Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 3, September 23, 2024
A review should be made of all appropriate building
construction documents (i.e., floor plans, blueprints, microfilm record,
previous inspection records, asbestos abatement projects, etc.) to facilitate
the identification of areas where asbestos may be present if available. A basic
sketch of the representative floor plan showing any major detail must be
prepared to identify bulk sample locations and general asbestos material
location.
Any on-site inspections must be conducted by competent
personnel who have the training to identify the presence of asbestos, and to
assess, to the extent practicable, the relative hazard or hazards to health and
safety posed at each location at which asbestos is suspected or identified.
Each on-site survey shall include at least the following and be documented in a
report to the owners.
1. Visual
inspection. All accessible building areas and spaces shall be visually
inspected, including but not limited to the following:
a. Rooms, hallways, and office;
b. Mechanical and electrical equipment
room;
c. Pipe chase;
d. Basement;
e. Attic;
f. The space above ceilings, between walls,
and below floor;
g. Steam
tunnel;
h. Stairwell
i. Closets and storage area;
i. All occupied and unoccupied space;
and
j. Crawl spaces, including soil
as appropriate.
In addition, the location of all fire doors suspected of
containing asbestos shall be identified and documented. These locations are to
be designated on the building sketches and included in the inspection
report.
Areas where access is impossible or prohibitive should be
identified on the building sketches. In the plan a notation must be made as to
why the areas could not be investigated. All materials in these areas are to be
considered to contain asbestos and must be included in the plan. The area must
be evaluated according to the requirements of these standards when the area
becomes accessible but before occupation.
2. Bulk sampling. Representative bulk
sampling of suspected asbestos-containing materials shall be conducted and
submitted to a laboratory meeting the minimum requirements found in
1VAC30-20-70 of this chapter.
All sample areas shall be clearly marked and a permanent
identification number corresponding to the respective samples and shall be
identified on copies of the available construction drawings or the building
sketches prepared by the inspector.
a.
Representative samples of each distinct type of friable asbestos material as
defined herein shall be collected to confirm its asbestos content unless it is
assumed to contain asbestos. Distinction between types of material shall be
based on at least the following criteria:
(1)
Visual appearance, and size;
(2)
Texture and hardness;
(3)
Functional use, including but not limited to insulation, ceilings, walls,
boilers, tanks, furnace, other mechanical equipment, ceiling pipes, pipe
wrapping, elbow material, valve material, structural members, decks, beams,
duct materials, fire doors or stage curtains; and.
(4) Information provided by documents,
interviews, or any source as to prior renovation or patchwork.
b. The minimum number of samples
to be taken for each distinct type of suspected asbestos material shall be as
follows:
(1) Sprayed or troweled material.
Three random samples for each visually or functionally different material or
known different application for up to 1,000 sq. ft., five random samples from
1,000 to 5,000 sq. ft., seven random samples from 5,000 to 10,000 sq. ft., and
for every 5,000 sq. ft. over 10,000 sq. ft. one additional random sample will
be taken. This rule applies to homogeneous material on each floor
only.
(2) Pipe and duct insulation.
A minimum of one sample for every 150 linear feet of material of varying size
or visual appearance per floor. Samples shall be taken where material is
damaged or exposed where possible, to avoid breaching intact
covering.
(3) Valve or fitting
muds. Three samples of valve material or elbow mud for each insulated line of
varying diameter or visual appearance per floor or area.
(4) Boilers, tanks, and furnaces. Three
samples per unit if homogeneous.
(5) Patchwork. One sample of each patch or
repair.
(6) Ceiling or acoustical
tile. Three samples for each material of varying visible appearance per
floor.
(7) Other friable materials.
As determined as necessary by the inspector, but at least two samples per
homogenous material per floor.
(8)
If the friable materials is not sampled but assumed to contain asbestos, then
the inspector must complete the hazard assessment using 100% asbestos as the
asbestos content value.
(9) If the
suspected asbestos-containing material is not friable as defined herein, a
sample need not be taken. The location, type, and condition of the material
shall be noted on the building layout documents or sketches provided by the
inspector. The material shall be labeled according to the requirements of
1VAC30-20-100 for suspect material.
These materials must be included in the specified schedule and plan and must be
included in the Priority Level IV Response Action category.
c. Selection of sample location:
(1) For sprayed on or troweled on material,
the EPA guidelines located on pages 15-27 in "Asbestos-Containing Materials in
School Buildings. Guidance for Analytical Programs" shall be
followed.
(2) For other types of
uses, visually distinct materials will be sampled.
d. Bulk sample size:
(1) Samples shall be taken to penetrate all
layers of the material. Samples should contain at least 15 cubic centimeters of
material, and shall be placed in a container and sealed at the time of
collection.
e. Sampling
precautions. All precautions shall be taken to prevent exposure to those
present in or around the facility during the collection of samples. The survey
team is responsible for protecting occupants of the area and for patching the
sampling area.
(1) All sampling shall be
conducted when building occupants are not in the immediate area, and preference
shall be given to time when the areas being sampled are not in use.
When it is not possible to collect samples during a time when
the facility is not being used, advance arrangements shall be made to evacuate
the immediate sampling areas for the time necessary to collect the samples. The
building manager is responsible for insuring that evacuation takes
place.
(2) Proper
procedures and equipment shall be used during sampling to minimize fiber
generation.
(3) Area protection and
cleanup. Care should be taken to minimize fiber release; however, any visible
debris or residue generated during the sampling shall be thoroughly removed by
wet wiping the debris or HEPA vacuuming. An area at least four feet in each
direction shall also be cleaned using the above methods.
(4) Locations from which samples are taken
shall be patched as soon as the sampling has been completed by using methods
and materials which are acceptable to the project manager and which are both
structurally sound and aesthetically compatible. Each such location may be
treated by low pressure application of an approved encapsulation.
(5) When samples are taken in areas where the
material is in poor condition, care must be taken to prevent further
deterioration or fiber release.
(6)
The sample location will be adequately patched to prevent fiber release or
deterioration by the inspector unless otherwise noted by the Building Manager
in writing.
