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EPA Issues Clarification on Asbestos Sampling in Newer Buildings

There is a common misconception in the environmental industry that buildings built after 1980 are not required to be inspected for asbestos. However, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Natural Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), the age of the building does not affect whether an inspection needs to be done prior to renovation or demolition.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos refers to two groups of minerals that are naturally occurring in rock and soil. Due to its fiber strength and heat-resistant characteristics, asbestos is used in a wide variety of building materials. Asbestos containing materials (ACM) include, but are not limited to, floor tiles, roofing shingles, insulation, and plasters.

When asbestos fibers are disturbed, they can easily become airborne. These fibers are then inhaled and can cause fatal diseases including, but not limited to, lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma.

Requesting Clarification

In January 2016, a letter was sent to the EPA asking for clarification regarding what documentation would be needed to identify building materials as non-ACM. According to the author, the following documentation had been commonly relied on by building owners to waive the inspection requirement under NESHAP:

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for installed building products
Letters from each manufacturer certifying that their products do not contain ACM
Letters from each installer certifying that the installed products are not ACM

The EPA replied to that letter, stating that the owner/operator, prior to a renovation or demolition, must conduct a thorough inspection of either the whole facility or the portion of the facility that will be affected by the renovation or demolition operation, except for residential structures of four or fewer dwelling units, regardless of the date of its construction.

The Issue with Documentation

The EPA further stated that obtaining documentation from manufacturers and installers is not a guarantee that ACM is not present. There have been several instances where follow-up testing found ACM in buildings built after 1980. Furthermore, the EPA currently allows for asbestos to be used in various types of building materials.

The EPA also mentions that the owner/operator may use certain forms of acceptable documentation to certify materials as non-ACM in lieu of an inspection, depending on the circumstances. Applicable documentation would need to provide an explanation on how the asbestos content or lack thereof was determined. Polarizing Light Microscopy (PLM) is the only method of analysis for asbestos that complies with the regulation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are three ways to comply with EPA’s Asbestos NESHAP regulations: conduct asbestos sampling and analysis prior to any renovation or demolition, obtain certain forms of acceptable documentation certifying that building materials are not ACM, or simply assume building materials are ACM and follow the applicable regulations accordingly.

For more information, contact PHASE Associates at 973-597-0750 or www.phaseassociate.com. Our certified asbestos consultants have extensive experience providing turnkey asbestos services to a wide range of industries and companies in the private, public and academic sectors.

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EHC Associates

4.9

Based on 69 reviews

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Louis and his crew were professional, personable, and efficient! Great job!

Brandon Monaco

19:21 20 Nov 23

The crew did a great job in removing the asbestos material. Pedro Aluane was great to work with, and he went the extra mile giving me a hand at end of day in installing a tarp over the work area in case it rained over night. Thanks

Ed Patches

13:46 13 Nov 23

EHC remove the asbestos shingles from this building. Tall Shawn the foreman was great to work with, he communicated and did a good job in managing the project

Edwin Patches

13:39 13 Nov 23

Elio was responsive, the admin staff was communicative, Alex and the on-site folks were tidy and professional. Not inexpensive, but that's the nature of their business I suppose. Asbestos abatement isn't a DIY gig.

Shelby LaMar

11:40 03 Nov 23

Alex Henriquez was the project manager for our project. We had some moisture coming in to the house from outside from an old AC unit. He took every precaution to help with removing and stabilizing the lead paint. Alex was also incredibly knowledgeable and was able to answer every question so I could understand exactly what caused the issue what they did and what needed to be done to prevent it in the future. Amazing job.

justin creal

22:00 01 Nov 23

Can’t begin to express how great the service was from EHC. I had a wall torn out by a contractor who didn’t test for asbestos, potentially putting my home at risk. EHC came out the very next morning to test my wall and samples, and even provided a rush service making sure I had results the day after. Both the technician (apologies for a bad memory with names), and Colleen were so helpful and were able to set everyone’s minds at ease. I expected to pay a lot for the service, but it was incredibly affordable. Can’t say enough about how professional and helpful this company is. Thank you for caring about customers and proving incredible service!

Austin Good

19:10 20 Oct 23

Alex and his team were extremely professional. My experience with this company as a whole has been very positive. They made quick work of the asbestos insulated pipes and 100 year old boiler in my basement. My family and I are so relieved and thankful to have that stuff out of our home.

Taylor Dietrich

23:13 13 Oct 23

Would highly recommend ! Elio came to explain and educate on the importance of having our ducts cleaned, which made the decision to go with EHC very easy.Professional and efficient.

Klay Lee

18:45 12 Oct 23

I had a mold issue in my basement and called EHC for assistance and I couldn't be more pleased with the service.From the beginning when Elio came out it was clear that he was exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly. His expertise was evident from the start, and he took the time to explain everything clearly. His approachability helped make the process less stressful.When it was time for the job to be done, Luis and the team did an outstanding job. They took the time to address any concerns and questions, ensuring that I was comfortable with every step of the process. I was also impressed by their efficiency.I wholeheartedly recommend the team from EHC for any mold remediation needs. Their professionalism, expertise, & friendliness are truly top notch.

Carlos Devers

15:44 05 Oct 23

E.H.C did a great job on our site. Alex was an excellent job foreman. he was on time, completed the job in a neat and orderly fashion, and communicated well throughout the process.

brandon reynolds

15:58 04 Oct 23

Alex was courteous and punctual; the work was done very well and completed on time

Seth Thomas

15:04 22 Sep 23

Very professional and on time

Katie Calligan

15:22 20 Sep 23

alex and his worker did a bang up clean up would recommend this company no need to call anyone else thanks john the owner

ROBERT SWANSON JR

16:56 15 Sep 23

Alex’s crew from EHC did a fantastic job. They were courteous & considerate in our neighbors house. She had mold remediation done & was staying in a hotel. They got the job done as quickly as possible! They kept me updated everyday on their progress. Took pics & showed me their progress. They knew their stuff & the house is safe for neighbor to return now. Thank you Alex, Barb, & our whole crew from EHC. It’s a dirty job but you all did it with Grace & professionalism. Thank you all! I would recommend this company! Sue & Jay Hynicker

Susan Hynicker

17:37 26 Aug 23

Good place to work

Jennifer King

16:13 30 May 23

I would not recommend this company for duct work cleaning, They ruined the wall and ceiling paint around the ducts that they were cleaning, as well as scratching the paint on the vent covers. They chipped the wood on door casings. Their attention to detail was poor and I would not want to use them again.

Terri

20:35 05 May 23

I see that there are a lot of great reviews here on this website and that’s great but I just had this company in my home on 12/12 - 12/15/2022 yes they did a good job but they also robbed my home in the process, I am so hurt, and I feel so violated!! I would not want anyone to feel the way I feel right now. These people went so far as to take my clothes, my clothes it is the holiday, why???? I called the office right away, if they were a reputable company they would have called me back by now, but they have not. I just praise God for insurance. The work that was done was good work, but the workers robbing me, leaving me feeling so violated is the worst feeling I’ve ever felt in my life.

Georgette Cottrell

17:09 30 Apr 23

Alex and his team did a wonderful job. They arrived promptly and went right to work abating our asbestos. Alex answered any questions I had and made this frustrating situation a very smooth and easy process for me. The clean up after abatement was very good as well. I would highly recommend EHC and Alex for your jobsite.

Derrick Hamm

12:52 14 Dec 22

Forrest and his crew did a great job, removing carpet and getting room ready for install.Very clean, and timely. Very appreciated!!

Christopher Trovinger

21:12 19 May 22

brett dworsak

00:33 09 Apr 22

Elio is very informative and explains things so the average person can understand it. I feel he is an asset to your company.

Barbara Nitsche

15:10 16 Feb 22

EHC has done several projects at our facility no job to big or too small,they communicate and are mindful of ours and there safety responsabilities. forrest and alex and there teams are very easy to work with and do a very professional job, we will continue to use EHC for all our enviromental needs.

Devin Neff

18:41 05 Oct 21

Ilse Ramires

17:16 19 Aug 21

I would like to compliment EHC and its employees for a great job of asbestos removal and mold remediation. In particular I want to say how professional Elio Cirilo is. He was not pushy nor did he use any scare tactics. He simply explained what needed to be done and general details of how it would be accomplished. I believe it is absolutely best to be honest with people and answer their questions. He was very comfortable just talking to me and his integrity was evident. He answered my questions and even made a second trip to go over things with me and tell me more options. He told me if there was anything I wanted to discuss with him at any point in the work I should give him a call and he would look into it. When the work was finished he reviewed the time and materials and felt the estimate was higher than necessary so he reduced it. He said he wanted to be sure I felt I was being treated fairly. This kind of concern and ethics like this are rare and appreciated. Well done!

Wanda King

18:35 03 Aug 21

We live in a 100 year old house that had vermiculite in an unfinished attic. After having 3 other companies out to give us an appraisal and not feeling comfortable with any of them, we contacted e.h.c. associates. Elio Cirilo an estimator was out the next day. Within minutes of meeting Elio I knew that this was the company I wanted to use. He went over every step of the process from start to finish and answered EVERY question we had. The work they performed went beyond what I expected. Every associate that works for this company from the office staff to the field techs were friendly and professional. They will be the company I use for any projects I have in the future and I highly recommend this company.

Stephen Farren

19:35 29 Jul 21

Our infant son tested high for lead last year, and EHC was the place consistently recommended for testing and lead abatement. For a few weeks, our home ended up looking like a biohazard zone as they sealed it up and then meticulously tested and removed any sign of lead in our 125+ year old house. Some portions of our home were removed, some were encapsulated, some were sand blasted and sealed. The attention to detail was really impressive. In the end we felt we could move back into our home without worry that it was damaging our child. A few months later and our son's lead levels have dropped to below threshold for lead poisoning (so much faster than doctors anticipated), and it's because of EHC. This was an expensive process, but it is very clear why. I would recommend them to anyone.

Lauren Howard

18:15 09 May 21

We had E.H.C. disinfect our schools. Alex Henriquez led the team and they did an excellent job. I highly recommend them. They worked quickly and were very thorough. Great company!

Galeon Brown

18:57 10 Mar 21

I have worked with EHC as a vendor on multiple jobs. Tony Klopp and the crews are organize and communicate with us before the job begins, so we are all on the same page. The site guys work extremely well with our drivers when on site. Job sites are clean and accessible for our drivers to get in and do their job.

Harry Bertoti

22:32 04 Mar 21

EHS associates just removed some asbestos insulation from some had to reach areas (older house) and Ernesto and his team did a great job.I am very pleased and would recommend then highly.

Eugene DiFilippo

21:46 27 Jan 21

William Benefict@GMAIL.COM Benedict

22:26 17 Jan 21

E.H.C. has been great to work with. Alex Henriquez is always very knowledgeable and professional about the situation. I enjoy handling projects with him.

Michael Potts

01:05 11 Jan 21

E.H.C. provides top shelf service every time, all the time. From the estimating process through project completion the staff and support to the project is always superb. I have personally had multiple projects involving asbestos remediation with multiple lead site managers the most recent Alex Henriquez provided daily communications on project status and projected completion helping schedule the next steps in our projects. In the construction arena when finding quality contractors can be challenging E.H.C. sets the standard for a fantastic work experience.

Joe Deckman

12:40 23 Dec 20

Maria G Becerra cruz

18:38 10 Oct 20

It has been a pleasure working with EHC at Armstrong. Alex Henriquez did a great job explaining the work plan, and was very receptive to any small requests/changes we at Armstrong made. Elio Cirilo did an excellent job providing us with quick, accurate estimates.

Jeremy Brickner

20:18 29 Sep 20

I have had the pleasure of working with Dan and Alex on several projects over the past year. They are very professional and thorough. I would highly recommend their services to anyone.

Katie D

18:20 28 Sep 20

EHC was fast at and on time for the work on our house. I would recommend them.

JD Roy

22:00 07 Aug 20

Very pleased with the outcome. Alex Henriquez and his crew were simply awesome. Cathy, Barb, Wendy and Elio were very professional and courteous. This team hit a home run...highly recommended!

Ron Mathiot

23:48 05 Aug 20

This is the third time EHC has helped me with a problem and I couldn't be happier. This time Alex and his helper removed duct work with asbestos and did a fantastic job. Having asbestos is scary and these guys make it seem like an everyday occurrence. The office personnel are so kind and polite. This is a great company. Thanks EHC for your very professional, excellent work.

Nancy Benedict

21:34 01 Aug 20

E.H.C. was very responsible to our needs! It was a small job in our basement, that was done promptly. Alex Henriquez and his team were courteous, quick and thorough. I would recommend highly!

Tom Curry

15:30 16 Jul 20

Great service! Muchisimas gracias, many thanks to Alex Henriquez, Jorge Ortega Sr., and Jorge Ortega Jr. for amazing work! Very professional, thorough, and efficient. Couldn't have done it without you!

Naiomi Tapia

04:47 09 Jul 20

Alex and his crew just finished removal of asbestos tile from my basement. They arrived right on time and finished quicker than estimated. Alex was helpful and polite. Great experience!

Travis Lehman

19:10 28 May 20

Alex Henriquez and his team were wonderfully patient, professional, and efficient. Having their services to clean and sanitize COVID-19 was a great blessing to all of us!

Kay B

13:17 15 May 20

Great costumer service by their employees.Providing a great service to our community.Spotted one of their great job supervisor ALEX HENRIQUEZ doing a great job at out community police department (Columbia borough police department) keep up the great work guys.GREAT JOB E.H.C ASSOCIATES

Gerson Urena

15:20 13 May 20

Alex Henriquez

19:11 11 Apr 20

We recently had EHC come into the house to clean out the asbestos insulation on the plumbing in the crawl space.Luis Erena and his crew came in and did a first class job. Very quick and efficient.I would highly recommend EHC and Luis to everyone.Dave Natale

Dave Natale

22:35 26 Mar 20

Daryl with EHC has been such a pleasure to work with on site at the Coatesville VA Medical Center. His team is performing our demolition and Asbestos abatement, Veteran Design and Construction Inc and myself would highly recommend EHC and Associates for any job large or small. Thank you Daryl for all of your hard work and taking the time to go above and beyond and keeping our clients safe during abatement and demolition on our sites.

Hugh Galbreath

12:11 26 Feb 20

great service from Daryl Hartman I really enjoyed the way he supervised the crew, Great job I will use again in the future.

Ervin Coop

20:48 24 Feb 20

Daryl and his team have done an amazing job organized and effect will be using ehc again

Bruce Phifer

20:26 24 Feb 20

All involved was very professional and courteous.Thank you. Elio, Dan, Arthur, CJ, Luis, I forgot some names.

Dennis Matias

13:46 24 Feb 20

We contacted EHC, set up an appt and Mark came to visit and took readings. We suspected mold issues due to our Grandson was having a reaction every time he visited us recently. The testing indicated mold in our ducts. Art and Nelson came out and in 2 days the cleaning and treatment eradicated the issue. The whole process was seamless and we are confident it was totally taken care of.Art and Nelson were professional and courteous during this process, we couldn't have asked for more.

Richard Heller

20:26 18 Feb 20

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