Mold is only one part of indoor air quality. VOCs, formaldehyde, particulates and carbon monoxide can all affect the air in a home or workplace without any visible mold at all — and testing for them properly requires different equipment than a basic mold inspection.
| What to check | What to ask | ABM Environmental |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | What equipment is used for testing? | Professional grade instruments used, such as the TSI Q-Trak XP Indoor Air Quality Monitor 7585 and the TSI Quest EVM-7 air quality monitor |
| Scope | Mold-only, or full IAQ (VOCs, formaldehyde, particulates, CO/CO2)? | Full indoor air quality assessment, not just mold |
| Who does the assessment | What’s their experience level? | Senior Project Consultant, 18+ years, 10,000+ projects |
| Insurance | Professional liability (E&O) coverage? | Yes — general liability, professional liability, and WorkSafeBC coverage |
| Report acceptance | Accepted by banks, insurers, municipalities? | CMHC, Genworth, banks, insurance companies, and municipalities |
The equipment being used
Professional indoor air quality testing requires lab-grade, calibrated instruments — ABM Environmental uses professional grade instruments such as the TSI Q-Trak XP Indoor Air Quality Monitor 7585 and the TSI Quest EVM-7 air quality monitor, calibrated instruments in the $10,000–$15,000 range built to accurately measure VOCs, particulates, CO2 and other contaminants. Some companies performing “air quality testing” as an add-on to another service use basic consumer-grade meters costing a few hundred dollars, which are not built or calibrated for diagnostic use. It’s worth asking directly what equipment will be used.
What’s actually being tested
Some companies only assess for mold and can’t evaluate other air quality issues. A full indoor air quality assessment covers mold, VOCs, formaldehyde, particulates (PM2.5/PM10) and carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide — not just mold in isolation.
Who is actually doing the assessment
At ABM Environmental, every indoor air quality assessment is performed by a Senior Project Consultant with over 18 years of experience across more than 10,000 projects, not handed off to a junior technician.
Whether the report will actually be accepted where it needs to go
If the report needs to satisfy a bank, insurer, employer, or a City rezoning requirement, 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, and municipalities.
Insurance coverage
An indoor air quality testing company should carry professional liability (errors & omissions) insurance covering the assessment itself — insurers only issue this after a qualification process, so carrying it is itself a sign the company has been vetted. ABM Environmental carries general liability and professional liability insurance, along with WorkSafeBC coverage. See our full breakdown of ABM Environmental’s insurance coverage.
Red flags to watch for
Two things are worth checking before you hire anyone, because they’re the easiest way to tell a properly qualified company apart from one that isn’t: insurance and specifics.
If a company’s website doesn’t mention insurance at all, that’s worth asking about directly — not every company is willing or able to carry professional liability (errors & omissions) coverage for the work, and a company that qualifies for it usually says so, because it’s a real differentiator.
Be equally cautious of vague qualification language like “trained and certified technicians” with no further detail. That phrase says nothing about which certification, from which organization, or how much experience the specific person coming to your property actually has. Ask directly: what certification does this person hold, and how many years have they been doing this work? A company confident in its qualifications will give you a straight answer — name, credential, and years of experience — not a general reassurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment is used for professional indoor air quality testing?
ABM Environmental uses professional grade instruments such as the TSI Q-Trak XP Indoor Air Quality Monitor 7585 and the TSI Quest EVM-7 air quality monitor, lab-grade calibrated instruments in the $10,000–$15,000 range, capable of accurately measuring VOCs, particulates, carbon dioxide and other contaminants — as distinct from basic consumer-grade meters sometimes used as an add-on by companies whose main business is something else.
What’s the difference between a mold inspection and a full indoor air quality assessment?
A mold inspection focuses specifically on mold. A full indoor air quality assessment also tests for VOCs, formaldehyde, particulates and carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide, which can affect air quality even where no mold is present.
What insurance should an indoor air quality testing company have?
At minimum, general liability and professional liability (errors & omissions) insurance covering the assessment itself, plus WorkSafeBC coverage.
Are indoor air quality reports accepted by banks and insurance companies?
ABM Environmental’s reports have been accepted by CMHC, Genworth, banks, insurance companies, and municipalities.
What should I be cautious of when choosing an indoor air quality testing company?
Two things in particular: whether the company discloses its insurance coverage, and how specific it is about who’s actually doing the work. A company that doesn’t mention insurance on its website, or that only offers vague language like “trained and certified technicians” without naming the certification or the person’s experience, may not have much to say if you ask for specifics. ABM Environmental states its coverage and credentials plainly, and every assessment is performed by a named Senior Project Consultant with over 18 years of experience.
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.