Method of analysis used to estimate the degree of mold contamination in buildings—building materials and indoor air.
NESHAP
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) are stationary source standards for hazardous air pollutants. Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects.
NLLAP
National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program. It is an EPA program that defines the minimum requirements and abilities that a laboratory must meet to attain EPA recognition as an accredited lead testing laboratory. EPA established NLLAP to recognize laboratories that demonstrate the ability to accurately analyze paint chips, dust, or soil samples for lead.
NVLAP
National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program provides third party accreditation to testing and calibration laboratories for asbestos laboratories.
OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a large regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor that originally had federal visitorial powers to inspect and examine workplaces.
Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM)
A method of analyzing bulk building materials for asbestos from a survey and is completed by an accredited laboratory (NVLAP). An optical microscopy technique that converts phase shifts in light passing through a transparent specimen to brightness changes in the image. Phase shifts themselves are invisible but become visible when shown as brightness variations. Results …
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is completed to research the current and historical uses of a property as part of a commercial real estate transaction. The intent of the report is to assess if current or historical property uses may have impacted the soil or groundwater beneath the property and could pose a threat …
Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
When a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) identifies a recognized environmental condition (REC) or the potential for impacts to the subsurface at a site, most clients request to evaluate the potential impacts by performing Phase II Environmental Testing. The presence of a REC or an environmentally impacted property can greatly reduce its value. Stakeholders …
Phase III Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
If contaminants are found during a Phase II ESA, a Phase III ESA includes a remediation plan based on the information found during the Phase II. A Phase III ESA should allow parties involved to develop a plan of remediation, which needs to have the approval of local, state, and federal environmental agencies. It will …
Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM)
A method of analyzing air for asbestos. This work takes place during annual inspections as required by an Asbestos Management Plan or during abatement and is completed by trained ERC staff while onsite. Results are available within hours. The polarized light microscope is designed to observe specimens that are visible primarily due to their optically …