With mold contamination, there is often more than meets the eye, making it vital to check behind wallpaper and inside walls if a problem is suspected. often be narrowed down to three causes: Chemicals, particulate and biological. We advise you to consider becoming a diagnostician. Learn about the causes of indoor envi-ronmental problems and effective remedial strategies. Why do we suggest this approach? First, if all you have is a hammer, every-thing looks like a nail. In other words, if your knowledgebase is limited to dampness and mold, every indoor air quality (IAQ) problem will look like a mold problem. While many IEQ problems are dampness related, just as many — if not more — are related to other issues such as lighting, ven-tilation, chemicals and particulates. We suggest that all maintenance firms gain general knowledge on IEQ and comfort issues. This knowledge will provide guidance to better manage business risks, will serve as an aid in retaining existing accounts and will build a solid foundation upon which to Image courtesy of PuroSystems Inc. market and build profitable new business. We advise investing in the training or recruitment of a dedicated in-house special-ist in IEQ. With a combination of a solid foundation in IEQ, good listening and communication skills, your IEQ specialist will guide and assist building owners in finding solutions. Your IEQ specialist will also know when a project is beyond your capabilities and know when and who to call in when an expert or expertise is needed. Your IEQ specialist’s technical skills can also be profitably harnessed for sales and marketing. CM Cliff Zlotnik has 40 years of experience in odor removal, disaster restoration, microbial remediation and formulation chemistry, and is the co-host of IAQ Radio. Zlotnik can be reached at CZlotnik@ CS.com. Joe Hughes has 25 years of experience as an indoor environmental professional and training provider. He is president of IAQ Training Institute LLC and co-host of IAQ Radio. Hughes can be reached at [email protected]. ■ Unknowns When you cut into walls, projects never get smaller; instead, they tend to grow and take on a life of their own. ■ Are you committed? Providing mold remediation will require full-time, well-trained, fluent employees to perform and supervise the projects. They will also need to be able to communi-cate effectively with occupants and owners. Are your people up to the task? © Ultra Chem USA Inc. 491822 ® P O W E R B E Y O N D T H E C O N V E N T I O N A L A Specialized Approach Our experience tells us that building main-tenance firms are often times geared to repetitive operations. Mold remediation projects are one of a kind. We opine that considering diversification into mold remediation may be too narrow of an approach. Don’t be discouraged: While the need for mold remediation firms is either static or declining, the need for indoor environmental professionals is growing. We encourage you to address the oppor-tunity by considering a broader approach. Building occupant complaints about indoor environmental quality (IEQ) can Ultra Floor Care Technology used in Bayonne High School, NJ Are Your Cleaning Products Effective, Environmentally Safer And Economical? At Ultra Chem Labs, our Floor Care Division is a premiere product line division that possesses all of our 5 Ultra Technologies. Apply accordingly and prepared to be amazed. Electrolytic Cleaning Technology: Neutralize surfaces and soils designed for easy/safe cleaning. Selective Implosion Technology: Makes the stripping process easier and safer than ever. WWW.ULTRACHEMLABS.COM Office: 909-620-0949 Fax: 909-620-0949 [email protected] 1462 E Mission Blvd 91766 Pomona, CA Non-Styrene Polymer Technology: Provides users and business owners with an environmentally conscious, fast drying, high performance polymer that if maintained can literally eliminate the stripping process. Simply contact us for more info on all 5 Ultra Technologies. All of our products are green certified by EcoLogo (TerraChoice) except for our disinfectants Product Information no. 208 on page 24 www.cmmonline.com 33
CMM – Archives Mar 2012: 33
