How Do I Contain Asbestos While I'm Removing It?

The short answer to this question is, "you should not be removing it." Asbestos is a highly toxic substance, and its abatement is best left to licensed, trained professionals. Asbestos abatement services can be costly, but such costs may be covered under the terms of a homeowner’s insurance policy, and constitute a real bargain in any event when compared to the costs of treating respiratory diseases.

Proper Procedures

With this in mind, there are established safety procedures that should be followed by those determined to undertake the job themselves. One part of this consists of building a containment area. The other part means placing the asbestos waste in approved containers and sealing them properly.

Bill of Materials

In order to build a proper containment area, you will need:

  1. Polyethylene plastic sheeting: Also known as "poly," you’ll need 3 mil and 6 mil sheeting. The 3 mil is used to cover the walls (and ceiling when necessary), while the 6 mil sheeting is used for the floors. You’ll need amounts equivalent to 1.5 times the area of the walls and ceilings, and 3 times the area of the floor of the contaminated area.
  2. Duct tape: it may not hold the universe together, but you’ll need several rolls to build the containment area and seal the disposal bags.
  3. A step ladder:  this should be high enough for you to be able to reach the ceiling comfortably.
  4. Clean, disposable rags: these will be wrapped and taped to the feet of the ladder in order to prevent damage to the poly coverage of the floor.
  5. Eight foot two-by-fours: you’ll need these if there are doors and/or windows leading outdoors from the containment area, or if the containment area itself is outside the house (as in removal of asbestos paneling, etc.)

In addition to these supplies, you will need approved asbestos waste disposal bags. These are made from 6 mil poly, are 33" by 50" in size and are pre-printed with asbestos warnings. You should have one bag for every 25 square feet of asbestos to be removed.

Putting it Together

The first step is to lay 6 mil poly on the floor. The sheets need to overlap the floor area by at least one foot; the excess is fastened to the wall with duct tape. Make sure there is enough excess to allow workers to walk on it without pulling or tearing.

Next, cover the walls and/or ceiling (not the area where asbestos is actually to be removed) with the 3 mil poly, sealing it tightly with the duct tape.

After this, you will lay one additional layer of 6 mil poly loosely on the floor (without duct tape). These sheets should be 100-120 square feet and overlap.

You will then need an "airlock" outside the door of the room if necessary to separate the contaminated area from the rest of the building. Attach a sheet of poly over the outside of the door frame to serve as a flap, and a second sheet on the outside, cutting a 5’-6’ vertical slit. Outside the room, you will build another containment area similar to the one in the contaminated room. A second entrance will need to be constructed with two-by-fours; poly will be attached to this temporary frame in the same manner as the door frame.

'How Do I Contain Asbestos While I'm Removing It?' Sources:

  • Bowker, Michael. Deadly Deception (New York: Touchstone, 2003).
  • Utah State Department of Air Quality. "Asbestos Removal Procedures for Home Owners." (State of Utah, 2007).