AHERA certified building inspectors serving Spokane County and the Inland Northwest
Call 509-593-8757If you are planning a renovation, remodel, or demolition project in Spokane County, a thorough asbestos survey performed by an AHERA certified building inspector is likely required before work can begin. The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (SRCAA) enforces strict asbestos regulations throughout Spokane County, and failure to comply can result in mandatory fines of $600 per day or more, significant project delays, and costly cleanup.
At 1st Choice Environmental, we perform complete asbestos surveys that go far beyond simple lab results. Our AHERA certified building inspectors identify, assess, and document all suspect asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in your structure, giving you a comprehensive survey report that satisfies federal, state, and Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency requirements.
Our team includes a former asbestos regulator who understands exactly what inspectors and agencies expect — because he used to be one.
All surveys performed by accredited AHERA building inspectors as required by EPA and Washington State law.
Our staff includes a former asbestos regulator who ensures every survey meets the highest compliance standards.
Survey reports that satisfy Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency notification and documentation requirements.
We serve homeowners, landlords, contractors, property managers, school districts, and government agencies.
Under SRCAA Regulation I, Article IX, asbestos regulations apply to anyone involved directly or indirectly in altering a structure in any way — regardless of its age. This includes homeowners, landlords, contractors, property managers, developers, and demolition companies.
A renovation is defined as altering a structure or component in any way other than demolition. This covers a broad range of activities, including but not limited to:
If the renovation is being performed on a property that is not an owner-occupied, single-family residence (OOSFR), an AHERA certified asbestos survey is required prior to the start of work. Even for OOSFR projects where someone other than the owner is performing the work, an AHERA survey is required.
Demolition includes the wrecking, leveling, or dismantling of a structure — making it permanently uninhabitable or unusable in part or in whole. This also includes using a structure for fire training or moving a structure to a different location. All demolition projects in Spokane County require an asbestos survey and a Notice of Intent (NOI) filed with the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency.
Not sure if your project requires an asbestos survey? Call us at 509-593-8757 for a free consultation. We’ll help you determine what’s required for your specific project, and we can coordinate with SRCAA on your behalf.
Lab results alone are not enough. A complete asbestos survey involves much more than collecting a few samples — it requires a trained AHERA certified building inspector to systematically identify all suspect materials, collect representative bulk samples from each homogeneous area, and produce a detailed report that documents findings, conditions, and locations of all asbestos-containing materials.
An incomplete or poorly conducted survey can lead to serious consequences:
Your asbestos survey must be posted in a readily accessible and visible area at the work site at all times, and it must be provided to all contractors, subcontractors, and workers on site. 1st Choice Environmental ensures every survey we deliver is complete, accurate, and ready for regulatory review.
We begin with a conversation about your project scope, timeline, and property details. Our team will help you understand the specific SRCAA requirements that apply to your project and determine whether your property qualifies as an owner-occupied, single-family residence (OOSFR) — which may have different requirements.
Our AHERA certified building inspector conducts a thorough visual inspection of the property, identifying all suspect asbestos-containing materials. We systematically collect bulk samples from materials commonly associated with asbestos, including insulation, floor tile and mastic, joint compound, textured coatings, roofing materials, siding, pipe wrap, and more.
All samples are submitted to an accredited laboratory for analysis using Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM). Rush turnaround is available when project timelines are tight.
You receive a detailed asbestos survey report documenting all findings, including the location, type, condition, and quantity of any asbestos-containing materials. This report is designed to satisfy SRCAA, Washington State L&I, and federal EPA requirements — and to be posted on the job site as required by regulation.
If asbestos is found, we help you understand your options: leave materials in place and manage them, encapsulate damaged materials, or hire a certified asbestos abatement contractor for removal. We can also assist with project design and regulatory coordination.
1st Choice Environmental provides asbestos inspection services to a wide range of clients across Spokane County and the Inland Northwest, including:
No project is too big or too small. Whether you need a single-room inspection before a bathroom remodel or a full-facility survey before a commercial demolition, we deliver the same thorough, regulation-compliant work.
It depends on who is doing the work. If you are an owner-occupant of a single-family residence and doing the work yourself, an AHERA asbestos survey is recommended but not required by SRCAA. However, if you hire a contractor to perform the renovation, an asbestos survey by an AHERA certified building inspector is required before work begins. For all non-owner-occupied properties — including rentals, commercial buildings, and multi-family units — a survey is required regardless of who does the work.
AHERA stands for the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. An AHERA certified building inspector has completed EPA-approved training and is accredited to conduct asbestos surveys in commercial, residential, and public buildings. In Washington State, all asbestos samples taken from publicly-accessed buildings must be collected by an AHERA certified inspector. All of 1st Choice Environmental’s inspectors hold current AHERA certifications.
The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency requires that most renovation and demolition projects obtain an asbestos survey by an AHERA certified inspector before work begins. If asbestos-containing materials will be disturbed and the amount exceeds 10 linear feet or 48 square feet, a Notice of Intent (NOI) must be filed with SRCAA prior to removal. All demolition projects require an NOI regardless of whether asbestos is present. NOI fees start at $250 and increase based on the quantity of asbestos being removed. Demolition projects require a 10-day waiting period after filing.
Finding asbestos does not necessarily mean it must be removed. Asbestos-containing materials that are intact and undisturbed generally do not pose a health risk. Your options include leaving the material in place and managing it, encapsulating damaged material, or having it removed by a certified asbestos abatement contractor. 1st Choice Environmental can help you evaluate your options and, if removal is necessary, assist with project design, abatement contractor coordination, and NOI filings with SRCAA.
Both building owners and contractors are subject to a mandatory $600 per day fine from Washington State Labor & Industries if an asbestos good-faith inspection is not performed before construction, renovation, or demolition work. SRCAA can also impose civil penalties for violations of Spokane County asbestos regulations, including failure to file an NOI or improper handling of asbestos-containing materials. Beyond fines, improperly disturbed asbestos can result in expensive cleanup and serious health risks.
The on-site inspection typically takes one to several hours depending on the size and complexity of the structure. Laboratory analysis usually takes 1 to 3 business days for standard turnaround, with rush options available. You will receive your complete survey report as soon as lab results are finalized. We work hard to accommodate tight project timelines.
Asbestos was widely used in building materials through the 1980s and can be found in many areas of a home, including floor tiles and sheet vinyl backing, textured ceilings and joint compound, insulation around pipes, boilers, and ducts, roofing shingles and felt, siding (particularly transite cement siding), vermiculite attic insulation, and heating system components. The presence of asbestos depends on when the materials were manufactured, not necessarily the age of the building, since asbestos-containing products were sometimes used in newer construction from existing stock.
Proudly serving Spokane, Spokane Valley, and all of Spokane County. Also serving Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Whitman, Adams, Grant, and Ferry Counties in Eastern Washington; Kootenai, Bonner, Benewah, Shoshone, and Latah Counties in North Idaho; and Missoula, Flathead, Mineral, and Sanders Counties in Western Montana.
Not sure where to start? Call us for a free consultation. We’ll help you determine what’s required for your project.