theory with certainty until medical technology can detect the presence of the mold in tissue samples of the infants' lungs, Dearborn says it's foolish to bet he's wrong.
"Thirty years ago, the surgeon general told us we'd get cancer from smoking, but it wasn't until last year that we were able to establish a cause and effect with absolute medical certainty. So should we wait 30 years while more babies die from this (Stachybotrys mold)?"
The Cuyahoga County Health Department advises: If you find mold of any kind growing in your home, treat the affected area with bleach for at least 15 seconds. Deeply affected wood should be removed from the home or treated by a professional service. - Copyright 1997, The Detroit News
This article was found at.... http://www.detnews.com/1997/macomb/9711/03/10310167.htm
Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 107, Number 11, November 1999 * Children's Mercy Hospital
Infant Pulmonary Hemorrhage in a Suburban Home with Water Damage and Mold (Stachybotrys atra)
Susan M. Flappan, Jay Portnoy, Patricia Jones, and Charles Barnes - Department of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
ABSTRACT - The American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued guidelines regarding the potential toxic effect of indoor molds. We now report another case of an infant with pulmonary hemorrhage whose residential environmental assessment revealed the presence of the toxigenic mold Stachybotrys atra. We used a questionnaire to identify environmental factors that could predispose the home to fungal contamination. We collected air samples from multiple locations in the home that we felt would reflect areas of relevant exposure. Surface samples were collected with a piece of transparent tape for semiquantitative measurement of spores present. We classified spores into their respective genera based on shape, size, and color. We also measured mycotoxin levels. Air sampling revealed significantly elevated total spore counts in the patient's bedroom and in the attic. Aspergillus/Penicillium species were predominant. Stachybotrys spores were found in the air sampled in the patient's bedroom, as well as from surfaces sampled in the patient's closet and the attic ceiling. Additionally, a small patch of stachybotrys-contaminated area in the closet ceiling was sent for mycotoxin analysis. This material proved to be highly toxigenic. As the link between the presence of Stachybotrys in the home and pulmonary hemorrhage in infants increases, further efforts should be made to educate physicians, health care providers, and new parents about the potential toxic effects of this mold. Key words: floods, fungus, idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage, IPH, mold exposure, mycotoxins, Stachybotrys, toxic mold, tricothecenes, water damage. Environ Health Perspect 107:927-930 (1999). [Online 20 October 1999]
This article was found at.... http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1999/107p927-930flappan/abstract.html
The Seattle Times Company * Posted at 03:57 a.m. PDT; Thursday, August 20, 1998
by Dionne Searcey - Seattle Times South bureau
A small splotch of black slime on the wall of a bathroom at White Center Heights Elementary is causing major headaches for the Highline School District.
Workers three weeks ago peeled away trim on a wall to reveal the slime, a toxic mold called stachybotrys, which is known to cause respiratory illnesses.
The district shut the school because of health concerns, and yesterday officials announced that the 475 students and staff members would be moved to Beverly Park Elementary, about a mile and a half away. The move is expected to delay the start of classes, said Nick Latham, district spokesman.
The Beverly Park building has been rented since 1992 when the district relocated its students because the building was too small. Highline will add portables to the site to help house the new students.
Many parents are fretting about finding day care for children during the delay before Beverly Park is ready, which staff members say could be as long as three weeks. Also, parents, most of whom are Cambodian and Vietnamese and don't speak English, are worried about busing young children who have always walked to school.
"I'm not real thrilled," said Carolyn West, whose two children attend White Center Heights. "But I don't see any way around it."
Highline has organized interpreters and is planning to take parents and students on buses to Beverly Park before it opens so they get to know the bus system and the building.
The move also is causing problems for a private school, New Horizon, which is leasing space in Beverly Park for about 80 learning-disabled students. New Horizon officials, who had been preparing for the opening of school Sept. 8, learned Friday they were being evicted and must be out by mid-September. The school has yet to find another building and may have to push back the start date.
"They are obviously concerned, and we're sympathetic," said Highline's Latham, "but we're in a bind."
The fuss surrounding the White Center mold prompted district officials Monday to investigate complaints about Cedarhurst Elementary, Latham said. Highline maintenance crews found a nontoxic form of mold in walls there.
Workers should be finished removing the mold and making renovations to Cedarhurst next week, he said, and school should open on time. Workers will spend the fall analyzing the severity of the problem at White Center Heights. It's unclear whether Highline will ever house students again in that building.
Toxic mold, which usually develops from water leaks, is commonly cited as the cause for closing schools, courthouses and a number of old buildings, said David Anderson, a toxicologist who was hired by Highline to help diagnose the problem.
Anderson worked with the private Lakeside School in North Seattle earlier this year on the testing and cleanup of fungi in ceiling tiles. The school closed temporarily because of health concerns. Similar incidents have occurred in Cle Elum and Bainbridge Island, he said.
According to the state Department of Health, which has been contacted about the Highline situation, people have become more aware that mold might be invading their workplaces and are testing for it more than in the past.
In Highline, complaints from teachers suffering from respiratory illnesses and flulike symptoms prompted officials to test the building for mold last spring. Milder forms of fungi were discovered and were being removed this summer when the toxic mold was spotted.
In addition to the hundreds of thousands of dollars being spent on mold removal and studies of the site, Highline is paying a doctor to examine uninsured students who may have been affected by the mold.
West said her two children, a fourth-grader and fifth-grader at White Center Heights, suffer from severe allergies.
"I'm anxious to see if they get better this year," she said.
This article was located at.... http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/education/html98/mold_082098.html
I thought that you might find this information posted on an Environmental Lawyer's website. It seems that there is a lot of money to be made in the name of protecting peoples health. It seems that any Inspector interested in getting specialized in this field might also make some networking contacts with the likes of this firm.
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW - Law Offices of Edward H. Cross & Associates has extensive experience in indoor environmental law, particularly in representing those who have been made ill due to poor indoor air quality. The firm’s mission is to increase awareness of indoor environmental problems and help those who have suffered illness as a result of microbial contamination. This sort of contamination is often the result of negligence or construction defect.
Typically, our indoor air quality cases involve water damage that leads to the growth of fungi such as stachybotrys chartarum (atra), aspergillus sp., penicillium, cladosporium and trichoderma. These fungi are known producers of toxins that many doctors believe are dangerous to humans and animals, and can cause a variety of symptoms including but not limited to flu-like symptoms, fatigue, headache, allergies, asthma, loss of concentration, general malaise, and perhaps even cancer. It has also been implicated in cases of multiple chemical sensitivity ("MCS"). This is a controversial area of science.
However, a variety of other conditions and construction defect issues can lead to poor or unhealthful indoor air quality, such as VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), which are chemicals from carpet, furniture, paint, and other items. Another important source of poor air quality is improper or defective ventilation or other contamination in the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system. Ducts should be cleaned periodically using specialized containment procedures. This should only be performed by qualified experienced professionals.
There are thousands of species of fungi, many of which may be harmless. If you see a heavy growth of mold growing in your home or workplace, take immediate action, but do not become alarmed. Contact a qualified environmental consultant with experience in this field. Certain industrial hygienists, environmental assessors and microbiologists have experience in this area. Ask whether they believe testing (such as a microbial survey) is necessary. Some governmental agencies or individuals may advise against testing. We suggest that you seek all the facts, and get a second opinion before arriving at your own well-reasoned decision.
We will help you with this difficult and time-consuming process. Although we are not scientists, and cannot give scientific advice, we have a large database of consultants. They may be able to help you with your particular problem. We can provide you with this information free of charge. Call us at (714) 541-2767 for a referral.
It may also be appropriate for you to seek medical attention from an occupational health specialist or allergist who has experience with this type of exposure. Be careful in your selection. A bad choice could be damaging not only medically—but legally.
If there is mold or fungal growth in your residence or workplace, or water damage or other condition that you expect may be causing health problems, call us immediately at (714) 541-2767, before the mold is removed, and we will make important suggestions as to how the testing should be performed in order to preserve evidence for possible legal action. Extra testing may be helpful if you intend to take legal action. Special medical tests may be helpful too. It is important that you do not wait, because statutes of limitations impose strict deadlines on the filing of lawsuits. If your suit is not filed before the deadline, it will be barred and you will recover nothing. See Litigation Crash Course to learn more about the process of a lawsuit.
The Law Offices of Edward H. Cross & Associates has developed a program for funding medical and environmental tests in certain situations. Due to recent El Nino weather conditions, and widespread water damage, the need for indoor environmental surveys (and microbial testing) appears stronger than ever.
It has come to our attention in recent months that there are many individuals across the country who are in urgent need of diagnostic testing, but are facing serious financial constraints. In some situations, there appear to be serious indoor environmental problems, but sadly, the occupants cannot afford the testing necessary to demystify the problem.
The Cross & Associates Environmental Survey Funding Program was designed to address this problem. Where warranted, we will pay for testing, such as air, surface and bulk samples of indoor fungi, as well as allergy tests, pulmonary function tests and immunoglobulin antibody tests. Of course, we are selective about the cases we take and reserve the right to refuse funding at our discretion.
The goal of this program is threefold: (1) to help provide the occupants with reliable information about the conditions of their environment so they can make informed decisions about medical treatment and remediation; (2) to increase the body of data available to the scientific community; and (3) to preserve evidence in case the occupant later decides to pursue legal action.
If you know of a possible indoor environmental problem and funding is needed for testing, call Edward H. Cross, Esq. directly at (714) 541-2767, Ext. 21, or e-mail us at edcross@edcross.com. We are optimistic about the potential benefits of this program, and hope that in some small way, it will improve public health.
People often fail to realize that mold growth is often due to the negligence of a landlord, homeowner’s association, builder or other party. Mold growth often occurs where there is water damage. Water damage may be the result of defective plumbing, construction defect, flooding from a city sewer system, negligent maintenance by a landlord, etc. Perhaps you purchased a home from a seller who fraudulently concealed the growth, or the water damage.
Do not underestimate the chances of finding a responsible party for the harm you have suffered: that is a legal question. Call us at (714) 541-2767, and we will help you determine whether anyone may be legally responsible for your illnesses, and for remediation of the damage. Document as much evidence as possible, by making notes and photographing/videotaping the mold, and occupants.
Obviously, just because you have mold in your home or place of business does not necessarily mean that it made you ill or that you can sue anyone for it. Our job is to determine whether you have a legitimate claim against a third party who is responsible for the harm. They may be required to pay for repairs, pay your lost wages and pay you for pain and suffering, inconvenience, emotional distress and medical bills. If their conduct was despicable and in bad faith, they may be liable for punitive damages to deter that sort of conduct. See Litigation Crash Course to learn more about the process of a lawsuit.
Each indoor environmental case carries its own dynamic of intricate scientific, medical and construction defect issues that should be studied thoroughly in order to give the client the zealous advocacy he or she deserves. This section contains a few guidelines we believe are important when selecting an attorney to represent you in an indoor environmental case. For a more detailed explanation, call us at (714) 541-CROSS (2767), or e-mail us at edcross@edcross.com.
A united front can be the key to a successful case, as discussed in more detail in the construction defect section. Due to the costs and burden of this type of case, we often recommend that victims join together with others who have been exposed by the same source, or the same set of sources. There are numerous advantages to litigating with other Plaintiffs:
If you believe you are a victim of some sort of toxic or microbial exposure, and you want legal advice, you need an attorney with a track record. The law firm of Edward H. Cross & Associates has enjoyed enormous success in indoor environmental personal injury litigation, particularly involving toxic mold and microbial contamination. In the 90 day period immediately preceding the preparation of this web site, Cross & Associates recovered well over $1.1 million for victims of mold exposure. The firm will entertain indoor environmental cases in all 50 states. Experience is key.
These cases can be very difficult to prove, and most attorneys are not equipped to adequately prosecute them. "Causation" is the trick to proving most indoor environmental cases. In other words, to be successful in California, your attorney must be able to prove to a reasonable degree of medical probability that your exposure was the cause of your symptoms. Expect your adversary to claim that your illnesses were the result of some other condition, such as a pre-existing illness, a head injury, drug use or some other event or exposure that was not their fault.
Your attorney must know how to contend with the fact that toxic exposure causes illnesses that are "non-specific," meaning the illness itself does not conclusively indicate its cause. For example, flu-like symptoms may be evidence of toxic exposure. On the other hand, they may simply indicate that you have the flu.
Our firm works closely with the leading experts in this field (of which there are few) in order to help distinguish between illness caused by exposure, and illness that you would have had irrespective of the exposure.
If you are ill, contact a physician immediately. For more information about the science and medicine of toxic exposure, and where to turn for help if you believe you are suffering from toxic exposure, visit toxicexposure.com, sponsored by the law firm of Edward H. Cross & Associates. See Litigation Crash Course to learn more about the process of a lawsuit.
Many of our indoor environmental clients have come to us after being represented by other attorneys who underestimated the complexity and expense of these types of cases, or failed to appreciate their merit. Contrary to popular belief, the law business is not booming, and many lawyers will go to great lengths to get work. They may attempt to pursue an indoor environmental case without being fully prepared. Many attorneys who take indoor environmental cases start off enthusiastic, but quickly become disillusioned and overwhelmed by the workload, and the client suffers. If your attorney has become disillusioned about your case, find another.
Some personal injury attorneys attempt to take indoor environmental cases without doing the necessary homework, and end up dropping the client halfway through the case. When this happens, the client is left scrambling to find another attorney. The original attorney often holds a lien on the case for the reasonable value of services rendered toward the matter, making it difficult or impossible for another attorney to take the case or represent the client profitably.
Another problem that arises when changing attorneys is that the original attorney may have made errors that cannot be reversed. The moral to the story is to do your utmost to find the right attorney the first time. Experience is key.
Our approach to these problems:
Copyright 1998 - Edward H. Cross, Esq. * Law Offices Of Edward H. Cross & Associates
1666 North Main St. Second Floor, Santa Ana, Ca 92071-7417
e-mail: edcross@edcross.com Phone: (714) 541-2767
http://www.edcross.com/indoor_environmental_law.htm
"What are your thoughts on the future of molds, fungus, and spores litigation? Isn't their going to be a big need of professionals like us who can accurately perform the possible moisture sources?"
For Immediate Release * Contact: Ken Giles * October 10, 2000 * Release # 01-008
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the home heating season approaches, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers to have a professional inspection of all fuel-burning appliances -- including furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, clothes dryers and space heaters -- to detect deadly carbon monoxide (CO) leaks.
These appliances burn fuels -- typically gas, both natural and liquefied petroleum; kerosene; oil; coal; and wood. Under certain conditions, these appliances can produce deadly CO. However, with proper installation and maintenance, they are safe to use.
CO is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning any fuel. The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to flu, and include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. Exposure to high levels of CO can cause death.
"CO poisoning associated with using fuel-burning appliances kills more than 200 people each year and sends more than 10,000 to hospital emergency rooms for treatment," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown.
CPSC recommends that the yearly professional inspection include checking chimneys, flues and vents for leakage and blockage by creosote and debris. Leakage through cracks or holes could cause black stains on the outside of the chimney or flue. These stains can mean that pollutants are leaking into the house. In addition, have all vents to furnaces, water heaters, boilers and other fuel-burning appliances checked to make sure they are not loose or disconnected.
Make sure your appliances are inspected for adequate ventilation. A supply of fresh air is important to help carry pollutants up the chimney, stovepipe or flue, and is necessary for the complete combustion of any fuel. Never block ventilation air openings.
CPSC recommends that every home should have at least one CO alarm that meets the requirements of the most recent Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2034 standard or International Approval Services 6-96 standard.
Consumers should also have the vent pipes on their heating systems inspected. In 1998, virtually the entire furnace and boiler industry together with the manufacturers of high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes joined with CPSC to announce a vent pipe recall program. The program's purpose is to replace, free of charge, an estimated 250,000 HTPV pipe systems attached to gas or propane furnaces or boilers in consumers' homes. The HTPV pipes could crack or separate at the joints and leak CO.
Consumers can check the vent pipes attached to their natural gas or propane furnaces or boilers to determine if they are part of this recall. They can be identified as follows: the vent pipes are plastic; the vent pipes are colored gray or black; and the vent pipes have the names "Plexvent(r)," "Plexvent(r)II" or "Ultravent(r)" stamped on the vent pipe or printed on stickers placed on pieces used to connect the vent pipes together. Consumers should also check the location of these vent pipes. For furnaces, only HTPV systems that have vent pipes that go through the sidewalls of structures (horizontal systems) are subject to this program. For boilers, all HTPV systems are subject to this program. Other plastic vent pipes, such as white PVC or CPVC, are not involved in this program.
After checking the vent pipes, consumers should call the recall hotline toll-free at (800) 758-3688, between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. ET, seven days a week, to verify that their appliance venting systems are subject to this program. Consumers with eligible systems will receive new, professionally installed venting systems free of charge. Additionally, consumers who already have replaced their HTPV pipe systems may be eligible for reimbursement for some or all of the replacement costs.
Michael, I have a friend who builds surfboards and this is precisely what the shavings of foam look like after the "blank" has been milled and shaped by power and hand planes, sanding screens, and routers. By any chance has an old surfboard/sailboard shaper lived at this house in the past, it is not traditionally a very lucrative profession and they have piles of this hard to get rid of residue covering their shaping bays. Cheap, nearly endless supply of "insulation". Yes, some surfboards are built in the arid interior of the country where climatic conditions are perfect for the "glassing" stage of production. Peter Barten
I am not aware of any surfboard shapers in our area.
It looks like spun batting that is used inside furniture. My family has been in the furniture business for years, and it looks like the stuffing that goes in the back of a Sofa. Do you have anywhere in your county that manufactures batting for furniture in large counties, may be someone worked in one of these factories and got it free?? I know its a stretch. Bill - Unknown which Bill
This is so light and fluffy that it could never be furniture batting/stuffing..... So this Photo Challenge goes unanswered. What is this stuff???.... We may never know.
Hallelujah! The Annual Meeting brochures (514) have all been mailed out. This was no easy feat. I worked with a great free-lance graphic designer who has helped me keep some sanity through this project. The first time we went to Print with the brochures we found the cover picture would not work because of some technicality that was beyond my comprehension, some weird situation that happens once in a lifetime. Our local newspaper was terrific in getting us another picture within one day. The cover picture is a house that is currently listed for sale in Klamath Falls, Oregon and the seller works at the newspaper so we didn't have to worry about any copyright infringements. She was thrilled to have her house, which really is quite grand, get all this exposure.
So...we finally made it back to the Printers with our new cover picture and all text approved. The final proof was ready and approved two days later. A few copies after the printing began, they had an equipment failure that put them down for five days waiting for parts. We discovered it would take longer and almost double the cost to change to another, out of town printer that would guarantee them in five working days! Oh great!! Meanwhile all of the envelopes had been addressed and stamped according to the amount quoted by the United States Postal Service.
Since I was out of town for a week (1st time in a year), my assistant was ready to stuff envelopes the minute they came off the press. She did good to get half of the envelopes out Tuesday night after her other job, only to have 230 of them returned on Wednesday for insufficient postage. Nathan and Misty, (his new wife and my assistant), spent Thursday and Friday adding postage and remailing all of the brochures. None came back on Saturday so I am hopeful that they are closer to you all now than me. But, like I said, it was no easy feat- they just didn't seem to want to leave here! I hope you think they are as nice as I do. I thought I had started this project early but because so many things went awry it didn't turn out that way. Another lesson for the new Executive Director!
After some recent discussion with our President, Scott Merritt we have decided to delay printing the new Membership Roster until after the Annual Meeting. It just seems more appropriate to send it out after the elections in order to list the new Executive Officers and Board of Director Members. I realize some of you have been patiently waiting for your Rosters and some of you have been calling me for membership information. Please continue to do both. When you receive your Rosters they will hold the most current information.
The Nominating/Elections Committee has been on the phone to several of you recently, working on our ballot to present it to the Board of Directors and then on to the A.I.I. Membership. If you have been nominated for a position I hope you will do your best to actively participate in your association. We have some really talented people in our association who have a lot of experience and professionalism to share with others. We appreciate our seasoned inspectors and support people for their dedication to making our association work. It is also great to have new people step up to the plate with fresh ideas. If you haven't been called, please consider letting us know by calling the A.I.I. office at 1-800-877-4770 that you are interested in a position. Watch for your ballot in the mail soon, vote and return it as soon as possible. The ballots will be tallied and the new Officers and Board of Director Members announced at the Annual Meeting.
We currently have three sub Chapters of The American Institute of Inspectors; The Sacramento Chapter, The Northern Washington Chapter and The Southern Oregon Certified Home Inspectors Chapter. We have some wonderful Annual meetings and now Spring Conferences, but what about all those other months? I used to leave the Annual Meeting fully revived and excited about my career. After a few weeks I felt isolated again, and back into working hard to build our business. Fortunately, for us, we now have a Southern Oregon Chapter of A.I.I. and I don't have to wait six months to personally interact with other inspectors any longer. I come home from our local (70 miles away) Chapter Meeting feeling excited about my career.
I get phone calls and emails from other inspectors in our association who wish there was a Chapter in their areas. Article V of our By-Laws discusses Chapters and Regions. "A group of members may be recognized by the Board of Directors". Tom Walther of Vista, CA wants to belong to a Chapter in his area. Is there anyone else close to him to get a group together? It may be easier to figure out who is close enough to you to start a Chapter after the membership Roster is printed. However if you are interested in doing this please call me at 800-877-4770 or send out a message on the Hot Line to see who is around you that may also be interested. We use our meetings to offer continuing education to our members. It has also built quite an alliance between inspectors of the same local area.
Well, I have been pretty wordy this month. Please feel free to offer feedback at any time. I welcome good communication with our members. See you ALL, (wouldn't that be wonderful!) at the American Institute of Inspectors Annual Meeting at the Red Lion Hotel- Coliseum in Portland, Oregon November 11th & 12th. Scott, we will be overlooking the Willamette River. Pre Conference Class also available.
Best regards, Betty Buckley - Executive Director of The American Institute of Inspectors
PRE-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE CHANGE I hate these, but sometimes they are out of our control. I hope this will not inconvenience anyone too badly. The AII™ Mobile Home Training (for Certification) Class has been canceled. In it's place will be:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10 - "Oregon Manufactured Dwelling Standards" - Instructor Al Rust
Willamette Room - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Al Rust, Manufactured Home Inspector with the Oregon Building Codes Division puts on several seminars throughout the year for 'Code Inspectors'. The OBCD is excited at the opportunity to share the Oregon Manufactured Dwelling Standards with private inspectors. Although this class is geared toward Oregon Inspectors there will be useful information for all inspectors. Some of the numerous Agenda topics that will be covered; Site preparation, Foundation systems, Structural connections, Anchoring systems, Skirting and access requirements, Ventilation and vapor barriers, Utility Connections, Fireplaces - woodstoves and pellet stoves. Lunch and book, "Oregon Manufactured Dwelling Standards" included. (8) CEU's Class Fee $115
MICHAEL'S NOTE: The information shared in the seminar should be valid in the surrounding states as well because they are mainly drawn from the HUD guidelines and not something that the state of Oregon dreamed up on their own.
MIRACLE SNAKE OIL - Have you seen this product???
Hey, what a great score. Who would of thought that there could be such a marvelous product, and for only $5.95. Have you seen this product or have you used it yet? I'm looking for feedback because it may just be the solution to a lot of our woes. In fact, we all could raise our fees $6 per inspection and just use a can on each home. Maybe we could get a group discount and maybe get custom can holders. Just think of it..... We could just spray a dab here and there and then we wouldn't have to report on anything. See a roof leak, dab it! See a leaking toilet bowl seal, dab it! See a leaking plumbing joint, dab it! This is truly amazing...... I wonder if it will work for dripping faucets. Afterall, it is named Stop Leak. Just look at all of the things listed in the ad.... This stuff will seal up almost everything. I'm even wondering if this stuff is the cure for leaking EIFS systems. It says that it forms a "Permanent Protective Seal." It has been seen on TV too so it must be good.
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