High-Tech Remedy for Hurricane Destruction

7/27/2005

Infrared Imaging Used to Detect Potential Sources of Mold

The variety of damage inflicted on homeowners and businesses by the devastating series of hurricanes in 2004, estimated at as much as $10 billion from Ivan alone in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, includes one usually less visible, but nonetheless highly insidious and costly form – mold.

Mold is the inevitable result of unhealthy spores in building walls and ceilings and furnishings if moisture within them is not detected and removed quickly enough – usually within 96 hours or less.

Which is why, as in 2004, many restoration contractors in the area are turning to their hand held infrared (IR) cameras, which can scan an entire room in minutes for moisture and thus potential mold and provide a digital image of its source and location, to expedite its removal.

“I would guess that our affiliates were called into Florida, Alabama and Mississippi on over 500 hurricane-related jobs last year,” says Charlie Cressy, President and founder of WaterOut, a patented and nationwide drying process. Exactly how much was saved for their clients by their use of IR is of course impossible to determine, but clearly its use enabled them to move back into their homes or resume normal business operations more quickly.”

“In one case in Florida it took our affiliate about four hours to scan a 30-story condo complex for indications of moisture with the camera. It would have taken five to ten times that long without the camera.”

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