Posted by Concerned Builder on 7/12/05

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I have been actively looking at the mold prevention
products as a means to protect the homes I build from mold
and protect my business from getting involved in a
lawsuit. I have searched the web and heard all the
concepts and sales pitches made by many companies. All
the stories seem to conflict with each other. I contacted
the EPA and the State of Florida and asked for some
clarification. I am not hear to cast my vote on which
product I think is better, nor which product that I have
decided to use. The reason anyone would choose one
product over the other is a personal choice based on the
facts that they uncover for themselves.

I would strongly urge everyone to check the facts for them
self. Call your own State and ask the questions
yourself. Call the EPA and see what they think of any
product that is being applied to a home. Unlike many
comments that I have read on this chat board, the EPA and
the State are very concerned with what is going on and
have very specific rules pertaining to these issues.

Last week I contacted Charlie Clark, at the Florida
Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, 850-487-
2130 concerning several products offered in the
Marketplace (and talked about on this chatboard). I
forwarded his staff all of the web sites to verify that
the claims being made were real and legitimate. I was
told that his department was actively investigating most
of the companies that everyone on this chatboard are
talking about. He further informed me that there are
several companies selling products in the marketplace
making illegal claims in the State of Florida.

I am only sharing with you what I was told, please verify
for yourself.

1. any and all companies selling products intended to
prevent the growth of mold and fungi must be registered
with the State of Florida. (Only two companies were
registered)
2. any and all companies selling products intended to
prevent the growth of mold and fungi must be registered
with the EPA (again only two companies were)
3. EPA registration does not mean the product is
dangerous, it means that the product has validated it's
claims and complies with EPA regulations.
4. Products that contain EPA registered ingredients are
not the same as products that are EPA Registered. I asked
for clarification and I was told the following. Products
that contain EPA registered ingredients can be dangerous
since no one is verifying the chemical reactions between
the EPA Registered ingredients and the other ingredients.
Some products that are completely safe become dangerous
when mixed with other products and can have long term
issues that are not accounted for. Another concerns is
the effectivence of these ingredients once they are mixed
with other ingredients. I heard the following anology:
ask a bartender for a coke,if he puts one drop of coke in
your glass and then fills the rest of the glass with
water, DO YOU STILL HSVE A COKE? That is the same thing
as asking for an EPA Registerd product and then getting a
product that has one ingredient that is EPA registered.
5. The State is under Staffed and over worked, so checking
these companies out takes time.
6. The mold prevention industry is not regulated and needs
to be.

I guess I will believe the State over any sales person
trying to sell me his version of the magic solution to
this problem. In the end, I chose a company that had the
ethics and morale standards follow State laws and take the
required steps to do the right thing.

I can not put my company, my future and my customers in
jeopardy by putting in possible dangerous product on their
home. I am trying to fix a problem, not take on a whole
new problem. What happens in 5 years, 10 years when they
determine that some of these products are dangerous? Who
is going to protect me and my customer then? I am
counting on the EPA and the State of Florida!

Bldg Matls Claims Chatboard

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