Asbestos Abatement Overview:

Asbestos is present in a wide variety of building materials. Any home or building owner may encounter an asbestos-containing material (ACM) during the course of renovation, repair or demolition.  ACMs can include insulation, plaster, floor or ceiling tiles, plaster, ductwork, roofing shingles, adhesives, and a host of others (EPA, 2007).

If you determine you have an ACM in your home or building, you have four options for dealing with it. The first is to leave it alone. These materials are not dangerous if they are in good condition and undisturbed. They only become dangerous if the material is disturbed or damaged so that asbestos fibers are released in the air where they can be inhaled. Trying to remove the ACM may involve damaging it in some way and therefore making it dangerous. If you are not planning to renovate or demolish the structure and the ACM can be left undisturbed, and if it is in good condition, it makes good sense to leave it in place. You will want to check it periodically to be sure it remains in good shape.

A second option is to encapsulate the asbestos with a material that surrounds or embeds the asbestos fibers. There are commercial foams and other materials that can do this job. A third option is to enclose the ACM with an air-tight barrier that seals off the asbestos fibers. For instance, asbestos-containing floor tiles might be sealed over with another type of flooring. Asbestos abatement contractors would be your best source of information about what types of treatments are available and appropriate for encapsulation or enclosure.

The fourth option is removal of the ACM. This may be your only option if you are planning to destroy or renovate; it is generally illegal to tear down a structure without properly removing the ACM first. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as the US Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) regulate how asbestos abatement is to be handled. State and local laws may specify even stricter policies.

In general, an individual homeowner is free to carry out asbestos abatement in his own home, following federal, state and local guidelines about waste transport and disposal. However, if he hires a contractor, the OSHA regulations will apply to the contractor. These include requirements for protective clothing and equipment, enclosure or isolation of dust, monitoring of exposure, proper waste containment, medical surveillance, and many others (Cooper, 2006).

Removal is the most expensive and complex of your abatement options. The American Lung Association (ALA) states that it should be the last option considered, because of the risk of damage and spread of asbestos fibers.  However, "…removal may be required when remodeling or making major changes to your home that will disturb asbestos material. Also, removal may be called for if asbestos material is damaged extensively and cannot be otherwise repaired. Removal is complex and must be done only by a contractor with special training. Improper removal may actually increase the health risks to you and your family." (American Lung Association, 1990).

'Asbestos Abatement Overview' Sources: