Asbestos

Background

Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that has been used in various building materials and consumer goods. Asbestos was used in production in the United States as early as 1901 and was used extensively from the 1940s through the 1960s.

Asbestos was used in many types of building materials and products including, but certainly not limited to, the following:

Boiler, tank, duct, and vent wraps Insulation (sprayed on, blow in, etc.) Pipe coverings and lagging Insulation blankets Cement, plaster, muds, and putties Gaskets and ropes Vinyl flooring (tile and rolled sheet) Transit board or pipe Automobile brakes

Underlayment Drop and affixed ceiling tile Fireproofing Textured ceilings Fabrics Adhesives and mastics Siding and roofing Window caulk

Note that many of the above asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are not banned in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a Clarification of the bans (or lack of) on materials containing asbestos.

Asbestos is known to cause several serious medical conditions, including lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, asbestosis (scarring of the lungs), and mesothelioma (cancer of the outer lining of the lung and chest cavity or lining of the abdominal wall). The primary exposure route to asbestos is inhalation of air-borne asbestos fibers. The latency period for these diseases is often 15 to 40 years from the time of initial exposure. Due to its health consequences, asbestos has been regulated in working environments by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) since 1971. In 1994 the OSHA Standards for asbestos exposure were revised and became more restrictive for the protection of workers.

Asbestos materials are typically classified as either "friable" or "non-friable." Friable ACMs are described as a material that, when dry, may be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure (e.g., blow-in insulation, drywall mud, etc.). Materials that cannot be reduced to powder under normal hand pressure (e.g., floor tiles, mastic, transit materials, and roofing tars) are considered non-friable. Friable materials are generally considered a greater risk to public health because they are much more easily disturbed, resulting in a release of asbestos fibers. However, if non-friable ACMs are subject to cutting, grinding, or other abrasive actions, they too can pose a health risk by releasing asbestos fibers to the air.

Qualified Professionals

R&W's team includes two State of Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services Certified Asbestos Inspectors on staff. R&W's asbestos-related services include surveys/inspections for ACMs, preparation of bidding documentation, oversight of bidding procedures, general oversight of abatement projects (not including abatement procedure planning), and preparation of asbestos management plans.

Surveys/Inspections

According to the National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS; 40 CFR 61, Subpart M), before the demolition or renovation of a building, an asbestos survey must be conducted and any regulated ACMs must be removed. R&W provides asbestos surveys/inspections for the purposes of remodeling and/or demolition, as well as quantification of any asbestos-related costs for prospective purchasers of real estate.

Asbestos Management Plans

In 1986, Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA; 40 CFR 763), which is administered by the EPA, to regulate asbestos in schools. AHERA mandates inspections and a written asbestos management plan (AMP) for friable and non-friable ACMs for kindergarten through 12th grade private and public schools.

R&W continually works with several school systems, including more than 50 school buildings, toward the completion of initial and subsequent inspections as required for the implementation of AHERA regulations.

Bidding Documentation, Procedures, and Oversight

Many times, when an asbestos survey/inspection is completed, R&W will work with the client to produce bid documents and specifications for abatement of ACMs. This process usually includes completion of the following tasks:

Management of bidding documents (forms, quantification of materials, specifications of contractor responsibilities, etc.) Organization of pre-bid meetings Obtaining bids from abatement contractors Assistance with bidder selection Scheduling of abatement with contractors Oversight/coordination of abatement activities Evaluation and summarization of abatement documentation and invoices

Please feel free to contact either Lori Powers or Kirk Blackmore for more information.

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