How we made this guide: picks, prices and specs come from our catalog and the makers' published specs, owner quotes come from customer reviews on our product pages and every guide is checked and edited by Trevor Hall.
Asbestos is removed by trained, licensed crews working inside a sealed enclosure held under negative pressure by HEPA negative air machines. They wet the material, bag it, HEPA-vacuum and wet-wipe, leave through a decontamination unit and finish with a visual inspection and clearance air testing.
The core machine is a negative air unit such as the Abatement Technologies HEPA-AIRE H2KM at $1,070, plus a pressure recorder at about $1,500 and a decon shower under $1,000. It is skilled, regulated work, not a DIY guide. How long it takes depends on how much material there is, the enclosure and how fast the clearance results come back. A homeowner with suspect material should hire a licensed abatement contractor and check the rules in their own state.
Quick answer
Nine steps: plan and notify, isolate the regulated area, build the enclosure and decon unit, run negative air, check and record the pressure, wet and remove, HEPA clean, decon on every exit, then inspect and clear. Shop the negative air machines that hold the enclosure under pressure.
The abatement process at a glance
Asbestos abatement is wider than removal. The EPA schools rule (40 CFR 763.90(i)) covers actions to remove, encapsulate or enclose the material. This page covers removal, the only one that takes it out of the building.
The sequence is the same on most jobs. Only the size of the enclosure and the number of machines change. The table lists each step, the equipment it uses and the rule or practice behind it. Federal OSHA text is quoted from 29 CFR 1926.1101, the construction asbestos standard. State and local rules can add to it.
| Step | Equipment | Rule or practice behind it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Plan and notify | Survey results, work plan | EPA 40 CFR 61.145: inspect first and give notice at the size thresholds; state and local agencies add their own rules |
| 2. Isolate the regulated area | Barrier tape, signs, poly sheeting | OSHA 1926.1101(e)(1): Class I, II and III work is conducted within regulated areas |
| 3. Build the enclosure and decon unit | Poly sheeting, tape, ducting, decon unit | Critical barriers over every opening; decon area joined to the enclosure |
| 4. Run negative air | HEPA negative air machines | Air is exhausted through HEPA filters so the enclosure stays under negative pressure |
| 5. Check the pressure | Differential pressure recorder | OSHA 1926.1101(g)(5)(i)(A): at least -0.02 inches of water column, shown by manometric measurements, plus at least 4 air changes per hour |
| 6. Wet and remove | Sprayers, bags, wetting agents, respirators, protective clothing | OSHA 1926.1101(g)(1)(ii): wet methods or wetting agents; (h) and (i): respirators and protective clothing |
| 7. HEPA clean | HEPA vacuums, wet wipes | OSHA 1926.1101(g)(1)(i): HEPA-filtered vacuums for debris and dust |
| 8. Decon on every exit | Decontamination shower | OSHA 1926.1101(j)(1)(i): equipment room, shower area and clean room in series |
| 9. Inspect and clear | Visual inspection, air sampling | EPA 40 CFR 763.90(i) for schools; state rules and the project specification elsewhere |
Step 1: Plan, survey and notify
Nothing is disturbed until the material has been identified and a plan exists. A survey says what the material is and where it is, and the plan says how the crew will contain it, remove it and dispose of it. The EPA asbestos NESHAP, 40 CFR 61.145, requires the owner or operator to thoroughly inspect the affected part of a facility for asbestos before renovation or demolition. Where regulated asbestos-containing material reaches 260 linear feet on pipes, 160 square feet on other components or 35 cubic feet, notice goes in at least 10 working days before removal starts. Licensing and extra notices depend on the jurisdiction, so the contractor confirms them with the state and local agencies before the first sheet of poly goes up.
Step 2: Isolate the regulated area
OSHA 1926.1101(e)(1) says all Class I, II and III asbestos work is conducted within regulated areas. OSHA 1926.1101(b) defines the classes. Class I is removal of thermal system insulation (TSI) and surfacing material. Class II is removal of other asbestos-containing material, such as wallboard, floor tile and sheeting, roofing and siding shingles and construction mastics. Class III is repair and maintenance work where the material is likely to be disturbed.
In practice the crew marks the area with barrier tape and signs, keeps unauthorized people out and shuts down the air handling that could carry dust to other rooms. People and ordinary traffic stay outside the regulated area for the whole job.
Step 3: Build the enclosure and decon unit
The crew seals the work area in layers of poly sheeting taped at every seam, floor, wall and penetration. OSHA 1926.1101(b) defines a critical barrier as one or more layers of plastic sealed over all openings into a work area, or a similar barrier that keeps airborne asbestos from moving to an adjacent area. Doors, vents and openings are covered. A negative air machine needs a place to exhaust, so one opening is planned for ducting to the outside. A modular frame or a prebuilt unit can replace some of the sheeting on small jobs.
The decontamination unit goes up now as well, joined to the enclosure, because the crew enters and leaves through it from the first shift. Mold and lead jobs use the same enclosure logic; see our mold remediation process and lead abatement guides.
Step 4: Run negative air
Negative air machines pull room air through a HEPA filter and exhaust it, so replacement air leaks in through the barriers instead of out. The enclosure stays under negative pressure relative to the space around it. Our negative pressure room post covers the physics, and air scrubber vs negative air machine covers why the same box is set up differently.
OSHA 1926.1101(g)(5)(i)(A) sets two numbers for a negative pressure enclosure: at least 4 air changes per hour, and the -0.02 inch differential covered in Step 5. Our calculation: CFM needed = enclosure volume in cubic feet x 4 / 60. A 30 x 20 x 9 ft enclosure holds 5,400 cubic feet, so it needs at least 360 CFM of real airflow. Rated airflow drops as filters load, so leave margin. How to calculate air changes per hour walks through the math.
| Enclosure volume (cubic feet) | CFM for 4 air changes per hour |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | about 67 |
| 2,500 | about 167 |
| 5,000 | about 333 |
| 10,000 | about 667 |
| 20,000 | about 1,333 |
Our calculation: volume x 4 / 60. It is the OSHA minimum; size with margin for filter loading.
Two-speed negative air machine
Abatement Technologies HEPA-AIRE Series Negative Air Machine H2KM
$1,070
Two speeds, 2,000 CFM on high as listed, a 6 inch HEPA final stage and a 15 amp circuit.
The Abatement Technologies HEPA-AIRE H2KM is a top seller in our air scrubber and containment range. Airflow is listed at 2,000 CFM on its high setting and 1,300 CFM on low. Filtration ends in a 6 inch HEPA filter carrying a 99.97% at 0.3 micron rating, and the machine runs on a 115 to 120 volt, 15 amp circuit. It has a 20-gauge galvanized steel cabinet and a 1 HP two-speed motor, and it weighs 124 lb with the 6 inch HEPA filter. A 12 inch HEPA filter is optional and takes the weight to 151 lb. Browse more from the maker in the Abatement Technologies collection.
Pros
- Two speeds from one unit, so one machine can run low for a long shift and high to pull the enclosure down.
- Casters with a locking feature make it easy to roll through doors.
Cons
- At 124 lb it is a two-person lift into a vehicle or up stairs.
- It calls for a 15 amp circuit, so plan power before you add a second machine.
Skip it if you want a lighter unit for one small room; a smaller air scrubber is easier to carry.
Configurable negative air machine
Novatek Novair 2000 Air Scrubber and Negative Air Machine
From $1,325
A 2 hp two-speed unit with a 12 inch exhaust collar, sold with HEPA, alarm, light and hour meter options.
The Novatek Novair 2000 starts at $1,325 for the HEPA version and runs up to $1,995 for the metal HEPA frame supplied with a DOP certificate. Novatek's operation and maintenance manual says low mode is equivalent to 1,200 CFM and high mode to 2,100 CFM. It runs from a dedicated 15 amp, 115 volt circuit, has a 12 inch exhaust collar and weighs 135 lb with HEPA. The HEPA versions use a 24 x 24 x 11.5 inch filter rated 99.97% at 0.3 microns.
Pros
- Variants let you add an alarm and light or an hour meter.
- A 12 inch exhaust collar for ducting the exhaust out of the enclosure.
Cons
- No owner reviews are on our page yet.
- The standard filter versions use a 5 micron general purpose filter, which is not for asbestos work.
Skip it if you need the lowest weight; the HEPA version is 135 lb.
Step 5: Check and record the pressure
Negative air is only real if you can show it. OSHA 1926.1101(g)(5)(i) covers negative pressure enclosures, one of the control methods it allows for Class I work, and calls for a minimum of -0.02 inches of water column pressure differential relative to outside pressure, shown by manometric measurement. A differential pressure recorder measures the differential continuously through tubing and keeps a time-stamped record, and our room pressure monitors post explains how those work.
Pressure recorder
PressurePro M1 Differential Pressure Recorder with Printer
$1,549
Reads plus or minus 0.250 inches of water column, saves each job's log and prints it on a built-in thermal printer.
The PressurePro M1 reads from +0.250 to -0.250 inches of water column on a 4.3 inch color touchscreen. By default it logs and prints a reading each half hour while pressure is in range and every 2 minutes during an alarm. It stores more than 2 years of logs in 16MB. The alarms are programmable with audible and visual signals. PressurePro's owner's manual lists asbestos or lead abatement settings of -0.020 inches for Alarm 1 and -0.060 for Alarm 2, while the listing shows defaults of -0.020 and -0.040. Set them to the job's own requirement, not to a default.
It also has a switched 120 volt Pressure Assist outlet rated 15 amps for one negative air machine up to 2,000 CFM, which turns the machine on at -0.022 inches and off at -0.040 inches by default. PressurePro's owner's manual says the machine on that outlet should be no larger than 2,000 CFM and should start on low or medium speed, with lay-flat duct running at least 5 feet outside, and that nothing but a negative air machine goes into the outlet. The H2KM (2,000 CFM on high as listed) fits that limit. The Novair 2000 (2,100 CFM on high in Novatek's manual) does not. That outlet works on AC power only. The unit runs about 3 hours on its internal battery and carries a 1 year limited warranty when registered within 30 days.
Skip it if a simple gauge meets your job's written requirement and you do not need a printed log.
Step 6: Wet the material and remove it
OSHA 1926.1101(g)(1)(ii) requires wet methods or wetting agents to control exposures during asbestos handling and removal. The EPA rule in 40 CFR 61.145 likewise calls for the material to be adequately wet while it is stripped. The crew wets the material, removes it in manageable pieces and puts it into leak-tight, labeled disposal bags or containers, as OSHA 1926.1101(g)(1)(iii) calls for prompt cleanup and disposal in leak-tight containers. Disposal follows the federal, state and local rules for the waste. The contractor arranges it with a permitted site.
Everyone inside wears respirators and protective clothing for the whole job. OSHA 1926.1101(h)(1) requires respirators during Class I work, and 1926.1101(i)(1) lists protective clothing such as coveralls or similar whole-body clothing, head coverings, gloves and foot coverings.
Step 7: HEPA vacuum and wet wipe
After the bulk is out, the crew vacuums every surface and wipes it down. OSHA 1926.1101(g)(1)(i) calls for vacuum cleaners equipped with HEPA filters to collect debris and dust containing asbestos-containing material. Our HEPA vacuum rules post and the what is a HEPA vacuum explainer cover that in detail, and you can shop the HEPA vacuums directly.
HEPA backpack vacuum
Sandia HEPA Raven 6-Quart Backpack Vacuum With 5 Pc. Standard Tool Kit - 70-4001
$511
A 6 quart, 9.5 lb backpack with a 5 piece tool kit for tight spaces and detail work.
Sandia's sell sheet rates the HEPA Raven 6-Quart, a corded backpack vacuum, at 150 CFM and 11.5 amps, with a 1.5 HP motor and 95 static lift. It weighs 9.5 lb, so a worker can carry it on their back while working overhead or on stairs. Neither our listing nor Sandia's sell sheet gives a HEPA efficiency figure, so get the filter rating in writing from Sandia before you use it on asbestos work.
Skip it if the job calls for a large floor-model HEPA vacuum with a bigger collection capacity; the Raven holds 6 quarts.
Step 8: Decon on every exit
For Class I jobs involving over 25 linear or 10 square feet of TSI or surfacing material, OSHA 1926.1101(j)(1)(i) calls for a decontamination area that is adjacent and connected to the regulated area, with an equipment room, shower area and clean room in series. Employees enter and exit the regulated area through it on every shift, not only at the end.
Under OSHA 1926.1101(j)(1)(iii), workers clear gross debris off their protective clothing before they leave the regulated area, take that clothing off in the equipment room and put it in labeled impermeable bags, keep their respirators on there, shower and only then enter the clean room to change into street clothes. A portable shower fills the middle space on jobs without a built-in one. Our decontamination showers post goes through the layouts, and the decontamination showers collection lists what we carry.
Collapsible decon shower
Aerospace America 9105 Collapsible Decontamination Shower
$987
Hot and cold hose hookups, a hand-held spray wand and a 27 gallon gray water tank.
The Aerospace America 9105 is 83 inches tall and 31 x 31 inches when set up, and collapses to 48 inches for transport. It is built of aircraft aluminum, weighs 100 lb and connects to hot and cold water with standard garden hoses at the back. Its gray water tank holds 27 gallons and it uses a 100 micron sock filter. Aerospace America lists the 9115 two-stage pump for emptying it. How the wastewater must be handled is set by the rules where you work, so confirm that before the shower runs.
Skip it if you only need an equipment room or a clean room; the shower is the middle piece, not the whole decon unit.
Step 9: Inspect and clear
When the work is done the area gets a visual inspection and air sampling before the enclosure comes down. OSHA 1926.1101 does not set a final clearance test. For schools, the EPA rule in 40 CFR 763.90(i) calls for a visual inspection of each space when the work ends, then air samples taken with aggressive sampling. By TEM, five samples from inside are compared with five taken outside at the same time, and the field blanks must be below a filter background level of 70 structures per square millimeter. On other buildings, the state rules and the project specification set the method and the pass level. The person who tests is usually separate from the crew that removed the material.
Asbestos abatement equipment by job
Here is the core asbestos abatement equipment by job, with prices from our catalog. Respirators, protective clothing, poly sheeting and leak-tight disposal bags are needed on every job too.
| Job | Equipment | Price | Key listed spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negative air | Abatement Technologies HEPA-AIRE H2KM (see negative air machines) | $1,070 | 2,000 CFM high, 1,300 CFM low, 15 A |
| Negative air | Novatek Novair 2000 | from $1,325 | 2 hp, 12 inch collar, 15 A |
| Pressure record | PressurePro M1 | $1,549 | +/-0.250 inches WC, prints logs |
| Decon | Aerospace America 9105 | $987 | 27 gal gray water tank |
| HEPA cleaning | Sandia HEPA Raven 6-Quart | $511 | 150 CFM, 11.5 A, 9.5 lb |
| Containment | 6 mil poly sheeting, tape, critical barriers | ||
| Wetting | Airless sprayer and wetting agent | ||
| Disposal | Leak-tight, labeled bags or containers | ||
| Protection | Respirators, disposable coveralls, gloves and foot covers | OSHA 1926.1101(h) and (i) call for these on Class I work |
Common mistakes
- Skipping the pressure record. A machine running is not proof of pressure.
- Exhausting inside the building or leaving ducting unsealed at the collar.
- Putting two big machines on one circuit. The H2KM lists a 15 amp circuit and the Novair a dedicated 15 amp circuit, so give each machine its own.
- Treating a dry sweep or a standard shop vacuum as cleanup. The rule is HEPA-filtered vacuums.
- Assuming rules match across states. Check your own.
For other containment work, see what ICRA is and what an air scrubber is.
Frequently asked questions
Can asbestos be 100% removed?
Removal aims to take out all the material in the work area. Clearance then shows the air meets a pass level. It does not prove zero fibers. For schools, the EPA rule in 40 CFR 763.90(i) sets the test (a visual inspection, then aggressive air sampling analyzed by a lab). Elsewhere the state rules and the project specification set it. Material that is encapsulated or enclosed instead of removed stays in the building and is managed in place.
Can I stay in my house during asbestos abatement?
The regulated area is off limits to everyone but the crew. Whether the rest of the house is usable depends on the contractor's plan, so ask for it in writing before the work starts.
Can I remove asbestos myself?
Our advice is no. Leave suspect material alone and hire a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. Removal needs the regulated area, sealed enclosure, negative air, respirators, decon and clearance testing described above. Whether a homeowner may legally do any of the work is set by state and local rules, so ask your state environmental agency before anyone disturbs it.
How soon after asbestos exposure do you get sick?
We cannot give medical advice. If you think you were exposed, talk to a doctor and read what the EPA says on its asbestos pages.
What equipment is required for asbestos abatement?
OSHA 1926.1101 names regulated areas, HEPA-filtered vacuums, wet methods, leak-tight waste containers, respirators and protective clothing. For negative pressure enclosures it adds at least 4 air changes per hour and a -0.02 inch differential, and larger Class I jobs need a decon area in series. The specific machines are the contractor's choice.
What is the 3-5-7 rule for asbestos sampling?
It comes from the EPA schools rule, 40 CFR 763.86(a). An accredited inspector collects at least three bulk samples from each homogeneous area of friable surfacing material of 1,000 square feet or less, five from areas over 1,000 and up to 5,000 square feet, and seven from areas over 5,000 square feet. Outside schools, ask the inspector which sampling rule applies.
How long does asbestos abatement take?
It depends on how much material there is, the enclosure the job needs and how fast the clearance results come back. Ask the contractor for a written schedule that shows setup, removal, cleaning and clearance.
What happens if you remove asbestos tiles yourself?
Breaking, scraping or sanding tiles or their mastic can release fibers into the house, and the cleanup may then need a contractor anyway. Under OSHA, floor tile and sheeting removal is Class II asbestos work, so hire a licensed contractor and check your state's rules first.
Equip the containment
