Asbestos
Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) provides regulations and guidance related to the removal and encapsulation of Asbestos material in ORCAA Regulations, Rule 6.3-Asbestos. Rule 6.3.1 specifies all definitions related to the Removal and Encapsulation of Asbestos Material. (The full listing of ORCAA Regulations can be found HERE)
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral fiber that has been used in more than 3,000 different construction materials and manufactured products. It is commonly found in heating system insulation, decorative spray-on ceilings, vinyl flooring, cement shake siding and a variety of other materials. Some asbestos-containing materials are still being installed.
The asbestos content of different materials varies according to the product and how it is used. Among those materials with higher concentrations of asbestos are insulating products on heating systems and the backing on sheet vinyl flooring. However, an uncontrolled disturbance of any asbestos-containing material in any concentration may be dangerous to your health!
Why is it a problem?
When disturbed, asbestos breaks down into fibers up to 1,200 times thinner than a human hair. When inhaled, they become trapped in lung tissues. Medical research tells us that up to 30 years after inhalation, asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a related terminal cancer of the tissue lining the chest cavity.
Because asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral and has been so widely used in manufactured products, including automobile brake linings, it can be found almost anywhere. Trace amounts are in the air we breathe every day. Most of us have asbestos fibers in our lungs.
On the other hand, there's no safe level of asbestos exposure. That's why medical, environmental health, and regulatory organizations stress the need to protect health by minimizing exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. This is particularly true when asbestos fibers accumulate at elevated levels. Elevated levels result from uncontrolled disturbances and removals of asbestos-containing materials.
How do I dispose of asbestos-containing waste?
Asbestos-containing waste must be disposed within 10 days of its removal at a disposal site authorized to accept asbestos waste. You will need to follow specific waste-tracking guidelines. This involves completing a waste authorization form/log that includes information about the approximate quantity of the disposal. Ask your nearest disposal facility for details.
What help can ORCAA provide?
We can help you with procedures that you should follow when taking on an asbestos project. These procedures are very important if your asbestos project is to be performed safely. Documents that describe how to safely and legally work with asbestos-containing products are be found below:
Cement and vinyl Siding
Vinyl Flooring
Popcorn Ceilings
To receive asbestos information from ORCAA, or to request permit forms, call (360) 586-1044 or (800) 422-5623, Ext. 110. Forms in PDF format are also available HERE.
NOTE:
All demolitions, or renovations involving a partial demolition, are subject to an ORCAA Notification of Demolition Permit regardless of whether or not asbestos is present. All demolition permits must be accompanied by a survey from a certified Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act (AHERA) Inspector. This survey is used to let ORCAA know whether or not the material being demolished has asbestos containing material (ACM) in it. An ORCAA demolition project includes the wrecking, dismantling, and/or removal of any load supporting structural member on any building, vessel, or structure, or the burning of a structure by an approved entity.