Asbestos Testing in Philadelphia

Per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), if you’re undertaking restoration or renovation work on a building, then an asbestos testing survey is required to make sure you don’t disrupt potentially hazardous fibers.

Pennsylvania has also adopted the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), and has additional rules that apply to storage, transportation, and disposal of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs).

• Buildings being demolished or renovated must undergo asbestos testing before authorities issue a permit. A permit application must be submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection at least 10 days before the start of the project.
• The prior or future use of a building can also necessitate asbestos testing. For example, if a building owner is converting a building for commercial use.
• Another factor used to ascertain if a building requires asbestos testing before demolition or renovation is its age. Any building constructed before ACMs were banned must be inspected. Owners of newer homes should submit a statement from an architect or engineer confirming that no asbestos products were used.

The most common types of asbestos are Chrysotile (white asbestos), Crocidolite (blue asbestos), and Amosite (brown asbestos). At a microscopic level, some types resemble bundles of fibers, while others are spikier in appearance. You won’t be able to see them with the naked eye – a professional asbestos test is the only way to confirm suspected asbestos material.

Asbestos can be found in many materials and locations, both indoors and outdoors. It was often used as insulation or to strengthen other construction materials.

In older buildings, asbestos products can be in:

• Pipes, insulation, and ducts
• Boiler rooms and water heaters
• Basements, attics, and crawlspaces
• Floor tile and vinyl flooring
• Siding, shingles, and roofing
• Popcorn ceilings and ceiling tile
• Spray-on and textured paints
• Construction glues and adhesives
• Appliance gaskets (e.g., oven doors)

If you’re not sure, contact AAA Lead Professionals so we can come take a look!

Asbestos fibers were once a popular construction material. Now, we know that they can pose serious health risks. Exposure to asbestos is linked to asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other serious lung conditions like pleural plaques.

Risk increases the longer you’re exposed, which is why the law protects anyone working with asbestos. It also protects you, the consumer, from having your home contaminated by improperly conducted asbestos contracting.

Every situation is unique, so it isn’t possible to provide a one-size fits all answer. However, our testing and inspection services can normally be completed in as little as an hour or two and we can have results within 3 days.

Similarly, the price of an asbestos test depends on many variables. The square footage of the affected area as well as the number and types of samples our technicians need to take will affect costs.

Get in touch and tell us about your situation for a quick, free estimate.