NO SHORTCUTS!

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS AVAILABLE IN THE PROCESS OF GAINING AN OCCUPANCY PERMIT!

Whenever a property owner has received an ‘Unsafe Building Order/Order to Make Safe’ notice, many issues need to be resolved with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), before electrical power can be restored, and an occupancy permit can be obtained.

This is because Marijuana Grow Operations Meth (Clandestine) Drug Labs pose a number of serious potential risks and dangers to the neighbourhoods in which they exist. For example:

POISONOUS FUMES

These may result from alterations made to the chimney venting of furnaces and hot water heaters, from chemicals used in the growing process, or from moulds that flourish in these warm moist environments.

FIRES

Overloaded electrical systems, improper wiring and the extreme heat generated by high intensity light bulbs increase the potential for fire. A fire in a Marijuana Grow Operation has the potential to spread to neighbouring homes and presents increased risks to fire fighters.

ELECTROCUTION

Improper wiring poses risks to the occupants and visitors to a Marijuana Grow Operations. Electrical bypasses are done to facilitate the theft of electricity, and they create a potential for electrocution to persons outside the home because the ground near the home may become charged with electricity.

BOOBY TRAPS

Traps may be set by the operators of Marijuana Grow Operations to protect their product from unauthorized persons entering the home or property. These traps represent a danger to any trespassers and to emergency responders. These traps could include electrified metal doorknobs or leg-breaking bear traps, often used by growers to discourage intruders.

HIGHER UTILITY COSTS

The cultivation of marijuana requires large amounts of water and electricity. To reduce costs, operators of Marijuana Grow Operations will steal these utilities from the utility provider or a neighbour. The cost for these thefts is borne by the neighbour or by the utility providers, who in turn pass the costs on to all customers in the form of increased billing rates.

STRUCTURAL DAMAGE

Houses used as Marijuana Grow Operations are frequently modified to suit the needs of the growing operation. These modifications may affect the structural integrity of the home, as they do not comply with the Ontario Building Code. High humidity from the grow operation may also cause damage to the structure of the home or may cause excessive mould growth, which in turn may impact the health of future occupants.

ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

Chemicals used in the grow operations may be discharged onto the surrounding soil, or dumped offsite in some other non-environmentally friendly manner.

HAZARDS TO CHILDREN

During investigations police have found children, or evidence of children, having been present in Marijuana Grow Operations. There are significant long-term health risks for children who live in, or visit, grow operations. Additionally, the end product of marijuana being supplied to children is viewed by some as a gateway to harder drugs, such as methamphetamines and cocaine.

Once an Unsafe Building Order/Order to Make Safe notice has been issued, the owner of the property will have power restored only by using accredited professionals, and the only professionals recognized by the ESA are:

• CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST (C.I.H.)
• REGISTERED OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENIST (R.O.H.)
• PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER (P.Eng) with a Masters in OH

The accredited professional chosen must be able to state the following when representing you to regain the power and gain occupancy to the property:

“The premises are free of biological and chemical hazards and are fit for occupancy.”

When attempting to obtain an occupancy permit, after receiving an Unsafe Building Order/Order to Make Safe notice, the owner of the property must meet a two-part criterion:

1. NO BUILDING DEFECTS caused by having a Grow-Op or Meth (Clandestine) Drug Lab.
2. AIR CLEARANCE

BUILDING DEFECTS

A building may appear to be fairly well maintained and not look out of the ordinary, however the internal structure may have received significant structural, electrical and heating system modifications that are not up to code or deemed safe. Changes to these systems are performed to create a warm, humid climate in which hybrid plants can flourish and produce high potency marijuana. Structures that were previously Marijuana Grow Ops are often unsafe for human occupancy. This is because of compromised structural and mechanical integrity, as well as hazards from chemical residue. For this reason, all work is strictly regulated. Municipalities will require permits and insurance from those doing work in these properties, while performing the necessary cleaning and repairs to meet the standards for passing.

AIR CLEARANCE

Air Clearance is obtained by employing a Certified Professional Remediation Company using those methods of cleaning outlined in What is Mould Remediation? Once the property is remediated air samples are taken. If the inside sample(s) are less than 2X the levels outside, the air quality is deemed fit.

What is Mould Remediation?

Lately, the term ‘Mould Remediation’ has been making headlines. Toxic mould, mould contamination, killer black mould, people abandoning their homes, and many other sensational headlines have bombarded our televisions, newspapers, and websites. Once you have had a reputable, qualified company perform a mould inspection to find the potential mould contamination in your home, what do you do next? If the inspection company is a good one, you will receive a written report detailing mould remediation steps. At that point, you will need to hire a mould remediation firm to do the work.

What is mould remediation? How do you choose a mould remediation company? How do you know if they are qualified? Will they follow standard mould remediation procedures? Do they confidently stand by their work?

Mould remediation is a term used to describe the safe and effective method for removing mould contamination from an indoor environment. Generally, the mould remediation process includes the following steps: setting up appropriate containment barriers separating the mouldy areas from otherwise unaffected areas; using negative air machines and/or HEPA filtered air scrubbers to exhaust/capture airborne particulates; removal of mouldy materials (personal belongings, Sheetrock, insulation, wood, carpeting, etc.); and finally, cleaning remaining materials/belongings using special techniques. Sometimes abrasive actions are needed, such as sanding or dry ice blasting, to remove mould from wood materials. EPA registered chemicals and sealants should be used, and only in accordance with their documented application methods.

A qualified remediation company will strictly follow the ANSI/IICRC document S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mould Remediation. In the past few years, many new companies have sprouted up, so it can be difficult to know which to hire. Cost can vary greatly, depending on the procedures used. Standard procedures and guidelines for mould remediation were published in the ANSI/IICRC Document S520, and this publication describes in detail the standards, and the actions necessary to safely and effectively remove mould contamination.

If you wish to move forward to re-gain control of your property, contact us