How Does the MA DEP fit into jobs with SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann?

3/9/2023 (Permalink)

Advice from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection:  "If asbestos containing material is in good condition, the best thing you can do is leave it alone."

Unfortunately, IICRC standards says removal of some amount of building materials in necessary in a high percentage of our jobs due to contamination.  What does that mean?  If we are removing any amount of building materials from your home, the said building material needs to be tested for asbestos levels, without failbefore the materials are removed from your home.  What does this mean to you>  It means we are "on hold" with your project temporarily.  We contact a valuable asset, an Industrial Hygienist, who will contact you our customer, to make arrangements to come to your home to perform asbestos testing.  The Industrial Hygienist will take samples of the material we are looking to remove, and the samples are sent to a lab for asbestos testing.  We are usually notified within 2-3 days with the results...whether any of the building materials contain asbestos or not.  If there is asbestos in the materials, we need bring in an outside asbestos abatement company to provide an estimate for you (and your insurance company)and ultimately perform the asbestos abatement.

The reasons fo the multi steps is simple. #1) if we skip this step, the fine from the MA DEP reaches into the thousands of dollars.  #2)What does this mean to you and your home?  It goes back to the MASS. DEP advice..."If asbestos containing material is in good condition, the best thing to do is leave it alone."  If the material needs to be removed from your home, it is no longer in good condition due to your loss.  If a saw is used on drywall or joint compound to remove the drywall, and your furnace is turned on, these asbestos articulates now become airborne! And they use the heating vents as highways.  You are now breathing in this dust, and the dust is airborne.  Call SERVPRO of Beverly/Cape Ann, the professionals regarding the proper way to take care of your home!

9789278665.https://www.mass.gov/guides/massdep-asbestos-construction-demolition-notifications