Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally in the environment. There are many varieties of asbestos: the three most common are chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite. Asbestos deposits can be found throughout the world and it is still mined in Australia, Canada, South Africa and the former Soviet Union. It differs from other minerals in its crystal development, which are long, thin fibers. These fibers are very strong and resistant to heat and chemicals. For these reasons asbestos was added to many older building materials. Unless testing has proven otherwise, these types of building materials are presumed to contain asbestos if installed before 1980.  In fact, federal regulations state that every building built prior to 1980 is presumed to contain asbestos. (OSHA Construction Standard 29 CFR 1926.1101).  Further, every building, regardless of age, must be surveyed for asbestos prior to demolition or renovation.  (EPA NESHAP Regulation 40 CFR –Part 61).  Finally, Federal Law requires owners of all buildings to address the possibility that asbestos is present before any renovation or demolition can take place.

The construction industry, employers and homeowners have inherited a potentially dangerous legacy.  When planning demolition or renovation projects, owners and workers must be concerned with risking exposure to asbestos dust. The Health Hazards Control Branch of the North Carolina Division of Epidemiology must be notified of plans to demolish any building, whether or not the building is known to contain asbestos.  Our qualified staff at Enpuricon, Inc can help you to determine if you have asbestos containing materials, assess the risk, select the most appropriate method of managing the problem and perform the abatement operation, whether it is removal or encapsulation.

Asbestos products belong to one of two classes: "friable" and "non-friable". The first consists of materials that can be easily crumbled by hand. The second type refers to materials that are much more durable in nature as they are held together with cement, vinyl or asphalt.  Prior to removing friable asbestos material, a state permit is often required.