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Asbestos Testing

AHERA / Good Faith Asbestos Testing & Consulting Serving Oregon and Washington for...

• The Homeowner
• General Contractor: Residential - Commercial Grade
• Specialty Contractor
• Demolition Contractor
• Property Development
• Real Estate Agents - Brokers

ASBESTOS : Frequently Asked Environmental Questions

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  What is Asbestos?
  
  
• Asbestos is a mined, natural occurring fibrous mineral found in certain types of rock formations. Because of asbestos resistance to high temperatures, asbestos was used in many building materials, and as a selling point for longevity and durability.
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  What age of home may have asbestos containing Materials Present?
  
  
• Building materials containing asbestos have been found in residential applications into the early 1090's although this is not a normal occurrence. We have found over the years that the early 1930's to the mid 1980's seems to prove the highest content of asbestos in homes and commercial buildings. The common comment we often here is that wasn't asbestos banned in the mid 1970's?. We have come to understand that a Ban was placed on the manufacturing of building materials containing asbestos, however were allowed to exhaust what was on hand in the event to prevent financial disaster to the building materials industry.
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  Is asbestos honestly harmful to ones health?
  
  
• Yes, asbestos is a known carcinogen, ( Cancer Causing ). With all the known or other suspected carcinogen Lead Based Paint, Radon, Mold, VOC and so on it is just another factor one needs to be aware of to protect your loved ones and yourselves health.
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  How and when does asbestos effect ones health?
  
  
• Asbestos fibers are released into the air during a fiber release. The fibers that are a major concern, are the fibers that are to small to see by the human eye, although any sized particle creates the potential for a health problem. The smaller fibers 3 X 5 microns can pass through your natural respiratory filtering system. These fibers can become lodged in the lungs, that may cause one of several types of cancer. The latency period from exposure to health related problems is projected to be 20-30 years.
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• Is everyone who is exposed to a asbestos fiber release, going to have a asbestos related health issue later in life?
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  Probably not, the purpose of environmental information is to enlighten the general public not to scare them.
  
  
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  Are asbestos containing materials in my home, a danger to me and my family?
  
  
• Asbestos containing materials do not pose a threat to your health, if they are in good condition. The threat becomes present when the materials are disturbed. If you are not sure of what may contain asbestos, where it can be located in a home or building, the condition of what you may suspect to contain asbestos, or how to manage asbestos containing materials, then it would be in your best interest to contact a Certified Asbestos Building Inspector.
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  Where may asbestos containing building materials be located within a home?
  
  
• Asbestos containing building materials may be located in, but not limited to, floor tile, floor sheet vinyl's, linoleums ceiling and wall texture, vermiculite blown in insulation's, pipe wraps, furnace and duct insulation's, adhesives, siding, wall cavity insulations, the plaster in lath and plaster wall, electrical wiring, utility circuit box's, exterior sidings and roofing materials.
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  Am I required by law to remove asbestos containing materials that I am aware of from my home?
  
  
• No, usually asbestos containing materials are removed for the homeowner before remodeling activities that impact the materials, or during a real estate transaction, or if the homeowner wants piece of mind, knowing they have made an effort to have a Environmentally Friendly Home.
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• Are remodeling contractors required by law to be aware of asbestos containing materials in a home before remodeling activities commence?
• Yes, good contractors will want to insure that they follow all rules and regulations to insure that he does not impact anyone's environmental rights, and that materials that contain asbestos are removed by a licensed abatement contractor, and disposed of at a landfill that accepts regulated waste.
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• Are Home and Inspection Companies, qualified to tell me if asbestos containing materials are present in a home during an inspection?
• No, in fact in speaking with several home inspection companies, we have determined that their insurance policy dictates that no environmental comments be made. In researching the Home Inspection Industry, we have learned that there is no curriculum provided in the course pertaining to asbestos, lead based paint, mold and VOC's.

ASBESTOS

With all the known or suspected Carcinogenics in our environment today, for example: Lead Based Paint, Radon, Drinking Water, and we can go on for a long time, Asbestos is yet another carcinogenic {Cancer Causing} Problem.

Thomas J. Consulting, LLC is a locally owned and operated Environmental Asbestos Testing Company Providing Services to Oregon and Washington. We know that time can play a very important role in Construction - Real Estate Sales - Health Concerns, No Project is to Small - Do You have Questions. Free Quotes.

You can't tell wether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos, or have it sampled and analyzed by a qualified professional.

A professional should take samples for analyis, since a professional knows what to look for, and 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, so taking asbestos samples yourself is not recommended.

ASBESTOS SAMPLING GUIDE

Anyone who samples asbestos-containing materials should have as much information as possible on the handling of asbestos before sampling, and at a minimum, should observe the following procedures:

• Make sure no one else is in the room when sampling is done.
• Wear disposable gloves or wash hands after sampling.
• Shut down any heating or cooling systems to minimize the spread of any released fibers.
• Do not disturb the material any more than is needed to take a small sample.
• Place a plastic sheet on the floor below the area to be sampled.
• Wet the material using a fine mist of water containing a few drops of detergent before taking the sample. The water/detergent mist will reduce the release of asbestos fibers.
• Carefully cut a piece from the entire depth of the material using, for example, a small knife, corer, or other sharp object.
• Place the small piece into a clean container (for example, a 35 mm film canister, small glass or plastic vial, or high quality resealable plastic bag).
• Tightly seal the container after the sample is in it.
• Carefully dispose of the plastic sheet. Use a damp paper towel to clean up any material on the outside of the container or around the area sampled. Dispose of asbestos materials according to state and local procedures.
• Label the container with an identification number and clearly state when and where the sample was taken.
• Patch the sampled area with the smallest possible piece of duct tape to prevent fiber release.
• Send the sample[s] to: