Inspection & Testing

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Asbestos Inspection & Testing

Prior to 1985 asbestos was used in many construction building materials such as pipe lining, plaster walls and insulation to name a few. Depending on which Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act your jurisdiction falls under, asbestos containing material (ACM) can be categorized to be material that contains between 0.5 –  1 per cent or more asbestos by dry weight.

If a building was constructed prior to 1990, asbestos testing should be performed prior to any renovation. If purchasing a home constructed before 1990, an asbestos survey should be conducted to avoid any future surprises. Most home inspections may not always identify materials in home that may potentially be asbestos containing.

Owners of commercial properties and residential complexes with 6 or more individual units should refer the various provincial regulations regarding the commercial properties regulations and in cases where uncertainty regarding the presence of asbestos is known, JK Environmental Services can provide an Asbestos Survey of the building and property in question.

JK Environmental Services provides the following asbestos testing services:

  • Identification of potentially asbestos containing material
  • Bulk Sampling
  • Sampling with analysis by third party lab
  • Designated Substance Survey required as required commercial properties
  • Vermiculite Insulation Testing
  • Same day analysis available.
  • Bulk sampling of presumed asbestos containing material (PCM) is the most common practice of obtaining samples for asbestos testing. The number of samples for each different type of PCM is dependent on the the job size and square footage. A piece of the PCM is physically removed and sent for laboratory analysis.

 

Mould Inspection & Testing

Whether you are facing mildew or musty smells that may signal a hidden mold problem, or you are faced with an actual visible mould growth issue, the first step to remediating the issue is to determine the source and extent of the mold problem.  Once the above information is known, an appropriate remediation scope of work can be drafted for your specific project.

As such, a qualified JK inspector can determine if a mould problem exists, the extent, & the scope of work required.  Each JK technician has appropriate certification and the experience to determine if mould may be negatively impacting your indoor air quality and whether or not occupants may be being exposed to airborne mould spores.

 

TYPES OF MOULD TESTING

  • AIR SAMPLING – Used For:
    • determining indoor spore levels in relation to indoor air quality;
    • determining the possible presence of a potential hidden mold problem;
    • determining the potential presence of cross-contamination of spaces close to contaminated areas;
    • determining cleanliness of specific areas in relation to outdoors or non-suspect areas for scope of work drafting;
    • determining project completeness following the removal/remediation of areas that suffered from mould contamination;
    • Not Used For:
      • Determining acceptable indoor spore levels in relation to occupancy;
  • SURFACE SAMPLING – Used For:
    • verifying whether suspect microbial contamination is actual mould growth or not;
    • checking the cleanliness of open surfaces and contents in relation to mould contamination;
    • determine the potential presence and severity of potential moisture issues based on species of mould present;
  • RAPID MICROBIAL SWAB TESTING – Used For:
    • verifying the potential presence of any organic matter on surfaces;
    • checking the cleanliness of open surfaces and contents in relation to all types of organic mater (i.e. skin cells, bacteria, dust containing soil particles, and potential mould);
    • Not Used For:
      • verifying the presence of non-visible mould contamination on surfaces. This is due to the fact that any organic mater (i.e. skin cells, bacteria, dust containing soil particles, and potential mould) that may be present on surfaces will cause the swab test to indicate a positive result;
  • CLEARANCE MOULD TESTING
    If you have decided to tackle your own mould cleanup project, or if you would like to know if the contractor that you hired successfully completed your project, then having clearance air testing done is highly recommended.  Clearance air sampling will let you know if your mould removal project was done right, and it will also provide you with proper paperwork. This could be crucial if you are dealing with tenants, employees, or a potential sale of a property that may give rise to legal implications.