Inspecting for ACM in buildings review answers and questions

What kind of material is asbestos? natural occurring mineral Fiber List at least four common varieties of asbestos and what colors are associated with each? Chrysotile White Amosite - Brown Crocidolite - Blue Tremolite - Violet, Pink, Off-white, orange (multi-color) Other-Tremolite, Anthophyllite, Actinolite Name several reasons that asbestos was used in building materials. Cheap, Durable, Acid Resistant, Fireproofing, Soundproofing, Strength, decorative What is the definition of "ACM" and "ACBM"? ACM-Asbestos Containing Material = Any material or product which contains more than 1% asbestos, i.e.: waste, brakes, outside or inside a facility ACBM-Asbestos Containing Building Material = (3 Category under AHERA) Thermals System Insulation (TSI), Surfacing, or Miscellaneous that is found in the interior of a School Facility Exception is covered walkways, porticos, HVAC that serves the inside of the building. What does the term "friable" mean? How does the EPA-NESHAP define friable ACM? Material that when dry, may be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure, NESHAP adds previously nonfriable material that becomes damaged by the actions placed upon the material What physical characteristic of asbestos allows the fibers to penetrate deep into the lung? Its small microscopic size and aerodynamics Name the four main diseases related to asbestos exposure. What level of exposure is usually associated with each disease? Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Plural Plaque's, and Lung Cancer Asbestosis is usually associated with long term/high level of exposure Mesothelioma can be associated with low level/short term exposure The other two diseases the dose response is unclear and may be determined by other conditions Discuss the body's natural defense against exposures? Nose hairs, mucous membrane, cilia, and white blood cells What habit could increase your risk of getting lung cancer if working with asbestos? How much greater risk is associated with the habit and working with asbestos? Smoke. 80 times What is the term from the time of exposure until first symptoms may appear of a disease. What is the time period usually associated with initial exposure until asbestos related diseases. The latency period covering all the diseases is up to 40 years. What are the training requirements for an AHERA Building Inspector per ASHARA? pass exam with at least a score of 70 or better, Recommended High School diploma or equivalent, yearly % day refresher attend an approved 3 day training course, What are North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee's requires to be an inspector? NC-3 months experience or work have a high school diploma or equivalent under the supervisor of another inspector, submit application. fee and 1 photos, and SC- Submit application, fee, photo, original certificate TN-3 months experience or work under the supervisor of another inspector, submit application, fee and have a high school diploma or equivalent Review and complete the inspection process. Review existing records perform a walk-through of work area/building identify homogenous areas record information bulk sample or assume HA's assess all friable materials submit samples for analysis and generate a report non-friable is always assessed as good condition complete chain of custodies and submit sample to an accredited laboratory compile information and write a report How should the inspector check for the friability of a material? Touch the material What are four types of potential legal liabilities that a building inspector may occur? Civil, Regulatory, Contractual, and Criminal Describe a few situations where an inspector may be liable for breach of contract. Not completing the inspection on time, or not sampling everything required of the contract What is "E & O" insurance? What is general liability insurance? Errors & Omissions covers mistakes in reporting or inspection General Liability - covers property damage What is the difference between "occurrence insurance and "claims made" insurance? Occurrence Insurance - pays after the life of the insurance policy Claims Made- pays only during the life of the insurance policy What are the basic building systems? Structural, Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical Make a list of suspect ACM that may be found on or in an HVAC system associated with a building. Boiler insulation, mastics, ductwork (inside and outside), dampening/vibration cloth, gaskets, hard cementitious board, insulation on pipe runs, wrap over fiberglass insulation, etc. What types of suspect ACM could be found in electrical systems? Wire wrap, arc shoots in breakers, insulation in the backing of light, cementitious board What are the four main types of water systems that can be found a plumbing system associated with the building ?which two systems or more suspect to contain ACM? Circulated (steam and chill) controlled ( humidity control) is usually insulated (drinking water) staic (sprinklers) is usually not insulated What is the difference between proprietary and non-proprietary specifications? Proprietary means that a specific brand was requested in the contract Non-Proprietary - mentions a product but not a specific maker or brand How can a building owner reduce the likelihood of future litigation if his property contains asbestos? Identify and label the material and provide training in accordance with OSHA What are the three principles for handling public relations? Bring it up early, tell the truth, and communicate with all effected parties How should an inspector handle questions from employees or other building occupants about their activities during the inspection? This should be determined by the building owner. The inspector should refer questions to a building owner contact. Ideally the building owner or the owner's representative would notify the occupants prior to the inspection. Which regulations require signs and/or notices concerning asbestos? OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101 (PACM or Known Materials) and AHERA 40 CFR 763.95 (routine maintenance areas) and NESHAP Part 61.150 (During loading and unloading) How would the type of building being inspect affect the inspector's pre-inspection planning activities? A school may require after hours or interior inspection only an industrial plant may require weekends during shut downs or during times that prevent production inconvenience the reason the building has been inspected will help determine the extent of the inspection How does the purpose of the inspection affect your sampling protocol? AHERA-Interior (with the exceptions), no destructive testing Renovation-targeted, limited, comprehensive (interior or exterior) Demolition-the same as above but with destructive testing (usually more comprehensive) What are the steps that should be taken when organizing the inspection? Identify the team members type of building and type of inspection determine information concerning occupants Possible pre-inspection meetings review previous inspection reports If there are any arranged through the building owner or the building owner representative the date and time to access location to be inspected ask who will provide ladders Lifts etc. and who has the keys Review difficult areas of the building that should be included in a comprehensive inspection. Crawlspace, air plenum, penthouse, attic, closets, roof, boiler room, elevator shafts, tunnels What are the three categories of materials the inspector must identify according to AHERA? Surfacing, Thermal System Insulation (TSI), and Miscellaneous (anything that does not fit into surfacing or TSI) How many assessment categories or in the EPA AHERA regulation and is referenced in SC-DHEC Rule? 1. Dor SD TSI 2. D friable surfacing 3. SD friable surfacing 4. D or SD friable miscellaneous 5. ACBM with potential for damage 6. ACBM with potential for SD 7. Any remaining friable ACBM or friable suspect ACBM Which team member performs the physical assessment? Which team member performs the hazard assessment? Inspector Management Planner What are the two main components of the physical assessment? Current Condition (friable or nonfriable) and Potential for Disturbance Which assessment method is required by the AHERA Rule? required by AHERA does not specify a particular method. The decision tree approach is often used. What is meant by "significantly damaged" and "damaged"? Are these definition part any regulation? Damaged - <10% evenly distributed or <25% localized Significantly Damaged - >10% evenly distributed or>25% localizedo No, it is only referenced in the EPA book What factors are used in determining the potential for disturbance of a suspect material? Vibration, Air Erosion, and Contact Define a "homogeneous area"? Area of same color and texture (Can use date of installation and use as a tool) Discuss sampling requirements for surfacing materials. 3 for less than or equal to 1000 ft.² 5 for greater than equal to 1000 to < 5000 Square feet seven for greater than equal to 5000 ft.² What is the minimum number of samples you should take per homogeneous area of thermal system insulation according to AHERA? 3 for boiler insulation and pipe runs 2 for T's and elbows 1 for less than or equal to six sq ft or In ft of patches Describe typical sampling procedures Don PPE, Regulate the work area lay a 6 mile poly drop cloth label area to be sampled numbers with the area extract sample place sample in labeled container patch sample area record sample information clean towels take next sample decontaminate The tour decontaminate yourself dispose or store PPE properly and remove the signage from the regulated area recommended counting your samples before you leave job site to see if the number of samples Numbers matches the sample sheet According to the AHERA Rule, bulk samples (i.e, at least two samples) must be taken from which types of materials? Miscellaneous materials What type of microscopy for bulk samples is required by AHERA and included in the NESHAPS definition of ACM? Miscellaneous materials Describe proper sample documentation procedures that should ensure that samples are not lost or improperly identified. Each bulk sample is to have its own unique identifying number. Each bulk sample must be recorded on a chain-of-custody At a minimum, what information is to be included on the laboratory report? Client number lab sample number analysts name results description of sample material date received date analyzed lab name labs QAQC name and type of analysis What is the maximum amount of time that can be elapsed after taking the last sample during schools inspection before the report is submitted to the school district or is designated representative 30 days