Asbestos Requirements
Overview
Many types of construction and renovation projects may involve asbestos, and these are subject to specific requirements and regulations. Be aware of the potential for encountering asbestos during any of these activities:
- Renovations, where building materials or components are altered or removed
- Demolition of buildings or structural supports
- Maintenance on boilers, piping and VAC systems
- Maintenance on equipment in and around ceilings
- Cable installation, replacement or maintenance
- Flooring removal or repair
- Roofing removal or repair
- Ceiling tile maintenance or repair
- Painting, repair or cleaning of spray-applied acoustical coatings or textures
Demolition and Renovation Notification Requirements
- A written asbestos survey is required for all non-exempt structures that are being renovated or demolished. This survey must be at the job site during all phases of renovation projects even if no asbestos removal is involved. Demolition surveys will be sent to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) District Office or local Pollution Control Agency responsible for the region where the work is taking place along with the required demolition notification.
- Exempt structures are single-family homes under control of a single-family homeowner, and apartment buildings with four or fewer units and not part of a facility or installation and not part of a larger project consisting of demolition and/or renovation. These structures are exempt from the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rule only, not from occupational (OSHA) and licensing (DBPR) regulations.
- A written notification is required prior to building owners and/or their contractors engaging in the demolition of buildings. The asbestos survey must be included with the demolition notification, along with the applicable fee.
- A written notification is required for renovations if there are asbestos-containing materials being removed that are greater than or equal to 160 square feet and/or greater than or equal to 260 linear feet on pipes. The notification must be accompanied by the applicable fee.
- The required notification must be postmarked or hand-delivered ten (10) working days prior to the start of any regulated project, even if there is no asbestos. Be advised that your local demolition permit does not replace these notification requirements.
- Failure to have a written asbestos survey and/or provide the written notification could result in both criminal and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day per violation, depending upon the circumstances. A required notification must be postmarked or hand-delivered ten (10) working days prior to the start of any regulated project, even if there is no asbestos. Be advised that your local demolition permit does not replace these notification requirements.
- Demolition is defined as the wrecking or taking out of any load-supporting structural member of a facility together with any related handling operations or the intentional burning of any facility.
- Renovation is defined as altering a facility, or one or more facility components in any way, including the stripping or removal of Regulated Asbestos Containing Materials (RACM) from a facility component.
Asbestos Survey Requirements
All suspected Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) must either be presumed to contain asbestos and managed as asbestos or sampled to confirm/refute the presence of asbestos. The following are examples of items that may contain asbestos:
If you have a thorough inspection of all affected areas and do not intend on disturbing any asbestos, you still must maintain this survey report on the job site during all renovation activities. No formal notification is necessary if you do not intend to disturb any asbestos-containing materials. Notification is necessary to the DBPR for the removal of asbestos containing resilient flooring three days prior to removal.
A written asbestos survey is required before demolition of a building or structural load-bearing member, before building renovations, or before maintenance on insulated equipment or building systems. These materials could either be coated or covered with asbestos-containing materials. Only a licensed asbestos consultant or an accredited asbestos building surveyor (inspector) working under the direction of a licensed asbestos consultant can perform asbestos surveys. The survey must be signed by a licensed asbestos consultant. The survey must at a minimum conform to the requirements of the DEP district office or local pollution control agency that is responsible for the region where the work is being performed.
- Pipe/component insulation
- Decorative ceilings (sprayed)
- Plaster/stucco
- Gaskets
- Valve packing
- Floor tile, sheet vinyl, baseboards and associated mastics
- Ceiling tiles
- Specialty paints and coatings
- Roofing shingles, flashings and built-up asphalt roofs
- Wallboard and joint compound
- Cord/rope
- Felts (roofing)
- Transite panels
- Ebony boards
- Mastics (adhesives)
- Electrical wire coating/filler material
- Elevator brake shoes and other friction products
If you have a thorough inspection of all affected areas and do not intend on disturbing any asbestos, you still must maintain this survey report on the job site during all renovation activities. No formal notification is necessary if you do not intend to disturb any asbestos-containing materials. Notification is necessary to the DBPR for the removal of asbestos containing resilient flooring three days prior to removal.
A written asbestos survey is required before demolition of a building or structural load-bearing member, before building renovations, or before maintenance on insulated equipment or building systems. These materials could either be coated or covered with asbestos-containing materials. Only a licensed asbestos consultant or an accredited asbestos building surveyor (inspector) working under the direction of a licensed asbestos consultant can perform asbestos surveys. The survey must be signed by a licensed asbestos consultant. The survey must at a minimum conform to the requirements of the DEP district office or local pollution control agency that is responsible for the region where the work is being performed.