NORMI, the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors, conducted its first Virginia Mold Licensing class in Alexandria last week between an earthquake and impending Hurricane Irene. The successful training provided three days of mold training for professionals who were interested in being trained as Mold Inspectors and Mold Remediator Supervisors which include a curriculum sponsored by NORMI, a Virginia Board-Approved training provider. This training included 24 hours of training centered on the techniques of assessment and remediation including hands-on training, lectures, and the specifics of mold, its helath effects and mold management for removal.

“We started the week with a thundering earthquake and finished with flight to prepare for the impending hurricane,” reported Doug Hoffman, Executive Director of NORMI. “Amidst the excitement we provided excellent mold training from four highly experienced and dedicated trainers who converged on Alexandra, PA from Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey and Louisiana. All in all we were impressed with the dedication and commitment of these mold professionals who came and stayed for the express purpose of getting the training they need to comply with the Virginia Mold Licensing law. We will be in Pennsylvania next week and anticipate another great group of guys who want to learn better how to practice their craft.”

For more information on classes designed specifically to meet the Virginia Mold Licensing Law contact Best Training School at 888.856.4803 or view the easy-to-understand mold training video for more information. Classes are being conducted in Virginia and other states. The next class will be held in Pennsylvania, PA at the Schapers Supply store. For information on NORMI, contact 877.251.2296 or email support@normi.org. Facilities Maintenance Directors, Home Inspectors, General Contractors and other professionals who deal with toxic mold removal should consider taking this course to understand the correct standards that should be utilized to remove toxic mold from indoor environments.

Abita Springs, 08/02/2011

NORMI, the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors, announced today that mold classes have been scheduled in Pennsylvania to meet the new Commonwealth of Virginia DPOR Mold Licensing Law and give Pennsylvania mold professionals the training and credibility they need to succeed in the marketplace. The classes will be held at Schaper’s Supply in Philadelphia, PA on 09/27-29/11 and include the 16 hour Mold Worker, 24 hour Mold Remediator Supervisor and 24 hour Mold Inspector courses. Each course offers a proctored examination at the end of the final day and provides the needed paperwork to secure Virginia licensing. NORMI was approved in July as a training provider for the Virginia Mold Licensing law as well as Louisiana and Florida and is scheduling classes throughout the eastern seaboard to meet these licensing requirements.

“We are excited to be able to offer a regional training in Pennsylvania,” said Doug Hoffman, CEO of NORMI. “Training is essential for mold professionals who want to do it right and the public will be protected when they hire a NORMI pro! Our goal is to train as many professionals who want to enter this industry or expand their knowledge to include a better understanding of the IICRC, NYC Guidelines and EPA standards. This is a great opportunity for all mold professionals who want to perfect their craft!”

Classes are listed at www.BestTrainingSchool.com where students can register with a small down payment or call 888.856.4803 to register by phone. A fax registration is also available at the online registration website. For more information about NORMI, contact 877.251.2296 or email support@normi.org

Abita Springs, 08/02/2011

NORMI, the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors, announced today that classes have been scheduled in Virginia to meet the new Commonwealth of Virginia DPOR Mold Licensing Law. The classes will be held at the Holiday Inn–Eisenhower in Alexandria, Virginia on 08/24-26/11 and include the 16 hour Mold Worker, 24 hour Mold Remediator Supervisor and 24 hour Mold Inspector courses. Each course offers a proctored examination at the end of the final day and provides the needed paperwork to secure Virginia licensing. NORMI was approved in July as a training provider for the Virginia Mold Licensing law and is scheduling classes throughout the eastern seaboard to meet this licensing requirement.

“We are excited to be able to offer a regional training in Virginia,” said Doug Hoffman, CEO of NORMI. “We have been in discussion with the state for four years in regards to this new licensing requirement and extremely that the legislature took such a common sense, business-friendly approach to the licensing requirement. Training is essential for mold professionals who want to do it right and the public will be protected when they hire a NORMI pro! Our goal is to train as many professionals who want to enter this industry or expand their knowledge to include a better understanding of the IICRC, NYC Guidelines and EPA standards. This is a great day for the public and professionals!”

Classes are listed at www.BestTrainingSchool.com where students can register with a small down payment or call 888.856.4803 to register by phone. A fax registration is also available at the online registration website. For more information about NORMI, contact 877.251.2296 or email support@normi.org

The Commonwealth of Virginia legislature has put into place a Mold Licensing Law regulating work in the mold industry effective July 1, 2011. Professionals must be licensed in three areas of expertise, namely Mold Remediation Worker, Mold Remediation Supervisor and Mold Inspector. Additionally, NORMI, the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors has been approved as a training provider to train and test applicants in preparation for licensure. To qualify, each license requires the licensee to be trained in the areas of their preferred interest and such training is now available at www.BestTrainingSchool.com

“NORMI continues to gain credibility through its training partners and certifications and this is yet another State that recognizes the work we accomplish through our professional membership and administrative team,” said Doug Hoffman, Executive Director of NORMI. “We believe the regulation of this industry is imperative to protecting the public and the professionals who need recognition that they are doing their work competently, efficiently and at a fair price to the public. We are very proud of the designation the Commonwealth of Virginia has bestowed upon us and our team.  With FL, LA, VA and many other states recognizing our efforts, those interested in learning how to grow their business in this economy should take a look at what we have to offer in terms of insurance benefits, member support and continuing education opportunites.”

Virginia licensing requires the proper training and a proctored examination and these regulations are met by the training programs now available at www.BestTrainingSchool.com For more information, please contact NORMI at 877.251.2296 or Best Training School, LLC at 888.856.4803

Effective immediately, NORMI, the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors, has been approved as a State Training Provider for the Florida DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) Home Inspectors Board. This will enable NORMI to begin offering building science, mold inspection and other types of courses specifically designed to help home inspectors be more effective in their analysis of building problems.

“This is a big day for NORMI,” said Executive Director Doug Hoffman, “because we have continued to grow our credibility every time a government board recognizes the value of what we do. There is no ‘national credibility board’ and so it is important for us when States like Florida approve our training and certification. It’s why we are able to then pass on our credibility to our members who need to set themselves apart from all the guys in the marketplace who are NOT certified, trained or licensed.”

The Florida Home Inspector Board was formed in July, 2010 to facilitate the licensing of Home Inspectors in the State of Florida. There are now specific requirements in place to assure that those who are representing themselves are “qualified” have, in fact, met insurance, training, experience and certification requirements. Though there was an effort to deregulate this industry, the legislation stands and Home Inspectors must now take continuing education credits every two years to keep their licensing current.

For more information on NORMI, email support@normi.org or call 877.251.2296. For classes which might qualify for CEUs, go to www.BestTrainingSchool.com or call 888.856.4803

The window replacement company, located in Maryland Heights, was legally required to provide owners and residents of the properties with a regulator-approved lead hazard information pamphlet before starting renovations at the properties, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday.

The regulation is intended to protect owners and occupants of residential properties, child-care facilities and schools built before 1978 from health risks associated with lead-based paint, EPA officials said.

As part of its settlement with EPA, and in addition to paying the $19,529 civil penalty, Window World of St. Louis also has agreed to spend an estimated $20,048 to replace a total of 73 old windows contaminated with lead paint at three group homes operated by the nonprofit social services organization Youth in Need. Those facilities are located at 1420 N. Third St., 516 Jefferson St. and 529 Jefferson St. in St. Charles, Mo.

Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in the United States in 1978. Most homes built before 1978 contain some amount of lead-based paint, and subsequent renovation activity of such properties can cause occupants to be exposed to dust, chips and debris that contain lead.

REPRINTED FROM: St. Louis Business Journal
Date: Thursday, March 31, 2011, 11:27am CDT – Last Modified: Thursday, March 31, 2011, 11:46am CDT

Enforcement has begun on the EPA Lead RRP program. The fines are stiff, up to $37,500 per violation! So, read on and then answer the question, “Have you been trained?”

While agents may be quite busy with the leads provided by tips and anonymous calls, townships have begun to require the certification in order to obtain a permit, insurers are not renewing policies without it, and law firms are buying up web space in anticipation of many lead paint poisoning cases to pursue;things we are confident will not adversely impact our course graduates!

In speaking with EPA agents, the tone is one of common sense. No one is looking to levy a fine against contractors who are making a good faith effort to comply. One might paraphrase to say that agents aren’t going to come measure the poly on the floor, but there had better BE poly to protect the site or you will face a willful violation. The goal should be for contractors to keep their customers and crew safe and healthy. Agents we spoke to also stressed the importance of safety for the purpose of guarding against litigation. The EPA’s current posture is one of educating, not alienating. Agents seemed understanding of the rigors of compliance and eager to help with questions and issues.

Just this week we received a telephone call from a member who had taken our class but lost his certificate. The Federal Agent who visited him onsite was friendly enough but not very forgiving about the certificate. We got a panic call requesting a duplicate.

So, the EPA is in the marketplace checking to see if you’ve been trained. If you haven’t you may jeopardize the business you’ve built and the assets you’ve accumulated. Don’t delay, consider how you can get trained TODAY. There are many ways to get the training you need and NORMI, as an approved EPA training provider, recommends you visit www.BestTrainingSchool.com to check for a class in your area. It’s the only smart thing to do!

The BTS Mold Assessor and Mold Remediator Course was recently approved by the State of Florida Mold-Related Services Board for Continuing Education credits, Approved Course #0000001. NORMI, the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors, became an approved training provider by the State of Florida for both the CILB (Constructon Industry Licensing Board Course Provider #050148598) and the MRS (Mold-Related Services Board Course Provider #0003605)) and is now offering this approved course through its primary training provider, Best Training School.

“This is a big day for NORMI,” reported Doug Hoffman, Executive Director of NORMI. “It appears that we are one of the FEW who have actually been approved by the State of Florida to offer a course that qualifies for CE credits toward licensure and this should give added confidence to those who take this course that we are on the right track. There are a lot of training providers in the marketplace but when a course is vetted and accepted by this board, you have to KNOW that it’s doing the right job.”

Lance Eisen, COO of NORMI, said, “The new State of Florida licensing law requires 14 hours of continuing education every two years to renew your mold assessor and/or mold remediator license. This course provides the needed hours and, more importantly, supports the generally accepted ‘Standards of Practice’ as developed from the IICRC, NYC Guidelines, and EPA. This course is probably the most comprehensive onsite course available in the marketplace and we think the State of Florida is confirming that positioning.”

For more information on this approved course, please go to www.BestTrainingSchool.com or call 888.856.4803 or for more information on NORMI as an approved training provider for your state, please contact NORMI at 877.251.2296 or email support@normi.org

The new EPA Regulations go into effect January 1, 2011 when all contractors, remodelers, inspectors or other professionals who work on pre-1978 homes must be trained and certified in lead inspection and removal. Non-compliance could result in a fine of up to $37,500 by the EPA.

In an effort to help expedite the training process, LaVerne Scheetz, Principal Course Instructor for the NORMI/EPA Lead RRP program has been scheduled for a class in Harleysville, PA on Friday, December 10, 2010. This class meets all the EPA regulations and offers a dual certification which includes the EPA and NORMI certification for Lead RRP.

“As an approved training provider”, said Doug Hoffman, Executive Director of NORMI, the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors, “we have been moving across the country providing this training to construction professionals. Our intention is to continue teaching this program and the subsequent refresher courses so that no professional will be ‘caught’ in non-compliance. The public needs to know about this requirement and it looks like the EPA is relying on the trained professional to pass along the proper information.”

LaVerne Scheetz was certified by NORMI as a NORMI/EPA Lead RRP Principal Course Instructor in August of this year and has taught in Pennsylvania and Florida. Her credentials make her highly qualified to conduct this course and she makes the otherwise dull course interesting and relevant.

For more information on NORMI, please contact them at support@normi.org or call 877.251.2296

Subtitled Lessons Learned from Katrina, this book peaked my interest from the onset because we, too, were in the midst of the toxic mold problems that resulted from the most devastating hurricane ever to hit southeastern Louisiana. NORMI, the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors, www.NORMI.org, was formed in July of 2004 just one year before Hurricane Katrina hit and, because we had been training on mold assessment, remediation, and the health issues related to this biological contaminant already in place, we were right here poised to help hundreds, maybe thousands, of people with resources and information that was accurate and timely.  Some of our efforts have been archived at www.YouTube.com/NORMIPro.
“Mold: The War Within” could have been one of the most valuable resources a homeowner could have in the midst of the damage from Katrina but it took this natural disaster and the personal struggles of Kurt and Lee Ann Billings to become the basis for this incredible resource. There is no doubt that the generations that follow will now have a comprehensive understanding of how mold and other biological contaminants could change their lives forever.

I was excited to receive and read this book. As a mold professional specializing in creating healthier environments, I have been interested in the short and long-term effects of mold and their myco-toxins on normal, healthy people. For years we have known that immune-compromised individuals, pregnant women and young children have been especially susceptible to the ill-effects of toxic mold exposures but Kurt and Lee Ann have put the spotlight on the real dangers that can affect the average, otherwise healthy, person. It’s not just awareness of the health issues that was so insightful but their straight-forward approach to develop a road map, a path to run on, for people who have had nowhere to turn for answers. Some people don’t even know the right questions to ask and this book is a great starting place for them, too.

Dr. Doris Rapp, my good friend and who has been a pioneer in this field for years, wrote the forward. As a Board Certified Pediatric Physician and NY Best Selling Author (“Is This Your Child” and “Our Toxic World”) Dr. Rapp lends credibility to the Billings’ approach and, by endorsement, invites them onto a team of professionals who are finally focusing on these serious, life-changing issues. Any parent who has found little help in the current medical industry, should take seriously the cries of people like Rapp and Billings. As Dr. Rapp concluded, “Too many people continue to hope for our government to take appropriate and responsible action for what has turned their lives and health upside down.” And the public continues to wait.

It is obvious that Kurt and Lee Ann spent countless hours investigating and studying the mycology of mold, the testing process, the interpretation of lab reports and the scientific data that supports their conclusions. Why were they so interested in this subject—because they themselves experienced the devastating effects of toxic molds and their myco-toxins. As a “victim” of the bureaucracies, ill-informed medical community and confusing, sometimes contradictory, regulations, Kurt and Lee Ann waded through the mire of information and emerged with a clear, comprehensive understanding of the problem and solution. They have unselfishly shared this information through their book and are probably unaware of the thousands of people they have helped through this effort.

Traditional medicine seems to close its eyes, psychologists imagine psychosis and health officials continue to compile study after study while they ignore the “here and now”. To add insult to injury, the evaluation of indoor environments process has been fiercely protected territory for some “professionals” who have made it virtually impossible for a homeowner to afford assessment. NORMI has taken the ball to develop trainings and do-it-yourself programs that will assist the homeowner to begin the evaluation process in an inexpensive way through www.BestTrainingSchool.com. Once assessed, toxic mold and other biological problems can be managed and that process often results in an improvement to the quality of life indoors.

I am proud to recommend this incredible book to our readers and members. “Mold: The War Within” is available through many book outlets including www.BestLivingSystems.com and is a “must read” for anyone who is seeking answers to questions regarding molds and their devastating effects. A great big “Thank You” to Kurt and Lee Ann Billings for carving out the time to make this book possible.

For more information on toxic mold and to find a mold professional in your area who will be able to help, please see www.NORMI.org and its link to www.NORMIPro.com or call 877.251.2296