Hazardous Building Materials Survey

Asbestos surveys are performed in accordance with the EPA National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulations for asbestos,  the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act (ASHARA), state regulations, and all local regulations. A visual assessment and bulk-sampling of suspected ACM will be performed during this survey. Representative samples of suspect ACM will be collected after identification of homogeneous sampling areas. Each homogeneous area will be observed for material type, location, condition, and friability. Samples of suspect ACM will be collected during the survey using EPA recommended sampling procedures. After collection, the suspected ACM samples will be transferred to a certified laboratory for bulk asbestos analysis. The samples will be analyzed for the presence and quantification of asbestos fibers using polarized light microscopy (PLM) in general accordance with EPA Method 600/M4-82-020.

LBP and lead-containing paint materials surveys will be conducted in accordance with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Title 17, California Code of Regulations,  and Work Practice in Lead Related Construction, Section 36000 accepted environmental science and engineering practices for renovation and demolition projects. The testing will be performed by using a portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer by collecting paint chip samples.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) survey and sampling can be performed to evaluate the potential presences of PCBs in building materials in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Toxic Substances Control Act. The EPA believes that there was a widespread use of PCB containing building materials in buildings that were constructed or renovated between 1950 and 1979. This includes caulking, paint, putty, and glazing materials. Building materials that contain PCB concentrations greater than or equal to 50 parts per million are defined as PCB Bulk Product waste in accordance with Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 761.3 and 761.61. The sampling activities will be performed in compliance with EPA Region 1 Standard Operating Procedures for Sampling Porous Surfaces for PCBs. Samples will be submitted to certified California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program and will be analyzed in accordance with EPA Test Method 8082A.

A visual evaluation can be performed to quantify miscellaneous hazardous building materials including Universal Waste Rule materials. This includes but is not limited to, potential mercury-containing switches, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)-containing light ballasts and switches, fluorescent and metal vapor lights, Freon-containing refrigeration systems, rodent droppings or other biological materials, and tritium containing exit signs which may be impacted by planned renovation and or demolition activities.

Mold and moisture evaluation can also be performed to identify areas that may have been affected by a water intrusion event.