In 2011, Calgary introduced legislation requiring anyone seeking a renovation or demolition permit to fill out an Asbestos Abatement Information Form or AAIF. While this legislation is hardly new news, a lot of homeowners seem to be going through quite a bit of grief. Basically before a demolition or building permit is granted by the city, there are certain steps that homeowners must take to ensure that the property is free of asbestos and safe to work on.
Have the facility surveyed by a hazardous material expert.
Call an asbestos specialist like Amity Environmental, and we would come to your home to confirm that it is free of asbestos. This will often include taking small samples and having them tested in a laboratory. If your result come back negative, it is deemed that there are “no materials having the potential for releasing asbestos fibres in the project area.” At this point you should be able to fill out the AAIF.
However, if the facility is found to have asbestos, then all of the material must be removed by a professional before a permit will be issued. A licensed contractor like Amity will only have highly trained individuals who knows how to safely remove asbestos without hurting themselves or anyone else. We will have to carefully take out any material that could potential release asbestos and then follow up with an air quality report. When all of these are completed and the work site is safe, you will be ready to fill out the AAIF, receive your permit, and begin work.
This may seem like many, tedious steps and a lot of red tape to just do a basic job, however, this legislation is in place to protect you, your loved ones, and anyone else that will be work on or near the site. It’s necessary to have an expert come in, because a lot of homeowner don’t know where to look or how to handle asbestos safely. If you are working towards gaining a renovation or demolition permit, call the experts at Amity Environmental today at (403) 667-8264. We can help you reach all of the legislated requirements and move onto your project quickly and safely.
