Environmental and Health Risks in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest Seattle and the broader Pacific Northwest are no strangers to heavy rain, periodic flooding, and snow events that quickly turn into snowmelt. When weather patterns shift fast and moisture lingers, buildings can experience hidden impacts that are not always obvious at first glance. Roof systems,…
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Northern California • Rainy Season Building Health What Property Owners and Facility Managers Need to Know After Heavy Rain Northern California’s rainy winter season can increase the risk of moisture intrusion, mold growth, bacterial contamination, and indoor air quality (IAQ) concerns, especially after heavy rainfall, flooding, roof leaks, plumbing failures, or poor drainage. This FAQ…
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Preparing Your Business to Reopen at Full Capacity June 15 is right around the corner and businesses across California are preparing to reopen at full capacity. Unfortunately, because so many businesses have been operating well below capacity for so long, the potential for health hazards to enter your building has greatly increased. To ensure…
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School is back in session! In California, schools are opening and students and teachers will return to campuses. While we are all eager to get kids back in the classroom, reoccupying these rooms after an extended period of closure requires some careful planning. With returning to campus come concerns by many parents, teachers and staff…
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Mold growth is a more common issue in our homes and businesses than you may think. While mold spores are not usually visible to the human eye, patches of these spores congregate over time developing into what we see as mold. When hard, durable materials (e.g. metal, concrete, tile, or glass) are affected with mold,…
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Mold! It is in the environment and can both be useful, such as in composting, or making cheese, and can cause major damage and health risks in the built environment. Direct exposure to mold can lead to health risks, most of which are related to the upper respiratory system. Per the Center for Disease Control…
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How Important is Customer Satisfaction and a Quick Response to You? In the insurance industry, responsiveness and expeditious results are crucial when collecting environmental hazard data for asbestos, lead, mold, and bacteria testing reports. Knowing your environmental assessments will be on time and accurate is key to executing remedial activities and closing out a claim…
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Mold in the News … A recent article in the Seattle Times addressed a shocking concern: mold exposure at Seattle Children’s Hospital. The article explained that Aspergillus mold spores were found in operating rooms and had infected six patients since last year. After Aspergillus was initially detected, the hospital stepped up testing and immediately closed…
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What is Mold? Mold is a type of fungi that can grow indoors/outdoors and can grow almost anywhere (i.e Drywall, Ceiling Tiles and Wood Products). Mold is most commonly found in food and damp building materials and can spread quickly (24 to 72 hours) as long as it has food & moisture. Roof leaks and…
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