Property owners are often concerned about the safety of their property and the health of their families, employees or customers. Hence it is important to identify the nature and extent of mould contamination. If your home or business is in need of an unbiased mould inspection, you need to contact the right people in the mould inspection and mould testing business. NCPI has a team of expert mould professionals and mould assessors. With our different types of mould sampling techniques, we are here to help you.
Mould spores will grow anywhere they encounter suitable levels of moisture. Mould and mildew are dangerous as they can aggravate allergies, asthma and other breathing problems. They also generate bad odours in the environment. Toxic mould can also cause indoor air quality problems, thus leading to allergic reactions and other severe symptoms.
All moulds cannot be looked at in the same way. There are different types of moulds and each type needs to be tested and treated in its own way. This will make the mould remediation process much easier.
In order to determine the extent of mould present in the property, mould specialists use a variety of collecting and testing methods. This is the first step in tackling mould growth. Once the density is established, the next step is identifying the type of mould spores and other particles in the samples.
Here are some of the most effective mould sampling methods:
Air Sampling
This is done by using a spore trap sampler. Testing for the number of mould spores in the air can help to determine how big of a mould problem there is. Air samples provide considerable information about the environment they were taken from. Even though you cannot see mould spores doesn’t mean they are not there.
Surface Swab Sampling
This is done by running a cotton swab over surfaces. This method helps to determine moulds growing on any surface. It collects samples of mould present at visible and sub-visible concentrations. It is also used when mould spores settle out of the air in an unusual quantity. This is one of the quickest methods utilised.
Tape Lift
By applying a piece of tape to the surface affected, the mould specialists are able to simply pick up spores for further testing.
Collecting Dust
Dust often shows signs of the environment and the surroundings. Hence collecting dust off everything from carpet to upholstery in a potentially mould-infected area can provide valuable information. It can help in identifying the type of spores impacting the area.
Bulk Testing
This form of testing involves bringing in the physical object impacted by mould to the laboratory. It sometimes provides the most direct route to identifying the fungus. Cutting out a piece of drywall or carpet with mould can help the lab personnel determine the type of mould and the severity from the direct sample. This was the last method from the types of mould sampling methods.
At NCPI, our goal is to assist you to return your building to a safe and healthy indoor environment. We can handle the difficult process of testing for potential mould and health hazards in your indoor environment. Our highly experienced and qualified mould sampling professionals can determine which mould has infiltrated your home. Get in touch with our specialists here or on 0413952683.