If you are experiencing an Emergency that requires Asbestos or Lead Testing, please call us at
Asbestos Testing
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Our EPA-certified inspectors will come out to the site and assess any areas that may contain asbestos.
Lead Paint Testing
We provide a fast and accurate method of measuring lead in multilayer coatings and uneven surfaces.
Mold & Air Quality Testing
We look for visible signs of mold, and also use air and surface samples to determine levels and types of mold.
Here are some common questions customers typically have.
You may be subject to State and Federal Regulations requiring an inspection for asbestos. Avoid penalties and delays: If you are impacting greater than the trigger levels of suspect asbestos-containing materials ("ACM") - you must have your project inspected for ACM by a Colorado-certified asbestos building inspector before commencing work.
The Colorado Dept of Health defines demo as “Demolition” means the wrecking or removal of any load-supporting structural member ofa facility together with any handling of debris related to the demolition, the intentionalburning of any facility, or moving a facility from a permanent foundation. “Renovation” means altering in any way one or more components in or on a facility.
Buildings of any age may contain ACM; even those newly built may have ACM. If the structures/components to be disturbed exceed the trigger levels, they must be inspected for asbestos by a Colorado-certified asbestos building inspector, unless the building was built after October 12, 1988, AND the architect or engineer who built it signs and submits documentation showing that no ACM was specified or used in the construction of the building - then no inspection is needed.
Asbestos can be found in these and many other common building materials: Ceiling textures, vinyl floor coverings and mastic, boiler and pipe insulation, heating and cooling duct insulation, ceiling tile, roofing products, clapboard shingles, etc. These materials may be regulated - a certified asbestos building inspector can determine which materials contain asbestos and which are regulated.
For Single-Family Residential Dwellings, the trigger levels are: 50 linear feet on pipes; 32 square feet on other surfaces; or the volume equivalent of a 55- gallon drum. If the amount of ACM to be disturbed exceeds the trigger level, then an asbestos abatement contractor must remove the material. Please contact L&K for additional information on Asbestos Abatement contractors to use.
For Public and Commercial Buildings (other than SFRDS), the trigger levels are: 260 linear feet on pipes; 160 square feet on other surfaces; or the volume equivalent of a 55-gallon drum. If the amount of ACM to be disturbed exceeds the trigger level, then an asbestos abatement contractor must remove the material. Please contact L&K for additional information on Asbestos Abatement contractors to use.
Colorado building inspectors take physical samples called bulk samples. Based on the scope of work the inspector determines how many samples and what locations to take samples from. The samples are then analyzed by an accredited laboratory.
Regardless of the year of construction, you should test your home before doing any demolition. Not all asbestos-containing products were banned in 1978. Also, many products still in use come from overseas. There is no regulation on building materials used for construction.
Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance asbestos has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. Asbestos has also been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.
Asbestos that is in good condition and left undisturbed is unlikely to present a health risk. The risks from asbestos occur when it is damaged or disturbed where asbestos fibers become airborne and can be inhaled. Managing asbestos in place and maintaining it in good repair is often the best approach.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of thin, fibrous crystals. It is strong, durable, and resistant to heat, fire, and most chemical reactions. Asbestos was widely used in many industries for its heat and fire resistance as well as its insulating properties.
When asbestos fibers are released into the air through processes like demolition work and home remodeling, people in the home risk breathing in the particles. Exposure to asbestos in homes can lead to lung diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Most home inspectors don’t look for asbestos, often because they are not specifically trained to spot asbestos within a house and lack the proper licenses to do it.
The only way to be sure whether a material contains asbestos is to have it tested by a qualified laboratory. EPA only recommends testing suspect materials if they are damaged (fraying, crumbling) or if you are planning a renovation that would disturb the suspect material. Samples should be taken by a properly trained and accredited asbestos inspector.
Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce. Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or un-addressed. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
Some compounds produced by molds have strong smells and are volatile and quickly released into the air. These compounds are known as microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). Because mVOCs often have strong or unpleasant odors, they can be the source of the "moldy odor" or musty smell frequently associated with mold growth. A moldy odor suggests that mold is growing in the building and should be investigated.The health effects of inhaling mVOCs are largely unknown, although exposure to mVOCs has been linked to symptoms such as headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. More research is needed to determine whether there are any human health effects from non-occupational indoor exposures to mVOCs.
Standards or Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been set. Currently, there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants.
Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing.Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, most likely, the mold problem will come back.
Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.
Lead is a toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead also can be emitted into the air from motor vehicles and industrial sources, and lead can enter drinking water from plumbing materials. Lead-based paint is present in many homes built before 1978. The federal government banned the use of lead-based paint in housing in 1978.
Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and lead-based paint (LBP) have the potential to adversely affect human health and the environment. If properly handled, however, the risks are substantially reduced. The abatement of asbestos-containing material and lead-based paint is regulated by various federal, state and local laws and regulations. Along with the appropriate industry practices, these laws and regulations must be followed during asbestos and lead-based paint abatement projects.
All Colorado real estate management professionals are now legally required to include lead-based paint disclosures prior to subletting or renovating a property. Lead poisoning is a serious issue that could result in serious health problems, including death.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing estimated that 38 million permanently occupied housing units (40% of all housing units) in the United States contain some lead-based paint that was applied before the residential use of lead-based paint was banned in 1978.
Lead is known to cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children six years old and under are most at risk from exposure to lead-based paint because they crawl on the floor and they put their hands and other items which can have lead-based paint dust on them into their mouths. Because their bodies are still growing, children tend to absorb more lead than adults. Children exposed to lead can suffer from lowered IQ, damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavioral difficulties, hearing problems, and headaches. Adults can suffer from reproductive problems (in both men and women), high blood pressure and hypertension, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems, and muscle and joint pain.
The older your home, the more likely it contains lead-based paint. For example, 87% of homes built before 1940 have some lead-based paint, while 24% of homes built between 1960 and 1978 have some lead-based paint. Lead-based paint may be present in private single-family homes or apartments, government-assisted, or public housing, and in urban, suburban, or rural settings.
