I wish I had money for every time someone got mad at me when I told them they could have asbestos in a home or other building. "This place is too new", "12 inch floor tiles never have asbestos", "This is gypsum not plaster - it can't have it". One contractor argued for 45 minutes until I was able pull up information on my phone to show him.
The Federal ban on asbestos was not across the board even though the term 'ban' certainly implies it! In general, the ban was on new uses of asbestos, while those materials that historically contained asbestos were permitted to be used (with the exception of certain paper products, thermal system insulation, and spray-applied materials, etc.). From the EPA website, the following is a partial list of asbestos-containing materials that were not banned:
-Cement corrugated sheet
-Cement flat sheet
-Pipeline wrap
-Roofing felt
-Vinyl floor tile
-Cement shingle
-Millboard
-Cement pipe
--Gaskets
-Non-roofing coatings
-Roof coatings
Perhaps this the reason that the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) states that an asbestos survey is required prior to demolition or renovation of most structures, NO MATTER WHAT THE AGE OF THE BUILDING.
When it comes to asbestos, it is best to not make assumptions based on age or appearances. Hire a licensed Asbestos Inspector to conduct a survey prior to renovations or demolition.
The Federal ban on asbestos was not across the board even though the term 'ban' certainly implies it! In general, the ban was on new uses of asbestos, while those materials that historically contained asbestos were permitted to be used (with the exception of certain paper products, thermal system insulation, and spray-applied materials, etc.). From the EPA website, the following is a partial list of asbestos-containing materials that were not banned:
-Cement corrugated sheet
-Cement flat sheet
-Pipeline wrap
-Roofing felt
-Vinyl floor tile
-Cement shingle
-Millboard
-Cement pipe
--Gaskets
-Non-roofing coatings
-Roof coatings
Perhaps this the reason that the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) states that an asbestos survey is required prior to demolition or renovation of most structures, NO MATTER WHAT THE AGE OF THE BUILDING.
When it comes to asbestos, it is best to not make assumptions based on age or appearances. Hire a licensed Asbestos Inspector to conduct a survey prior to renovations or demolition.
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