Asbestos left undisturbed in a material is a different situation from asbestos turned into dust by a saw. A survey tells you what is in the materials you are about to disturb, before the work starts.
The usual trigger is disturbance: a renovation, demolition, re-roof, floor replacement, or storm damage that has already opened something up. Intact material in good condition that nobody plans to disturb is generally a management question rather than an emergency.
Building age matters, but asbestos-containing products stayed in use after they fell out of favor, so the survey looks at the materials rather than the date on the deed.
The survey covers the scope of the planned work and identifies materials that could contain asbestos - commonly floor tile and mastic, sheet flooring, joint compound and textured ceilings, pipe and boiler insulation, duct wrap, cement board, some plasters, roofing and siding.
Materials are grouped into homogeneous areas, and layers are recorded separately, since a floor may be several floors each with its own adhesive. Condition and location are documented because they affect the recommendation.
A bulk sample is a small piece of the material, taken with as little disturbance as possible, sealed in a labeled container, and recorded with its location and a photograph. Samples go to an independent laboratory under a chain of custody.
Samples are analyzed microscopically to determine whether asbestos is present and, if so, the type and proportion. The report presents the laboratory results by sample and layer, and states which materials were not sampled.
We do inspection and testing only - no abatement arm and no referral fee. Where asbestos-containing material is identified, the report recommends that qualified professionals scope and perform the work, and who you hire is your decision.
Possibly not, but age alone is not a reliable filter. Tell us the age, the construction and what you plan to disturb, and we can tell you whether a survey is worthwhile.
Yes, and sometimes that is the right call - for a phased renovation, for example. A scope tied to the planned work usually gives a more useful report.
Intact, undisturbed material is often a management question rather than a removal question. Where planned work would disturb it, the report recommends that qualified professionals scope and perform that work.
No. We survey and sample; the abatement decision and the contractor are yours.
