Manufacturing plants and energy production sites can be a source of environmental contamination, even decades after they close. This can be from the materials used in construction breaking down, the supplies processed at the site leaving hazardous residue or natural disasters such as fires, floods or earthquakes damaging critical systems. Not all decontamination efforts take place in closed or abandoned facilities, however, and if your plant is being renovated or receiving systems upgrades, it is a good idea to investigate remediation options.
When Do You Need It?
Regulations change often, and some of those changes means that your plant will need to be renovated and decontaminated for compliance, resale or additional construction. Some examples of regulations requiring plant decontamination Chicago IL services include underground storage tanks and asbestos insulation. Underground storage tanks were once made from solid steel, which rusts underground. This causes stored substances getting into groundwater sources. Asbestos, on the other hand, is small fibers which are easily breathed in and cause cancers, which is why asbestos abatement is a method that is used in construction. Remediation companies can test for contamination from these sources, clean the tanks or seal the insulation for removal and dispose of any hazardous waste.
Where Can You Get It?
Remediation and decontamination services will need to be licensed and certified by government entities and trained in the relevant tools and procedures for handling hazardous materials. Some types of contamination will require specific certifications as well as inspections and tests before and after remediation. You can usually find a list of certified services online or through your local government, it is important to check the types of contamination each service can handle against your list of concerns to find the right company to hire.
Whether you are redeveloping an old manufacturing plant or keeping up with the latest environment regulations for your industry, knowing what types of plant decontamination you need can help you stay on the right side of the law and of safety. This can mean removing old underground storage tanks, abating asbestos insulation in the walls or even decommissioning and closing a plant in ways designed to reduce environmental impact.