Asbestos Abatement Contractors
We are the asbestos abatement contractor specialists! EME, Inc. can easily accomodate your asbestos abatement contractor needs. We are also specialists in Demolitions (Site and Selective), Asbestos Abatement, Lead Removal and Mold Remediation.
Asbestos may be found in many forms both inside and outside a building. Inside asbestos may take the form of paper or hard block insulation on hot water piping, heating ducts or as molded pipe fitting insulation and joint compounds on furnaces.
Asbestos may also be found in floor tiles, sheet flooring, ceiling tiles and acoustical (stucco) finishes or as wall and attic insulating materials. Exterior uses for asbestos may include shingles or siding materials and asbestos cement pipes. Asbestos is a potential health hazard if damaged and disturbed through renovation or demolition activities. Potential future liabilities for both the property owner and the architect are also attached to the presence of asbestos.
As licensed and responsible professional EME Family of Companies must be aware of and identify the presence or absence of these materials when dealing with building retrofits. Failure to advise our client(s) or contractors working on a project of the presence of hazardous materials in and/or on a property may present potential future liabilities. It is your obligation to protect the interests of your client(s), the health and safety of workers, and the natural environment.
Restoration Environmental Contractors will arrange an independent consultant for hazardous materials and other potential environmental concerns on residential, commercial and industrial properties. Each assessment includes sampling of all suspected hazardous materials, confirmatory laboratory analysis and complete reporting of all findings. We can also complete specifications and tender packages for any required remedial activities and perform project management services.
Not every pipe and ceiling tile contains asbestos material, but whether it does or not cannot be determined by the naked eye. Samples of the suspect material (collected by licensed workers) are analyzed under a microscope (using polarized light microscopy) in the EHS laboratory (its license is limited to asbestos projects on University property). Every sample is positive until proven otherwise.
Asbestos is abated only when required for renovation, remodeling or maintenance. This usually involves moving ceiling tile, repairing plumbing or anything else that contains asbestos.
Emergency abatement is conducted when asbestos has been accidentally disturbed--usually because of water leaks involving contaminated ceiling tile. The affected area is immediately evacuated and secured, all air handlers serving that area are shut down, and the "spill" is reported to the Oklahoma Department of Labor. Every effort is made to return the affected area to its normal occupancy as soon as possible.
Abatement is done inside enclosures to prevent the fibers from spreading. Air handling units serving the affected area are turned off until the work is completed to keep the fibers from spreading to other areas. Workers wear respirators and disposable coveralls to protect themselves while working. To prevent any attached fibers from getting into the surrounding air, the coveralls are disposed of when the worker exits the enclosure.
Asbestos--What Is It?
Asbestos is a generic term for a group of minerals known for their strength, flame and heat resistance, and seemingly indestructible qualities.
Once considered a “miracle mineral,” asbestos was used for many years in building construction. It can be found in many forms and places. Asbestos was used in boiler and pipe insulation, plasters, floor tile, electrical insulation, and as a fireproofing material on structural members in buildings. It has also been sprayed on ceilings and walls as acoustic insulation.
Because of its indestructible qualities, asbestos is harmful to the human body. The body cannot digest, break down, or change asbestos; it can only attempt to encapsulate it with scar tissue.
Several types of asbestos were banned by the EPA in the mid-70’s due to concern over the health effects (especially cancer) associated with exposure to such materials. It is important to remember that asbestos generally has been found to be hazardous to humans only when it is inhaled into the lungs.
Asbestos occurs naturally as a fiber; individual fibers are so small they are invisible to the naked eye. Most asbestos is not hazardous in its original, undisturbed state; only when it is disturbed does it release asbestos fibers.
EME, Inc. is a Demolition (Site and Selective), Asbestos and Lead Abatement, and Mold Remediation contractor based in Greensboro, North Carolina. EME, Inc. is licensed to provide these services in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee. In addition, we are bonded and insured.
