NY ELAP Method 198.6 (PLM with Gravimetric Prep)

Asbestos testing is a critical component in maintaining safe environments, especially in buildings with older construction materials. The NY ELAP 198.6 testing method is a specific procedure used in New York State for this purpose. This article will explore the details of this method.

What is the NY ELAP 198.6 Testing Method

The NY ELAP 198.6 method is a unique approach that employs Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) for the analysis of asbestos in non-friable organically bound building materials. This method is particularly effective for materials where asbestos, if present, is tightly bound to the matrix material and not easily isolated or detected by microscopy.

Materials Suitable for NY ELAP 198.6 Testing

Materials that are typically analyzed using the NY ELAP 198.6 method are classified as Non-friable Organically Bound (NOB). These include:

• Floor tiles (vinyl and asphalt)
• Roofing materials
• Mastics
• Caulking

Key Considerations in NY ELAP 198.6 Testing

It's important to note that the PLM method may not detect asbestos fibers smaller than 0.2 microns in diameter. As NOB materials often contain asbestos fibers less than 0.1 microns in diameter, the NY ELAP 198.6 method, which uses PLM, can sometimes yield low estimates or even false negative results. Therefore, both PLM NOB and TEM NOB analyses must be performed before a material can be classified as Non Asbestos Containing Material (non ACM).

Sample Retention Time

Samples are retained for a period of 60 days.