Providing Sound Environmental Solutions for Business and Industry

Industrial Hygiene

TTI Environmental, Inc. (TTI) also offers professional asbestos management services specifically designed to address the needs of a diversified client base.  TTI's service includes:

TTI understands that prudent business negotiations and daily operations depend on the combination of technical expertise and liability/risk assessment. As such, our service is centered around satisfying the need to have this information provided in a clear, concise manner. Technical sophistication, professional credibility and responsiveness to the client have proven to be key elements of success on projects in which TTI has participated. We are an active member of the National Asbestos Council, through which we keep current with standard industry procedures, while working towards their improvement. We are completely independent of asbestos abatement contractors. Consequently, this enables us to recommend the most suitable and cost effective remediation plan and to objectively oversee its implementation. Finally, our most credible attribute is the collective expertise of our personnel. This is the foundation on which we were built and by far our strongest asset.

TTI's staff is composed of accomplished professionals holding advanced and undergraduate degrees in the sciences, along with certifications in every aspect of asbestos management. Our project managers are experienced in all phases of management, including project design, estimating, scheduling and supervising. This fact, coupled with our quality assurance department, illustrates TTI's commitment to providing a high quality, professional service.

Our client base includes real estate and insurance firms, as well as health facilities and schools. Clients work directly with project managers, who are the most knowledgeable source concerning project activities. Moreover, the technical staff is available around the clock to immediately react to any emergency that may arise. TTI ensures that time frames are strictly followed. We often schedule weekend and evening hours to accommodate the needs of our clients. From basic to multi-dimensional facility designs, TTI has the experience and sophistication to professionally manage any situation that arises on asbestos abatement projects.

ASBESTOS ABATEMENT - DESIGN & MONITORING

Abatement Project Design

Asbestos abatement project design initially involves selecting the proper alternative for controlling the release of fibers from asbestos-containing materials. Abatement alternatives for asbestos management include the following:

Once the appropriate abatement alternative has been selected, a project specification or work plan is developed to delineate the guidelines by which the asbestos abatement will occur. TTI's accredited Project Designer includes procedures for the following in the specification or work plan:

Abatement Oversight

TTI provides Asbestos Safety Technicians (ASTs) to ensure that the contractor complies with the requirements of the asbestos abatement specification. This includes compiling a list of the licensed asbestos abatement workers performing the work and maintaining a log detailing the activities during the project.

Air Monitoring

TTI's ASTs perform air sampling before, during and following asbestos abatement activities. Sampling before abatement activities begin provides background airborne fiber concentrations. During abatement air sampling results yield data concerning the migration of fibers to areas adjacent to the asbestos abatement work area and worker exposure inside the work area. Finally, samples taken following abatement activities are for clearance to reoccupy a given work area.  As applicable, samples maybe analyzed on-site by TTI's American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Asbestos Analyst Registry (AAR) accredited analysts.

Back to top

ASBESTOS BUILDING SURVEYS

Commercial/Industrial

The purpose of the asbestos building survey is to identify asbestos-containing materials throughout entire facilities or in limited building areas. Survey results form the basis for the design of asbestos management and/or remediation plans. In general, TTI employs the following methodology while performing asbestos building inspections:

1. An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accredited Building Inspector trained in accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) (40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E) conducts a thorough investigation of all accessible rooms, spaces, pipe chases, above ceilings, crawlspaces, etc., to locate, identify, and assess the condition of suspect asbestos-containing materials.
   
2. Accredited Building Inspector collects bulk samples of suspect asbestos-containing materials. A sufficient number of bulk samples per homogeneous area are collected in accordance with the AHERA requirements and submitted for analysis by an accredited laboratory to determine the presence or absence of asbestos. A homogeneous area is defined by the EPA as an area of surfacing, thermal or miscellaneous materials that is uniform in color and texture and installed at the same time. At least three (3) samples of each homogeneous area will be collected. The EPA defines asbestos-containing materials as those that contain greater than one (1) percent (%) asbestos by weight.
   
3. Prepare a detailed asbestos survey report detailing the type, location, amount, and condition assessment of asbestos-containing materials identified. In addition, a drawing denoting sample locations is provided.

AHERA Programs for Schools

As of July 9, 1989, all grade schools (K-12) in the United States were to implement Asbestos Management Plans (AMPs) to comply with the guidelines as set forth in the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). In developing an AMP, an accredited AHERA Building Inspector performed a building survey in an effort to identify all suspect asbestos-containing materials throughout the school. Once all asbestos-containing materials are identified through sampling and analysis, an accredited AHERA Management Planner prepared response actions to coordinate asbestos remedial plans with existing building conditions and budgetary limits.

The AHERA Guidelines provide a requirement for on-going periodic re-inspections. Every six (6) months, all asbestos-containing materials identified in the AMP are to be visually inspected for changes in condition, friability or damage. Also, on a triennial basis, the condition of all asbestos-containing materials identified in the AMP is to be completely re-assessed by an accredited AHERA Building Inspector. Following both re-inspections, the AMP must be updated to document the findings of the re-inspections.

Back to top

LEAD BASED PAINT INSPECTION

TTI's certified Lead Inspector/Risk Assessors utilize a portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrum analyzer to test painted surfaces in all interior and exterior building areas and components on a room-by-room basis. Areas typically tested include, but are not limited to, interior walls, baseboards, ceilings, floors, interior doors, door trim, etc.

The survey protocol used to identify lead based paint is designed in accordance with the guidelines developed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Performance Characteristics Sheets (PCS) developed by HUD and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The statutory and regulatory requirements can be found in Section 302 of the Lead?Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act (LBPPPA).

HUD defines lead based paint, when analyzed by a portable XRF, as paint with a lead concentration of greater than or equal to 1.0 mg/cm2. It should be noted that Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Regulations apply to any detectable concentrations of lead in paint.

Each building to be tested is separated into room equivalents (i.e. hall, family room, dining room, etc.). Each room equivalent is further divided into components (i.e., floor, wall, ceiling, trim, etc.) Building components are segregated by color (i.e., white, off-white, etc.) and substrate (i.e., metal, wood, drywall, etc.). These four (4) criteria compose a testing combination. Three (3) XRF readings are obtained for each testing combination.

TTI personnel who operate the XRF spectrum analyzer are properly trained by the manufacturer in all safety measures and testing protocol. Manufacturer's operating instructions as well as the HUD Testing Guidelines are followed by survey personnel.

The XRF readings are recorded directly on XRF Data Sheets and compiled into a detailed final report.

Back to top

INDOOR AIR QUALITY STUDIES

TTI's trained industrial hygienists utilize a variety of methods and sampling equipment/media to investigate for any specific indoor contaminants, in industrial office environments, that would adversely effect an individual's personal health characteristics. These contaminants are many and varied, with the most prominent ones involving airborne contaminants. TTI has developed a "solution oriented" application to these investigations. In recognition of the need of practical indoor air quality advice for building occupants, owners, and managers, TTI conducts investigations centered on preventing, identifying and correcting indoor air quality problems.

A healthy indoor environment contributes to comfort, a state of well being, and increased productivity. The air is thus free from high levels of odors, dust and a satisfactory airflow exists that might prevent stuffiness. Temperature and relative humidity must be appropriate to the season and to the clothing and activity of the building occupants. There should be enough light to properly illuminate the work surfaces without creating glare and noise levels should not impede with activities.

Some various sources of indoor air quality contamination that are frequently investigated involve:

Sources Outside Building:

Equipment:

Human Activity:

Building Components and Furnishings:

Back to top