Asbestos

Background
Asbestos is the generic name given to the fibrous variety of six naturally occurring minerals that have been used in commercial products. These minerals are made up of fibrous bundles. These fibers are and thin, and they can be easily separated from one another. The asbestos fibers irritate, and scar lung tissue causing the lungs to become stiff as asbestos progresses, more and more lung tissue become scarred. Eventually, your lung tissue becomes so stiff that it can’t contract and expand normally. Asbestos may be found in attic and wall insulation products containing vermiculite. Vinyl floor tiles and backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives. Roofing and siding shingles. Textured paint and patching compounds used in walls and ceilings.

Asbestos fibers may be released into the air by the disturbance of asbestos containing material (acm) during product use, demolition work, building or home maintenance, repair and remodeling. Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease. That risk is made worse by smoking. In general, the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing harmful health effects. Disease symptoms may take many years to develop following exposure. Both federal and state laws regulate asbestos in the US. Most industrialized countries have enacted a national ban on asbestos, but America has not banned asbestos. During the 1970s, the U.S. Government passed federal legislation to limit asbestos use and exposure. These guidelines were followed by more federal, state, and public safety laws in the 1980s.

Our Services
Quality Environmental has accredited employees with the ability to provide Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) inspections, management plans and abatement project designs. To prepare building owners for the control of asbestos hazard, QE focuses on the least burdensome response actions for the control and mitigations of the asbestos.

We provide asbestos services to educational institutions, residential and commercial establishments to comply with AHERA. Asbestos in schools Reauthorization Act (ASHARA), OSHA, and National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulations. In order to protect human health and environment, QE consistently adheres to the above guidelines and seeks to provide standards that are above the minimum required by the federal, state and local regulations where feasible. QE performed initial inspections and three year re-inspections and management plans for various schools, Cabamus County Schools, Charlotte Meddenburg School, Kannapolis city School, and Stanley County Schools.