Building pollutants

Our customised and precise pollutant diagnostics enable reliable planning of construction projects or real estate transactions and avoid unpleasant surprises or risks to the environment and health.

• Analysing buildings for all relevant pollutants such as asbestos, PCBs, CP, PAHs, wood preservatives, heavy metals, radon and use-related pollutants
• Carrying out building checks and building screenings (pollutant analyses)
• Taking material samples from materials suspected of being contaminated
• Measurements of use-related odours and pollutants in the air
• Analysis of the material samples in selected partner laboratories
• Documentation of the analyses in a clear pollutant report with photo documentation, exposure plans, risk assessment and recommendations for further action
• Cost estimate for the remediation work and disposal costs

With our disposal concepts, we support the ecologically correct disposal of construction waste and ensure compliance with waste regulations.

• Advice on official requirements
• Preparation of disposal concepts for contaminated and uncontaminated construction waste in accordance with VVEA Art. 16
• Canton of Zurich: Authorisation for private inspection and monitoring of dismantling and conversion work

Our specialised planning lays the foundation for professional, sustainable and economical pollutant remediation.

• Carrying out technical soundings and follow-up investigations
• Clarification of interfaces and project-specific requirements
• Planning and implementation of pilot projects and pilot remediation projects
• Preparation of remediation concepts including cost estimates (preliminary project)
• Preparation of detailed implementation planning
• Determination of scope, preparation of specifications and formulation of suitability and award criteria for renovation contractors

Examination of contractor bids and support during negotiations on the award of contracts

By providing technical support for the remediation of hazardous substances, we guarantee a successful remediation process and ensure that there is no risk to the health of those carrying out the work or third parties during and after the remediation work.

• Technical support/specialist site management of the remediation measures in all phases of implementation
• Execution inspections and acceptances
• Carrying out accompanying measurements (control measurements)
• Coordination and synchronisation with other work groups involved in the overall project
• Contact with authorities
• Creation of individual concepts incl. measurement programme/measurement concept
• Auditing and final documentation of the renovation measures

In order to measure the content of respirable asbestos fibres in indoor spaces, we carry out recognised indoor air measurements in accordance with VDI guideline 3492. Different types of measurements are carried out depending on the point in time – for example, in the course of a building renovation.

• As-is measurements: Testing whether existing asbestos-containing materials pollute the indoor air during normal use.
• Control measurements: Recorded during or immediately after the removal of materials containing asbestos. They are carried out outside the renovation zones to check whether any contamination of the environment has taken place.
• Zone clearance measurements: Detection of the content of respirable asbestos fibres in the indoor air after the end of remediation. They are carried out within the remediation zones to check whether the remediation zones can be dismantled.
• Final measurements: Checking the indoor air after completion of all remediation work, before the premises are re-occupied.
  Periodic actual condition measurements: In accordance with the provisions of EKAS Guideline No. 6503, any remaining asbestos-containing materials of remediation priority level I must be visually and metrologically inspected periodically in order to be able to document the condition of the indoor air in accordance with the regulations until final removal.

With our equipment and experience, we can carry out up to 40 measurements simultaneously.

Are you buying or selling a property and would like to know whether building pollutants such as asbestos or PCBs are present? An investigation before the property transaction creates more clarity for all parties involved. Together we will discuss the depth of the investigation and how many material samples should be analysed. We document any findings in an expert report, make recommendations for further action and prepare a cost estimate for the remediation of the contaminated building components.

In addition to supporting construction projects, we also dedicate ourselves to further research and development. For example, we investigate the release of fibres during the processing of newly identified building materials containing asbestos. We also develop and test suitable remediation techniques for special components containing harmful substances. Using special equipment and procedures, we are able to measure the contamination of particles, fibres and gaseous pollutants by taking samples or continuously. This allows us to check the air quality in the vicinity of asbestos removal sites, for example, and to react immediately in the event of increased concentrations. Or we measure the emissions of volatile pollutants from surfaces. This enables us to derive the appropriate measures for reduction or elimination and check the success of the measures.