Macsons Glossary:

Asbestos: The term "asbestos" has been given to six naturally occurring mineral fibers that have been used for commercial purposes. These fibers belong to two separate mineral groups, known as serpentine and amphibole. The serpentine group contains only one asbestiform variety, referred to as chrysotile. The amphibole group contains five asbestiform varieties: anthophyllite, grunerite (amosite), riebeckite (crocidolite), tremolite, and actinolite. The U.S. Bureau of Mines has listed more than 100 mineral fibers as "asbestos-like" fibers, but the United States government only regulates the six aforementioned forms (primarily due to effective lobbying on behalf of the asbestos and stone industries). These very fine fibers are separable, hundreds of times thinner than human hairs, and too small to be seen with the naked eye. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines fibers of concern as at least five micrometers long and at least three times as long as their diameters. For a frame of reference, mineralogists work with fibers as much as a thousand times as long as their diameters.

Asbestos Abatement: The scheduled removal of Asbestos or Environmentally harmful asbestos materials in a controlled environment.

Lead: A base metal contained in the compound in many pre-1978 paints, which is now regarded by the Environmental Protection Agency as a hazardous material. See EPA for more information. Lead abatement refers to the licensed, proper removal of materials containing lead from residential and commercial building structures.

Mold: In architectural structures, mold refers to microbial organisms which grow from moisture conditions within walls, ceilings and floors, or on interior surfaces. Although common and found everywhere, excessive mold growth old can be harmful to health and can be classified as hazardous to human health in conditions where it is highly allergic or toxic. There are basically three types of mold subject to abatement in Environmental Services: Cosmetic mold, Allergenic mold, and Toxic mold.

Cosmetic mold

"Cosmetic mold" refers to mold that is not generally considered to be a health hazard or able to damage buildings. Noticable on the surface of framing is a mold commonly referred to as black mold. Otherwise it is called "blue stain" fungi. When discovered on interior surfaces it is remedied by cleaning.

Allergenic mold

"Allergenic mold" is low risk, but it can affect people who are allergic to mold or it can trigger an asthmatic reaction, but would take a relatively heavy exposure to create this kind of reaction. Typical cleaning methods is suitable for the removal of this kind of mold. Mold reactions can be prevented by avoiding mold infested materials. If there is a lot of mold present, that is mold exceeding four square yards, professional removal is necessary.

Toxic Mold

Mold in this group is harmful to human beings and requires abatement removal. Both people who are sensitive to mold and allergy and healthy individuals are suseptable to infection from this type of mold. Toxic mold poses a substantial risk to humans and animals. Adverse health reactions may induce transient irritation or cause long term illness, immuno, neurological symptoms or diseases such as cancer. When toxic mold is identified, it is subject to remediation by a professional company trained for proper removal and disposal. Owners of residentail or commercial property affected by toxic mold should not attempt to remediate toxic mold contamination.

PCB ballasts: PCB Ballasts (leaking and non-leaking) The best option for non-leaking PCB ballasts is to recycle them at a facility with EPA approval for recycling PCB ballasts. Use a transporter with a PCB activity identification number from EPA to transport ballasts to a recycling facility. Non-leaking PCB ballasts that aren't recycled must be managed and disposed as hazardous waste. Leaking PCB ballasts should be handled with extreme caution to avoid exposure, contamination and liability. They must be managed as PCB waste and disposed in a facility regulated under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Demolition: Demolition generally refers to the opposite of construction: the tearing-down of buildings and other structures. It contrasts with deconstruction, which is the taking down of a building while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use. (Wikipedia)

Heavy Demolition: Refers to the physical methodical, engineered, removal of an entire building.

Select Demolition: As distinct to Heavy Demolition, select demolition refers to the removal of parts of a building, rather than the entire standing structure, through specialized processes, implemented by trained technicians.

OSHA: The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970. Its mission is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths by issuing and enforcing rules (called standards) for workplace safety and health. (Wikipedia)