Asbestos and IAQ Testing Laboratory

Huntington Beach, CA, January 4^th, 2019

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) recently directed that strict containment measures be taken for debris piles at a demolition site on the campus of an East Los Angeles high school. The requirements follow the disturbance of steam pipes that were wrapped with asbestos inside a building that was being demolished on the school’s campus.

Inspectors from SCAQMD had been dispatched to the school after a demolition contractor discovered the asbestos-wrapped steam pipes between the floors and foundation of the building. The agency requires contractors working on the school demolition to follow all procedures under Rule 1466 -- Control of Particulate Emissions from Soils with Toxic Air Contaminants. This rule means that the debris pile at the school containing disturbed asbestos material must be contained, fenced and have signage posted.

Asbestos-wrapped steam pipes are just one of many asbestos-containing materials that can still be found in older schools, buildings and residential properties across California. Other materials where asbestos is still frequently encountered include furnace insulation, shingles, millboard, textured paints and other coating materials, and floor tiles to name just a few of the thousands of materials that were once made with asbestos.

“As stated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can't tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it happens to be labeled,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility.  “Very few materials are ever labeled so it takes a qualified laboratory that specializes in asbestos analysis to determine if a material or environmental sample has the potentially deadly fibers known to cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. At LA Testing, with multiple locations across California, we are proud to offer comprehensive asbestos analyses, all of the sampling supplies necessary, easy to use test kits and a wide range of personal protective equipment. These services and products protect against exposure risks and help to keep companies that could encounter asbestos-containing materials in regulatory compliance to avoid costly fines and potentially endangering people.”

To learn more about asbestos or other indoor air quality (IAQ), environmental, occupational, health and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. For access to test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.