Asbestos
Asbestos
What Is Asbestos?
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Group of natural minerals
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Still mined in some countries
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Long, thin, and strong fibrous crystals
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Resistant to heat and corrosive chemicals
• “Miracle fiber”
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Asbestos Facts
6 types
3 most common in products:
• Chrysotile
• Amosite
• Crocidolite
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Why was it used?
• Fire and heat resistance
• Spray-applied fireproofing
• Heat resistant clothing & gloves/textiles
• Gaskets, brake pads, etc.
• Insulation qualities (thermal & acoustic)
• Pipe, duct, tank insulation
• Sound board, acoustic panels, acoustic ceiling tiles and sprays
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Uses cont.
• Chemical resistance
• Fume hoods
• Lab table tops
• Cement panels/pipes
• Adds “tensile” strength
• Flooring materials (tile/sheeting)
• Plaster/stucco, joint compound
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Uses cont.
• Adds durability
• Roofing materials
• Flooring materials
• Paint
• Asbestos cement panels/pipes
• Assists in application of other products
• Any spray-applied product
• Trowelled-on plasters and adhesives
• Mudded elbows or junctions on piping or trowelled-on insulation
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Health Hazard
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No health risk when asbestos materials are intact
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Potential inhalation hazard from damaged asbestos materials
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Airborne fibers are usually microscopic
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Health effects
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Most asbestos-related disease results from long-term (often heavy) exposure to asbestos.
• Common occupations with long-term exposures:
• fabricators, insulators, construction (carpentry,
HVAC, plumbing, bricklaying)
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Asbestos Regulations
Started in 1972, involved phaseout program
Included:
• Ban on many applications of asbestos
• Regulations on removal, transport and disposal
• Regulations regarding protection of workers
• Regulations regarding protection of K-12, public buildings
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Friable Asbestos
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Any ACM which can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure.
•
Friable materials:
• Pipe insulation
• Insulating boards
• Insulating textiles
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Non-friable Asbestos
• Any ACM which, in its current state, cannot be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure .
(includes ceiling and floor tiles, caulking)
• Non-Friable asbestos can become Friable w/:
Water or heat damage
Age or natural deterioration
Mechanical disturbance
(sanding/abrading/cutting/grinding, etc.)
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In-Place Management
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EPA recommends an in-place management program
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Removal may create hazards.
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Repair as needed.
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Removal is required only during building demolition or renovation
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Avoiding disturbance is ideal!
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EPA AHERA Program
(Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act)
Enacted in 1986 to protect K-12
Requires:
• Asbestos management plan
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Includes management in place
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Specific controls and abatement practices
• Regular inspections
• Parental notification of any abatement activities and annual notification regarding the availability of the plan
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NESHAP
National Emission Standard for
Hazardous Air Pollutants (EPA Rule)
Applies to buildings and structures regardless of age of construction.
Is triggered for :
• All building demolitions
• Any renovation where the following is disturbed:
•
Greater or equal to: 160 sq ft of regulated ACM
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Greater or equal to: 260 linear ft of regulated pipe insulation
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NESHAP cont.
Requires :
• Inspection and development of report
• Notification (10 working days)
• Work practices
• Waste management
• Training
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Cal-OSHA considerations
• Asbestos workers: Ensure proper work practices/training/supervision
• Occupant and non-asbestos contractor safety
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Location of asbestos on campus
• Asbestos-containing materials can be found in many campus buildings constructed prior to 1980.
• Sampling of campus buildings for asbestos completed in 1994 and during
TII Project.
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Management of remodeling projects and maintenance
EH&S reviews all remodeling/demolition plans
Facilities Management
Project Managers are provided with training
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EHS/Fac Mgmt requirements
Prior to abatement
• Arrange for sample collection and analysis as necessary
• Review lab results to determine which materials contain asbestos
• Review abatement needs with Certified
Asbestos Abatement contractor
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Responsibilities
During abatement
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Contractors must meet/exceed all EPA and
OSHA requirements
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Work scheduled during off hours whenever possible
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All work must be under containment
• Building HVAC system is isolated
• Room kept under negative pressure
• All air leaving the room is filtered
• Limited access
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Responsibilities
During abatement cont.
Ensure that:
• off-hours employees are notified
• signage & posted material is maintained
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Containment and negative pressure is maintained
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Clearance sampling/analysis
• Air samples are collected by a certified consultant at the end of the abatement work.
• Air samples are analyzed by an certified laboratory.
Clearance is achieved :
• PCM: analysis that reads all fibers
Clearance level: <.01 fibers/cc
• TEM: analysis that reads only asbestos fibers
Clearance level: <70 structures/cc
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