Virginia Law

A review should be made of all appropriate building construction documents (i.e., floor plans, blueprints, microfilm record, previous inspection records, asbestos abatement projects, etc.) to facilitate the identification of areas where asbestos may be present if available. A basic sketch of the representative floor plan showing any major detail must be prepared to identify bulk sample locations and general asbestos material location.

Any on-site inspections must be conducted by competent personnel who have the training to identify the presence of asbestos, and to assess, to the extent practicable, the relative hazard or hazards to health and safety posed at each location at which asbestos is suspected or identified. Each on-site survey shall include at least the following and be documented in a report to the owners.

1. Visual inspection. All accessible building areas and spaces shall be visually inspected, including but not limited to the following:

a. Rooms, hallways, and office;

b. Mechanical and electrical equipment room;

c. Pipe chase;

d. Basement;

e. Attic;

f. The space above ceilings, between walls, and below floor;

g. Steam tunnel;

h. Stairwell

i. Closets and storage area;

i. All occupied and unoccupied space; and

j. Crawl spaces, including soil as appropriate.

In addition, the location of all fire doors suspected of containing asbestos shall be identified and documented. These locations are to be designated on the building sketches and included in the inspection report.

Areas where access is impossible or prohibitive should be identified on the building sketches. In the plan a notation must be made as to why the areas could not be investigated. All materials in these areas are to be considered to contain asbestos and must be included in the plan. The area must be evaluated according to the requirements of these standards when the area becomes accessible but before occupation.

2. Bulk sampling. Representative bulk sampling of suspected asbestos-containing materials shall be conducted and submitted to a laboratory meeting the minimum requirements found in 1VAC30-20-70 of this chapter.

All sample areas shall be clearly marked and a permanent identification number corresponding to the respective samples and shall be identified on copies of the available construction drawings or the building sketches prepared by the inspector.

a. Representative samples of each distinct type of friable asbestos material as defined herein shall be collected to confirm its asbestos content unless it is assumed to contain asbestos. Distinction between types of material shall be based on at least the following criteria:

(1) Visual appearance, and size;

(2) Texture and hardness;

(3) Functional use, including but not limited to insulation, ceilings, walls, boilers, tanks, furnace, other mechanical equipment, ceiling pipes, pipe wrapping, elbow material, valve material, structural members, decks, beams, duct materials, fire doors or stage curtains; and.

(4) Information provided by documents, interviews, or any source as to prior renovation or patchwork.

b. The minimum number of samples to be taken for each distinct type of suspected asbestos material shall be as follows:

(1) Sprayed or troweled material. Three random samples for each visually or functionally different material or known different application for up to 1,000 sq. ft., five random samples from 1,000 to 5,000 sq. ft., seven random samples from 5,000 to 10,000 sq. ft., and for every 5,000 sq. ft. over 10,000 sq. ft. one additional random sample will be taken. This rule applies to homogeneous material on each floor only.

(2) Pipe and duct insulation. A minimum of one sample for every 150 linear feet of material of varying size or visual appearance per floor. Samples shall be taken where material is damaged or exposed where possible, to avoid breaching intact covering.

(3) Valve or fitting muds. Three samples of valve material or elbow mud for each insulated line of varying diameter or visual appearance per floor or area.

(4) Boilers, tanks, and furnaces. Three samples per unit if homogeneous.

(5) Patchwork. One sample of each patch or repair.

(6) Ceiling or acoustical tile. Three samples for each material of varying visible appearance per floor.

(7) Other friable materials. As determined as necessary by the inspector, but at least two samples per homogenous material per floor.

(8) If the friable materials is not sampled but assumed to contain asbestos, then the inspector must complete the hazard assessment using 100% asbestos as the asbestos content value.

(9) If the suspected asbestos-containing material is not friable as defined herein, a sample need not be taken. The location, type, and condition of the material shall be noted on the building layout documents or sketches provided by the inspector. The material shall be labeled according to the requirements of 1VAC30-20-100 for suspect material. These materials must be included in the specified schedule and plan and must be included in the Priority Level IV Response Action category.

c. Selection of sample location:

(1) For sprayed on or troweled on material, the EPA guidelines located on pages 15-27 in "Asbestos-Containing Materials in School Buildings. Guidance for Analytical Programs" shall be followed.

(2) For other types of uses, visually distinct materials will be sampled.

d. Bulk sample size:

(1) Samples shall be taken to penetrate all layers of the material. Samples should contain at least 15 cubic centimeters of material, and shall be placed in a container and sealed at the time of collection.

e. Sampling precautions. All precautions shall be taken to prevent exposure to those present in or around the facility during the collection of samples. The survey team is responsible for protecting occupants of the area and for patching the sampling area.

(1) All sampling shall be conducted when building occupants are not in the immediate area, and preference shall be given to time when the areas being sampled are not in use.

When it is not possible to collect samples during a time when the facility is not being used, advance arrangements shall be made to evacuate the immediate sampling areas for the time necessary to collect the samples. The building manager is responsible for insuring that evacuation takes place.

(2) Proper procedures and equipment shall be used during sampling to minimize fiber generation.

(3) Area protection and cleanup. Care should be taken to minimize fiber release; however, any visible debris or residue generated during the sampling shall be thoroughly removed by wet wiping the debris or HEPA vacuuming. An area at least four feet in each direction shall also be cleaned using the above methods.

(4) Locations from which samples are taken shall be patched as soon as the sampling has been completed by using methods and materials which are acceptable to the project manager and which are both structurally sound and aesthetically compatible. Each such location may be treated by low pressure application of an approved encapsulation.

(5) When samples are taken in areas where the material is in poor condition, care must be taken to prevent further deterioration or fiber release.

(6) The sample location will be adequately patched to prevent fiber release or deterioration by the inspector unless otherwise noted by the Building Manager in writing.