Hazmat Surveys
Hazardous Materials Surveys
Bersch Consulting Ltd. conducts surveys of all accessible areas in a facility, including crawlspaces, pipe chases, etc., to assess and identify any Hazardous Materials such as:
Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM) - PCBs - Lead - Mold - Silica - Mercury.
Asbestos
We sample for asbestos on a room-by-room basis in materials such as:
insulation materials (attic, walls, piping, ductwork)
vinyl flooring
ceiling finishes
fireproofing
gasket materials
plaster
wall finishes
drywall mud joint compounds
caulking
concrete/masonry
exterior roof finishes
mastics
duct seal
cement pipe/board
Our Asbestos Identification Process
Inspection/sampling of all accessible areas of facilities including crawlspaces, pipe chases, and ceiling spaces
Database providing a room by room account of ACM present along with assessment
Drawings/floor plans/photos identifying locations of sampling and ACM identified
Labeling program upon request to physically identify any ACM present.
Annual Asbestos Audits Available
In addition to the initial asbestos survey, Bersch Consulting Ltd. provides annual audits of friable ACM to identify any changes in condition or concern regarding potential damage or disturbance. Saskatchewan Government Occupational Health & Safety Regulations require completion of an annual inspection of all “friable” asbestos to ensure it is not releasing and is not likely to release asbestos dust into the atmosphere. Bersch refers to any existing surveys and lab analysis documentation in order to assess and update existing ACM and bring the ACM data to the current date.
PCB’s
We use PCB Identifier Codes on any PCB containing light ballasts or transformers that we identify. If required, we forward samples to a NVLAP accredited laboratory for analysis.
PCBs may also be present in building materials such as
oil in motors or hydraulics
electrical devices or appliances containing capacitors
fluorescent light ballasts
oil based paint
caulking
cable and cable tray coatings
Lead
Suspect lead containing materials (paint, sheathing, etc.) are field tested with Lead Check Field Test kits followed by bulk sample analysis to confirm field test kit results.
Mercury
Mercury is most common in older thermostat switches. Mercury vapour is present in fluorescent light tubes. Recycle the mercury fluorescent light tubes when decommissioning in accordance with provincial requirements.
Silica
Silica is the basic component of most sand and rock. It is frequently found in construction materials such as:
concrete
concrete block
cement
mortar
masonry
tiles
brick
refractory brick
granite
sand fill dirt
topsoil
asphalt containing rock or stone,
gypsum board/drywall
abrasive used for blasting
The hazard associated with silica dust requires the release of crystalline silica particles within dust generated by any work activity or process involving a material containing crystalline silica.