Have you ever seen a popcorn ceiling in a property built before 1980? It is possible that this material is an asbestos-containing surfacing material. Asbestos-containing surfacing materials are materials that are sprayed or trowelled on surfaces. Examples of this include plaster, spray-on fireproofing, and textured ceilings such as popcorn ceiling. Asbestos provided these materials with
The risk of exposure to asbestos depends on several factors. The condition of the material, type of disturbances, and the material’s friability play a large role in this. However, it could be argued that friability is the greatest factor. Friability refers to whether or not a material can be ground into a powder with hand
Did you know that some non-friable materials can have high asbestos content? Often when thinking of high asbestos concentration in materials we assume these to be friable materials. While friable materials such as thermal system insulations are typically higher than most non-friable materials, there are some materials that are on par. Transite, asbestos gaskets, and
During a typical home inspection, the inspector will evaluate the structure of the home, along with the conditions of walls, plumbing, HVAC systems, and
I’m sure you are familiar with asbestos, but did you know that there are different types of asbestos? In previous blogs, we discussed the basics of both chrysotile and crocidolite. Chrysotile is a serpentine based mineral which was the most common asbestos used. Crocidolite is a blue amphibole mineral more rarely used than chrysotile. These
Last week, Americans across the country remembered the 18th anniversary of the attacks that occurred during 9/11. These attacks not only killed thousands of Americans in the initial strike but also created environmental conditions that continue to affect citizens exposed to the toxic dust of the World Trade Center collapse
Buying or remodeling an older property can be exciting. However, one item that can be uncovered is vinyl floor tile installed before the late 1970s. Vinyl floor tiles made before this time period could potentially contain asbestos and derail a major housing project. In this blog, we will discuss vinyl floor tile and how to
During the purchase or renovation of a property built before the 1980s, many homeowners will question if asbestos-containing materials are present. When inspecting a property, many people ask what were the peak years for asbestos to be used in homes
Most people assume a property built after the late 1970s won’t have any asbestos present. While this is the most likely scenario, it is still possible to have asbestos in a home built after that time period. Many will be stunned by this revelation because they assume that asbestos was fully “banned” in the United
After mold has been discovered, the primary concern of the property owner is to have remediation. One potential hazard that is often overlooked is the presence of asbestos in the materials that are being remediated. While the EPA has created the RRP Rule (Renovation, Repair, and Painting) to educate contractors about accidentally disturbing lead paint, there is no such rule in regards to asbestos.
Many of our clients are daunted by the potential presence of asbestos in their home. What makes the process more stressful is the fear of the cost to test and abate asbestos. In this blog post, we will give you a summary of our pricing for asbestos testing services.
Let’s say you found an asbestos-containing material and you had it professionally abated. Now you’re left wondering if the contractors really removed the microscopic asbestos fibers or if these carcinogens are still floating in the air. Asbestos air clearance testing refers to the process in which the work area is visually evaluated to ensure that abatement
For asbestos air testing, there are two primary sampling methods: PCM (Phase Contrast Microscopy) and TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy). Both methodologies analyze for fiber concentration through pumping the ambient air into filtered air cassettes. The process usually involves running a number of high volume air pumps depending on the size of the property to achieve a volume of 1,200 liters of air. In this blog post, I will discuss the benefits and drawbacks to each method of testing.
A common question we receive when clients are concerned about asbestos is “How do you test for asbestos?” In fact, there are many ways asbestos can be sampled. These methods include bulk, air, and dust sampling. In this blog post, I will go over these methods and how to decide which testing is best suited for your situation.
When most people imagine what asbestos looks like, they often think of a white fibrous mass. However, asbestos varieties come in different shades such as brown and blue. The blue asbestos is called Crocidolite. For my fellow geology enthusiasts, Crocidolite is actually the name of the fibrous form of the blue mineral known as Riebeckite.
As we have discussed in previous blog posts, asbestos is a versatile substance. Although it is typically only thought of being used in building materials, its usage eventually branched out to Hollywood. Due to the texture and pale color of chrysotile, a common form of asbestos, it was sometimes used as a snow substitute in
So you just bought your new home or are conducting renovations in your property and you discover a material that you suspect is asbestos-containing. You decide to have the material tested by a licensed inspector and when the samples come back positive, you discover it is in fact asbestos. Now the decision comes of what
Did you know that there are different types of asbestos? There are six different minerals that we collectively call “asbestos”. Chrysotile is the most commonly found mineral in asbestos-containing materials. According to OSHA, Chrysotile makes up 95% of the asbestos found in asbestos-containing materials in the United States. Chrysotile fibers are typically more curly while
You may have come across something called “vermiculite” in potting soil or in attic insulation. Why is it often associated with asbestos? Vermiculite is a mineral that appears in a pebble-like form. It is often gray, silver, and gold in color and can shimmer in light. Because of its insulating properties and versatility, vermiculite was
In homes throughout the nation built before the 1980s, asbestos containing materials were commonly incorporated. Asbestos was used because of its high durability, fire resistance, and other favorable properties. Asbestos was used in drywall, plasters, floor tiles, HVAC insulation, plumbing insulation, adhesives, and many other products. Asbestos containing materials in the home become a health
The usage of asbestos has been documented since antiquity. Before its usage in modern building materials, asbestos was used in pottery, clothing, and even ceremonial items throughout the world. Many ancient civilizations used asbestos because of its amazing properties which included fire resistance and the ability to be woven and integrated into many objects. In
Air Cell refers to an asbestos-containing pipe insulation product. It has alternating layers of plain and corrugated asbestos paper. The term “Air Cell” was used as a product name by Armstrong Contracting and Supply Corporation and others. However, the term “Air Cell” can also be used in a generic manner for various types of similar
In the colorful universe of Marvel Comics, many of its superpowered characters gained their abilities via a science experiment, magic, technology, or other uncanny circumstances. In the late 1940s Marvel (known at the time as Timely Comics) created a character that drew their abilities from a real world material known as asbestos. This character took
What are the health problems associated with asbestos exposure? In this blog post I will discuss the common routes of exposure for asbestos and its health effects related to exposure. The term asbestos refers to a group of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals which often have a length-width ratio of roughly 1:20. These minerals
With each passing year, the general public becomes more and more aware of indoor air quality (IAQ) issues. I thought it was because of my educational outreach efforts. Come to find out… people are more aware because of The Simpsons! I found over 20 indoor air quality related quotes from Simpsons episodes using the new website Frinkiac.com. You
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