Asbestos Removal....

[remi322]

Hi everyone, just had a quick question, I have a customer that needs 3 new duct runs installed into a dinning area and a bath. The problem is that the house was built in the 1970's so what I could identify it seems as though the ductwork contains asbestos, heat only system but the way the ductwork is configured the plenum going into the attic has a main line 14", I did check the heat load and capacity of furnace for the new runs=good. I basically told her in order for me to add the new runs, I would encapsulate the asbestos duct and branch off the main or the second option would be to replace all the old duct with new duct. My questions to everyone is did I give her enough options or if anyone ever experience a situation like this and if so how did you go about it. Any info. would be appreciated. Thanks to all.

[hvacvegas]

basically, don't touch asbestos, EVER. Don't promise to do anything with it, don't promise to even look at funny. We're talking big time fines from OSHA. Like 100k fines. Either walk away, or tell them they need an asbestos abatement.

Personally, we tell them to get an abatement, and provide us with documentation of the abatement, or we walk away.

[DGIO-Not]

EPA has published rules.

Rule number #1: if it looks like asbestos treat it like asbestos.

Rule number #2: read rules on collecting a sample, send to lab and have tested. Rule #2 is very unpopular, watch the home value descend like crazy. Homeonwer is probably not excited about this one to begin with and you will most likely be shown the door.

Rule number #3: do not go into more detail on public forum. EPA is very supportive on website and phone calls if homeowner wishes to go further in discussion. (Tongue in cheek: homeowners are allowed to do more than you, period, end of discussion, well except I am now very aware of which of my landfills will accept asbestos.)

Rule number 4: even if certified for asbestos removal and have equipment, that is indeed a differing business than HVAC and would be very wise to seperate the two.

[maintenanceguy]

Don't touch it unless you're an EPA accredited asbestos mitigator.

Don't even take a sample unless you're an EPA accredited asbestos inspector.

Refer them to a local environmental contractor who can do this for them. The first step would be a lab sample taken by someone allowed to do this to rule out asbestos.

[Phasewolf]

So when was asbestos not used anymore?

[maintenanceguy]

Asbestos was banned in several phases over almost 20 years. The absolute last date of production would have been 1989 but probably stopped a few years earlier.

The only way to be absolutely sure is to have a sample taken and sent to a lab.

[pecmsg]

Hi everyone, just had a quick question, I have a customer that needs 3 new duct runs installed into a dinning area and a bath. The problem is that the house was built in the 1970's so what I could identify it seems as though the ductwork contains asbestos, heat only system but the way the ductwork is configured the plenum going into the attic has a main line 14", I did check the heat load and capacity of furnace for the new runs=good. I basically told her in order for me to add the new runs, I would encapsulate the asbestos duct and branch off the main or the second option would be to replace all the old duct with new duct. My questions to everyone is did I give her enough options or if anyone ever experience a situation like this and if so how did you go about it. Any info. would be appreciated. Thanks to all.

In California and many other states you must hire a Licensed or Certified Asbestos Consultant to do the test. In California, Nevada and many other states it is illegal for a contractor to collect samples or test for asbestos. California Business and Professions Code specifically states 7180(e). No licensed contractor or asbestos abatement contractor may provide professional health and safety services or perform any asbestos risk assessment. Only a licensed California Asbestos Consultant (CAC) or a Certified Site Surveillance Technician (CSST) working under the direction of a CAC can collect asbestos samples or as the law says perform any asbestos risk assessment. There is an exception, if a contractor has completed the AHERA/ASHARA Building Inspector Course and has taken the annual refreshers the contractor can collect up to ten samples as long as they do not disclose to anyone else what the results were. So if a contractor wants to collect samples they should not tell you what they found. It is against the law for the contractor to charge you for the testing. If you are worried about paying a professional to test, you should realize that the CAC does not have a financial interest in finding asbestos and is impartial. The Contractor on the other hand needs to find asbestos so that he can make some money by removing it.

[Phasewolf]

So homes build in the 1970's how often do you run into it?

[remi322]

Thanks to all that replied, I wasn't planning on removing it myself, I was going to hire a professional asbestos comp. to take on the job. I know the risk and dangers to asbestos exposure, but I just didn't know exactly the options when encountering such a situation.