Is Mold Removal Regulated by Law?

Article by David Selter

Mold removal in our area is regulated by the Texas department of Health. If you hire a mold remediation company to remove mold, and there is more than 25 contiguous square feet of mold involved, the mold remediation company must be licensed by the state of Texas and file with the state before commencing work. But before the remediation company develops its work plan for containing and removing the mold damage and actually beginning the mold cleanup, you will need to hire a licensed mold inspection and assessment consultant. The mold consultant will evaluate the situation, take air and/or surface sample for mold testing to determine what types and in what quantity mold it is present. The mold consultant will also develop what is called a mold protocol containing an assessment of the cause and extent of the mold, and their recommendations on how to remediate the mold damage. The mold cleanup company must perform the work according to this protocol and inform the property owner and mold consultant if mold is discovered beyond the original scope of work. The mold consultant will also do a mold inspection and test for mold after the work is completed and issue a final mold clearance.

BY TEXAS LAW, THE MOLD CONSULTANT AND THE MOLD REMEDIATION COMPANY CANNOT BETHE SAME COMPANY. This is for your protection, so that you will have an independent party verifying that the mold remediation is actually needed, and that it has been performed properly. Licensing of mold removal, mold consulting, and even the labs that actually test the mold samples, was put in to place in 2003 to address consumer complaints of abuses that occurred after the public scare about mold in the 1990’s. There were reported incidents of unscrupulous mold removal companies telling people they had a dangerous mold condition and scaring them into signing a contract to do work that wasn’t needed. And the property owner commonly had to rely on the company performing the work to tell them that it was performed properly and had passed clearance.

The situation for the property owner has greatly improved since the inception of the Texas Mold Licensing Program. A mold remediation company must file a Mold Remediation Notification Form with the state before beginning the job, and jobs are frequently subject to unannounced state inspections. The consumer is ensured that the remediation is done properly and approved by an independent third party and both the remediation company and the mold consultant have to sign off with the state to that effect. And after the property has received its final clearance, the property owner gets a Texas Department of Insurance Certificate of Mold Remediation stating that problem has been successfully remediated.

Need more help? Contact DryMore Mold Removal today for your mold removal needs.