Fiberglass Testing in DC, Maryland and Virginia
Glass fibers on your furniture, itching in one room, or dust after HVAC work or a renovation. We inspect the space and the HVAC, collect air samples for an accredited lab, and give you an independent written report.
Fiberglass testing is for homes, apartments, offices and student housing where people see fibers on surfaces or notice irritation in one space. We inspect the room and its HVAC vents, collect air samples for fiber counts by an accredited lab, and send a written report within two days of lab results. We do not sell remediation or cleaning.
Are there fibers in the air in this room?
Fibers on a desk or a bed are a clue, not an answer. Air samples counted under a microscope show how many fibers are in the air you breathe, and how that room compares to another space.
- One room or a whole floor. We sample the room of concern and a background location for comparison.
- HVAC included. Supply and return vents can carry fibers into a room, so they are part of the visual inspection.
- Either answer. Sometimes the results point to a source to fix. Sometimes they do not. The report states what was found.
A walkthrough, air samples and a report.
The phone call
The call is free. Tell us when it started, which rooms, and what changed: HVAC work, a renovation, new insulation, a leak.
Visual inspection
We look at the HVAC supply and return vents, ceilings and horizontal surfaces for visible fibrous debris or damaged insulation.
Air sampling
Calibrated pumps draw room air through a sampling cassette. The number and placement of samples, including a background sample, are set on site.
Lab and report
An accredited laboratory counts the fibers on each sample. Your written report follows within two days of the lab results.
Air first, with eyes on the source.
Air in the room of concern
Samples are analyzed by phase contrast microscopy (PCM), which counts the airborne fibers on each cassette.
A background location
A comparison sample from another space shows whether the room of concern stands out.
Vents, ceilings and surfaces
A visual inspection for fibrous debris and damaged insulation, with photos of what we find.
Numbers, read in context.
A lab sheet lists fiber counts. Our report explains what they mean for your space and what to do next.
- What we saw, room by room, with photos of vents, ceilings and surfaces.
- The air results, with each sample compared to the background sample.
- How the counts compare to the OSHA asbestos standard and other relevant fiberglass guidelines.
- Recommendations in plain English, such as cleaning, repairs to the HVAC or insulation, or further testing.
- A phone walkthrough of the report, so you know what it means.
The places we check.
Fiber complaints often start after something in the building was disturbed. These are the places we look first.
HVAC ducts
Duct liner and duct board inside the system, and the vents that feed the room.
Attic and wall insulation
Insulation that was moved, damaged or exposed during work on the building.
Ceiling tiles
Damaged or recently disturbed tiles above the room.
Renovation dust
Dust from nearby demolition, drywall or insulation work that settled on surfaces.
Before you book.
Can the lab tell me the fibers are fiberglass?
Not from the air count alone. PCM counts fibers by size and shape, but it does not identify what type of fiber they are. We read the counts together with what we see on site, and the report states that limit.
Can you test the fibers on my furniture?
Tell us what you are seeing on the call. If identifying settled fibers on surfaces matters for your situation, we will talk through surface sampling options before the visit.
Could the fibers be asbestos?
In an older building, the question is worth asking. A fiber count alone does not answer it. If materials in the building could contain asbestos, we can plan asbestos testing as well.
Can you tell me whether my itching comes from fiberglass?
No. We are not physicians and we do not make medical judgments. We test the air, inspect the space and the HVAC, and report what we find. Share the report with your doctor if symptoms are part of the picture.
Should I clean before you come?
Call us first. Tell us what has already been cleaned or changed, and when. That helps us decide where to sample.
When will I get the report?
Within two days of receiving the laboratory results.
Do you do the cleanup or the HVAC work?
No. We never sell remediation, cleaning or HVAC work. Our only job is to tell you what is there and what it will take to fix.
What areas do you cover?
Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia, within about an hour of Silver Spring for residential work. Commercial projects anywhere in the region and beyond by arrangement.
Seeing fibers? Tell us what is going on.
Weekdays 8 to 5. Describe the room and what changed, and we will quote it on the call.