Asbestos Testing Laboratory

Charlotte, NC, June 20^th, 2018

Southstrand News recently published a story about the temporary closure of an auditorium at a university in South Carolina. According to the article, asbestos was discovered after an annual test of the facility’s fire curtain found asbestos on the stage and in the material used in the fire curtain itself.

 

To protect the health of building occupants, the auditorium was closed and will remain so until the fire curtain is replaced. Unfortunately, asbestos-containing materials were used for decades in thousands of products, not just fire curtains. According to The Minnesota Department of Health there are over 3,000 known products that may contain the carcinogen.

 

A partial list of just a few of these building products is provide by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and includes: Cement Pipes, Cement Wallboard, Cement Siding, Asphalt Floor Tile, Vinyl Floor Tile, Vinyl Sheet Flooring, Flooring Backing, Construction Mastics (floor tile, carpet, ceiling tile, etc.), Acoustical Plaster, Decorative Plaster, Textured Paints/Coatings, Ceiling Tiles and Lay-in Panels, Spray-Applied Insulation, Blown-in Insulation, Fireproofing Materials, Taping Compounds (thermal), Packing Materials (for wall/floor penetrations), High Temperature Gaskets, Laboratory Hoods/Table Tops, Laboratory Gloves, Fire Blankets, Fire Curtains, Elevator Equipment Panels, Elevator Brake Shoes, HVAC Duct Insulation, Boiler Insulation, Breaching Insulation, Ductwork Flexible Fabric Connections, Cooling Towers, Pipe Insulation (corrugated air-cell, block, etc.), Heating and Electrical Ducts, Electrical Panel Partitions, Electrical Cloth, Electric Wiring Insulation, Chalkboards, Roofing Shingles, Roofing Felt, Roll Roofing, Roof Patching Cement, Base Flashing, Thermal Paper Products, Fire Doors, Caulking/Putties, Adhesives, Wallboard, Joint Compounds, Vinyl Wall Coverings and Spackling Compounds.

 

“Building owners and managers should take note of this story from South Carolina as fire curtains can be found in many applications, not just in auditoriums,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “As asbestos-containing materials age, they may become friable and release asbestos fibers into the air, especially if they are disturbed. Any buildings with fire curtains or other suspect materials should consider having the materials tested for the presence of asbestos.”

 

Helping you to identify asbestos hazards are the indoor environmental quality experts at EMSL Analytical, Inc. Their laboratory services are a simple and cost effective way to identify asbestos-containing materials, dusts and other exposure risks.

 

To learn more about asbestos or other indoor air quality (IAQ) and environmental testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@emsl.com. For access to Indoor Environmental Quality test kits, visit www.EMSL.com.

 

EMSL Analytical, Inc. is one of the leading testing laboratories with 44 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations.  In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.