How to Remove Asbestos From an Apartment Building

Asbestos, once a popular insulation material used in homes and buildings, comes from natural silicate minerals. Due to its ability to absorb sound and resist heat and electrical damage, it was used around pipes, appliances, and in floors and ceilings by builders and contractors. Asbestos was banned in the United States in 1989. Since then, many subsequent rulings have expounded on these restrictions. Asbestos fibers released into the air can cause mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs) and other health problems. The removal of asbestos in apartment buildings should be conducted by professional asbestos abatement companies. However, a building owner can conduct smaller removal projects by following strict procedures.

Instructions

1

Hire an outside consultant to determine if there's asbestos in your building. When dry ACM (asbestos containing material) can be crumbled to a powder, it's considered more dangerous than intact asbestos. If you're planning to remodel or renovate the building, it's important to remove all dry (also called friable) asbestos before beginning work, as it can release fibers into the air. Wear disposable clothing and shoes before conducting even preliminary work to find asbestos. Workershealth.com recommends coveralls that can be discarded after use. Always wet the asbestos with water from a spray bottle before removing. Dry asbestos can be extremely dangerous and release potentially life-threatening fibers into the air. Avoid power tools to remove floor or ceiling panels that contain asbestos. Hand tools emit less dust. If you want to find asbestos yourself, check the most common places, like acoustic tiles, built-in dishwashers and other appliances, roof shingles, loose insulation in walls, and asbestos sheets under flooring.

2

Sample a piece of asbestos for possible contamination yourself. Use a water mister to wet the material. Remove it using protective gloves and a mask to keep your mouth and nose covered. Place it in a tight, sealable sandwich bag. Then mail it or take it to an asbestos or environmental lab for analysis.

3

When removing asbestos, (after you've received positive lab results), contain the room. Place warning signs on the entrance. Shut off all heating ducts. Cover the area with plastic sheets to keep the asbestos in place. Attach a respirator with asbestos-filtering HEPA cartridges to your face, and wear disposable boots and clothing. Use scrapers, scrub pads or utility knives to remove asbestos. Don't break it into small pieces. This will increase the likelihood of contaminants. Keep a few water spray bottles handy to wet the asbestos before removing. It's important to have extra water on hand, as this prevents asbestos fibers from entering the air during the removal process. Seal the asbestos in tight plastic bags, then put them in a cardboard box. Dispose of the box in a landfill that permits asbestos refuse. Clean up the work area using wet sponges or mops. Don't sweep the area with a regular broom; this will only move around any asbestos fibers. Capture any fibers that remain on a wet cloth and then dispose of it with the removed asbestos and your workclothes in an approved landfill.

4

Comply with all state and federal rules for removing asbestos from an apartment building. Check with your state's environmental regulation agency (in Illinois, for example, it's the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency) before removing asbestos yourself.

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