How and When to Use the Information
Prior to all renovations, repairs, or demolitions that could impact materials that contain asbestos, an asbestos inspection must be conducted. A documented review of the information in this database is the first step in the inspection process. Printing copies of the necessary information from this directory can serve as a written documentation of the inspection. If the material that will be disturbed is not listed in this database, contact FOBS to request further sampling. Questions on health and safety and interpretation of results can be directed to EHS.
Scope of Sampling (what was sampled; what was not)
The scope of the project includes sampling of all accessible interior and exterior building materials; destructive testing that would cause significant physical or structural damage was not conducted. The information in this database contain only those materials that were actually sampled.
It is important to realize that some asbestos-containing materials could exist that have not been identified or sampled. Examples of materials that were not sampled include but are not limited to:
- Thermal system insulation within wall cavities
- Leveling compounds
- Ceramic tile setting compound and grout
- Joint expansion sealants
- Fire door and door frame insulation
- Gaskets, elevator brakes, and parts of other electrical and mechanical systems
If you will be impacting a material that is not found in this database, it must be considered a presumed asbestos containing material (PACM) and must undergo the proper testing prior to commencing work.
Interpreting the Results
Results will either be given a status of TESTED POSITIVE, TESTED NEGATIVE, or ABATED as well as the percentages of asbestos found, or listed as NAD (No Asbestos Detected). Materials with a status of TESTED NEGATIVE or ABATED indicate that there is no asbestos present, and scheduled work can continue as planned. Materials identified with a status of TESTED POSITIVE reflect the fact that asbestos has been detected or is presumed to be present, and coordination with the Hazardous Material Coordinator is required to proceed with scheduled work.
Those materials found to contain less than 1 percent (<1%) asbestos are not regulated by EPA or CT DPH, but are still a concern for OSHA, thus all applicable OSHA regulations must be followed. Contact EHS for guidance on the OSHA requirements.
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