SPECIALIZING IN ASBESTOS & MOULD AIR MONITORING
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber. In the past, its properties of strength and fire-resistance made it desirable for construction and other industries to add asbestos to a variety of products – making it extremely difficult to visually identify. To combat this issue, the Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual (2019) has outlined best practices to gather and identify suspect Asbestos Containing Material (ACM). See Chapter 7: Asbestos Sampling and Analysis.
Asbestos
Services
Air Monitoring
Alliance Air Monitoring Ltd. acknowledges Alberta’s Occupation Health & Safety Codes/Legislation and the industry’s best practices document: Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual (2019) or AAAM. For asbestos air monitoring, we follow procedures set forth by the AAAM (Section 7.2 Air Sample Collection).
Bulk Sampling for Asbestos
The Alberta Government has several publications that homeowners or contractors should be aware of. Specifically, Asbestos Exposure in the Demolition and Renovation Industries states:
“If a building is to be demolished/renovated, the employer must ensure that any asbestos-containing materials that will be disturbed are removed. Some municipal jurisdictions require confirmation that this has been completed before demolition or development permits are issued.”
Please click on the above link for more information on Health Effects, commons ACMs that are tested, Exposure Control, and Disposal.
Inevitably, older homes or buildings can be difficult to visually determine what ACMs may be present; multiple layers of hidden drywall, flooring or roofing can only be identified by an investigation. Alliance Air Monitoring recommends that anyone deemed competent to provide an asbestos assessment (or gather suspect ACMs) should issue guidelines and procedures to avoid any legal action by Occupational Health & Safety.
Bulk Sampling is for homeowners or contractors who require a determination of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) for the purposes of renovations or demolitions.
Asbestos Fibre Counting
Alliance Air Monitoring is certified to perform asbestos fibre analysis. We also have several portable labs that can easily be set up on any job site location for immediate sample analysis.
NIOSH 7400 (PCM) methods are followed, including quarterly proficiency testing under PT Canada (formerly the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation – CALA). Inter lab quality control (QC) programs are also completed and documented utilizing blind recounts of 10% of samples taken and daily recounts of references slides (from the American Industrial Hygiene Association – AIHA).
Alliance Air Monitoring updates all data yearly to determine the C.V. (Coefficient of Variation). This represents the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean and is useful for comparing the degree of variation from one analyst to another.
Mould
Services
Bulk or Surface Sampling for Mould
Bulk mould sampling is usually done to provide a direct examination of a surface indicating all mould species present in a given area. Direct sampling may reveal indoor reservoirs of spores that have not yet become airborne. Samples are usually a 1”x1” specimen.
Indoor Air Quality Testing
Airborne mould samples are taken using the Zefon Bio-Pump Plus calibrated pump and Air-O-Cell impactor cassettes. Samples are usually taken in at least 2-3 locations in a residence with 1 outdoor reference sample and 1 blank sample for quality control purposes.
Indoor results are compared to outdoor results for interpretation. Any of the following indicates the likely presence of mould growth in the building or incomplete cleaning after abatement: dominance indoors of Aspergillus, Penicillium or Chaetomium species or the presence of any amount of Stachybotrys.
Alliance Air Monitoring Ltd. references:
- Health Canada: Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings: Health Effects and Investigation Methods. Ottawa, ON: Health Canada, 2004.
- Health Canada: Indoor Air Quality in Office Buildings: A Technical Guide. Ottawa, ON: Health Canada, (revised 1995).
- Alberta Health Services: Fungal Air Testing, Investigation and Reporting Requirements for Extensively Mould-Contaminated Buildings. Dec. 11, 2018.
- www.albertahealthservices.ca
Other
Services
Lead Services
Up until 1976, lead may have been used in paints up to 0.5%. In 1991, lead was voluntarily reduced to 0.06% and by regulation in 2005. In 2010, it was further reduced by regulation to 0.009%.
Samples are collected using a 37mm cassette, 0.8μm pore size, cellulose ester membrane. Sampling is conducted “closed-face” meaning the cap stays on the cassette and only the small plug is removed during sampling.
Occupational (worker) and ambient samples should be collected following the recommended volumes by NIOSH 7082. Alliance Air Monitoring Ltd. follows the NIOSH 7082 method for lead air monitoring and references Occupational Health and Safety: Bulletin – Lead at the Work Site for exposure limits.
Silica Services
Alliance Air Monitoring Ltd. follows OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Association) recommendations for procedures and exposure limits for silica dust. Determination should be made ahead of time on the specific silica species to be counted (Alpha Quartz, Cristobalite, Tridymite, or All Species).
Lab testing performed by Alliance Air Monitoring Ltd. will follow the NIOSH 7500 method and reference the Occupational Health and Safety Code (8-hour OEL of 0.025 mg/m³)
DOP Testing
DOP (Dioctyl Phthalate) is a liquid chemical that produces mono or poly disperse test aerosol of sub-micron particles, generated to challenge a HEPA filter (High-Efficiency Particulate Arresting Filter). Alliance Air Monitoring uses PAO (Poly Alpha Olefin) – a non-carcinogenic liquid for aerosol generation.
PAO is dispersed as an aerosol into the upstream flow of the filter media while the number of particles in the downstream flow is measured using a calibrated photometer that will detect particles down to 0.3 microns in diameter. HEPA filters are tested to 99.97% efficiency. During the P.A.O. test, the whole filter face is tested to ensure that any damage or leaks will be detected and located.
How often should you test your HEPA equipment?
Alliance Air Monitoring suggests following the best practices standards set forth by the Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual (2019) 5.6 HEPA Filtration Test Procedures:
- When a filter is replaced in a HEPA vacuum or ventilation unit or on-site prior to a HEPA vacuum being used outside of a containment area.
- On-site prior to the start of work before a negative air ventilation system begins to filter contaminated air.
- At least every 30 days, or more frequently when in operation to ensure the integrity of the HEPA unit.
- At least annually when not in operation.