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Environmental site assessments and audits: Building inspection requirements

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Abstract

Environmental site assessment criteria were originally developed by organizations that focused, almost exclusively, on surface, subsurface, and pollution source contamination. Many of the hazards associated with indoor environments and building structures were traditionally not considered when evaluating sources and entities of environmental pollution. Since a large number of building materials are potentially hazardous, careful evaluation is necessary. Until recently, little information on building inspection requirements of environmental problems has been published. Traditionally, asbestos has been the main component of concern. The ever-changing environmental standards have dramatically expanded the scope of building surveys. Indoor environmental concerns, for example, currently include formaldehyde, lead-based paint, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon, and indoor air pollution. Environmental regulations are being expanded and developed that specifically include building structures. These regulatory standards are being triggered by an increased awareness of health effects from indoor exposure, fires, spills, and other accidents that have resulted in injury, death, and financial loss. This article discusses various aspects of assessments for building structures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Environmental and Occupational Training, Inc., 814 East Pittsburgh Plaza, 15112, East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    John H. Lange

  2. GAI Consultants, Inc., 570 Beatty Road, 15146, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Genevieve Kaiser

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, 600 South Forty-third Street, 19104, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Kenneth W. Thomulka

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  1. John H. Lange
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  2. Genevieve Kaiser
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  3. Kenneth W. Thomulka
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Lange, J.H., Kaiser, G. & Thomulka, K.W. Environmental site assessments and audits: Building inspection requirements. Environmental Management 18, 151–160 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02393757

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