Asbestos


Based on available data, the average airborne asbestos levels in buildings seem to be very low.Asbestos-containing material became a high profile public concern after federal legislation known as AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) was enacted in 1987.  AHERA requires that all schools be inspected for asbestos-containing building materials, and that appropriate management plans be developed.

Asbestos Photos  It is known that asbestos fibers increase the risk of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.  If the asbestos-containing material is damaged and friable (meaning it crumbles under hand pressure) then it is advisable to have the asbestos-containing material abated.  If the asbestos-containing material is not friable (for example, vinyl asbestos floor tiles or asbestos-shingle siding) or is friable but undamaged, then the EPA currently recommends that you leave the asbestos-containing material alone.

Abatement of asbestos-containing material means that is should be repaired, removed, enclosed, or included in an Operations and Maintenance plan.  Repair, removal, or enclosure of asbestos-containing material should only be performed by trained and licensed asbestos abatement contractors.  A general contractor's license is not sufficient.  Asbestos abatement contractors have to be specifically trained in asbestos handling and disposal procedures.


EPA Facts About Asbestos

Repair, removal, or enclosure of asbestos-containing material should only be performed by trained and licensed asbestos abatement contractors.The EPA includes the following five facts in their book: Managing Asbestos in Place • A Building Owner's Guide to Operations and Maintenance Programs for Asbestos-Containing Materials.

Note that this is an excerpt, and you should read the whole book before drawing conclusions.

  • FACT ONE:  Although asbestos is hazardous, the risk of asbestos-related disease depends upon exposure to airborne asbestos.  In other words, an individual must breathe asbestos fibers in order to incur any chance of developing an asbestos-related disease.  How many fibers a person must breathe to develop disease is uncertain.  However, at very low exposure levels, the risk may be negligible or zero.
  • FACT TWO:  Based on available data, the average airborne asbestos levels in buildings seem to be very low.  Accordingly, the health risk to most building occupants also appears to be very low.
  • FACT THREE:  Removal is often not a building owner's best course of action to reduce asbestos exposure. In fact, an improper removal can create a dangerous situation where none previously existed.  By their nature, asbestos removals tend to elevate the airborne level of asbestos fibers.  Unless safeguards are properly applied, a removal operation can actually increase rather than decrease the risk of asbestos related disease.
  • FACT FOUR:  EPA only requires asbestos removal in order to prevent significant public exposure to airborne asbestos fibers during building demolition or renovation projects.
  • FACT FIVE:  EPA and OSHA recommend a proactive, in-place management program whenever asbestos-containing material is discovered.  Management of asbestos in-place means having a program to ensure that the day-to-day management of the building minimizes release of asbestos fibers into the air, and ensures that if asbestos fibers are released, either accidentally or intentionally, proper control and cleanup procedures are implemented.

For information on asbestos-containing building materials, visit the EPA asbestos web site EPA ACM Info, EPA Asbestos and indoor air quality web site EPA ACM IAQ Info.   For information on asbestos in the home, visit the EPA asbestos in the home web site EPA Home ACM Info.  You can also search the EPA web site EPA Info for additional information.

Heimer Engineering can advise you as to whether certain materials are suspected of containing asbestos.  To conclusively identify the material, it is necessary to take samples and send them for laboratory analysis.  If you need an in-depth investigation of the asbestos conditions at your site, contact a firm specializing in asbestos investigations.


To setup an appointment for a home inspection or building inspection, to find out about other Engineering services, or for more information, call Heimer Engineering PC at 800.640.8090.To setup an appointment for a home inspection or building inspection, to find out about other Engineering services, or for more information, call 800.640.8090 or  click here to contact us 24/7 using the online contact form .



 
Environmental
Click a button below
 

Call 800.640.8090, or Contact Heimer Engineering 24/7


 Home Page  ●  Bookmark Page  ●  Email Page  ●  Print Page
  Environmental Topics  ●   Inspection Photographs  ●  Inspection Basics   Inspection Quick Info   Contact Us 24/7


Heimer Engineering Home Inspections, Building Inspections, Condo Inspections, Coop Inspections

● Bronx, New York – 718.547.2000
● Brooklyn, New York – 718.237.7777
● New York, New York – 212.563.4777
● Queens, New York – 718.544.3000
● Staten Island, New York – 718.227.5000
● Toll Free – 800.640.8090
● Nassau County, New York – 516.487.2100
● Suffolk County (East), New York – 631.288.3900
● Suffolk County (West), New York – 631.858.5500
● Putnam County, New York – 845.638.4900
● Rockland County, New York – 845.638.4900
● Westchester County, New York – 914.576.6100

Heimer Engineering accepts PayPal and all major credit cards.

Solution Graphics

This web site is best viewed with at least Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 7.0 or Mozilla Firefox 2.0.  Other web browsers may not display this web site properly.  Heimer Engineering's licensed Professional Engineers are ready to serve your home inspection, building inspection, coop inspection, and condominium inspection needs.  All Heimer Engineering's licensed Home Inspectors are also licensed Professional EngineersHEIMER®, HEIMER INSPECTIONS®, FOR A GOOD LOOK®, WE LOOK GOOD®, and HEI-LITE® are registered trademarks of Heimer Engineering PC.

Home Inspections Building Inspections Licensed Professional Engineers
Heimer Engineering PC Insight and Understanding only an Engineer can Provide.

Terms of use Privacy Policy Employment Opportunities

Sitemaps: ror.xml, sitemap.html, sitemap.xml, urllist.txt, ../public_html/sitemap.xml.gz.

This page was last reviewed on January 21, 2010.
Copyright © 1997-2010 Heimer® Engineering PC  All rights reserved.
Heimer Engineering PC, 2171 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 230, Commack, NY, 11725-2947