Contact our Office at (316) 942-6323
How Can AMEI Help Me?
As Kansas Certified AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) Asbestos Building Inspectors, we can assist you by conducting thorough inspections of your property to identify and quantify building materials which may be suspect for asbestos (or ACBM). To verify the presence of asbestos, samples are collected and sent to an accredited laboratory for analysis.
EPA Asbestos & School Buildings
A comprehensive, written report is then drafted which details the findings of the investigation, identifies the location, type and condition of asbestos containing building materials (ACBM), and protocols for dealing with any potential issues.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a commercial name, not a mineralogical definition. There are six (6) minerals that are defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “asbestos” – chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Asbestos and all commercial forms of asbestos are known to be human carcinogens (cancer-causing).
Asbestos minerals are still mined in various countries including Canada, Russia, China, and India, but is no longer being mined in the United States. Its beneficial aspects are high tensile strength, flexibility, resistance to chemical and thermal (fire/heat) degradation, and electrical resistance.
Asbestos minerals have been used for decades in thousands of commercial products such as insulation and fireproofing materials, automotive brakes, pipe and boiler insulation, floor tile, cement and wallboard materials.
When mis-handled or damaged, asbestos can separate into microscopic-sized particles that remain in the air and are easily inhaled. Persons occupationally exposed to asbestos have developed several types of life-threatening diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Although the use of asbestos and asbestos products has dramatically decreased in recent years, they are still found in many residential and commercial settings. While asbestos does pose potential health risks to workers and others, in some circumstances, asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) can remain in place IF diligently maintained according to current standards.
What should I do if a structure is going to be demolished?
The first step would be to have your property thoroughly inspected which should include the collection of bulk samples of building materials to identify if asbestos fibers are present within those materials. Once the results are posted from the laboratory, our report will provide you with the knowledge needed to protect you and other parties involved.
In addition, the link provided below provides you with the document that must be given to KDHE.