If You’re “Wrecking it in the Rockies,” Find Out How to Identify Asbestos

The National Demolition Association is holding its Annual Convention and Expo next week in Colorado, where approximately 1,000 attendees are expected to participate in three days of networking and education. Demolition Rockies will feature sessions on managing demolition projects as well as panel discussions on the demolition and decommissioning of utility plants.  

One of the major topics will include “Demolition at the Frontiers of Science & Technology,” which will address how new and emerging technologies will have a large impact on future demolition projects. 

If you’re looking to learn about technology to help identify asbestos at demolition sites, stop by our booth #214.  We’ll be demonstrating handheld Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and show how handheld analyzers using this technology can be used for on-site screening and identification of asbestos-containing materials in seconds.

Unfortunately, asbestos – which is a group of silicate minerals that can cause serious health effects – is an insulating and sound attenuating product that was used as pipe and ceiling insulation, sprayed-on fireproofing, and in a variety of other building construction materials.  It can also be contained in flooring, roofing materials and some cement products.  Although manufacturers in the US have largely phased out the use of asbestos, the health threat looms in US buildings built before the 1980s and in other geographic areas around the globe.

So, if workers are involved in building demolition or deconstruction, there’s a strong chance that they will encounter asbestos.  (Deconstruction is defined as the demolition of a structure in order to maximize the amount of potentially recyclable materials from the building.) That’s the reason asbestos abatement, the safe removal of asbestos, needs to be a major part of the demolition process.

Handheld NIR asbestos analyzers can help prevent asbestos exposure on site by identifying asbestos fibres in a wide range of construction materials including tiles, flagstones, ceilings, heat insulation, braids, cords, coatings, cements and fibre cements, joint compound, adhesives, covers, boarding and other materials.  Detecting asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in homes and commercial buildings prior to demolition or renovation is critical to ensure the safe removal of asbestos.  Additionally, in many states before construction and demolition (C&D) materials can be disposed of in a landfill they must be certified as free of any hazardous materials such as asbestos or lead.   

I highly recommend the educational sessions on latest regulations on demolition and deconstruction where hazardous materials are present and the live demolition event where they have hands-on testing of equipment.

If you want to grab a bite to eat after the conference, and you like pho, I also highly recommend Pho 888, a local Vietnamese restaurant.  Start with spring rolls, Pho Tai Nam – rare steak and flank pho, and a coconut boba – my favorites. 

Hope to see you there, but if you can’t make it, follow the National Demolition Association twitter feed (@NDAmakingway), or get more information on our website about asbestos analyzers, and read about a waste management company that used handheld analyzers to help ensure that every load of material entering the facility is free from harmful elements, most notably asbestos.

Event Details:

Demolition Rockies: Wrecking in the Rockies
Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center
Booth #214. 
March 22-25, 2019
Aurora, Colorado

Read the customer testimonial: Recovery 1 identifies asbestos promptly and accurately with Thermo Scientific microPHAZIR AS analyzer