Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
III. Regulatory actions and initiatives
Indoor contaminants subject to significant federal, and in some cases, state
regulatory initiatives to protect the health and safety of building occupants
include asbestos and lead and, to a lesser degree, HCHO and radon.
A. Asbestos
In 1973, USEPA designated asbestos a hazardous air pollutant and promul-
gated regulations to reduce community exposures. An area of major concern
was the release of asbestos fibers into ambient air as a result of building-
related renovation and demolition activities which disturb hand-friable
asbestos-containing (ACM) building materials. As a consequence, USEPA
required use of wet techniques to remove friable ACM from buildings prior
to renovation or demolition activities. To prevent future potential releases
of asbestos fibers from hand-friable ACM, use of asbestos-containing fire-
proofing, acoustical plaster, and molded insulation products was banned by
USEPA in the period 1973-1978. The regulatory history of asbestos in build-
ings is summarized in
Table 13.1
.
In 1978, significant public health concern arose as a consequence of the
emerging awareness of the extensive use of friable ACM in school buildings.
Millions of children in the U.S. were believed to be at risk of asbestos fiber
exposure from damaged or deteriorating ACM, and asbestos-related disease
Table 13.1
Public Policy and Regulatory History of Asbestos in Buildings
Year
Actions
1973
USEPA designates asbestos as a hazardous air pollutant under NESHAP;
USEPA bans use of friable ACM in U.S. buildings and requires removal of
friable ACM before demolition or renovation.
1978
USEPA bans use of asbestos in acoustical plaster and molded thermal system
insulation; USEPA develops technical guidance documents for ACM in
schools.
1980
Congress enacts Asbestos School Hazard and Detection Act.
1982
USEPA promulgates “asbestos in schools” rule; school inspections required.
1986
Congress enacts Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA);
requires school inspections, etc.
1987
USEPA promulgates regulations to implement AHERA.
1988
OSHA promulgates asbestos construction industry standard, requires use of
engineering controls and respiratory protection for abatement workers, and
requires application of work practices to protect building occupants from
asbestos exposure.
1990
USEPA issues advisory on use of O&M to manage ACM in place.
1992
USEPA revises asbestos NESHAP, extends accreditation requirements for all
indoor asbestos work, expands ACM materials regulated.
1994
OSHA revises construction industry standard; requires building owners to
presume certain materials contain ACM and develop programs to ensure
service workers are not unduly exposed; reduces PEL.
