Safeguarding your project
DEQ's Asbestos Program regulates how asbestos-containing materials are handled, removed, and disposed of in order to protect public health and the environment. If you perform or manage remodeling, renovation, repair, maintenance, or demolition work, you must follow these rules.
Before any building is renovated or demolished, all asbestos-containing materials must be identified and properly abated. Abatement means any action taken to manage asbestos-containing materials, including handling, removing, disposing of, repairing, salvaging, enclosing, or encapsulating them.
If your housing project involves demolition or renovation of an existing structure, an asbestos survey may be required. The following buildings must have an asbestos survey completed by an accredited inspector before any demolition or renovation begins:
- All commercial buildings, regardless of when they were built
- All residential buildings built before Jan. 1, 2004
"Residential building" means a facility used as a residence and that is a site-built home, modular or prefabricated home that has been constructed off site and assembled on-site, manufactured dwelling, condominium, duplex, or a multi-unit facility consisting of four units or less. A residential property that is being developed for commercial use is not considered a residence.
Process overview
- Before any demolition or renovation, determine whether an asbestos survey is required.
- If required, hire an accredited inspector to complete the survey.
- Keep a complete copy of the asbestos survey report on site during all demolition or renovation activities. Provide a copy to DEQ if requested.
There are two types of asbestos-containing material identified on an asbestos survey report, and each has different abatement requirements:
- Friable: Material that can be easily crushed or crumbled by hand. Examples include wall or ceiling texture, soundproofing materials, and pipe insulation. Must be removed by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.
- Nonfriable: Material that holds asbestos fibers in a solid form and cannot be easily crumbled. Examples include cement siding, cement water pipe, roofing materials, and vinyl floor tiles.
Anyone conducting nonfriable asbestos abatement must submit a nonfriable notification form (ASN-6) and pay the associated fee to DEQ at least five days before work begins. Certain work practice requirements and all disposal requirements apply to nonfriable abatements. Materials must be kept in a nonfriable condition throughout the removal process.
There are specific requirements for packaging, labeling, transporting, and disposing of asbestos-containing materials:
- Materials containing asbestos waste may not be stored or accumulated without packaging
- Materials must be double-bagged in 6-mil or heavier plastic bags or placed in other leak-tight packaging
- Packages of materials must have an asbestos hazard warning label
- The label must also include the name of the person who removed the asbestos and the address of the removal site.
- Materials may only be disposed of at a DEQ-permitted disposal facility
- A completed Asbestos Waste Shipment Report Form (ASN-4) must be provided to the disposal facility at the time of disposal.
Small-project exemption
Some rules do not apply to small maintenance and repair projects if certain conditions are met: the total amount of asbestos being abated is less than three square feet or three linear feet, the work is part of a necessary repair operation and asbestos removal is not the main purpose of the project.