Page 56 - Green Builder Magazine Nov-Dec 2017 Issue

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IAQ: Breathe Easier

Products, Research and Advice for Improving Indoor Air Quality

Don’t Mess With Asbestos

When renovating any property, protect your clients and yourself

by alerting them to any and all existing asbestos hazards.

BY ANNA SUAREZ

T NEVER PAYS TO MAKE LIGHT OF OR CONCEAL potential health
hazards such as asbestos on a project. We’ve all seen it done, perhaps
even done it ourselves—taking a safety shortcut to save a client some
CREDIT: CREDIT: BILL BRADLEY/WIKIMEDIA or a few square feet of asbestos-laced shingles can have long-reaching
money, in hopes that we’ll be rewarded with future contracts, or a
Ifavorable testimonial. But removing a few asbestos-insulated pipes

and unpleasant consequences. While it may be hard for a client to prove
that your actions resulted directly in a future mesothelioma (cancer),
OSHA has strict rules about handling asbestos. You could face large

Older buildings in particular are more likely to be built with outdated
Carpet calamity? Contrary to popular belief, asbestos is still a fines, and if you dispose of material improperly, fines can multiply. Red flag. Piles of asbestos-based shingles left exposed like this are
materials that could potentially pose a risk to health. Often asbestos is
a sure sign to OSHA that materials have been removed improperly.
problem in older homes—it’s just not that obvious.
a major concern, but one that is relatively unfamiliar for many clients. Only a licensed asbestos mitigator can remove large areas of
Much of the public is under the impression that asbestos is banned material, particularly on multi-family homes.
in the United States, but this is not the case. Many other countries goods and products for the construction industry because asbestos
have banned the material, including (most recently) Canada, formerly fibers are highly durable and fire resistant.
one of the largest producers of asbestos. However, over time asbestos came to be recognized as a serious
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency began health hazard. When asbestos is undisturbed it presents no direct
regulating asbestos use in the 1970s under the Clean Air Act and the danger, but the physical structure of the mineral allows it to easily break
Toxic Substances Control Act. The U.S. attempted a ban in 1989, but it off into microscopic particles that can be inhaled or ingested. Asbestos
was overturned two years later, which means that despite regulations, fibers entering the body can cause lung diseases and even rare cancers
asbestos is still allowed in some forms. Even with these regulations that develop in the lining surrounding an organ, like the abdomen.
in place, the greatest health concerns involve asbestos-containing Clients should be made aware of the risks associated with this material,
materials installed before the laws were changed, making this an and also that professionals are available to mitigate these concerns.
issue during renovation, repair or demolition projects. Building owners may not realize that only trained professionals
According to the EPA, here are a few places where asbestos may should be handling materials like asbestos, or even why their building
be found in buildings: contains asbestos in the first place. Maintaining clear communication
■ Attic and wall insulation containing vermiculite is important to reassure the client that this can be properly addressed.
■
■ Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and Additionally, it’s important to maintain a solutions-focused dialogue so
■
adhesives that owners are not overwhelmed with the severity of asbestos issues.
■ Roofing and siding shingles To transform older buildings into green structures that can
■
■ Textured paint and patching compounds used on wall and effectively support occupant health and safety, any toxic materials
■
ceilings (e.g., popcorn ceilings) must be eliminated. Yes, asbestos can be found in a host of materials
■ Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves protected with in older structures, but there is still a substantial environmental
■
asbestos paper, millboard or cement sheets benefit to renovations compared to new construction. Green
■ Hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material, or buildings are the future, and renovation projects can have a positive
■
covered with an asbestos blanket or tape role in creating a more sustainably built environment. GB
■ Oil and coal furnaces, and door gaskets with asbestos insulation
■
Asbestos use was incredibly widespread in terms of geography Anna Suarez is communications specialist for the Mesothelioma and
and the range of products that incorporated it. This mineral occurs Asbestos Awareness Center (www.maacenter.org), an independent
naturally in the Earth’s crust, but has been mined for use in consumer group that offers news and other information about the disease.

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