Asbestos Material Surveys
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was widely used as within building materials in the twentieth century. Building occupants can be exposed to asbestos when asbestos-containing materials are damaged and/or exposed, releasing inhalable air-borne fibers into the air. The health risks associated with asbestos include cancer and progressive lung disease (asbestosis).
REPSG offers comprehensive asbestos survey and management services. Our industrial hygiene personnel are trained in accordance with EPA regulations and licensed by the appropriate state and local authorities. These personnel provide turn-key services for the identification, management, and abatement of asbestos-containing materials. REPSG’s industrial hygiene capabilities are informed by the firms’ presence in Philadelphia, which maintains some of the most stringent regulations regarding asbestos and lead in the nation. REPSG has extensive experience in acting as industrial hygiene managers for facility owners and operators, managing delegated responsibilities at facilities that include school systems, apartment complexes, commercial structures, and industrial facilities.
Specific asbestos-related services provided by REPSG include:
Surveys and Inspections
Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Program Preparation and Updates
Management Plans
Design Specifications
Abatement Oversight
Third-Party Air Monitoring during Abatement
Asbestos Abatement Management
The removal, or abatement, of asbestos from structures is a highly specialized task that requires the right training, equipment and, perhaps most importantly, experience. The removal of asbestos is also highly regulated, with the USEPA, OSHA, and state and local agencies each overseeing aspects of the abatement procedure. Highly-specialized engineering controls are required to ensure that airborne asbestos fibers do not enter the rest of the building, and air testing must be performed to document that the work has been conducted safely and effectively.
REPSG has been successfully managing asbestos abatement projects for our clients for over twenty-five years. Our approach to abatement emphasizes building occupant safety and compliance with all applicable regulations. We have successfully completed major abatement projects at some of the largest and most prominent structures in the Philadelphia region. Such projects typically take place alongside demolition or renovations, and REPSG is expert in the communication and coordination practices required by construction schedules and budgets. We have also managed numerous smaller-scale abatements at commercial and residential properties.
REPSG also provides air monitoring services during abatement, utilizing third-party, certified air sampling technicians in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
Lead in Paint, Dust, & Water Assessments
Lead is a blue-gray, malleable metal that alloys readily with other metals, is non-conductive, and does not rust. Common uses of lead in the modern era have included as a gasoline additive, in batteries, in plumbing and solder, in ammunition, and as a component of paint. Lead’s toxicity in humans has been noted since at least Roman times. In America, environmental lead exposure has been recognized as a major public health concern since the 1970s.
REPSG offers comprehensive services to address the presence of lead in the lived environment. Our industrial hygiene personnel are trained in accordance with EPA ad HUD regulations and licensed by the appropriate state and local authorities. These personnel provide turn-key services for the identification of the presence of lead in paint or water and the appropriate management of the related hazards. We have successfully addressed the issue of lead in both paint and drinking water at numerous facilities, including schools, residential apartment complexes, individual residences, and other facilities.
Specific lead-related services provided by REPSG include:
X-Ray Fluorescence Surveys for Lead-Based Paint
Potable Water System Assessment and Sampling
Remediation Specification and Protocols
Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Program Preparation and Updates
Lead-Hazard Mitigation Services
Legionella Assessment & Remediation
Legionella is a species of bacteria that, when present in mist or vapor inhaled by humans, can cause significant illness and even death, and the presence of Legionella in water present building systems can represent a significant public health concern. The management of Legionella growth within a building requires both a knowledge of building system design and history and the ability to interpret laboratory reports. As Legionella is pervasive in the environment, the key to effective management of this issue lies in appropriate design and maintenance of building systems. REPSG follows current Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) guidance in preparing Legionella-specific Water Management Programs (WMPs).
REPSG’s industrial hygienists are trained and experienced in Legionella management, and can provide:
Initial building assessments
Ongoing sampling services
Water Management Program Preparation and Updates
Management of remedial events, including hyperchlorination
Water Intrusion & Mold Inspections
Molds associated with water intrusion into structures can produce microscopic airborne particles, including spores; some of these particles have the potential to induce inflammation in the respiratory system. Molds are also sources of odorous volatile organic compounds in the indoor air. According to the USEPA, any of the many different types of mold that are found in the human environment have the potential to cause adverse health effects. Molds can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even asthma attacks in people allergic to mold.
Water infiltration over time, or a water release event such as a flood, can result in prolonged dampness or saturation of building materials, which in turn can result in mold growth. This growth may be visible at interior surfaces in the building or be hidden inside walls and air conditioning systems. Building materials or furnishings that have been damp for a sufficient time period will often be colonized by mold.
REPSG’s provides comprehensive water infiltration and mold management services. These services are focused on solving the water infiltration that is the root cause of mold growth and on removing mold growth once the water infiltration is no longer present. When evaluating mold conditions, REPSG utilizes several professional consensus standards and reference documents, including those produced by the USEPA, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the IMNAS, and the New York City Department of Health (NYC DOH), in interpreting mold conditions at occupied structures.
Specific water infiltration and mold-related services provided by REPSG include:
Water Infiltration Assessments
Infrared Surveys and Inspections
Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Program Preparation and Updates
Mold Management Plans
Mold Remediation Design Specifications
Mold Remediation Oversight
Third-Party Air Monitoring during Remediation