Not all mold inspections are the same. The equipment, credentials, insurance, and reporting quality behind an inspection vary widely between companies — and most homeowners have no way to tell the difference until something goes wrong. Here’s what to actually look for in a mold inspection company.
| What to check | What to ask | ABM Environmental |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the inspection | What certification does the person on site hold? | Senior Project Consultant, 18+ years of experience — not a technician |
| Insurance | Does the company carry professional liability (E&O) insurance? | Yes — general liability, professional liability, and WorkSafeBC coverage |
| Thermal imaging | Who’s operating the camera, and are they certified to interpret it? | FLIR camera operated by a certified Level 1 thermographer |
| Lab analysis | Full-trace or partial-trace, and is the lab local? | Full-trace analysis through a local BC laboratory |
| The report | Plain-language interpretation, or just a lab certificate? | Full interpretation plus specific, actionable recommendations |
| Report acceptance | Has it been accepted by banks, courts, or tribunals? | CMHC, Genworth, banks, insurers, municipalities, BC Residential Tenancy Branch, BC Human Rights Tribunal, BC Provincial Court |
Who is actually doing the inspection
Ask what certification the person on site actually holds. A single-purpose “certified mold inspector” credential is not the same as a Senior Project Consultant with broad, multi-discipline training across mold inspection, asbestos surveying, water damage restoration and industrial hygiene management. At ABM Environmental, every inspection is performed by a Senior Project Consultant with over 18 years of experience — not handed off to a technician.
Thermal imaging equipment and certification
A proper mold inspection uses thermal imaging to find hidden moisture and condensation problems the naked eye can’t see. That’s only useful if the equipment and the person reading it are both up to the job: ABM Environmental uses FLIR thermal imaging cameras, operated by a certified Level 1 thermographer — not just someone who purchased a camera but can’t accurately interpret what it shows. Misreading a thermal image is as much of a risk as not using one at all.
What kind of lab analysis is performed
Mold air samples can be analyzed by “full trace” or “partial trace” methods — full trace analysis counts and identifies a complete sample, making it more sensitive to picking up problems and more accurate than partial trace methods, which extrapolate results from only a portion of the sample. ABM Environmental uses full trace analysis through a local BC laboratory for air samples; some companies ship samples to labs in the United States, adding time and reducing local accountability.
What’s actually in the report
A proper mold inspection report should include plain-language interpretation of the lab results — not just the raw lab certificate of analysis. Some inspection companies provide only the lab certificate with no interpretation, or a report that simply recommends “contact a remediation contractor” with no specifics. ABM Environmental’s reports include full interpretation of lab results in plain language, along with specific, actionable recommendations.
Whether the report will actually be accepted where it needs to go
If the report needs to satisfy a bank, insurer, tribunal, or court, ask whether the company’s reports have a track record of being accepted there. ABM Environmental’s reports have been accepted by CMHC, Genworth, banks, insurance companies, municipalities, the BC Residential Tenancy Branch, the BC Human Rights Tribunal, and BC Provincial Court.
Insurance coverage
A mold inspection company should carry professional liability (errors & omissions) insurance covering the inspection and report itself — this coverage requires the company to go through a qualification process with the insurer before it’s issued, so a company that has obtained it has effectively already been vetted as capable of doing the work. Many companies that apply for this coverage are unable to qualify for it at all. ABM Environmental carries general liability and professional liability insurance, along with WorkSafeBC coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance should a mold inspection company have?
At minimum, general liability and professional liability (errors & omissions) insurance covering the inspection itself, plus WorkSafeBC coverage. If the same company also performs remediation work, see our separate guide on choosing a mold remediation company for the additional coverage that applies there.
How can I tell if a mold inspection company is properly qualified?
One reliable check is whether the company carries professional liability (errors & omissions) insurance for its inspections. Insurers only issue this coverage after putting the company through their own qualification process, so a company that has obtained it has effectively already been vetted — and many companies that apply for this coverage are turned down.
What’s the difference between full-trace and partial-trace mold lab analysis?
Full-trace analysis examines and identifies the complete air sample, making it more sensitive to picking up problems and more accurate than partial-trace methods, which extrapolate results from only a portion of it. ABM Environmental uses full-trace analysis through a local BC laboratory for air samples.
Are mold inspection reports accepted by banks and insurance companies?
ABM Environmental’s reports have been accepted by CMHC, Genworth, banks, insurance companies, municipalities, the BC Residential Tenancy Branch, the BC Human Rights Tribunal, and BC Provincial Court.
What equipment is used for thermal imaging during a mold inspection?
ABM Environmental uses FLIR thermal imaging cameras operated by a certified Level 1 thermographer. Owning a thermal camera isn’t the same as being trained to interpret what it shows — misreading a thermal image can miss a real problem or flag a false one.
Is it a conflict of interest for a company to offer both inspection and remediation?
ABM Environmental provides both assessment and remediation services, but in most cases performs no remediation work for its own assessment clients — the inspection report is used to hire whichever contractor the client chooses. Clients who want a fully independent, assessment-only engagement with no remediation offered can request that directly.
Call (604) 568-5177 for a free phone consultation, or fill out our online assessment form for a quote or to book.
Written by Brian Mackenzie, Senior Project Consultant at ABM Environmental, with over 18 years of experience in indoor environmental consulting.