Stage 3: Testing Knowledge Flashcards
Do I need to have an asbestos survey/test prior to any demolition or renovation?
YES!
An asbestos survey report signed by an asbestos consultant is required prior to any demolition or renovation. See Rule 1403
The ONLY EXCEPTION to the survey requirement is renovation activity of residential single-unit dwellings (houses) in which less than 100 (10x10) square feet of the surface area of intact (not damaged) material is removed or stripped.
Was the use of asbestos banned?
In what year was asbestos banned?
The majority of asbestos-containing building materials was NEVER BANNED.
The EPA announced a phased-in ban of most asbestos products, but it was NEVER IMPLEMENTED.
Asbestos has not been banned and is still in use in some USA industries as well as some other countries.
Can anybody remove asbestos from a building if there is less than 100 square feet of asbestos present?
NO!
Only asbestos removal contractors listed at The Cal/OSHA Asbestos Registration are allowed to remove asbestos in the State of California.
Exception: Only to the legal owner of the single-unit family dwelling (house) who is a permanent resident of this house and is personally performing this house renovation themselves (not employing a contractor or laborer, and not being helped by friends, family or anyone else).
I am a contractor; can I remove asbestos if there is less than 100 square feet of it?
NO!
Only asbestos removal contractors listed at The Cal/OSHA Asbestos Registration are allowed to remove asbestos in the State of California.
For renovations, are homeowners exempt from all or part of Rule 1403?
There is an exemption that applies only to the legal owner of the single-unit family dwelling (house) who is a PERMANENT RESIDENT…
…of this house and is PERSONALLY PREFORMING this house renovation themselves…
(NOT EMPLOYING a contractor or laborer, and not being helped by friends, family or anyone else).
Are homeowners required to file a Notification Form for a demolition project?
YES!
But only when the homeowner is performing the house demolition work themselves and has not hired* a contractor.
Do I need to have an asbestos survey before I send a Notification to the SCAQMD?
YES!
An asbestos survey report signed by an asbestos consultant as defined in the rule is required prior
to any demolition or renovation.
My house was built in the 1980s or later and I know it has no asbestos; do I still have to have it surveyed?
YES!
REGARDLESS OF THE DATE of the building construction, and because of potential unknown renovations, Rule 1403(d)(1)(A) requires an asbestos survey report prior to demolition to determine and verify the absence or presence of asbestos.
Insurance testers say they will not do any asbestos testing on a property built after a specific date. Do I have to do a survey regardless of the age of the building?
YES!
A survey is required regardless of the age of the building. There is no date when asbestos in building materials was banned.
A pipe has burst in the wall and water is flooding throughout my house. Do I need to submit a notification before the plumber opens up the wall to repair the pipe?
NO
No notification is required prior to addressing a hazardous situation that is currently happening.
*Recommendation to turn off the water then test before demo.
More info: Once the immediate hazard has been addressed, the site must be secured, stabilized, and surveyed for the presence and condition of asbestos-containing and asbestos-contaminated materials.
If asbestos-containing materials have been disturbed or damaged as a result of, or as part of the response to, the hazardous situation, a Procedure 5 (Approved Alternative) clean-up plan must be submitted and
approved prior to asbestos clean-up.
What is the rule that governs testing procedures?
AQMD 1403 (Los Angeles). APCD 1206 (San Diego)
What is a p5?
Procedure 5 is a REPORT PLAN that is necessary when asbestos has been DISTURBED.
“Required to clean-up any disturbed Asbestos Containing Materials”
Do people like p5’s?
HELL NO.
Generally, the water damage company or plumber has exposed the asbestos before an inspection was done. This triggers the need for the p5 plan to move forward.
The p5 plan is expensive and can be the financial responsibility of the company that disturbed the asbestos.
How many asbestos samples do we take?
Generally about 3 samples for each homogeneous area.
What is a homogeneous area?
A homogeneous area is basically an area where all the MATERIAL IS THE SAME.
Example, drywall is 1 area and flooring would be another. So we would take 3 samples of both for a total of 6 samples.
