PCB Testing for Commercial & School Buildings
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used as plasticizers in caulks, sealants, and electrical equipment from roughly 1950 to 1979. Buildings constructed or renovated in that window — schools, commercial properties, apartment buildings, and a surprising number of single-family homes — frequently contain PCB-impacted materials.
Air Test Pros performs PCB sample collection for caulks, sealants, light ballasts, and bulk materials, with lab analysis through an accredited third-party laboratory. EPA TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) regulations require PCB testing and management for any project where PCB-containing materials may be disturbed.
Where PCBs Are Most Often Found
- Window and door caulks — buildings constructed 1950-1979 have caulks around windows, doors, masonry expansion joints, and roof flashings that frequently contain PCBs
- Fluorescent light ballasts — pre-1979 ballasts contained PCBs as a cooling fluid; still present in many older schools and commercial buildings
- Electrical transformers and capacitors — pre-1979 industrial-grade equipment
- Paints & coatings — certain industrial and architectural paints from that era
- Plasticizers in resilient flooring, mastics, and some adhesives
When You Need PCB Testing
PCB testing is most often required for:
- School building renovations — many Capital Region and Hudson Valley schools were built or renovated in the PCB era; window or facade work nearly always triggers testing
- Commercial property due diligence — Phase II environmental site assessments for property acquisitions
- Pre-demolition surveys — required by EPA TSCA regulations before any demolition of pre-1979 buildings
- Window replacement projects — replacing pre-1979 windows usually involves disturbing PCB-containing caulks
- Light fixture upgrades — removing pre-1979 fluorescent fixtures means handling PCB-bearing ballasts
EPA threshold: Materials with PCB concentrations above 50 ppm are regulated as PCB bulk product waste under TSCA and require specialized handling. Lower concentrations still require careful management and proper disposal channels.
How a PCB Sample Is Taken
We collect small bulk samples (a few grams) of suspect materials — caulk, sealant, ballast potting compound, paint, or whatever’s being investigated. Each sample is bagged, labeled with chain-of-custody, and shipped to a TSCA-accredited lab for gas chromatography analysis. Typical turnaround is 5-7 business days; rush handling is available.
Most projects require multiple samples — one for each distinct caulk material, one per light fixture type, one per painted surface. We’ll walk through a sampling plan with you in advance so you know the scope, the cost, and what the results will tell you.
What Results Mean for Your Project
If PCB concentrations come back below regulated levels, the material can typically be handled with standard construction debris protocols. If concentrations are above 50 ppm, the work needs to be performed by a contractor familiar with TSCA-compliant handling and disposal — separate trade from Air Test Pros, since we test rather than remediate.
Our written report identifies each sample, its location, the analytical result, the regulatory implication, and the recommended next step. It’s the documentation your environmental consultant, project manager, or regulatory contact will need to keep the project moving.
Service Area for PCB Testing
Air Test Pros performs PCB testing across the Capital Region and Hudson Valley for schools, municipal buildings, commercial properties, and residential properties where PCB-era materials are suspect.