Purple Book (Guide for Controlling ACM in Buildings) PDF

● HEPA-vacuum all carpets. ● Wet-mop all other floors and wipe all other horizontal surfaces with damp cloths. ● Dispose of all debris, filters, mopheads, and cloths in plastic bags according to EPA regulations for disposal of asbestos waste. Building Maintenance The special O&M program coordi...

● HEPA-vacuum all carpets. ● Wet-mop all other floors and wipe all other horizontal surfaces with damp cloths. ● Dispose of all debris, filters, mopheads, and cloths in plastic bags according to EPA regulations for disposal of asbestos waste. Building Maintenance The special O&M program coordinator should: ● Ensure that recommended procedures and safety precautions will be followed before authorizing construction and maintenance work involving surfacing ACM (see Section 5.1). Specifically, containment barriers should be erected around the work area and workers should wear coveralls as well as respirators. Maintenance staff should: ● Clear all construction, renovation, maintenance, or equipment repair work with the O&M program coordinator in advance. ● Avoid patching or repairing any damaged surfacing ACM until the ACM has been assessed by the asbestos program manager. ● Mist filters in a central air ventilation system with water from a spray bottle as the filters are removed. Place the filters in plastic bags and dispose of them according to EPA regulations. Periodic Inspection Building inspectors should: ● Inspect all ACM materials for damage or deterioration at least twice a year and report findings to the O&M program coordinator. (See Chapter 4 for detailed information on assessing ACM.) ● Investigate the source of debris found by the custodial staff. Custodial and maintenance staff should: ● Inform the O&M program coordinator when damage to ACM is observed or when debris is cleaned up. An illustrated EPA pamphlet, “Asbestos in Buildings—Guidance for Service and Maintenance Personnel” (USEPA 1985a), maybe especially useful in publicizing and initiating the special O&M program. Contact the RAC or call the EPA toll-free line for copies of the pamphlet (see Appendix E for telephone numbers). The special O&M program should continue until all surfacing ACM is removed. Overtime, the special O&M program may need to be altered if the ACM is enclosed or encapsulated (refer to Section 5.1). 3.3.2 Special Practices for Pipe and Boiler Insulation Asbestos-containing pipe and boiler insulation typically is a less significant source of airborne asbestos fibers than surfacing ACM. Unless damaged, protective jackets around such insulation prevent fiber release. 3-3 Thus, the special O&M program for pipe and boiler insulation focuses on alerting workers to its location, inspecting the protective jacket (and pipe joints or elbows) for damage, and taking precautions prior to building construction activities. The program also includes repair and selected special cleaning practices. Documentation, Education, and Training The O&M program coordinator should: ● Record the exact location of asbestos-containing insulation on building documents (plans, specifications, and drawings). ● Inform maintenance and custodial workers about the location of asbestos-containing insulation, and caution them about disturbing it. ● Post signs reading, “Caution — Asbestos.” on boilers, tanks, pipes. and ducts with asbestoscontaining insulation. ● Require all maintenance and custodial personnel to wear at least a half-face respirator with disposable HEPA cartridge filters (see Section 5.1) during initial cleaning and whenever they come in contact with asbestos-containing insulation. ● Train custodial workers to clean properly and maintenance workers to handle ACM safely. (As noted in Chapter 2, EPA is sponsoring three pilot training programs. Contact the RAC for more information on these and other programs.) Initial Cleaning Custodial staff should: ● Clean carpets in rooms containing heating, cooling, air-handling, and similar equipment that has asbestos-containing insulation. Use a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner or steam cleaner. Discard filters in sealed plastic bags according to EPA regulations for removal and disposal of asbestos. ● Wet-mop all other floors in rooms with asbestos-containing insulation. Wipe all shelves and other horizontal surfaces with damp cloths. Use a mist spray bottle to keep cloths damp. Discard cloths and mopheads in sealed plastic bags according to EPA regulations for removal and disposal of asbestos. l HEPA-vacuum all curtains in rooms with asbestos-containing insulation, and discard vacuum filters in sealed plastic bags according to EPA regulations for removal and disposal of asbestos. Semiannual Cleaning Custodial staff should: ● ● Spray with water any debris found near asbestos-containing insulation, and place the debris in a plastic bag using a dustpan. Clean the pan with water in a utility sink. Report presence of debris immediately to the O&M program coordinator. HEPA-vacuum all carpets in rooms with asbestos-containing insulation. 3-4 ● Wet-mop all other floors and dust all other horizontal surfaces with damp cloths in rooms with asbestos-containing insulation. ● Seal all debris, vacuum bags, vacuum filters, cloths, and mopheads in plastic bags for disposal according to EPA regulations for asbestos waste. Maintenance The special O&M program coordinator should: ● Ensure that recommended procedures and safety precautions will be followed before authorizing construction and maintenance work involving pipe and boiler insulation (see Section 5.2). Specifically, containment barriers or bags should be positioned around the work area and workers should wear coveralls and respirators. Insulation damaged during construction and maintenance activities should be repaired with non-asbestos mastic, new protective jackets, and/or replacement insulation. ● Authorize repair of minor insulation damage with non-asbestos mastic, new protective jackets, and/or non-asbestos insulation following recommended repair techniques and precautions (see Section 5.2). ● Authorize large-scale abatement only after a complete assessment of the asbestos-containing insulation (see Section 5.2). The maintenance staff should: ● Clear all construction, renovation, maintenance, or equipment repair work with the O&M program coordinator in advance. ● Avoid patching and repair work on insulation until the ACM has been assessed by the asbestos program manager. Periodic Inspection Building inspectors should: ● Inspect all insulation for damage or deterioration at least twice a year and report findings to the O&M program coordinator. (See Chapter 4 for detailed information on assessing ACM.) ● Investigate the source of debris found by the custodial staff. Custodial and maintenance staff should: ● Inform the O&M program coordinator when damage to the insulation is observed or when debris is cleaned up. The illustrated EPA pamphlet, “Asbestos in Buildings—Guidance for Service and Maintenance Personnel” (USEPA 1985a), may be useful for the special O&M program for pipe and boiler insulation. The O&M program should continue until all asbestos-containing insulation (including materials on pipe joints and elbows) is removed and replaced with another type of insulation. 3-5 3.3.3 Special Practices for Other ACM Most ACM that is neither surfacing material nor pipe and boiler insulation is hard and nonfriable. This type of ACM releases fibers only when manipulated (e.g., cut, drilled, sawed) or damaged. The special O&M program is designed to alert workers to the location of ACM, and to avoid its disturbance or damage. Documentation, Education, and Training The O&M program coordinator should: ● Record the exact location of these types of ACM on building documents (plans, specifications, and drawings). ● Inform maintenance and custodial workers about the location of ACM and caution them about disturbance or damage. ● Train maintenance workers to handle ACM safely. (As noted in Chapter 2, EPA is sponsoring three pilot training programs. Contact the RAC for information on these and other programs.) Maintenance The O&M program coordinator should: ● Ensure that recoin mended procedures and safety precautions will be followed before authorizing construction or maintenance work involving ACM. Specifically, containment barriers should be erected around the construction and maintenance work area and workers should wear coveralls as well as respirators. All tools should be equipped with HEPA-filtered vacuum devices. The maintenance staff should: ● Clear all construction, renovation, maintenance, or equipment repair work with the O&M program coordinator in advance. ● Avoid removing, sanding, or stripping floor tiles containing asbestos. If tiles are removed, do not sand asbestos backing material remaining on the floor. Periodic Inspection Building inspectors should: ● Inspect all ACM for damage or deterioration at least twice a year, and report findings to the O&M program coordinator. Custodial and maintenance staff should: l Report any ACM damage to the O&M program coordinator. The special O&M program for miscellaneous ACM should continue until all ACM is removed, 3-6 CHAPTER 4. ASBESTOS CONTROL BEYOND SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE If a building contains ACM, implementing a special O&M program will remove asbestos fibers and limit further fiber release. Once the program is operational, the need for additional asbestos control or abatement should be considered. Three questions need to be answered: ● Is abatement necessary? ● When should abatement be done? ● What abatement method should be used? In some situations, assessing the need for abatement is a straightforward process. Badly damaged ACM in public areas should be removed immediately. ACM in good condition with virtually no chance of being disturbed except under controlled conditions (e.g., during scheduled repairs) requires no additional action, at least not immediately. (An example of the latter is tightly bound, undamaged ACM insulation wrapped around heating or water pipes.) Deciding how to control ACM is complicated; assessment requires simultaneous consideration of the type and condition of the material, timing and alternative abatement methods, as well as constraints that are specific to individual buildings. This chapter contains an approach to assessing the need for abatement, determining its timing, and choosing an abatement method. Factors used in the decision-making process are introduced and discussed. The three types of ACM — surface material, pipe and boiler insulation and miscellaneous products — are treated separately. Constraints that affect individual owners or buildings are also discussed, SUMMARY Assessment Information: ● The likelihood of fiber release from ACM is based on evaluating its current condition and the potential for future disturbance, damage, or erosion. ● Air monitoring alone should not be used for assessment. The Assessment Process: The likelihood of fiber release from ACM determines the need for and timing of additional action. The nature and location of the material determines the abatement method. ● Surfacing Materials Need: Surfacing material in good condition and with a low potential for future disturbance, damage, or erosion may need no further action. Timing: ACM in poor condition should be dealt with first. If ACM is in good condition but has a high potential for future fiber release, abatement can be scheduled with building renovation or maintenance. Method: Removing the ACM is the only permanent solution. Enclosure and encapsulation are temporary solutions to be implemented in special circumstances. 4-1