Texas regulates mold work more tightly than most states. Under the Texas Mold Assessment and Remediation Rules, a licensed mold assessment company must generally write a remediation protocol before a licensed remediation contractor begins work on projects that exceed the 25-contiguous-square-foot threshold, the same company may not both assess and remediate the same project, and a post-remediation assessment is required before the remediator issues the Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation. Certain situations — including a homeowner working in their own residence — are treated differently under the rules. Read more: why your assessor and remediator must be different companies.
Mold assessment and indoor air quality testing
Every assessment begins with the water. Our licensed assessors document visible growth and moisture damage, map moisture with meters and thermal imaging, and identify the source — because remediation without source correction fails. Where sampling is warranted we collect air samples (spore-trap), surface samples (tape lift, swab, or bulk), and comparison outdoor samples, analyzed by an AIHA-LAP-accredited laboratory. For occupant complaints without visible growth we perform indoor air quality investigations covering relative humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide, and ventilation performance — and tell you plainly when the problem is not mold.
Remediation standard operating procedures (SOPs)
The protocol is the document your remediation contractor bids from and the regulator measures against. TSEC's remediation SOPs specify, by area:
- Extent of material to be removed or cleaned, by location and material
- Containment class and construction; negative-air pressure differentials and air changes per hour
- Personal protective equipment and worker decontamination sequence
- Removal and cleaning methods for each material, and disposal handling
- Clearance criteria the post-remediation assessment will test against
Protocols are written to the Texas rules and to the IICRC S520 standard so any licensed contractor can execute them without interpretation.
HEPA decontamination protocols
Cleaning is where remediation is won or lost. Our protocols require HEPA-vacuuming of all surfaces within containment, damp-wiping with an appropriate cleaner, a second HEPA pass, and HEPA air scrubbing for a defined period before clearance sampling, with negative air maintained until the post-remediation assessment passes. For occupied or sensitive facilities — healthcare, schools, control rooms, data and communications spaces — protocols add sequencing, after-hours phasing, and equipment protection so operations continue while work proceeds.
Post-remediation verification
TSEC returns after the contractor reports completion for the post-remediation assessment: verification that the protocol scope was completed, that no visible growth or dust remains, that moisture readings in remaining materials are within normal range, and — where the protocol requires it — that air and surface sampling results meet the clearance criteria. Our written post-remediation assessment report is the document the remediator needs to issue the Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation, which Texas requires within 10 days of the passed assessment and which property owners must retain and disclose on sale.
Who this is for
Property managers and multifamily owners; facility managers in occupied buildings; insurance adjusters; real-estate transactions; remediation contractors needing an independent assessor; homeowners after water damage.
Timeline and pricing
Assessment visits typically take one to three hours. Laboratory results, the written report, and the remediation protocol follow within a few business days; rush turnaround available. Written quote the same business day.
Regulatory sources
Requirements vary with building classification, ownership, scope of work, and local permitting. The statements on this page are general; confirm the requirement for your specific project before scheduling work. Primary sources:
- Texas DSHS Asbestos Programs Branch — Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules (25 TAC Ch. 296)
- Texas TDLR Mold Assessment & Remediation — 16 TAC Ch. 78
- EPA — Asbestos (NESHAP, AHERA)
- EPA — Lead (RRP, 40 CFR 745) and HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control
- OSHA — Asbestos and OSHA — Lead