Environmental Risks and Asbestos Surveys

Japanese

Asbestos was used over many years as a building material due to its high resistance to heat, wear, and acid. However, over time it became clear that it could cause illnesses such as lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma through inhalation of tiny invisible fibers. In the United States, which had taken the lead over other countries in use of large volumes of asbestos, the dangers of the material became a serious social concern when they became known in the 1980s, and businesses were pressed to carry out countermeasures against asbestos-related risks.

In Japan as well, production of materials containing more than 0.1% asbestos by weight was prohibited in 2006, and developments in recent years such as the fact that it had become clear that materials such as tremolite, which it had in the past been believed were not used in Japan, were in fact in use has led to a recent trend toward further strengthening of legal regulations concerning asbestos.

For these reasons, as part of their risk management businesses now face the need to carry out proper countermeasures through accurately ascertaining the presence of asbestos in buildings they own as well as related risks.

We provide a broad range of assessment services for asbestos risks on buildings and other facilities, from paper inspections to site inspections as well as sampling.

Service Highlights

• Surveys are conducted based on the latest knowledge such as information on relevant legal and regulatory amendments.
• Inspections and assessments are conducted in accordance with the needs of each individual client, from documentary surveys through visual inspection on site, analytical surveys, and even atmospheric concentration surveys.
• Review of past inspections conducted based on previous standards makes it possible to determine whether any additional analysis or surveys are needed.
• Calculation of retirement costs can be used in estimation of asset retirement obligations as well. Results of joint studies with academic institutions are used in calculating retirement costs.
• Based on inspection results, we propose various possible measures to take in the future such as asset retirement and closure.
• As an insurer-related inspection firm, we provide neutral inspections conducted by specialists (such as certified engineers and asbestos inspectors).
• These services are utilized by numerous business clients including listed REITs, major real-estate firms, and major financial institutions.
• These services are utilized by numerous business clients including listed REITs, major real-estate firms, and major financial institutions.

Solutions Concepts

• Inspection costs can be kept down through use of simplified assessment.
• Based on the latest knowledge such as information on amendments to relevant laws and regulations, inspections are conducted by specialists (such as certified engineers and asbestos inspectors).
• Inspection and assessment can be conducted at a variety of levels in accordance with clients’ needs, ranging from documentary inspection through visual inspection on site, analytical surveys, and even atmospheric concentration surveys.
• We also can handle calculation of asset retirement obligations.

Assessment Flow

Service Menu

Feel free to contact us for an individualized estimate. Depending on the building age and floor area, etc., the assessment cost per building will be about 500,000 yen.