Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that because of its fiber strength and fire retardant properties was used in a variety of building construction materials. It was said to be present in 2/3s of all the buildings in the United States. Asbestos was also used in a wide range of manufactured goods like toasters and hair dryers, but it was mainly utilized in building materials such as thermal system insulation, roofing materials, ceiling and floor tiles, spray-on fireproofing and decorative products like stucco.
Asbestos Inspection/ ACP-5 Form Preparation
JLC has conducted thousands of asbestos containing materials (ACM) inspections to determine whether asbestos is present in building materials. Samples of building materials are collected and analyzed by our laboratory located in Midtown Manhattan. Building materials are classified by the following 3 categories:
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Surfacing Materials - such as troweled on materials like decorative plaster or spray-on fireproofing like the materials found on the underside of concrete slabs or decking or on structural members were often applied to protect buildings in the event of a fire.
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Thermal System Insulation - also referred to as TSI, are materials such as pipe and boiler insulation along with tanks, ducts and even radiator backing. These materials were often applied to prevent heat loss or gain.
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Miscellaneous ACM - includes items like asbestos-containing ceiling tiles or vinyl floor tiles, asbestos cement panels, asbestos siding and roofing materials, and electrical and sound insulation materials.
Samples are analyzed in our in house laboratory using Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) and/or Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) methods.
A New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) ACP- 5 form can be issued if the building materials affected by the proposed scope of work (renovation or demolition) is free from asbestos.
Asbestos Air Monitoring and Project Monitoring
Asbestos fibers may be released into the air by the disturbance of ACM during product use, demolition work, building or home maintenance, repair, and remodeling. In general, exposure may occur only when the ACM is disturbed or damaged in some way that releases microscopic fibers into the air.
Asbestos air monitoring is required during abatement activities by many states and municipalities including the NYC DEP and New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). JLC's staff of certified Project Monitors serve as on-site representatives of the building owner to conduct air sampling and to work with the abatement contractor overseeing the asbestos abatement work. Air samples are collected and analyzed using PCM and TEM method in order to obtain re-occupancy of spaces undergoing abatement of ACM.
Ambient air monitoring can also be conducted when a client has concerns about the possibility of asbestos being present in the air around them in either their work or home environment. Such air samples are usually analyzed by TEM method.
Asbestos Abatement Design and CADD Services
JLC has NYS DOL certified Project Designers on staff who prepare Asbestos Abatement Specifications for Asbestos Abatement projects. Such specifications are necessary for large projects to avoid any errors on part of the Asbestos Abatement Contractor.
JLC also uses CADD to prepare drawings with Abatement Specifications.
Asbestos Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Plan
An Operations and Maintenance (O&M) plan is a formulated plan of training, cleaning, work practices, and surveillance to maintain asbestos-containing materials (ACM) within buildings in good condition. The goal is to minimize exposure of all building occupants to asbestos fibers.
JLC prepares O&M plans for owners and managers of office buildings, shopping centers, apartment buildings, hospitals, and similar facilities that may contain asbestos materials. It provides building owners, managers, workers, and other key building staff basic information on how to develop and carry out O&M programs for managing asbestos in a place.