It seems that everywhere you turned during August and September, the news dominating the media, especially The Weather Channel, was all about the succession of hurricanes in Florida and their aftermath along most of the Eastern seaboard.

At least once a week, I get calls about the use of HEPA-rated (99.97 percent at 0.3 microns) air filtration devices (AFDs), negative air machines, and air scrubbers on disaster restoration jobs.

With all the media hype and misinformation about mold these days, many water-restoration contractors find themselves on the receiving end of lawsuits sooner or later.

I recently received a call on a subject that is of increasing concern in the fire-restoration work place.

For almost four years now, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification has been collecting information, reviewing the scientific literature, debating technique and writing its long-awaited Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation, IICRC S520.

For almost four years now, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has been collecting information, reviewing the scientific literature, debating technique and writing its long-awaited Standard and Reference Guide for Mold Remediation, the IICRC S520.

Last month, we began examining the IICRC S520 Mold Remediation Standard and Reference Guide.

For almost four years now, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification has been collecting information, reviewing scientific literature, debating technique and writing its long-awaited S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Mold Remediation.

During 2003 a group of volunteers from the ranks of the International Society of Cleaning Technicians undertook a rather ambitious project they termed the Water Extraction-efficiency Test, or "WET" study.

I recently heard from an IICRC-certified technician who asked, "When processing a Class 2, Category-1 water loss, if I remove the carpet and pad, does that loss change from a Class 2 to a Class 1 water loss?"