Environmental Assurance Co., Inc.

Services

Areas of Practice

Asbestos Abatement

Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally-occurring fibrous minerals with high tensile strength. Asbestos (Greek-not extinguishable) has the ability to be woven with resistance to heat and most chemicals. Because of these properties, asbestos has been used in more than 3,000 different building products in building construction over the last one hundred (100) years. Asbestos-containing materials are frequently encountered in a wide range of environments including, but not limited to, industrial, commercial, and residential facilities.

Why Was It Used?

Asbestos is nonflammable and a poor heat conductor making it a valuable material binder that was used as a flame-retardant material such as mechanical pipe insulation and safety clothing for firefighters.

What Products May Contain Asbestos?

  • Floor Tile & Associated Mastic

  • Linoleum (sheet vinyl) Flooring

  • Terrazzo Flooring

  • Cable Jacketing

  • Fireproofing

  • Mechanical Insulation (pipe, tank, boilers)

  • Window & Door Caulking

  • Window Glazing

  • Roofing Materials & Associated Mastics

  • Drywall / Texture / Joint Compound

  • Ceiling Tiles or Associated Glue Pucks

  • Popcorn Ceiling

  • Gaskets

  • Exterior Corrugated Panels

  • Sprayed-on Acoustical Insulation

  • Duct Seam Tapes

  • Cement Roofing, Shingles, and Siding

  • Automobile Brake Pads, Linings, and Clutch Facings

  • Swimming Pool Mastics

  • Exterior Building Soffit

Asbestos Health Risks?

Nationwide, an estimated 1.5 million employees in construction and general industry potentially face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during building renovation or demolition activities where asbestos is disturbed or removed improperly. Individuals who work in custodial/maintenance activities where asbestos is present are also subject to higher risk.

In general, the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing harmful health effects. Disease symptoms may take several years to develop following exposure. Exposure to airborne friable asbestos may result in a potential health risk because persons breathing the air may breathe in asbestos fibers. Continued exposure can increase the amount of asbestos fibers that remain in the lung. Fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may cause serious lung disease including asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma.

Three (3) Major Health Effects Associated with Asbestos Exposure

  • Asbestosis: Asbestosis is a Progressive, Long-term, non-Cancerous Chronic Disease of the Lungs. It is Caused by the Inhalation of Asbestos Fibers that Causes Tissues in the Lungs to Scar. The Scarring Makes it Difficult for Oxygen to Travel to the Bloodstream. There is No Effective Treatment for Asbestosis.

  • Lung Cancer: Lung Cancer Causes the Largest Number of Deaths Related to Asbestos Exposure. People Who Work in the Mining, Milling, Manufacturing of asbestos, or Those Who Are Exposed to Asbestos in Other Ways, Are More Likely to Develop Lung Cancer Than the General Population.

  • Mesothelioma: Mesothelioma is a Rare Form of Cancer That is Found in the Thin Lining (membrane) of the Lung, Chest, Abdomen, and Heart, and in Almost All Cases, are Linked to Asbestos Exposure. This Disease May Not Show Up Until Many Years After Initial Exposure to Asbestos. This is Precisely Why Great Efforts are Being Enforced to Prevent School Children From Being Exposed to Asbestos. Mesothelioma is the Only Form of Cancer Specifically Caused by Asbestos Exposure/Inhalation.

Asbestos Services

EACI's asbestos personnel are experts in the areas of proper removal techniques, packaging, and disposal of asbestos-containing materials. Critical aspects involved in the assessment and removal of asbestos materials include the following:

  • Proper Design of the Work Area

  • Pre-cleaning and Erection of Containment Barriers

  • Establishing Negative Pressure via HEPA-filtered 700/or 2000 CFM Negative Air Scrubbers

  • Adequate Wetting of the Material That Prevents Visual Emissions Throughout the Abatement Process, Approved Packaging of the Material in Leak-tight Containers, and DOT-prescribed Transportation and EPA-approved Disposal.

Asbestos Abatement

EACI has as much history and experience as any contractor in the asbestos removal business as we have successfully completed more than 16,000 asbestos abatement projects to the complete satisfaction of our clients.

EACI offers asbestos abatement for the following applications using methods that meet or exceed all EPA and OSHA regulations:

  • Removal and Encapsulation

  • Patch and Repair Programs

  • Operations & Maintenance Programs

  • Emergency Response Programs

  • Waste Disposal

  • Mechanical Floor Tile & Mastic Removal

  • Asbestos Inspections/Bulk Sampling

Insulation

EACI has a full line of insulation services meeting a variety of applications. All projects are completed in full compliance with National Industrial and Commercial Insulation Standards (NICA). EACI is a member of the National Insulation Association (NIA). Insulation materials that EACI installs include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Fiberglass

  • Mineral Fiber Board

  • Rubber

  • Calsil Block Insulation

  • PVC Zeston Fittings

  • Metal Jacketing

  • Metal Panel Installation

  • Mineral Wool

  • Removable Blankets

industrial cleaning (HAZMAT RemediATION)

  • Universal Waste Remediation

  • PCBs Remediation

  • Oil Reclamation

Lead abatement

Lead Based Paint Removal

EACI is a licensed lead-based paint removal contractor with trained and licensed lead workers and Supervisors. In addition, EACI has licensed Indiana Building and lead inspectors on its staff to offer their clients a true turnkey operation for their needs. EACI also has its staff trained and accredited to maintain compliance with the Lead Renovator Painting Certification (RRP).

EACI conducts lead remediation projects where their applications meet or exceed the requirements of OSHA, EPA, and the Housing and Urban development (HUD) Agencies.

  • Lead-based Paint Abatement

  • Lead-contaminated Water

  • Lead-contaminated Soil Removal

  • Shot Blast Removal Methods

  • Chemical Application Removal Methods

  • Pressure Washing Methods

  • Lead-exposure Monitoring

  • Lead Inspections/Sampling/Testing

  • Commercial/Industrial Locations

Selective Demolition

  • Interior Selective Architectural Demolition

Mold remediation

What Is Mold?

Molds are microscopic fungi that live on plant or animal matter. No one knows how many species of fungi exist, but estimates range from tens of thousands to perhaps 300,000, or more. Most are filamentous organisms, and the production of spores is characteristic of fungi in general. These spores can be air-, water-, or insect-borne.

Molds can grow on cloth, carpets, leather, wood, sheet rock, insulation (and on human foods) when moist conditions exist (Gravesen et al., 1999). Because molds grow in moist or wet indoor environments, it is possible for people to become exposed to molds and their products, either by direct contact on surfaces, or through the air, if mold spores, fragments, or mold products are aerosolized.

Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, or wheezing. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions.

Health Effects

Health effects generally fall into four (4) categories:

  • Allergies

  • Infections

  • Irritation (mucous membrane and sensory)

  • Toxicity

People at greatest risk from mold include:

  • Infants and Children

  • Elderly Individuals

  • Immune-compromised Patients (people with HIV, cancer, undergoing chemotherapy, liver disease, etc.)

  • Pregnant Women

  • Individuals with Existing Respiratory Conditions Such as Allergies

  • Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Asthma, and Those Previously Sensitized.

Common Indoor Molds

Some of the common indoor molds include:

Mold Remediation

The EACI management team and workforce are thoroughly trained in all the latest mold remediation work procedures to stay on top of all the latest work practices and training topics. EACI continues to provide the most current and most cost-effective mold remediation solutions for its clients.

  • EACI offers mold remediation for the following applications:

  • Commercial/Public Buildings

  • Government Facilities

  • Educational Institutions

  • Industrial Properties

  • Water Damage Restoration

  • Air Quality Sampling/Testing (Spore Count)

  • Moisture Management

  • Mold Biocide Application Methods

EACI employs Indiana Licensed Building Inspectors certified to conduct building inspections. Additionally, Managers on EACI’s team are trained for response emergency response cleanups and restoration (IICRCS520) for mold-related tasks. EACI is certified through the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) for water damage restoration and applied structural drying.