Environmental Clearance Certificate
What is an Environmental Clearance Certificate?
While the peace of mind and pride that comes from working with a professional is a benefit in itself, the most valuable document you'll receive with your remediation project is the environmental clearance certificate. This is the concrete proof that the part of your home that was tested is free of asbestos and other hazardous materials.
Who Needs an Environmental Clearance Certificate?
Homeowners
You will need to present your clearance certificate to your home inspector before they'll sign off on your permits, and the disposal facility will require the certificate before they'll take any waste from your renovation project.
Any reputable contractor working on your home will want to see the clearance certificate before starting their part of the project. Electricians, plumbers, and general contractors will all ask to see it as part of their planning process.
REALTORS®
You can show your listings with confidence, knowing that your client has an environmental clearance certificate in hand. For home purchases, the clearance certificate can be one of the conditions of the sale, protecting your clients in their substantial investment.
Contractors
Your general contractor or residential remodeller will require the clearance certificate as part of their Notice of Project Filing. If they don't have it, they may face an expensive and unnecessary project shutdown.
Can I Get an Environmental Clearance Certificate After My Renovation Has Started?
If you're looking to spend 3x-4x more, you can get a clearance certificate after work has begun on your project. We highly recommend that you have the testing completed in the planning stage of your project so you can factor in the time to remediate any hazardous materials. Once asbestos is airborne, it can contaminate everything in a wide radius, which will require thorough and professional cleaning before a certificate can be issued. It's far cheaper to test for hazardous materials before beginning any project.
When in doubt, test it out. Invest in an environmental assessment before you start any project to eliminate the risk and mitigate the cost.
