Our Equipment

Equipment And Scientific Instruments Used During A Mold Inspection

Throughout the process of a mold inspection, there are five basic pieces of equipment a Certified Inspector will use to determine the presence, chance, type and extent of mold. From counting particles to measuring moisture and humidity levels, each piece of equipment helps ensure accurate inspection results.

	Laser Particle Counter Contaminants like bacteria and fungus (mold), generally found to be 0.3 - 10.0 microns in size, are not easy to count or measure. However, the Laser Particle Counter used by Next Generation is specifically configured to detect the presence of mold spores. Industry guidelines state that the amount of bio-contaminants within a physical structure should be "equal to or less than" the amount of bio-contaminants in the outside ambient air. Using this particle counter greatly increases a Certified Inspector's chances of detecting an amplified or high count of mold spores in an indoor environment.
	Non-Penetrating Moisture Meters Experimental and clinical case studies conducted by scientific, research, and regulatory organizations have shown that exposure to water damage and related mold spores in indoor environments to be a human health risk. In order to discover the presence of moisture that can allow microbial amplification to occur, Next Generation uses a Non-Penetrating Moisture Meter. The device is configured to detect moisture in various materials including wood, timber, drywall, roofing, plaster, brick and concrete. As it does not require the insertion of a probe, no damage is done to the material being inspected.
	Thermal Hygrometer In order for microorganisms to grow, or amplify, they need a certain amount of water within their microenvironment. This measurement is described as water activity or the relative humidity of a material. The higher the humidity is, the greater the probability that amplification will occur. Next Generation utilizes a Thermal Hygrometer to measure the amount of relative humidity that exists within the subject property. It also indicates the temperature within the microenvironment, which is another key indicator that microbial amplification will occur or be significantly enhanced.
	Surface Test Sampling Surface Tape Sampling allows Certified Inspectors to directly analyze, count and characterize spores at a 600x magnification. The results report both viable and non-viable fungal spores and allow the genus and species to be determined in a relatively short period of time. This enables the inspector to categorize the samples as allergenic, (allergic) pathogenic (infectious) or toxigenic (toxic). The specific type of tape sampling that Next Generation uses allows for culturing, if the need arises.
	Digital Camera Being able to review the visible mold that exists within the subject property is invaluable. It aids the inspector in accurately assessing the extent of the contamination, and the degree to which the substrate is organically decomposing. In many cases, photographs will indicate the likely source of the water intrusion into the microenvironment. Additionally, a lasting record is made to document and evaluate the effectiveness of our remediation efforts once completed.