History

IESO was formed in 2002 as a membership, certification and standard making organization. Its primary membership included residential property inspectors seeking the latest information about identification of microbial contamination. In less than three years, IESO attracted more than 1,000 members and trained and certified an equal number of Certified Residential Mold Inspectors.

Effective January 1, 2006, IESO entered into an agreement with the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC) and the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA). The agreement radically changed the scope and mission of IESO, while greatly increasing IESO’s capacity to develop indoor environmental standards. All IESO membership programs were transferred to IAQA, and IESO certification programs were transferred to ACAC. IESO ceased being a membership and certification body and its mission became solely to develop indoor environmental standards. As part of the agreement, IAQA funded the majority of IESO’s standards making activities.

In 2010 IESO entered into a new agreement with IAQA whereby IESO became a wholly owned, non-profit subsidiary of IAQA.  As the parent company, IAQA provides IESO with essential services, staffing, facilities and funding necessary to fulfill its mission.  This leaves IESO able to focus more of its attention on its core mission:  the development of American National Standards.

Today IESO is a multi-faceted organization that includes an independent Board of Directors, a Standards Development Committee, a Consensus Body, and numerous subcommittees. If you are interested in helping to create standards, check out the “Join a Committee” section of this website. If you would like to purchase an IESO Standard, visit our store.