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ES+H Multifamily Building Upgrades_508c_02 09 2016

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Energy Savings Plus Health | INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR MULTIFAMILY BUILDING UPGRADES 21 PRIORITY ISSUE 2.0 ASBESTOS (continued) ASSESSMENT PROTOCOLS (AP) MINIMUM ACTIONS (MA) EXPANDED ACTIONS (EA) • Plaster that is old enough to potentially contain asbestos The EPA vermiculite website refer- enced below includes photos to aid in the identification of vermiculite insulation. AP 2.2 Contact a Trained and Accredited Asbestos Professional if Unsure Whether Material Contains Asbestos Generally, it is not possible to tell if a material contains asbestos unless it is labeled. The only way to be sure whether a material contains asbestos is to have it tested by a qualified laboratory. EPA recommends testing suspect materials only if they are damaged (fraying, crumbling) or if a planned building upgrade would disturb the suspect material. If unsure whether material contains asbestos, contact a trained and accredited asbestos professional to assess, sample and test the material, as needed. Notify the building owner and/or property manager of any ACM identified during the assessments. MA 2.3 Ensure Insulation is Asbestos-Free Before Disturbing Do not remove or disturb insulation that looks like vermiculite (e.g., attic or wall insulation). Because confirming whether ver- miculite contains asbestos by testing is unreliable, EPA recom- mends assuming it contains asbestos and managing accordingly. Specifically, EPA recommends the following precautions: • Leave vermiculite insulation undisturbed in attics or walls. • Do not store boxes or other items in an attic if it contains vermiculite insulation. • Hire a professional asbestos contractor if there are plans to remodel or conduct renovations that would disturb vermicu- lite in attics or walls to make sure that the material is safely handled and/or removed. MA 2.4 Conduct Asbestos Abatement Before Blower Door Test- ing and Air Duct Testing Any asbestos abatement or repair work should be completed by properly trained and accredited professionals prior to blower door testing and air duct testing. Exercise appropriate caution when conducting blower door testing where friable asbestos or vermic- ulite attic insulation is present to avoid drawing asbestos fibers into the living space (i.e., use positively pressurized blower door testing and do not blow air on or over friable asbestos materials). Do not conduct air leakage tests (e.g., duct blaster tests) on ductwork that contains asbestos insulation. Note: Appropriate identification of ACM is necessary to ensure the continued safety of the occupants and the safety of workers, who may not be aware of asbestos hazards. If ACM may be disturbed during a planned project, a properly trained and accredited asbestos professional should conduct an initial assessment to determine potential worker exposures and required exposure controls. Asbestos awareness training is recommended for building upgrade workers, especially work planners and crew chiefs. This cell is intentionally blank. References for Priority Issue 2.0 Asbestos: Building Performance Institute (BPI): Technical Standards for the Heating Professional EPA: Asbestos EPA: Asbestos in the Home: A Homeowner's Guide EPA: Asbestos NESHAP EPA: Monitoring Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM) EPA: Protect Your Family from Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation EPA: State Asbestos Contacts National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) Asbestos Fiber Analysis LAP Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Asbestos OSHA: Asbestos, Construction See Appendix A: Worker Protection

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