Mold Terms
From: Mold Inspector
Website: http://www.moldinspector.com
Webmaster: Mr. Philip Fry

Mold: A fungus that eats and grows on and in damp or high moisture or decaying organic matter.  Synonym: mould.

Toxic Mold: A fungus that emits chemical mycotoxin poisons that become airborne & cause serious human health diseases. Toxic mold & black mold  are also slang terms for brain-damaging Stachybotrys toxic mold [misspelled Stachybotris].

Fungus: a parasitic plant lacking chlorophyll, a rigid cell wall, leaves, true stems & roots. Multicellular. Composed of thread- like hyphae. Reproduces by spores.

Mold Spore: A small reproductive cell that is resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions such as no water, & is capable of mold reproduction fungal growth when water & organic materials exist.

Hyphae: Fungi usually are filamentous, with the single filaments being termed hyphae. Fungal hyphae grow and branch to make a filament network [mycelium].

Dormant Mold: Mold that is inactive & awaiting future moisture and food to begin again mold reproduction & growth. 

Mold Inspection: The thorough physical examination of a building by a Certified Mold Inspector  to find & locate visual & hidden mold growth & water problems that enable mold spores to grow into mold colony infestations. Includes mold testing & mold laboratory analysis of collected mold samples and samplings.  Certified inspection & testing are often necessary to file a mold-related insurance claim.

Mold Testing: Collection by a Certified Mold Inspector of direct physical samples of visible mold and of indoor air samples in rooms, attic, crawl space, basement, & heating & air conditioning equipment & ducts, so that the mold samplings can be grown by a mold lab in mold culture plates [viable mold testing] to produce full-grown mold colonies for mold analysis & identification by the mold laboratory.

Mold Inspector: A mold professional who has been specially trained in the detection of toxic  mold contamination in homes, condos, apartments, offices, & commercial buildings. The mold expert inspector utilizes high-tech inspection devices such as  moisture meter [to find water problems hidden  inside walls, ceilings, and floors], fiber optics [to look inside walls & ceilings for mold infestation],  timed mold culture plate impactor, air sampling pump & cassettes, & hygrometer [to check for the  high humidity that mold can grow in].
   
Mold Remediation: The safe & complete killing & removal of mold spores & mold colony growth from mold contaminated  homes and other buildings. Effective mold remediation usually requires the removal of mold-damaged building materials and the use of a fungicide to kill mold and an antimicrobial coating to prevent future mold growth & danger. Usually done by a Certified Mold Remediator or Contractor.

Mold Remediator:  A mold professional who has been specially trained as a mold remediation specialist  for toxic mold detection, inspection, testing, sampling, prevention, remediation, and removal.

Fungicide: An effective, safe, and quick indoor mold killer that is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Antimicrobial coating: After all moldy building materials have been removed & the area has been cleaned and disinfected with a fungicide, an antimicrobial coating is sprayed onto the mold-free surfaces & new replacement building materials to protect them against future mold growth.

Mold Training: Mold instruction and certification at a professional toxic mold school, class, seminar, or course on  mold inspection, testing, remediation, removal, prevention, & mold business practices.