Asbestos Floor Removal Procedures, Guidelines ...
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How to Remove Asbestos Containing Floor Tiles, Resilient Flooring or Sheet Flooring Asbestos removal procedures - POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about procedures for removing asbestos-containing floor tiles or other floor coverings, or on the use of floor rejuvenators and restorative sealants on vinyl-asbestos floor tiles
How to Remove Asbestos Containing Floor Tiles or Sheet Flooring.
This article describes the proper procedure for removing vinyl-asbestos floor tiles. We also discuss leaving good-condition vinyl asbestos tile (VAT) in place, cleaning it and treating the surface with a clear coat sealant or flooring restorer/rejuvenator.
This article series assists building buyers, owners or occupants in reducing the risk of asbestos exposure from flooring that contains or is suspected to contain asbestos.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?
Is Asbestos-Containing Floor Tile Removal Necessary?
Asbestos is safe and legal to remain in homes or public buildings as long as the asbestos materials are in good condition and the asbestos can not be released into the air.
[Click to enlarge any image]
Article Contents
- GUIDELINES for REMOVING ASBESTOS-CONTAINING FLOORING
- IS ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL NECESSARY?
- HOW TO REMOVE ASBESTOS FLOOR TILES
- ADVICE IF LEAVING OLD FLOORING IN PLACE
- ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL STANDARDS, REGULATIONS, GUIDES
- MONITOR for ASBESTOS CONTAMINATION DURING REMOVAL
Guidelines for Removing Asbestos-Containing Floor Tile (Vinyl-Asbestos Tile / Asphalt-Asbestos Tile)
We begin by suggesting that you should not remove asbestos-containing floor tile unless it is really necessary. As with asbestos-containing products in general, the asbestos hazard at a building may be greater from disturbing asbestos-containing materials (ACM) than if they were left alone or covered up.
But in some cases, particularly during certain building renovations or when asbestos-containing flooring is in poor condition and cannot easily be left in place, removal may be necessary.
As we point out at ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION, the US EPA points out in ADEQUATELY WET ASBESTOS GUIDANCE, EPA340/1-90-019 that asbestos-containing floor tiles are considered non-friable materials but the materials can become friable with age or by grinding, sanding, demolition, etc.
Here is what the University of Minnesota has to say about the hazards of this type of asbestos-containing floor tiles:
Flooring that contains asbestos, when intact and in good condition, is generally considered nonfriable and is not hazardous.
Heat, water, weathering or aging can weaken flooring to the point where it is considered friable. Friable flooring includes any material containing more than 1 percent asbestos that can be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder with hand pressure.
This includes previously nonfriable flooring material which has been damaged to the extent that it may be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure. Flooring can also be made friable during its removal. Friable materials can release asbestos fibers into the air. Once in the air, asbestos fibers present a health hazard to people who inhale those fibers.
See ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION for details.
Also see ASBESTOS REMOVAL, WETTING GUIDELINES.
the US EPA points out in ADEQUATELY WET ASBESTOS GUIDANCE, EPA340/1-90-019
Non-friable miscellaneous ACM includes floor tiles asbestos cement sheet (transite board), siding shingles, asphalt roofing shingles, laboratory bench tops and even chalkboards. These materials may become friable with age, and under harsh conditions.
Category I non-friable ACM must be carefully examined to determine if the material is in poor condition, that is, if the binding material is losing its integrity, exhibited by peeling, cracking or crumbling; and is also friable. When Category I non-friable ACM has become friable it is subject to the NESHAP.
If Category I or II ACM is sanded, ground, cut or abraded it is also covered by the NESHAP. Category II non-friable ACM which is damaged to the extent that it has or will become crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder due to demolition/ renovation activities, is subject to the Asbestos NESHAP.
Miscellaneous materials are wetted in manners similar to those used to wet other categories of RACM.
Coverings are saturated with a wetting agent before removal and the asbestos-containing portions fully penetrated with the agent prior to, during and after their removal, while stored in the removal area, and while being placed into disposal containers.
Miscellaneous materials that don't absorb water readily (e.g., asbestos-concrete products, and floor tiles) are only required to have wetted surfaces. A misting sprayer may be used to diminish airborne asbestos fiber levels.
Advice on Leaving Asbestos-Containing Flooring in Place in a Building
Leaving old ACM or PACM flooring in place in a building is the first choice approach where that flooring is itself no longer serviceable.
Leaving the asbestos-containing flooring material in place will generally be the lowest-risk approach as it is the disturbance (by removal) of asbestos containing material that significantly increases the risk of airborne asbestos in buildings.
Where loose floor tiles or damaged sections of sheet flooring have left shallow holes, uneven surfaces, or depressions in the original tile or sheet resilient floor covering there are these approaches to producing a suitably smooth surface over which new non-asbestos sheet or tile floor coverings can be installed atop the old flooring:
- For and existing tile or sheet floor surface that is intact and smooth, first HEPA vacuum the surface, then if necessary, wash-clean the surface (including wax removal) but only by using a wet stripping / detergent method, not by polishing, grinding, sanding etc (detailed below among prohibitions). RFCI recommends using a liquid dishwashing detergent solution of 16 oz. of detergent to a gallon of water - I suspect this may be far too much detergent and may make soap removal problematic - Ed. (RFCI 2011). Wilson/Snodgrass (2007) warn against using solvents (oil, gasoline, kerosene, lacquer thinner, grease) and also against using solvent-based waxes or paste wax on asphalt-based vinyl flooring because they will soften and damage it.
- Seal the floor surface? Where sealing the floor surface is desirable the same authors recommend using water-emulsion wax and light buffing (unless the floor is a no-wax product such as produced after 1962). We have also had success using commecial resilient tile floor sealants that are included with floor restoration products and also great success using a combination of epoxy paint and clear topcoats where we wanted to simply install a paint-on walkable surface on an intact asphalt-asbestos or vinyl-asbestos floor. But you will want to test the sealant product on a small discreet area of flooring first to be sure that the chemicals are compatible, as some paint solvents may dissolve or damage some flooring products. See ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION for details.
- Where there are uneven surface areas due to flooring loss, use a pourable or trowel-able floor leveling compound, embossing paste, or material such as Dash Patch™ to level the depressed areas.
- Where the old flooring is very uneven and in poor condition, such that patching is inappropriate, cover the entire floor area with an underlayment such as hardboard or solid-core plywood approved by the manufacturer of the replacement (new) floor product to be installed. If there are loose floor tiles that interfere with new underlayment installation and that can be simply lifted by hand these material can be disposed of as asbestos waste as we describe in the flooring removal procedure that follows.
Specific Advice on Removing Asbestos-containing Asphalt or Vinyl Floor Tiles or Sheet Flooring
Assumption of asbestos content: unless you know from specific test or other certain data that [in our opinion pre-1985] resilient floor tile or sheet flooring, floor backing, adhesives, and underlayment are free of asbestos, for safety, assume that the material contains asbestos
- treat the material as Presumed Asbestos Containing Material (PACM) or as Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) if that is known.
No mechanical disturbance: do not bead-blast, chip, drill, dry-scrape, mechanically chip, pulverize, or saw (or use any other mechanically disruptive method) on any resilient flooring (tile, sheet flooring, underlayments, subflooring), floor backing, felt linings or underlayments, or on (generally black) asphalt-based cutback adhesives or other adhesives (some tan adhesives contained asbestos as well). - adapted from RFCI ( 2011).
Here is the US EPA's general Asbestos Advice for Homeowners, quoting from Asbestos in Your Home, U.S. EPA with minor additions of explanation and adaptation from additional sources.
Asbestos Containing Flooring Do's And Don'ts for the Homeowner
- Leave the old flooring in place if at all possible - installing new flooring over-top the old. Removal of PACM or ACM flooring is the last choice in renovation and remodeling work.
- Do keep activities to a minimum in any areas having damaged material that may contain asbestos.
- Do take every precaution to avoid damaging asbestos material.
- Do have removal and major repair done by people trained and qualified in handling asbestos. It is highly recommended that sampling and minor repair also be done by asbestos professionals.
- Don't dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos. [Unless using a properly-designed HEPA vacuum cleaner, as otherwise you are making particles airborne - Ed.]
- Do use HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner with a disposable dust bag and metal floor attachment (not a brush attachment) for vacuuming up dust and debris.
- Do not saw, sand, scrape, sweep, or drill holes in asbestos materials. Or if you have to cut or drill a hole, use damp wiping & HEPA vacuuming to clean up the dust.
- Don't use abrasive pads or brushes on power strippers to strip wax from asbestos flooring. Never use a power stripper on a dry floor.
- Don't sand or try to grind-level asbestos flooring or its backing. When asbestos flooring needs replacing, install new floor covering over it, if possible.
- Don't track material that could contain asbestos through the house. If you cannot avoid walking through the area, have it cleaned with a wet mop. If the material is from a damaged area, or if a large area must be cleaned, call an asbestos professional.
- Do use a detergent solution for soaking, softening, and removal of sheet flooring materials (where by testing you determine that the adhesives are water soluble) Use a detergent solution for cleaning or for separation of wear layer from backer, or backer from subflooring. In the "Leave in Place" section above we discussed using a detergent for cleaning the floor surface. For removing flooring, a stronger concentration of dishwasher detergent may be needed to separate adhered sheet flooring or floor tiles from the backing layer (that can be wet-scraped) or in separating the backing layer from the subflooring below if actual flooring removal is absolutely required.
- Do use wet methods for any scraping of adhesives or flooring fragments. Do not ever perform dry scraping or chipping. Never use mechanical chippers to remove ACM or PACM flooring.
- Do place removed flooring material in heavy-duty (6-mil or thicker) solid plastic bags or into a leakproof container for proper labeling and proper disposal in an authorized landfill - check with your local building department about regulations for the disposal of ACM building or construction waste.
- Also see detailed ACM / PACM flooring removal procedures found the RFCI's "Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings" (2011) found inReferences or Citations below or contact the Resilient Floor Covering Institute at www.rfci.com, La Grange GA., Tel: 706-882-3833 for further advice.
Major repairs must be done only by a professional trained in methods for safely handling asbestos.
Minor repairs should also be done by professionals since there is always a risk of exposure to fibers when asbestos is disturbed.
Doing minor repairs yourself is not recommended since improper handling of asbestos materials can create a hazard where none existed.
Removing Asbestos-Containing Floor Tiles Should Be Considered a Last Resort
Removal is usually the most expensive method and, unless required by state or local regulations, should be the last option considered in most situations. This is because removal poses the greatest risk of fiber release. However, removal may be required when remodeling or making major changes to your home that will disturb asbestos material.
Also, removal may be called for if asbestos material is damaged extensively and cannot be otherwise repaired. Removal is complex and must be done only by a contractor with special training. Improper removal may actually increase the health risks to you and your family.
Asbestos Floor Tile Removal Procedure, Guidelines, Standards, Regulations
- EPA Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in buildings, NIAST, National Institute on Abatement Sciences & Technology, [republishing EPA public documents] 1985 ed., Exposure Evaluation Division, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,D.C. 20460
- The University of Minnesota source atReferences or Citations at the end of this web page includes more detailed advice on removing asbestos-containing floor tiles if removal is required for any reason, and the UM provides examples of do-it-yourself removal procedures that are safe for homeowners as well as examples that were probably unsafe or improper. See Asbestos Floor Tile Removal Guide & Instructions - copy on file as Asbestos_Floor_Tile_Removal_MDH.pdf ]
- Oregon DEQ: HOW to REMOVE NONFRIABLE VINYL ASBESTOS FLOOR TILES (A Guide for Meeting DEQ Rules), [PDF] State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Asbestos Program, retrieved 2016/12/02, original source: http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/asbestos/docs/Asbflr.pdf Note: while this document is specifically addressed to building owners and contractors in the U.S. state of Oregon, it's advice is clear, simple, easy to follow, and will be helpful for anyone concerned with the need to remove asphalt asbestos or vinyl asbestos flooring or to handle asbestos-suspect floor tiles. Excepts: This document provides guidance for removing nonfriable vinyl asbestos floor tiles (VAT). ... If the project is taking place in a school (K-12), you must comply with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Contact the EPA's regional office at 800-424-4372 for current rule and policy information. Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OR-OSHA) also has rules for working with asbestos-containing materials. Contact OR-OSHA at 503-378-3272 for current rule and policy information. Watch out: Vinyl asbestos floor tiles must be removed, handled and disposed of in a manner that keeps the material in predominantly whole pieces to be considered nonfriable. The method of removal cannot shatter (broken into 4 or more pieces), crumble, pulverize, or reduce the material to dust. Sanding, sawing, grinding, chipping, or the use of power tools is not allowed.
- OSHA Requirements for removal of resilient floor covering materials, also detailed in Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI), "Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings" (May, 2011) include the following (paraphrasing & adapting):
- OSHA revised asbestos standards (1994) note that intact resilient floor covering materials can be removed under a "negative exposure assessment" in compliance with the revised standards by appropriately trained workers using the "Recommended Work Practices". Intact means that the asbestos-containing material has not been crumbled, ground, sanded, pulverized etc. such that the asbestos particle is no longer bound in the original matrix of binders and materials. Resilient flooring are considered non-friable if they are intact and generally do not admit airborne fibers unless subjected to the sort of aggressive procedures we list just above.
- RFCI requires installers who plan to use the recommended procedures to complete an 8-hour training program and to designate a competent person with additional training and who shall be responsible for health & safety of workers at the job site. [Interesting that the text does not mention building occupant safety nor dust containment - Ed.]
- Watch out: the work practices refer to pre-1978 buildings, but we frequently report the presence asbestos-containing resilient flooring in buildings built after that date and extending at least to the early 1980's. In some instances it appears that new-old-stock asbestos-containing flooring was installed in the several years after manufacturers stopped producing such products.
- Watch out: for lead based paint on materials that must be disturbed (such as baseboard floor trim) in older buildings where asbestos-containing flooring must be removed.
- In general, avoid violent demolition, such as using floor sanders, grinders, or floor stripping machines to remove these materials.
- Before demolition or removal of asbestos-containing material c heck your own state or province for regulations that may apply to demolition or disposal of asbestos materials. see Asbestos Regulations: State asbestos regulatory agencies
- During demolition or removal, this material should be disturbed as little as possible. Asbestos monitoring may be required before, during, and after demolition and removal of asbestos containing flooring. US EPA asbestos monitoring advice is given below.
- Consider simply installing a new material atop the old asbestos-containing flooring. Remember that asbestos is not "radioactive" - it does not cause injury or illness simply by being present, encapsulated in a substance or covered-over by a new material.
- In most residential cases testing these floor products is probably not justified, but if you prefer to send asbestos-suspect material samples to an NVLAP certified lab, they usually want three separate samples each about 3/4" in diameter, and charge about $20./sample. Here is the NIST link about those labs: http://ts.nist.gov/Standards/scopes/temtm.htm that has a list of participants. NVLAP is a national voluntary lab accreditation program within NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
- Guidelines for wetting asbestos containing materials: See ADEQUATELY WET ASBESTOS GUIDANCE, EPA340/1-90-019 that asbestos-containing floor tiles are considered non-friable materials but the materials can become friable with age or by grinding, sanding, demolition, etc.
Monitoring for Asbestos Fiber/Particle Contamination During Flooring Removal
MANAGING ASBESTOS in PLACE: A Building Owner's Guide to Operations and Maintenance Programs for Asbestos-Containing Materials ("Green Book"), web search 08/11/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/management_in_place.html
How to Develop and Maintain a Building Asbestos Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Program, This information is designed to assist building owners and managers in understanding how to develop and maintain an operations and maintenance program for asbestos-containing materials in their buildings.
Monitoring Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM), U.S. EPA, web search 08/11/2010, excerpts from this original source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/section6.html, quoting:
Periodic Visual Re inspections and Air Monitoring
A visual re inspection of all ACM should be conducted at regular intervals as part of the O&M program to help ensure that any ACM damage or deterioration will be detected and corrective action taken.
- EPA's ASBESTOS REGULATIONS FOR SCHOOLS (the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, "AHERA") [PDF] (96 pp, 589k), web search 08/17/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/2003pt763.pdf, require that an accredited inspector re inspect school buildings at least once every three years to reassess the condition of ACM.
- The AHERA regulations for schools also require a routine surveillance check of ACM every six months to monitor the ACM's condition. This surveillance can be conducted by a trained school custodian or maintenance worker.
- While only school buildings are required to have surveillance checks every six months, it is a good practice for other buildings with ACM. The asbestos program manager (APM) should establish appropriate surveillance and re inspection intervals, based on consultation with the building owner and any other qualified professionals involved in the O&M program.
- EPA recommends a visual and physical evaluation of ACM during the re inspections to note the ACM's current condition and physical characteristics. Through this re inspection, it is possible to determine both the relative degree of damage and assess the likelihood of future fiber release.
- Maintenance of a set of visual records (photos or video) of the ACM over time can be of great value during re inspections.
EPA recommends a visual and physical evaluation of ACM during the re inspections to note the ACM's current condition and physical characteristics.
Additional Asbestos-Contamination Prevention Measures
Supplemental Air Monitoring As part of an O&M program, a carefully designed air monitoring program to detect airborne asbestos fibers in the building may provide useful supplemental information when conducted along with a comprehensive visual and physical ACM inspection and re inspection program.
For employees who are, or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers above the permissible limits set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), regulations require that the employer conduct both initial and periodic air sampling.
For more information about the OSHA exposure monitoring requirements, see the regulations at 29 CFR § 1910.1001(d). [OSHA web page]
If the ACM is currently in good condition, increases in airborne asbestos fiber levels at some later time may provide an early warning of deterioration or disturbance of the material.
In that way, supplemental air monitoring can be a useful management tool. If an owner chooses to use air monitoring in an "early warning" context, a knowledgeable and experienced individual should be consulted to design a proper sampling strategy. (See Useful Links for more information on air monitoring.)
This air monitoring should supplement, not replace, physical and visual inspection. Visual inspection can recognize situations and anticipate future exposure (e.g., worsening water damage), whereas air monitoring can only detect a problem after it has occurred, and fibers have been released.
Sampling Methods
Note that the collection of air samples for supplementary evaluation should not use aggressive air sampling methods. Aggressive sampling methods, in which air is deliberately disturbed or agitated by use of a leaf blower or fans, should only be used at the completion of an asbestos removal project inside the abatement containment area.
Methods of Air Sampling Analysis
The most accurate and preferred method of analysis of air samples collected under an O&M program requires the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Phase contrast microscopy (PCM), which is commonly used for personal air sample analysis and as a screening tool for area air monitoring, cannot distinguish between asbestos fibers and other kinds of fibers which may be present in the air. PCM analysis also cannot detect thin asbestos fibers, and does not count short fibers. TEM analysis is more expensive than PCM analysis.
However, the more accurate information on actual levels of airborne asbestos fibers that can be derived from TEM should be more beneficial to the building owner who elects to use supplemental air monitoring in the asbestos management program. TEM analysis is most reliably performed by laboratories accredited by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and who follow EPA’s quality assurance guidelines. (See References, U.S. EPA, Dec. 1989, Transmission Electron Microscopy Asbestos Laboratories: Quality Assurance Guidelines. Washington, DC: EPA 560/5-90-002).
Selecting a Lab Selection of a reliable and experienced air monitoring firm and analytical laboratory is important, if the building owner elects to conduct supplemental air monitoring under the O&M program.
A consultant knowledgeable in air sampling and analysis protocols can be contacted for recommendations if the building owner or APM has limited knowledge in this area. See this ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST or contact your state asbestos regulatory agency (5 pp, 17k,) for information on how to find an accredited asbestos professional. In addition, the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) maintains a listing of accredited asbestos laboratories under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP). You may call NIST at (301) 975-4016.
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ADVERTISEMENTReader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs
Question: does this floor I'm demolishing contain asbestos?
We were hoping you could take a look at this image fo determine if it contains asbestos? The house was built around 1970, but we arent sure if this is the original tile. - J.S. 2/11/14
Thank you, Jared Spicer
Moderator Reply:
Jared, no one can say for sure what a material contains from just a photo, but the image indeed looks like a 1960's vintage asphalt or vinyl asbestos floor installation, possibly a Kentile floor as those used many pattern inserts.
Watch out: it looks as if the breakup is making a dusty mess - something to be avoided in any case.
If you are facing a costly demolition then it would make sense to confirm asbestos content using a certified asbesto test lab
See ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST
Else it makes sense to treat the material as "presumed asbestos containing" or "PACM" flooring based on age and appearance.
Is $500 a good price for removing speckled floor tiles from our basement?
Hello, we have green with speckles 9x9 tiles in our basement. We had some water damage and some tiles around perimeter are cracked and all are damp from humidity. We want them gone. Can you advise is $5000 a good price for an area 17x20?
This price is for tile removal only not removal of possible mastic asbestos black adhesive. Thank you so very much. Also, could you advise someone in Northern NJ for the work? On 2019-06-03 by Barbara-Ann
by (mod) -
With apologies I cannot make a useful comment on the estimate for work that you described. I just have no information about the specific building, or just what effort will be required to remove the floor, contain the dust and clean up.
Everything depends on the quality of the work including dust control and clean up. Watch out: If you find someone who's inexpensive but they coat your house with asbestos dust generating a 30 or $40,000 subsequent clean-up you would agree that that was not a great job. It would be wise to get three estimates, And to test your floor for asbestos.
Can I lay down laminate over old flooring?
I just teared down 1960 vinyl flloor in my kitchen area.Top parts came out easily but most backing still attatched to subfloors.
Can I put laminate floor over backing or should I have professional remove it? Is it safe to leave backing underneath laminate floor? I presumed vinyl floor has asbestos. On 2020-09-23 by Sandy -
- by (mod) -
Yes usually, but
Watch out: If the floor is quite uneven that would show up through a flexible floor covering such as sheet vinyl; but if you're installing any type of thicker plank laminate flooring you should be fine.
I used an old clothes iron and heat gun to soften old tiles
I know my comment is a bit late for some but might be able to help someone in the future. I used an old clothes iron and heat gun to heat and soften the floor tiles (that may have had asbestos) and glue.
The tiles turned flexible (like rubber) and just peeled easily off the floor. Not one broken tile in the whole basement. It took a little while but worked like a hot dandy. On 2020-09-19 by James -
On 2020-02-06 by Joe Odnoha - can the occupants stay in the house during flooring removal?
When a basement floor containing asbestos is being removed professionally can the homeowners stay in the house? On 2020-09-19 by James -
by (mod) -
Joe, That's an excellent question; the answer isn't a simple yes or no. IF the basement work area can be completely contained and its air pressure properly managed so as to isolate it from the upper floors AND IF nothing goes wrong during that process THEN the upstairs is protected from asbestos dust.
Do I need to test for asbestos in old tiles in flooded basement?
My basement flooded - it has old concrete tiles with carpeting over them. The carpeting needs to be pulled up but insurance wants to test for asbestos/lead paint.
They say they cannot pull up the carpeting without the testing because the concrete tiles may get damaged. Should I have the testing done? If it comes back positive for asbestos what are my options as far as repairs?
I would prefer they not tear up the entire basement with an aggressive abatement if it can be avoided. . Will the carpet and concrete tiles need to be completely removed? Or are they just playing on a homeowners fears? On 2020-09-19 by James -
by (mod) -
There won't be "concrete tiles" likely to be found in a basement but we're probably simply having a bit of communication confusion. Asphalt asbestos or vinyl asbestos floor tiles that contain asbestos, IF they are intact and adhered to the slab, are low risk but if the tiles are loose and coming up then it would make sense to either treat them as presumed to contain asbestos or to have a sample tested. In my opinion - which is wildly speculative since you don't attach photos nor give details about the condition of the floor below the carpeting - is that if the carpeting is not glued down it would make sense to lift the carpet and actually look rather than just guessing all over the place. If the floor is intact, the US EPA and other expert advice is that the safest and least costly approach is to leave it in place and cover it over with new materials.
If there are just a few loose tiles that can be lifted out without demolition (chopping sanding grinding sawing) then that position wouldn't change. Some of the people involved in a question like this are perfectly comfortable spending your money to reduce their risk.
Can I just fill in a few loose or missing asbestos floor tiles and leave the rest?
I have a vinyl floor containing asbestos. A few of the 12" tiles are breaking up into small (1") pieces. I plan to cover the entire floor with non-asbestos containing material but if I remove the lose broken pieces I will be left with areas that are lower by the thickness of the original tile.
I have enough of the original tile to replace the broken areas.
if I carefully remove the damaged areas and replace them with my spare tiles before covering the entire floor with the new stuff,
can I do this very limited area if I keep the asbestos containing materials wet and avoid grinding or creating dust in any way.
Answer by (mod) -
Yes that sounds reasonable to me
Can a floor buffer be used to remove asbestos mastic?
Can a floor buffer be used to remove asbestos mastic if properly saturated? On 2018-12-14 by Buck -
Advice by mod: probably not
I'd be concerned that "properl-saturated" won't be enough to prevent airborne asbestos-containing dust. Probably it's better to wet and scrape the material up.
When was last year asbestos was used in vinyl sheet flooring?
When was last year asbestos was used in vinyl sheet flooring? On 2018-12-04 by Bob P -
Answer by (mod) -
Sorry but there's no single right answer to the question of the last year that asbestos was used in flooring. Prohibitions against the use of asbestos in flooring varied by country. In the US you wouldn't expect asbestos in flooring past week early to mid-1980s. 1989 at the latest. In the UK and some other countries that might be 1999.
Watch out: Even within country, the "last use of asbestos" in flooring may vary among individual companies, and there's also the risk that a floor installed shortly after a manufacturer stopped using asbestos in their floor material was installed using "new old stock" from older production runs that used asbestos.
Is it safe for a contractor to remove my asbestos floor tile?
I appreciate your fast reply, Mr. Friedman. I spent about two hours on this site looking at all you guys have to offer. I figured it prudent, as it was put, to assume the tile has asbestos and forego and testing due to the size, age, and color. In your opinion, would it be safe if a contractor were to remove it? I was going to install through Home Depot, but due to the tile they won’t do it. Therefore, I will need to get some other company to do it. I don’t know much about carpet installation, but just putting another set of tack strips right under the old ones would be just fine? On 2018-11-03 by Jack D. -
Reply by (mod) -
Jack I can't answer a safety question about the performance of an unknown contractor in an unknown building on an unknown floor. In general, EPA and everyone else familiar with this topic point out that safest and least costly is to leave old flooring in place, covering it over with new flooring. In a situation where that can't be done and demolition must be performed, there are guidelines for doing that process safely and properly. Articles describing those procedures are at the CONTINUE READING links given just above on this page.
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Continue reading at ASBESTOS REMOVAL, WETTING GUIDE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE FAQs - questions and answers about the right way to remove asbestos floor tiles or sheet flooring, posted originally on this page
Or see these
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- DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? - 5 easy questions to tell if your FLOOR probably contains asbestos -
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ASBESTOS FLOORING REMOVAL GUIDE at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
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Questions & Answers on procedures for removing asbestos-containing floor tiles or other floor coverings, or on the use of floor rejuvenators and restorative sealants on vinyl-asbestos floor tiles.
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- "Asbestos in your home or at work," Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Department, Winston-Salem NC 12/08
- "Asbestos Floor Tile Removal", the University of Minnesota's advice on removing VAT (vinyl asbestos or asphalt asbestos floor tile) can be read in detail at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/asbestos/floortile/index.html
- EPA, ASBESTOS IN YOUR HOME [PDF] - U.S. EPA, Exposure Evaluation Division, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,D.C. 20460
- Resilient Floor Covering Institute, 1030 15th St. NW, suite 350, Washington D.C.
- Asbestos Regulations: State asbestos regulatory agencies (5 pp, 17k) (original source http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/statecontactsapril2009.pdf ) for information on how to find an accredited asbestos professional.
- "Asbestos Floor Tile Removal Guide & Instructions - copy on file as Asbestos_Floor_Tile_Removal_MDH.pdf ] - ", Minnesota Department of Health, retrieved 12/7/2010, original source: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/asbestos/floortile/index.html
- Asbestos products and their history and use in various building materials such as asphalt and vinyl flooring includes discussion which draws on ASBESTOS, ITS INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS, ROSATO 1959, D.V. Rosato, engineering consultant, Newton, MA, Reinhold Publishing, 1959 Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 59-12535 (out of print).
- EPA Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in buildings, NIAST, National Institute on Abatement Sciences & Technology, [republishing EPA public documents] 1985 ed., Exposure Evaluation Division, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,D.C. 20460
- EPA ASBESTOS MATERIALS BAN: CLARIFICATION 1999
- The ABCs of Asbestos in Schools (August 2003), U.S. EPA, Web search 08/17/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/abcsfinal.pdf - aqui se encuenta la misma documenta escrito en Espan~ol: El ABC del Asbestos en las Escuelas, fuente original: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/spanishabcs.pdf
- How to Manage Asbestos in School buildings, AHERA Designated Person Self Study Guide, U.S. EPA 910-B-96-001, January 1996, web search 08/17/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/region2/ahera/e23.pdf
- MANAGING ASBESTOS in PLACE: A Building Owner's Guide to Operations and Maintenance Programs for Asbestos-Containing Materials ("Green Book"), web search 08/11/2010, original source: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/management_in_place.html How to Develop and Maintain a Building Asbestos Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Program, This information is designed to assist building owners and managers in understanding how to develop and maintain an operations and maintenance program for asbestos-containing materials in their buildings.
- EVER WEAR TILE CO is currently (2009) in the Terrazzo, Tile, Marble, and Mosaic Work industry in Fallon, NV. 775) 423-6221. [We do not know the company history nor whether there is an association with EverWear vinyl asbestos floor tiles discussed in this article.]
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce whose lab program is at http://ts.nist.gov/Standards/Accreditation/index.cfm.
- Resilient Floor Covering Institute, 401 East Jefferson Street, Suite 102, Rockville, MD 20850, Tel: 301–340–8580, Website: http://www.rfci.com
- Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI), "Recommended Work Practices for Removal of Resilient Floor Coverings" (May, 2011), Resilient Floor Covering Institute, 115 Broad St., Suite 201, LaGrange, GA 30240, Tel: 706-882-3833, Website: www.rfci.com, retrieved 1/18/2014, original source http://rfci.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/rfci-rwp-final-oct2011.pdf
- Stanton, .F., et al., National Bureau of Standards Special Publication 506: 143-151
- Pott, F., Staub-Reinhalf Luft 38, 486-490 (1978) cited by McCrone
- US EPA ASBESTOS NESHAP ADEQUATELY WET GUIDANCE, EPA340/1-90-019, [PDF] December 1990, U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Stationary Source Compliance Division, Washington, DC 20460, original web source: http://www.epa.gov/region04/air/asbestos/awet.htm
- Asbestos products and their history and use in various building materials such as asphalt and vinyl flooring includes discussion which draws on ASBESTOS, ITS INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS, ROSATO 1959, D.V. Rosato, engineering consultant, Newton, MA, Reinhold Publishing, 1959 Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 59-12535 (out of print, text and images available at InspectAPedia.com).
- "Handling Asbestos-Containing roofing material - an update", Carl Good, NRCA Associate Executive Director, Professional Roofing, February 1992, p. 38-43
- EPA Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in buildings, NIAST, National Institute on Abatement Sciences & Technology, [republishing EPA public documents] 1985 ed., Exposure Evaluation Division, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,D.C. 20460
- EPA, ASBESTOS IN YOUR HOME [PDF] - U.S. EPA, Exposure Evaluation Division, Office of Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,D.C. 20460
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: [email protected]. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME . Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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