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New ASTM Standard for Vapor Intrusion
An international standards organization has approved a new standard for assessment of toxic vapor intrusion into buildings. ASTM International approved the new standard, E - 2600, Practice for Assessment of Vapor Intrusion into Structures on Property Involved in Real Estate Transactions, which provides guidance for vapor intrusion testing. According to ASTM the specific intent of the standard is to establish a methodology to determine whether or not there is a reasonable probability that vapor intrusion could present an environmental risk and liability. Additionally, for commercial real estate transactions the vapor intrusion investigation could be used independently or in conjunction with the existing ASTM standard for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. The vapor intrusion evaluation process in the new ASTM standard consists of four tiers. The first two (Tier 1/Tier 2) are “screening tiers” which are used to assess the potential for a vapor intrusion concern to exist, so that properties with a low risk can be screened out quickly and inexpensively. The third tier provides for more site-specific and comprehensive investigations if the potential for vapor intrusion cannot reasonably be eliminated at the Tier 1/Tier 2 levels. Tier 4 addresses vapor intrusion mitigation alternatives. The process described in the ASTM standard is designed to complement existing Federal and state vapor intrusion policies or guidance. ASTM is a voluntary standards development organization of over 30,000 technical experts representing producers, users, consumers, government and academia from over 120 countries. ASTM is not a regulatory or governmental organization. As such the standards developed by ASTM are not regulatory standards, but are often incorporated into the standard of practice in the environmental industry. For more information, please contact Michael Marsden at (925) 403-6200.
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