Environmental Consultants for Schools

Public schools, universities, and non-profit private schools have distinct regulatory requirements to protect school children and school employees from asbestos and lead exposure. Schools that were built in a certain time period may have hidden asbestos in their building materials or lead-based paint (LBP). As long as there is no exposure, this can be completely safe, but it is important for building management and maintenance to understand what areas on campus were constructed using asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and to have plans in place to ensure no exposure takes place.

Site Assessment for Development

Schools most frequently need our services when planning new developments or renovations. Assessments indicate where possible contaminants are located so no one starts demolition and possibly disturbs lead dust or asbestos. It’s important to be aware of the risks and possible presence of hazardous materials before beginning any construction so that proper containment methods can be put into place to ensure safety for all those on the construction site and in surrounding areas. In many cases, remediation and containment of asbestos must be completed by certified professionals.

For renovation work, schools may be required to conduct regular air monitoring and other assessment work as part of compliance with regulations, as well as for doing the proper due diligence for safety.

Our services also help in the preparation of a maintenance plan to ensure facility workers are fully trained in and understand the management of these materials. We inspect schools for ACM and prepare management plans to take action to prevent or reduce asbestos and lead hazards. These legal requirements are founded on the principle of “in-place” management of ACMs. Removal of these materials is usually not necessary unless the material is severely damaged or will be disturbed by a building demolition or renovation project.

Regulatory Requirements

If removal of asbestos during renovation is warranted, or school buildings will be demolished, public school districts and non-profit schools must comply with the Asbestos National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulations require public school districts and non-profit schools to:

Perform an original inspection to determine whether ACMs are present and then re-inspect ACMs in each school every three years
Develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan and keep a copy at the school
Provide yearly notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations on the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan and any asbestos-related actions taken or planned in the school
Designate a contact person to ensure the responsibilities of the public school district or the non-profit school are properly implemented
Perform periodic surveillance of known or suspected ACMs
Ensure that trained and licensed professionals perform inspections and take response actions
Provide custodial staff with asbestos-awareness training