The indoor environmental professional (IEP)

In plain English

R520 uses "indoor environmental professional" as a general label for the person who assesses mold rather than removing it. The IEP designs a sampling plan, collects samples, sends them to a qualified laboratory, interprets the results, decides which Condition applies, and later verifies the return to Condition 1. IEPs may come from industrial hygiene, microbiology, building science or engineering, but R520 notes no single degree guarantees competence, and it looks for added training in water damage, building science, HVAC and remediation.

Typical IEP tasks include pre-remediation assessment, occupant and worker exposure assessment, judging the Condition of contents, and checking whether the HVAC system has spread contamination. R520 names laboratory accreditation programs such as EMLAP as a mark of a qualified mycology lab. R520 also notes that the relationship can be complicated by who hired the IEP. Confidentiality owed to that client may limit what the IEP shares, and remediators often rely on the IEP's findings to set their scope, so unclear or incomplete protocols should be questioned before work begins.

Independence is central. R520 says the IEP doing assessment or verification should be independent of the remediator, and if not, should tell the client in writing that this departs from the Standard. Texas note: Texas goes further. The assessor must hold a TDLR Mold Assessment Consultant license, and Texas law does not allow the same license holder or company to do both the assessment and the remediation on the same project.

“qualified by knowledge, skill, education, training, certification, or experience to perform an "assessment"”

Key points

• The IEP assesses, samples, interprets and verifies; the remediator removes.
• Credentials vary; relevant training and experience matter most.
• Use an accredited mycology laboratory.
• R520 asks for independence or written disclosure; Texas requires separation.
• In Texas the IEP role is filled by a licensed Mold Assessment Consultant.

Official text

This topic is covered in our own words because the standard behind it is copyrighted; we cite it below rather than reproduce it.

Citations

• IICRC S520 Reference Guide, IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation — Reference Guide — Ch. 10, pp. 105–108. Best practice
• IICRC S520 Reference Guide, IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation — Reference Guide — Ch. 1, p. 10. Best practice
• IICRC S520 Reference Guide, IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation — Reference Guide — Ch. 11, p. 118. Best practice

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