KATHRYN L. PASCALE, CHMM, INC.
- Mold and Indoor Air Quality Assessments Conducted by a Microbiologist
- EPA Certified Lead-Based Paint Inspectors and Risk Assessors
- Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments-REPA & CFEA Certified
- Member Florida Environmental Assessors Association
- Member Mycological Society of America
- Serving the Tri-County Area (Palm Beach, Broward & Dade) Since 1992
MOLD AND INDOOR AIR QUALITY
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Alternaria |
Aspergillus |
Curvularia |
Stachybotrys |
Kathryn is a microbiologist with 28 years of experience. Our company has conducted over 5,000 mold inspections. We have our own laboratory, so we don’t have to charge by the sample; we take as many as needed with no extra fees. Every mold inspection includes; surface samples of all visible mold and water stains; air samples in every room; samples from every A/C unit; moisture meter mapping around all windows, doors, plumbing and any other areas of potential moisture intrusion; and, interstitial wall cavity samples from all walls that moisture mapping revealed to have high moisture. In addition to analytical results the report provides conclusions and specific recommendations.
Why choose CHMM Inc. for your mold inspection?
- We are an independent and unbiased mold inspection company and as such we have no incentive for creating a mold problem where none exists, or exaggerating a small mold growth problem which only needs cleaning into a full blown remediation project
- We are not a remediation company, nor are we affiliated with any remediation company
- We do not accept commissions or any other form of payment from remediation companies
- Inspections are charged at a flat fee based on the size of the home…..what we quote is what you pay….no matter how many samples we have to take
- Because we have our own microbiologist and laboratory, we do not have to charge by the sample, as other inspectors do to cover their outside lab fees
- In a typical house, without any evident mold problems, we will take between 10 and 20 samples based on the size of the house. However, if additional samples are needed based on the conditions discovered during the inspection, there are no additional fees.
- We carry a million dollars of Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance specifically for mold
- Be sure to ask, since most inspection companies do not carry any E&O insurance for mold since it is expensive and difficult to qualify for. In fact most E&O policies specifically exclude mold. Check their Insurance ACCORD form; if it doesn’t specifically state coverage limits for mold or fungus they’re not covered
- General Liability insurance will not cover them, or you, for any mistakes they may make, such as not finding all of the areas of mold growth in the home (which is very easy to do when they are only taking a limited number of samples).
- All laboratory analyses are performed by a microbiologist
- At the laboratories used by most other inspectors, including the largest and most well known labs, samples are analyzed by technicians, not an actual microbiologist
- Our report not only identifies the type of mold and the areas where the growth was found, but also gives conclusions and recommendations as to what you should do about it
- Unless you have hired another professional such as a microbiologist or industrial hygienist, most other “certified” inspectors simply provide you with the lab report with no direction as to what to do about any growth identified.
- An exception to this lack of direction unfortunately can too often be found when using a mold remediation company to perform your mold inspection. There is a reason that the Florida Legislature wanted to ban the practice of allowing remediation companies to conduct their own inspections. It’s called conflict of interest. Expensive remediation projects are often embarked upon when a less expensive solution would have sufficed.
LEAD-BASED PAINT INSPECTIONS
CHMM’s staff includes EPA Certified Lead Inspectors, Lead-Hazard Risk Assessors, and state licensed XRF operators. The firm’s EPA Certification number is FL-2194-1. We use an EPA and HUD approved X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometer (XRF analyzer), which is non-destructive and direct reading so there is no damage to the surfaces being tested. The report can be faxed or e-mailed to you the same day. CHMM is the principal lead services company of the city and county governments of South Florida. We provide lead-based paint inspections, clearance testing and lead hazard risk assessments to the cities of Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray, Margate, Plantation, Sunrise, Dade County Housing Authority, Martin County and Palm Beach County.
A common misconception is that children are poisoned by lead-based paint only through eating peeling paint chips. Actually, most elevated blood lead levels in children come from lead in the household dust rather than ingestion of peeling paint. Lead-based paint on doors, windows and other friction surfaces, regardless of the paint condition, send lead dust into the air when they are operated. This lead dust is then ingested by the child through hand to mouth contact after touching floors, toys and other objects on which the dust settles.
Another common misconception is that only low income housing has lead-based paint. Quite the opposite is true in South Florida. Lead-based paint is high quality paint. The largest percentage of homes in which we find lead-based paint are pre-1960 multi-million dollar homes such as those in Palm Beach.
Even slightly elevated blood lead levels in children under six can result in lower IQs and emotional disorders as well physical problems such as central nervous system disorders and stunted bone growth. Remember, any home built prior to 1978 could have lead-based paint. The older the home, the higher the potential for past lead-based paint use. Most pre-1960 homes have some lead-based paint and almost all homes built before 1940 will have it. Lead inspections are a low cost way to assure that your child is not being exposed at home.
Why choose CHMM Inc. for your lead-based paint inspection?
- To meet the EPA and HUD inspection criteria numerous surfaces from every room must be tested including walls, ceilings, doors, windows, frames, moldings, etc., usually numbering over a hundred samples from each home
- An XRF analyzer is the only practical way to do this since the “paint chip” sample method requires a 2X2” paint sample from each of these areas. Imagine the home seller allowing that type of destruction for an inspection.
- That is why most other inspectors take a few paint chip samples from hidden areas such as inside a closet. That’s all well and good if you’re only planning on living in the closet. This does not meet EPA or HUD standards and worse…offers you, the home owner or home buyer little useful information about the safety of the home.
- Our inspectors, risk assessors and the firm are all EPA certified
- Check the Lead Listing to verify that the inspector you choose is EPA Certified
- Ask to see their EPA Lead-based Paint Inspector or Lead Hazard Risk Assessor ID card
PHASE I and II ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS
Kathryn is a NREP (National Registry of Environmental Professionals) Registered Environmental Property Assessor (REPA #5903), a Certified Florida Environmental Assessor (CFEA #235), a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM #1748) and a member of the Florida Environmental Assessors Association (FEAA).
The purpose of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is to assess a parcel of commercial real estate with respect to the range of contaminants within the Scope of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and petroleum products. This assessment is intended to permit the user to satisfy one of the requirements to qualify for the innocent landowner defense to CERCLA liability: that is, the practices that constitute “all appropriate inquiry into the previous ownership and uses of the property consistent with good commercial or customary practice” as defined in 42 USC 9601(35)(B)
Why choose CHMM Inc. for your Phase I?
- CHMM Inc.'s Phase I Environmental Site Assessments are conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in the ASTM Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments.
- We have over 28 years of experience in environmental sampling and local, state and federal environmental agency reporting
- Our clients include numerous banks, mortgage companies, development agencies, cities, counties and oil companies (please see client list)
- While we conduct many Phase I Site Assessments for apartment buildings, warehouses and shopping centers, we specialize in gas stations, dry cleaners, print shops, shipyards, marinas, automotive body and repair shops and other high risk properties
- We carry a million dollars of Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance specifically for Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments