Asbestos Abatement Equipment: What's Required by OSHA

Asbestos abatement is one of the most regulated cleaning operations in construction. OSHA 1926.1101 sets specific equipment, training and procedural requirements that every contractor must meet. Cutting corners on equipment is the fastest way to lose a license, fail an air monitoring test or expose a worker to a fibre count above the permissible exposure limit. Here is the equipment list that meets the standard.

HEPA Negative Air Machine

The single most important piece of abatement equipment. A HEPA negative air machine draws air OUT of the contained work area, exhausts it through a HEPA filter and creates negative pressure that prevents fibre migration into clean areas.

Sizing is by ACH (air changes per hour). For asbestos work, OSHA expects 4 ACH minimum. A 1000 cubic foot containment needs a 67 CFM machine; most jobs use 500 to 2000 CFM units to give headroom for filter loading.

HEPA Vacuums

Regular vacuums recirculate fibres. HEPA vacuums with sealed systems capture 99.97 percent of particles down to 0.3 microns. Required for any cleanup of asbestos waste. Browse HEPA commercial vacuums rated for abatement.

Decontamination Unit (Decon)

A three stage decontamination unit is required for most Class I and II abatement work. The three rooms are:

1. Clean room (workers don clean PPE)
2. Shower compartment (workers wash off contamination)
3. Equipment / dirty room (contaminated PPE removed and bagged)

Browse mobile decontamination units.

Containment Materials

• 6 mil polyethylene sheeting (walls, ceiling)
• Spray glue and duct tape (sealing seams)
• Critical barriers at door openings
• Negative pressure tested before any disturbance

Worker PPE

• P100 respirator (full face for Class I, half mask acceptable for some Class II)
• Tyvek disposable suit with hood and booties
• Disposable gloves (taped to suit cuffs)
• Eye protection if half mask

Air Monitoring

Personal air pumps clipped to the worker's collar measure the breathing zone fibre count over the shift. Area pumps measure the work area concentration. All samples sent to a NIOSH 7400 method lab for fibre count.

Wetting Agents

Asbestos must be kept wet during removal to prevent fibre release. Amended water (water plus a surfactant) penetrates better than plain water. Garden style sprayers or commercial pump up sprayers apply the amended water before and during removal.

Waste Containment

• 6 mil double bagged disposal bags
• Lock top fibre drums for non bag waste
• Pre printed asbestos waste labels (legally required)
• Manifest paperwork from waste pickup

Documentation

Every abatement project requires:

• Notification filed with the state air pollution control office
• Worker training certificates (40 hour for supervisors, 32 for workers)
• Daily air monitoring data
• Waste manifests
• Final clearance air sample (must be below 0.01 fibres/cc)

Common Pitfalls

• Inadequate negative pressure (creates positive pressure leak path)
• HEPA filter not properly seated (bypass leakage)
• Wrong respirator (P100 is required, not N95)
• Skipping the air monitoring (no proof of compliance)
• Improper waste labelling (regulatory violation)

The equipment cost for a small abatement crew is 8,000 to 15,000 dollars in negative air machines, vacuums, decon and containment supplies. The ongoing cost is the disposable PPE, filters, sheeting and air monitoring fees. Done right, the work is profitable. Done wrong, it is a license suspension and a worker compensation claim away from ending the business.