AHERA stands for Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act.

In 1986, the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA; Asbestos Containing Materials in Schools, 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E) was signed into law as Title II of TSCA.

Amendments to the act in 1994 mandated specific training and "accreditation" for all individuals doing inspection, project design, project supervision, and project work involving asbestos in schools, public and commercial buildings.

An AHERA inspector is one who's obtained the AHERA Building Inspector accreditation. With only minor exceptions, you must be an AHERA accredited inspector to take even one sample of an asbestos-containing product. Most often, an AHERA inspection is required when there's a need for renovation or demolition.

Renovations

Conduct an asbestos survey. With the exception of limited residential projects performed by the resident-owner, all surveys must be conducted by an AHERA-certified building inspector. AHERA stands for Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act. If there are no suspect materials in the work area, this must be posted or communicated in writing to contractors working in the area.

Demolition

Surveys must be conducted by an AHERA-certified building inspector. You must share the survey results with your demolition contractor and anyone else who may come in contact with the material, and keep a copy of the survey on site.

We provide field services and consulting, with prompt testing results and reports.

Air Testing and Monitoring

Our Asbestos Air Testing Services fall into two categories:

Contamination Check, and Third Party Air Monitoring.

Contamination Check - also referred to as a diagnostic air testing :

Once asbestos fibers have been released from the ACM's they remain airborne for a period of time before they settle as dust. They can then be disturbed by normal activities, become airborne again and spread on air currents throughout the building. This process is continually repeated and can only be rectified by employing a licensed asbestos removal contractor to carry out full decontamination of the area and prevent further release at the source. Until then building occupants, maintenance staff and visitors are continually exposed to potentially deadly asbestos fiber levels but may be unaware of the invisible dangers.

We utilize a TEM diagnostic air test to detect air borne asbestos fibers. TEM AHERA 40 CFR 763 analysis will detect AND identify the type of asbestos present. ( a PCM air test will not )

Third Party Air Monitoring

Once an asbestos abatement process has started, we perform the third party air monitoring on-site to ensure the abatement contractors follow all pertinent rules and safety regulations - minimizing any potential fines and risk exposure while ensuring a cost effective and professional solution.

Selective Asbestos Sampling ( Bulk Sampling )

Taking samples yourself is not recommended because there may be an increased health risk if fibers are released. In fact, if done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone. If you are the homeowner, and decide to sample material yourself, consult with us first and we can advise how to safely perform the procedure. You can then submit the sample or samples to us and we will have one of our accredited laboratories analyze the material for asbestos.

If you suspect some material might be asbestos or you just need us conduct a general walk-through in your home, you can contact us to schedule an appointment.

Our service charge depends on distance, the number of samples needed for the project, and whether the property is residential or commercial.

The Importance of Asbestos Testing

Asbestos is a group of microscopic mineral fibers that can cause serious health problems when inhaled. Our experienced EPA/AHERA licensed specialists will thoroughly investigate and evaluate the levels of asbestos in your environment. 

Asbestos is a group of microscopic minerals (amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite) that exist naturally in soil and rocks around the world. Asbestos occurs as bundles of strong fibers that can be separated into thin threads. These bundles are flexible, flame retardant and resistant to chemicals. Due to their unique properties, asbestos has been used in the production of a variety of construction materials, such as roofing and siding shingles, gaskets, floor and ceiling tiles, stucco, paneling, insulation, asphalt coats and in sealants, drywall, drywall compound, cement, paper, etc.

Health and safety concerns began to surface in the 1970’s regarding the use of asbestos in products and were banned from use in the United States in 1989. The real concern is with “Friable” asbestos materials which has been crumpled, crushed, pulverized or reduced to a powder state. Friable asbestos materials can easily become airborne and inhaled. Inhalation of these fibers is irreversible! The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly recommends hiring a certified professional asbestos inspector to sample and test for possible asbestos concerns and suspected asbestos-containing materials (ACM) that may be present in your environment. Asbestos can cause or contribute to the development of asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a carcinogen that can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis and other serious respiratory ailments. Thousands of building materials were manufactured with asbestos including insulation, pipe insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, adhesives, roof shingles, siding, textured ceilings and joint compounds. Over time, these materials degrade or are disturbed and their asbestos fibers are released. Asbestos monitoring by a certified professional can help homeowners and commercial property owners identify potential risks prior to purchase or renovation