The team here at Focus are super excited to introduce Angelina Bernal as our newly appointed Senior Analyst for Mould and Microanalysis. Angelina has an extensive career in Microbiology and has experience in analysing a variety of samples...
Read moreSAMPLE OF THE WEEK // The humble fibre cement sheeting sample. It’s a common sample type that we see in the lab daily. Fibre cement sheeting is considered a bonded material with an asbestos concentration ranging from 15% to 50%. This...
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COUNTING FIBRES // The Membrane Filter Method (or MFM) is a method that is well known and utilised for the counting and quantification of respirable fibres in the air. This method (like many laboratory techniques) has its pros and cons which we...
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TEAMWORK // Humbled and grateful to receive this years ‘Supplier of the Year’ award at the #NZDAA Demolition and Asbestos Awards. Both our Auckland and Tauranga labs have worked extremely hard to make sure that we meet and exceed our...
Read moreHOW TO VIDEO // Forensic lifts have proved to be extremely popular with our clients. In this short video, we outline how to properly use these, to ensure you capitalise on time to validate and clear sites safely and quickly. #asbestos #laboratory...
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Laboratory Accreditation is a procedure by which an authoritative body gives a formal recognition that a Conformity Assessment Body fulfils specified requirements and is competent to carry out specific tasks. This assure the customer of...
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Not only is the sampling, identification and management of asbestos important to reduce the risk of asbestos, but so is the way samples are submitted to the laboratory. Our junior analyst, Kathryn Mackay writes about how samples should be...
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Asbestos cement is mostly used for roofing and exterior cladding on industrial, public, and domestic premises. Corrugated/profile sheets are commonly found, but flat sheets have also been widely used for exterior and some interior cladding...
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Asbestos analysis differs significantly from other analytical services and methods in the laboratory. It’s much more ‘subjective’ in its assessment, and as such requires a higher level of experience, as there is an aspect of...
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Presently, Ghost Wipe swabs and tape (literally packaging tape) are both commonly used for settled dust detection and asbestos clearances by consultants. The problem with Ghost Wipes are they were never designed for furnace disintegration in the...
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Former senior firefighter Kevin John Davies pleaded guilty in the Tauranga District Court for burning demolition waste material that contains some asbestos from two demolished houses at a residential subdivision site in Rotorua in June 2018. He...
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A member of the public alerted Environment Canterbury (ECan) to a 4 square metre pile – about a tandem trailer’s worth of waste dumped off Harris Rd, on the north bank of the river says Marco Cataloni, Waimakariri Zone Delivery lead The...
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