Most mold companies don't publish their sources. We do because (a) the science isn't actually proprietary - it's all in published standards anyone can read - and (b) we want you to be able to evaluate any contractor's claims against the same evidence we use.
If a contractor tells you something that contradicts one of these standards, ask them which standard they're citing. They should be able to answer.
The standards we follow
IICRC S520 - Standard for Professional Mold Remediation
Published by: Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), in cooperation with ANSI. Current edition: ANSI/IICRC S520-2024 (Fourth Edition). Why it matters: This is the industry standard for mold remediation work. It defines the four conditions (Condition 1, 2, 3 referenced in our reports), required containment categories, drying criteria, clearance verification requirements, and contractor documentation. Every reputable mold remediation contractor in the US works to this standard. What we cite from it: Source-removal requirement, containment levels (depending on contamination size), HEPA filtration spec (99.97% @ 0.3 microns), drying target moisture content thresholds, post-remediation verification protocol.
IICRC S500 - Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration
Published by: IICRC + ANSI. Current edition: ANSI/IICRC S500-2021. Why it matters: Sister standard to S520, focused on water damage drying. Defines water Categories (1=clean, 2=gray, 3=black) and water Classes (1-4 by extent). Our scope-of-work documents reference these classifications directly.
EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings
Published by: US Environmental Protection Agency. Current edition: Most recent revision 2008 (still current; periodic updates). Why it matters: Government-issued mold-remediation guidance. The EPA explicitly cautions against ozone treatment, recommends source removal over surface treatment, and provides decision tables for whether testing is necessary. We cite EPA frequently when explaining why we don't sell ozone or fogging as remediation. Where to read it: epa.gov/mold
EPA - A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
Published by: EPA. Why it matters: Homeowner-targeted summary of mold basics, health effects, and DIY-vs-pro decision criteria. We recommend homeowners read this. It's free, brief, and accurate.
OSHA - Mold Health Hazard Information
Published by: Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Why it matters: Defines the worker-safety requirements for any contractor doing mold work. PPE requirements, respiratory protection thresholds, containment requirements for occupied buildings. This is what our crews are trained to.
AIHA - Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Indoor Mold
Published by: American Industrial Hygiene Association. Why it matters: Published reference for industrial hygienists. More detailed than the EPA guides. AIHA also accredits the labs we send samples to.
CDC - Mold and Dampness
Published by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why it matters: Public-health authority on mold-related health effects. Less prescriptive than the technical standards, more useful for health-related questions. Our chat assistant defers to CDC on "is mold making me sick" questions.
WHO - Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould
Published by: World Health Organization. Why it matters: International scientific consensus document. Useful for citation when a customer asks "is this opinion or is it scientifically established?" - WHO guidelines represent scientific consensus.
Other certifications worth looking for
IICRC AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician) - the IICRC's certification for individual technicians doing mold work. Look for this on any contractor's bio.
IICRC ASD (Applied Structural Drying) - the IICRC's drying certification. Important for water-damage work that may precede mold remediation.
IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association) - alternative certifying body. Slightly different curriculum but equivalent rigor.
ACAC (American Council for Accredited Certification) - certifies indoor environmental professionals. Common among mold inspectors who specialize in IAQ rather than remediation.
State licensing: Idaho and Wyoming don't currently require state-level mold contractor licensing. Some states do (Florida, Texas, NY, etc.). The absence of state licensing in our service area makes the IICRC certification matter MORE, not less - it's the only credentialing floor.
How to use these against any contractor
If a contractor:
- Says they're "certified" but won't name the certification → IICRC is the floor, ask
- Recommends ozone or fogging as primary remediation → cite EPA guidance
- Wants to encapsulate porous materials without removal → cite IICRC S520
- Won't provide post-remediation clearance testing → cite IICRC S520 verification requirements
- Won't itemize their scope → ask for a line-item Xactimate scope (the insurance industry standard format)
- Quotes without sampling → cite IICRC S520 requirement to characterize the contamination before scoping
- Claims their proprietary treatment kills mold "100%" → ask for the peer-reviewed evidence; there isn't any for any product
You can hold any contractor to these standards. We welcome it.