Tenants in San Francisco High-Rise Face Indoor Environmental Quality Concerns Following Massive Flood

Last month, multiple media outlets reported that a mentally disturbed resident of a high-rise apartment building in San Francisco intentionally opened the valve to a high pressure fire house on the 11^th floor of the building. Some 100 units in the building were reportedly damaged from the water as it made its way down to the lower levels. Estimates of the damage are in the tens of millions of dollars.

Water damage in a high-rise building can impact large areas of the structure. As the water seeks its way to the lowest level, it can damage other units nearby and below as occurred in this case. The moisture, if not quickly removed, often results in the growth of mold which damages building materials, furnishings and personal belongings. Exposure to elevated levels of mold can also cause a myriad of health concerns.

“The indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of a building, following a devastating flood like this, needs to be a top priority for the health and safety of building occupants and residents,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “It’s not just mold that can have a negative impact on residents moving forward. Repair and rebuilding efforts can release particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. In many old buildings, issues such as lead-based paints and asbestos-containing materials being aerosolized could also be a concern if the proper safety precautions are not taken.”

LA Testing, with laboratories throughout California, offers testing services for mold, odors, particulate matter, VOCs, lead, asbestos and other potential exposure risks associated with damaged buildings. They also provide sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, air monitoring instruments, building inspection tools and personal protective equipment.

To learn more about indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing services and supplies, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. For access to IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of mold, asbestos, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC Elite, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail