What to do if you FIND Asbestos in your Home or Business? Five Steps to Follow; by Don Bremner of Restoration Environmental

What to do if I FIND Asbestos or Vermiculite Insulation in your Home or Business? Below is the comprehensive steps to follow from initial finding of asbestos, then how to identify it, hiring of a consultant, asbestos testing and complete asbestos removal. End Quote

Asbestos: what to do if you find ASBESTOS in your home or business? call Restoration Environmental 1-800-894-4924 Since 1989

(1888PressRelease) March 26, 2011 - What to do if I FIND Asbestos or Vermiculite Insulation in your Home or Business?

Prior to to starting restorations, renovations, construction or demolition follow the steps below.

by Don Bremner, CEO, and Former President of Restoration Environmental Contractors (Est. 1989), REC Demolition and REC Disaster Recovery and Abcott Construction Ltd. (est. 1972), former Vice President of Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario EACO. Call David Bremner 1-800-894-4924.

North America has become asbestos, mold and hazardous materials conscious. With so many buildings and facilities containing asbestos, lead paint, toxic Mold - mould, pcbs, lead dust and heavy metals, lead paint, mercury, flourescent light bulbs, etc. the prudent building manager must implement an Asbestos Hazardous Materials Management, Control and Maintenance Program.

Beginning in the 1920's and continuing into the mid 1970's asbestos and vermiculite insulation and building material were widely used in the construction industry due to its low cost, strength and ability to withstand high temperatures. In Canada, there are hundreds of thousands of miles of asbestos pipe covered materials. However, it is not always economically feasible or desirable to carry out removal procedures.

Asbestos may be found in many forms both inside and outside a building. Inside asbestos may take the form of paper or hard block insulation on hot water piping, heating ducts or as molded pipe fitting insulation and plaster, texture spray (stucco)drywall joint compounds on furnaces.

Asbestos may also be found in floor tiles, mastic coatings, roofing, tar, sheet flooring, ceiling tiles and acoustical (stucco) finishes or as wall and attic insulating materials. Exterior uses for asbestos may include shingles or siding materials and asbestos cement pipes.

Asbestos is a potential health hazard if damaged and disturbed through renovation or demolition activities. Potential future liabilities for both the property owner and the architect are also attached to the presence of asbestos. Many other products: this is a key issue the Ontario regulation includes: plaster, drywall compound used when taping/sanding and finishes of drywall corners, joint compund, edges, All Drywall can be effected in Residential, Commercial, Industrial and or Institutional and Government buildings.

As a corporation, health & safety professional, an architect, an engineer, property manager or building owner, or a licensed and responsible real estate developer, you must be aware of and identify the presence or absence of these hazardous materials when dealing with building retrofits, renovation, restorations and or prior to demolition.

Failure to advise your client(s), tenants, building occupants or contractors potentially working on a project of the presence of all hazardous materials in and/or on a property may present you with potential future liabilities. Hazardous Materials that could be present other than asbestos, Lead paint, heavy metals, mercury, PCB's, flourescent lighting, mould, mold and many other potential contaminants especially in industrial and manufacturing facilities. It is your obligation to protect the interests of your client(s), the health and safety of workers, and the natural environment.

Restoration Environmental Contractors/Restoration Consultants will arrange for an independent consultant for hazardous materials and other potential environmental concerns on industrial, commercial, institutional, ICI and residential properties, to provide testing and analyzation of samples an assessment, survey, or Designated Substance Report DSR.

Each assessment includes bulk sampling of all suspected hazardous materials, confirmatory laboratory analysis and complete reporting of all findings. We can also help in preparation of complete specifications and tender packages for any required hazardous materials and/or demolition or remedial activities and perform project management services.

All environmental consultants and environmental engineers are licensed, have errors and omissions insurance but in most cases do carry pollution, asbestos and environmental coverage.

As you are no doubt aware, non-compliance with Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Removal Regulations can have very serious consequences or costly shutdowns, Ministry of Labour fines, court appearances, employee discontent and unfavorable media attention, to name a few. In the event of future litigation, director, shareholders, plant managers or any decision maker, could be held personally liable.

THE ASBESTOS or HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CONTROL, MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

STEP ONE: Assessment and Survey Designated Substance Report for each Building Facility
The first step of the Asbestos Management Program is to do an asbestos survey to assess the location, identify the type of asbestos, the condition of the asbestos and identify a maintenance record. This asbestos inventory or assessment is usually carried out by an independent consulting firm. This assessment or survey will include:

1. Identification and location of the Hazardous Materials and Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM)
2. Assessing the condition of Hazardous Materials / asbestos and its accessibility.
3. Preparing a long term plan to outline the corrective action(s) to be taken and the immediate and long-term costs associated with the corrective action(s).

STEP TWO: Notification
Once the assessment or survey is completed, this will allow the building manager to implement the second step of the program, which includes notifying tenants, custodial and maintenance staff, building maintenance and service contractors. This notification includes identifying the location of the Hazardous Materials/ asbestos containing materials.

STEP THREE: Worker Training
A Health and Safety Training Program should be established including an inspection policy and employee training program. Employees who are most likely to come into contact or work with Hazardous Materials /asbestos should be included. Good communication is vital. All sub trades and maintenance contractors should be notified.

STEP FOUR: Corrective Measures - Correction and Remedial Action
Where the survey or assessment has identified Hazardous Materials /Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) which are severely damaged or deteriorated, the building manager then decides which of the following three methods of corrective or remedial measures are going to be used.

1. Removal By Level: Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3 Operational Procedures

As a rule, removal will initially be the most expensive method. However, depending on the circumstances, in the long run, asbestos removal can be an economically preferred option. Removal of asbestos is the only permanent solution.

In most cases, where Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) are removed, an appropriate substitute material must be reinstalled. Fibreglass pipe covering is a widely used product and the costs associated with supplying and installing this new material are relatively low.

One requirement of the regulation governing asbestos on construction sites is the classification of the work. This classification can be thought of in terms of work representing a high (Type 3) or medium (Type 2) or low hazard (Type 1). In evaluating the hazard, there are two necessary considerations:

A) the airborne concentrations of asbestos that will be generated by the work
B) the duration of the exposure

In Type 3 Operational Procedures, an eight chamber Decontamination Structure is installed. A Dirty Area Room, Garbage Storage Area and Clean Area & Room with airlocks are temporarily installed. These Decon's have filtered showering facilities. The water is filtered through a .05 micron filter collected into 45-55 gallon drums for testing prior to any discharge.

Under Type 3, the area is kept constantly under negative pressure. HEPA Filtered Negative Air Pressure Units are installed strategically and vented outside. All electrical equipment, HEPA Vacuums, temporary lighting and Negative HEPA Air Units are hooked up to temporary Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) panels. The area will have electrical lockouts where required.

2.(a) Encapsulation; Encapsulation is a successful option in dealing with asbestos and involves covering the asbestos with a sealant.
Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM), all piping, elbows, boilers and all mechanical insulation covered with ACM and asbestos are HEPA vacuumed and covered with a canvas fire-rated adhesive sealant (encapsulation). Depending on the application, there are a number of types of sealant. The sealant's function is to enclose and prevent the asbestos fibres from breaking away from the material. In the case of asbestos pipe insulation, elbows or trees, a canvas with a fire retardant lockdown adhesive lagging is applied to cover and provide a hard-shell coating.
Encapsulation requires periodic inspections, quarterly or annually, to monitor the condition of the Asbestos Containing Materials.

2. (b) Enclosure: The Enclosure method permanently closes the asbestos. The enclosure must be completely airtight and this method is best used only where access to electrical, plumbing or ventilation services are not required.

STEP FIVE: Hiring an Hazardous Materials /Asbestos Control Contractor
The Hazardous Materials /Asbestos Control Contractor should be experienced in all of the three methods mentioned above: Removal, Encapsulation and Enclosure and Insulation procedures. The Asbestos Control Contractor you hire should have:

FINANCIAL STABILITY - bank references and letter
REFERENCES; Last 5 Years
EXPERIENCE - minimum 5-10 years experience under the same corporate name.

RESTORATION ENVIRONMENTAL Corporate Profile Background:

Restoration Environmental REC Demolition REC Disaster Recovery is a turnkey, full-service, emergency response contractor and environmental contractor, a recognized leader in the environmental, demolition, restoration and construction industry.

Their exceptional reputation, aggressive health and safety program and quality client services make them one of Canada's leading environmental and government emergency response contractors. Asbestos Removal Mold Remediation Lead Abatement and Environmental Remediation, Demolition by Restoration Environmental REC Demolition

Established in 1989, and specializing in Mold Remediation, Asbestos Removal, lead abatement and industrial plant cleaning, Demolition, plant decommissioning and closures, site and soil remediation, disaster recovery Emergency Response in the ICI industrial, commercial, institutional, and government sectors.

Don Bremner and David Bremner are the founders of The Passion Campaign.ca an awareness campaign bringing together local food banks and thirteen charities that help the poor, homeless and less fortunate every day in Brantford, Hamilton, Markham and Toronto-GTA

Website: www.thepassioncampaign.ca;

Don Bremner and Restoration Environmental Contractors - REC Demolition - REC Disaster Recovery were the Proud Owners of The Markham Waxers Junior "A" Hockey Club for 11 years, from 1994-2005

Website: markhamwaxersarchives.ca

Don Bremner is the President and majority owner of Abcott Construction Ltd. a Design Build General Contractors (Est. 1972), an awarded Butler Builders, Project Managers and Construction Managers. Builders of ICI specializing in manufacturing, commercial, institutional, government (schools), steel and automotive dealerships / industries.

Website; www.abcott.ca

Tel:1-905-888-0066 fax: 905-888-0071 Call Toll-free1-800-894-4924 Canada/USA

Please forward all Project or Tender Related E-Mails to: rec@ restorationenvironmental.com For more information on all REC's services, please visit our Websites: www.recdemolition.com, www.environmentalhazards.com, www.recdisaster.com

Contact:
Don Bremner
Restoration Environmental
P.O. Box 746
10 Stalwart industrial Drive Unit 5
Gormley, Ontario
Canada, L0H 1G0
1-800-894-4924
rec ( @ ) restorationenvironmental dot com
http://www.environmentalhazards.com

###

Visit Restoration Environmental Contractors Rec Demolition Rec Disaster Website

space