Month: February 2016

Asbestos is highly toxic and was once used in a significant number of building materials. Homes built before 1980 in Washington, DC will most likely contain asbestos products. If you are planning a house renovation, it is recommended that you have the house inspected by a licensed asbestos inspector to avoid exposure to asbestos particles.

An asbestos inspector in the Washington, DC area will collect samples from any material suspected of containing asbestos and have it tested. Materials that contain asbestos can look exactly like materials that do not contain asbestos. Testing by a trained laboratory analyst using a microscope is the only way to tell the difference.

Common Building Materials Asbestos Inspectors Test for Asbestos

• Textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceiling joints.
• Fireplaces may have asbestos boards hidden in the back of fireplaces or below the mantels.
• Artificial embers and ashes used in gas fireplaces.
• Asbestos insulation wrapped around ducts and piping, and asbestos tape used for seams of metal ducting.
• Furnace room walls may be covered with asbestos cement board, also known as Transite.
• Some vinyl flooring tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.
• Asbestos materials used to coat hot water and steam pipes in older homes or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape.
• Asbestos insulation used for oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets.
• Asbestos compounds in older products such as stove-top pads.
• Some roofing materials such as asphalt roofing shingles and asphalt roofing paper.
• Some hollow concrete block walls may have been filled with Vermiculite insulation that is found in attics.
• Loose insulation is known to contain asbestos fibers, especially Vermiculite attic insulation.
• Putty used on older windows and asbestos cement siding materials used on the outside of older homes.

Whenever asbestos inspectors find materials containing asbestos, an asbestos abatement will need to be done. Never try to remove the asbestos materials yourself. Asbestos needs to be removed or repaired by professionals who are trained in asbestos removal and who wear special protective clothing and respirators. Protect yourself and anyone else who is working in or around your house in Washington, DC during the renovation.

Planned renovations and structure demolition involving over 800 square feet both require the services of a licensed asbestos inspector in Washington, D.C. before the District Department of Energy & Environment (DoEE) will issue necessary permits to proceed with construction. That’s why construction contractors, property managers, businesses and homeowners rely on the asbestos expertise of Envirotex Environmental Services.

The Asbestos Licensing and Control Act of 1990 and companion Amendment Act of 1993 provide for: asbestos inspector licensing and protections; asbestos emission controls with scientific measurements and environmental monitoring; and critical administrative and procedural protocols to ensure any work near or with asbestos is safely performed in compliance with all existing federal and  District DoEE regulations.

According to the District DoEE asbestos-containing material is fine if contained and undisturbed. However, when microscopic asbestos fibers are damaged and released through air or moisture, we can breath or consume the highly toxic asbestos fibers. Long-term asbestos exposure is directly linked by research to lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma and gastrointestinal cancer. As a home, property, or business owner, hiring a licensed asbestos inspector in Washington, D.C. informs you of existing environmental conditions relative to asbestos and protects you from the risks, costs, and liability associated with long-term asbestos exposure.

There are a host of individual mandates the DDoE requires to protect the public, property owners, and asbestos inspectors in Washington, D.C. For example, each asbestos inspector must obtain a medical examination along with completion of a safety training review course each year.  Companies licensed as asbestos inspectors operating in Washington, D.C., must provide disposable protective clothing and respirators approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

All tasks related to asbestos services are carefully regulated, documented, and monitored in accordance with OSHA regulations. So, when you need an experienced, fully-compliant asbestos inspector in Washington, D.C., contact the licensed, experienced asbestos inspectors at Envirotex – providing safe, meticulous, and accurate inspection, testing, abatement, and asbestos removal for satisfied clients in Virginia and Washington, D.C. for over 15 years.