Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 216 - Department of health
Chapter 50 - Environmental health
Subchapter 15 - HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
Part 1 - Asbestos Control
Section 216-RICR-50-15-1.14 - Work Practice Requirements

Universal Citation: 216 RI Code of Rules 50 15 1.14

Current through September 18, 2024

1.14.1 Applicability

Any Asbestos Contractor that engages in any Asbestos Abatement Project that involves greater than ten (10) linear feet (three (3) meters) of pipe covered or coated with asbestos containing material or twenty five (25) square feet (three (3) square meters) of asbestos containing material used to cover or coat any surface other than pipe shall comply with the work practices contained in § 1.14 of this Part and any additional work practice requirements contained in the asbestos abatement plan approved for that project by the Director of Health. Specific requirements for Category I and Category II Nonfriable ACM that is not Regulated Asbestos Containing Material (RACM) are contained in §§ 1.14.8 and 1.15 of this Part.

1.14.2 General Requirements for Removal, Encapsulation and/or Enclosure of Regulated Asbestos Containing Material (RACM)

A. Barriers to isolate contaminated from uncontaminated areas shall be constructed of polyethylene sheeting attached securely in place.

B. All surfaces shall be wet cleaned of dust or debris. Wet cleaning of contaminated items shall be performed if necessary. All movable objects shall be removed from the work area. All nonmovable objects in the work area shall be covered with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting secured in place. All openings or penetrations between the work area and uncontaminated areas shall be sealed, including windows, doorways, elevator openings, corridor entrances, drains, ducts, grills, grates, diffusers and skylights.

C. Floor sheeting shall consist of two (2) layers of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. Floor sheeting shall extend up sidewalls at least twelve (12) inches and be sized to minimize seams. No seams shall be located at wall/floor joints. Floors being abated of resilient floor coverings and associated mastics/adhesives shall be exempt from this requirement.

D. Wall sheeting shall consist of two (2) layers of 4-mil polyethylene sheeting. It shall be installed to minimize joints and shall extend beyond wall/floor joint at least twelve (12) inches. No seams shall be located at wall/wall joints.

E. A worker decontamination enclosure system, consisting of a clean room, shower room and equipment room, each separated from each other and from the work area by airlocks and accessible through doorways protected with two (2) overlapping polyethylene sheets, shall be provided in accordance with OSHA 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1101(j) incorporated by reference at § 1.2(A) of this Part. Procedures for the utilization of this system shall be established which prevent contamination of areas outside the work area.

F. All HVAC equipment in or passing through the work area shall be shut down and locked out. All intake and exhaust openings, as well as any seams in system components shall be sealed with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting and/or tape. All system filters shall be replaced after the abatement and disposed of as asbestos waste. The ventilation system ductwork interiors shall be decontaminated whenever necessary.

G. Posting
1. Warning signs in accordance with OSHA 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1101(k)(7) incorporated by reference at § 1.2(A) of this Part shall be displayed at all approaches to any location where airborne fiber levels can be expected to exceed the Indoor Non-Occupational Air Exposure Standard established by § 1.5 of this Part.

2. Warning signs to advise the public of the location(s) within the building where any asbestos abatement activity is in progress shall be posted at all building entrances and at least one other conspicuous place per floor. These signs shall be of the same dimensions as the Warning/Danger signs required in § 1.14.2(G)(1) of this Part.

3. Warning signs shall be posted on vehicles used to transport Asbestos Containing Waste Materials during loading and unloading of the waste.

H. Clean-up procedures using HEPA vacuuming and wet cleaning techniques shall be performed following abatement. Wet cleaning shall be followed by HEPA vacuuming after surfaces have been allowed to dry. The sequence of wet cleaning and vacuuming shall be repeated at twenty-four (24) hour intervals until no visible residue is observed in the work area.

I. Negative pressure ventilation units with HEPA filtration, in sufficient number to provide one (1) workplace air change every fifteen (15) minutes, shall be operated continuously from the time of barrier construction through the time acceptable final clearance air-monitoring results are obtained. These units shall exhaust filtered air to the outside of the building. Filtered air shall not be exhausted to uncontaminated interior spaces.

J. All Asbestos Containing Waste Materials shall be adequately wetted before being placed into containers for disposal.

K. Asbestos Containing Waste Materials shall be placed in impermeable containers for disposal. Metal or fiber drums with locking-ring tops shall be used when asbestos waste contains sharp edged components. Double polyethylene bags of at least 6-mil thickness and which can be securely sealed may be used for waste. Large components or structural members may be removed intact and contained in leak-tight wrapping, equivalent to at least two (2) layers of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting, secured with tape for disposal.

L. All containers, bags, drums and wrapped components shall be labeled so that labels have the appearance of or are constructed in accordance with USDOT 49 C.F.R. 172, Subpart E incorporated by reference at § 1.2(D) of this Part and OSHA 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1101(k)(8) incorporated by reference at § 1.2(A) of this Part. Each container, bag, drum or wrapped component shall also be labeled or tagged with the name and license number of the asbestos contractor generating the waste, as well as the asbestos abatement project number and location at which the waste was generated.

M. Storage of asbestos waste containers awaiting transport to an authorized disposal facility shall be in a secured location to prevent access by unauthorized personnel.

N. Transport and disposal of asbestos waste shall be in accordance with the provisions of Appendix D to 40 C.F.R. 763, Subpart E incorporated by reference at § 1.2(E) of this Part and USDOT 49 C.F.R. § 173.1300 incorporated by reference at § 1.2(F) of this Part.

O. Disposal of Asbestos Containing Waste Materials. All Asbestos Containing Waste Materials shall be deposited as soon as is practical by the waste generator at:
1. A waste disposal site operated in accordance with the provisions of 40 C.F.R. § 61.154, or equivalent regulations promulgated by a state or local NESHAP designee; or

2. An EPA-approved site that converts RACM and Asbestos Containing Waste Materials into nonasbestos (asbestos-free) material according to the provisions of 40 C.F.R. § 61.155.

P. Access to work areas shall be controlled and posting requirements shall remain in effect until compliance with the air exposure standard has been verified by procedures outlined below:
1. Samples shall be collected and analyzed in accordance with the procedures specified by NIOSH Method 7400 (most current Revision) for asbestos fibers in air or equivalent method;

2. Air volumes shall be sufficient to accurately determine fiber concentrations to 0.01 fibers/ cubic centimeter of air (f/cc) for fibers greater than five (5) microns in length or 300 nanograms per cubic meter. A minimum air volume of 1000 liters shall be sampled;

3. Air sampling shall be conducted in representative locations with portable fans circulating air to simulate actual use conditions;

4. An acceptable airborne fiber concentration, as established by clearance air monitoring shall not exceed 0.01 f/cc for fibers greater than five (5) microns in length or 300 nanograms per cubic meter; and

5. Air sampling shall be conducted by a representative of the building owner who is not subject to the control or supervision of the Asbestos Contractor for the asbestos abatement plan.

6. Notwithstanding the requirements contained in § 1.14.2(P) of this Part above, control of access and posting requirements for buildings subject to the AHERA regulations shall remain in effect until compliance with §§1.17.3(A)(5) through (8) of this Part has been demonstrated.

1.14.3 Specific Requirements for Removal of Regulated Asbestos Containing Material (RACM)

A. All RACM shall be adequately wetted prior to removal. In addition, all RACM exposed during cutting and disjoining operations shall be adequately wet and all RACM shall be kept adequately wet during stripping operations.

B. Components shall be removed intact or in large sections whenever possible and carefully lowered to the floor.

C. RACM shall be removed in small sections and containerized when adequately wet. At no time shall material be allowed to accumulate or become dry. Structural components shall be adequately wetted prior to being contained in leak-tight wrapping for disposal.

D. Material shall not be dropped or thrown to the floor level. For materials located at heights greater than fifty (50) feet above the floor, a dust-tight, enclosed chute shall be constructed to transport removed material to containers on the floor. RACM may be dropped to a raised scaffold or containerized at elevated levels for disposal. Materials greater than fifteen (15) feet above the floor shall be dropped onto inclined chutes or scaffolding or containerized at elevated levels for eventual disposal.

E. A coating of encapsulating agent shall be applied to any porous surfaces that have been stripped of RACM to securely seal any residual fibers that may be present. The encapsulating agent should be chosen to be compatible with subsequent coverings.

F. RACM is not required to be stripped from large facility components such as reactor vessels, large tanks, and steam generators if the following requirements are met:
1. The component is removed, transported, stored, disposed of, or reused without disturbing or damaging the RACM.

2. The component is encased in a leak-tight wrapping.

3. The leak-tight wrapping is labeled during all loading and unloading operations and during storage.

G. When the temperature at the point of wetting is below 0°C (32°F):
1. The Asbestos Contractor need not comply with the wetting provisions of §§ 1.14.3(A) and (C) of this Part.

2. The Asbestos Contractor shall remove facility components containing, coated with, or covered with RACM as units or in sections to the maximum extent possible.

3. During periods when wetting operations are suspended due to freezing temperatures, the Asbestos Contractor must record the temperature in the area containing the facility components at the beginning, middle, and end of each workday and keep daily temperature records available for inspection by the Department during normal business hours at the asbestos abatement project site. The Asbestos Contractor shall retain temperature records for at least two years.

1.14.4 Specific Requirements for Encapsulation of Regulated Asbestos Containing Material (RACM)

A. All loose and hanging RACM shall be removed in accordance with § 1.14.3 of this Part.

B. Filler material applied to gaps in existing material shall contain no asbestos, adhere well to the substrate and provide an adequate base for the encapsulating agent.

C. Encapsulants shall be applied using only airless spray equipment with nozzle pressure adjustable between four hundred (400) and fifteen hundred (1500) PSI and in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations for a particular encapsulant.

D. Encapsulated materials shall be specially designated by signs, labels, color coding or some mechanism to warn individuals who may be required to disturb the material.

E. Encapsulants shall not be solvent-based or utilize a vehicle consisting of hydrocarbons.

1.14.5 Specific Requirements for Enclosure of Regulated Asbestos Containing Material (RACM)

A. All areas of RACM shall be adequately wetted with wetting agents if they are to be disturbed during the installation of hangers, brackets or other portions of the enclosure.

B. All loose and hanging RACM shall be removed in accordance with § 1.14.3 of this Part.

C. Non-asbestos containing substitutes shall be used to patch thermal insulation and fireproofing materials when required and where appropriate.

D. Enclosures for RACM shall be specially designated by signs, labels, color coding or some mechanism to warn individuals who may be required to disturb or enter the enclosure.

1.14.6 Specific Requirements for Demolition of Structures Containing Asbestos

A. Any demolition of a structure or portion of a structure which contains structural members, building materials or structural components composed of or covered by RACM shall be preceded by a removal of all such materials in accordance with §§ 1.14.2 and 1.14.3 of this Part. Said removal must be completed before any activity begins that would break up, dislodge, or similarly disturb the material or preclude access to the material for subsequent removal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, RACM need not be removed before demolition if:
1. It is Category I nonfriable ACM that is not in poor condition and is not friable; or

2. It is on a facility component that is encased in concrete or other similarly hard material and is adequately wet whenever exposed during demolition; or

3. It was not accessible for testing and was, therefore, not discovered until after demolition began and, because of the demolition, the material cannot be safely removed. If not removed for safety reasons, the exposed RACM and any asbestos contaminated debris must be treated as Asbestos Containing Waste Material and adequately wet at all times until disposed of; or

4. It is Category II nonfriable ACM and the probability is low that the materials will become crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder during demolition.

B. For Emergency Asbestos Abatement Projects described in §1.6.2(C) of this Part, adequately wet the portion of the facility that contains RACM during the wrecking operation.

C. If a facility is demolished by intentional burning, all RACM, including Category I and Category II nonfriable ACM, must be removed in accordance with this Part before burning.

D. In lieu of the requirements specified in §§1.14.2(B), (C), (D), (F) and 1.14.3(E) of this Part, Asbestos Contractors engaging in demolition activities shall comply with the following:
1. Prior to beginning a demolition project, all doors, windows, floor drains, vents and other openings to the outside of the building and to areas within the building that do not contain asbestos materials shall be sealed off with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting and waterproof tape or equivalent acceptable to the Department.

2. If a structure is to be partially demolished, HVAC equipment in the demolition area or passing through it but servicing areas of the building which will remain, shall be shut down and locked out and thoroughly sealed with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting and waterproof tape.

3. If the building owner proposes not to conduct clearance air sampling following asbestos abatement activities conducted for demolition purposes, the building owner must submit written justification to the Department which describes how personnel who must occupy the building prior to demolition will be protected.

4. All other requirements of §§1.14.2 and 1.14.3 of this Part, unless specified in §1.14.6(D) of this Part, shall apply to demolition abatement activities.

1.14.7 General Requirements for Use of Glove Bags During Removal and/or Encapsulation of Regulated Asbestos Containing Material (RACM)

A. In lieu of the requirements specified in §§1.14.2(A) through (F), (H), and (I) of this Part, Asbestos Contractors using glove bags during removal and/or encapsulation of RACM shall comply with the following:
1. All glove bags must remain stationary during asbestos abatement activities. The use of moving and/or sliding glove bag techniques are prohibited.

2. Abatement projects which do not exceed the scope of Spot Repairs, as defined by this Part, and which can be contained within one stationary glove bag may be performed in accordance with the glove bag procedures contained in 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1101(g)(5) incorporated by reference at § 1.2(A) of this Part without the use of additional containment or negative pressure ventilation. The clearance air monitoring provisions of §1.14.2(P) of this Part are waived unless there has been a breach of the glove bag containment.

3. All other abatement projects that involve less than two hundred and sixty (260) linear feet [eighty (80) meters] of pipe covered or coated with RACM or one hundred and sixty (160) square feet [fifteen (15) square meters] of RACM used to cover or coat any surface other than pipe shall comply with the following requirements:
a. All doors, windows, floor drains, vents and other openings to the outside of the building and to areas within the building that do not contain asbestos materials shall be sealed off with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting and waterproof tape or equivalent acceptable to the Department.

b. Floor sheeting shall consist of at least one (1) layer of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. Floor sheeting shall be placed directly beneath the glove bag and shall extend at least ten (10) feet in all horizontal directions. If any wall is less than ten (10) feet from the glove bag, the floor sheeting shall be extended up that wall to at least the height of the glove bag.

c. HVAC equipment in the abatement area or passing through it but servicing other areas of the building shall be shut down and locked out and thoroughly sealed with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting and waterproof tape.

d. Negative pressure ventilation units with HEPA filtration shall be operated continuously from the time of barrier construction through the time acceptable final clearance air-monitoring results are obtained. These units shall exhaust filtered air to the outside of the building. Filtered air shall not be exhausted to uncontaminated interior spaces.

e. Manufacturer's instructions concerning preparation, sealing, utilization and removal of glove bags must be followed unless the abatement plan and/or this Part specify more restrictive requirements.

f. A worker decontamination enclosure system must be available immediately adjacent to the abatement area. A two-chamber decontamination system may be used if shower facilities are otherwise available on the project site.

4. All abatement projects that involve more than two hundred and sixty (260) linear feet [eighty (80) meters] of pipe covered or coated with RACM or one hundred and sixty (160) square feet [fifteen (15) square meters] of RACM used to cover or coat any surface other than pipe shall comply with the following requirements:
a. All doors, windows, floor drains, vents and other openings to the outside of the building and to areas within the building that do not contain asbestos materials shall be sealed off with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting and waterproof tape or equivalent acceptable to the Department.

b. Floor sheeting shall consist of at least one (1) layer of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. Floor sheeting shall extend up sidewalls at least twelve (12) inches and be sized to minimize seams. No seams shall be located at wall/floor joints.

c. Wall sheeting shall consist of at least one (1) layer of 4-mil polyethylene sheeting. It shall be installed to minimize joints and shall extend from the wall/ ceiling joint to at least twelve (12) inches beyond the wall/floor joint. No seams shall be located at wall/wall joints.

d. HVAC equipment in the abatement area or passing through it but servicing other areas of the building shall be shut down and locked out and thoroughly sealed with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting and waterproof tape.

e. Negative pressure ventilation units with HEPA filtration shall be operated continuously from the time of barrier construction through the time acceptable final clearance air monitoring results are obtained. These units shall exhaust filtered air to the outside of the building. Filtered air shall not be exhausted to uncontaminated interior spaces.

f. Manufacturer's instructions concerning preparation, sealing, utilization and removal of glove bags must be followed unless the abatement plan and/or this Part specify more restrictive requirements.

g. A three-chamber worker decontamination enclosure system, in accordance with 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1101(j) incorporated by reference at § 1.2(A) of this Part, must be available immediately adjacent to the abatement area.

5. All other requirements of §§1.14.2 and 1.14.3 of this Part, unless specifically deleted in §1.14.7(A) of this Part, shall apply to use of glove bags during removal and/or encapsulation of asbestos.

B. Any requests for additional waivers and/or alternative procedures must be submitted for Department review and approval in accordance with § 1.16 of this Part.

1.14.8 Specific Requirements for Removal of Category I Nonfriable ACM - Asphalt Roofing Products

A. All surfaces shall be wet cleaned of dust or debris. All movable objects shall be removed from the roof area. All openings or penetrations on the roof area and at least one level below the roof area shall be sealed, including windows, doorways, drains, ducts, grills, grates, diffusers and skylights.

B. Floor/ground sheeting shall consist of at least two (2) layers of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting and shall be utilized as follows:
1. If the roof is pitched, sheeting shall be applied to the first horizontal surface below the work area and shall extend from the edge of the building to at least ten (10) feet away from the building. All material being abated shall be confined to the roof area.

2. If the roof is flat, sheeting shall extend at least ten (10) feet away from the perimeter of the work area. When the edge of the roof is less than ten (10) feet from the perimeter of the work area, sheeting shall be applied such that the outer edge of the sheeting is at least ten (10) feet from the perimeter of the work area.

C. All HVAC intake or exhaust vents on the roof area and at least one level below the roof area shall be shut down and locked out. All intake and exhaust openings, as well as any seams in system components shall be sealed with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting and/or tape.

D. A minimum of a two-chambered worker decontamination enclosure system shall be provided on site. Procedures for the utilization of this system shall be established which prevent contamination of areas outside the roof area.

E. Warning signs shall be posted in accordance with §1.14.2(G) of this Part.

F. Category I Nonfriable ACM shall be removed in small sections and containerized when wet. At no time shall material be allowed to accumulate or become dry.

G. Category I Nonfriable ACM shall not be dropped or thrown to the floor/ground level. For roofs at heights greater than fifty (50) feet above the floor/ground, a dust-tight, enclosed chute shall be constructed to transport removed Category I Nonfriable ACM to containers on the floor/ground. Category I Nonfriable ACM may be dropped to a raised scaffold or containerized at elevated levels for disposal.

H. All Category I Nonfriable ACM shall be adequately wetted before being placed into containers for disposal. Disposal shall be in accordance with §§1.14.2(K) through (O) of this Part.

I. A coating of encapsulating agent shall be applied to any porous surfaces that have been stripped of Category I Nonfriable ACM to securely seal any residual fibers that may be present. The encapsulating agent should be chosen to be compatible with subsequent coverings.

J. Clean-up procedures using HEPA vacuuming and wet cleaning techniques shall be performed following abatement.

K. Personnel air monitoring of Asbestos Supervisors and Asbestos Workers, which demonstrates compliance with the provisions of OSHA 29 C.F.R. § 1926.1101(f) incorporated by reference at § 1.2(A) of this Part, may be used in lieu of the clearance air sampling requirements contained in §1.14.2(P) of this Part.

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