Section 855.460  Removal Procedures

The contractor shall remove ACBM in accordance with the following procedures:

a)         The work area shall be cleaned and isolated in accordance with Sections 855.400, 855.410, 855.420, 855.425, 855.430, 855.440 and 855.450.

b)         All ACBM shall be wetted with an amended water solution using equipment capable of providing a fine spray mist in order to reduce airborne fiber concentrations when the material is disturbed.  The material shall be saturated to the substrate; however, excessive water shall not be allowed to accumulate in the work area.  All removed material shall be kept wet enough to prevent fiber release until containerized for disposal.  A high humidity in the work area shall be maintained by misting or spraying to assist in fiber settling and to reduce airborne concentrations.

c)         Saturated ACBM shall be removed and containerized before moving to a new location for continuance of work.  Surrounding areas shall be periodically sprayed and maintained in a wet condition until visible material is cleaned up.

d)         Material removed from building structures or components shall not be dropped or thrown to the floor.  Material shall be removed as intact sections or components whenever possible and carefully lowered to the floor.  If this cannot be done for materials greater than 50 feet above the floor, a chute which does not allow dust to escape shall be constructed to transport the material to containers on the floor or the materials shall be containerized at elevated levels (e.g., on scaffolds) and carefully lowered to the ground by mechanical means.  Materials between 15 and 50 feet above the ground may be containerized at elevated levels or dropped onto inclined chutes for subsequent collection and containerization.

e)         Containers (six mil polyethylene or equivalent labeled bags or labeled drums) shall be sealed when full.  ACBM shall be double bagged when polyethylene bags are used for disposal.  Double bagging shall occur in the work area.  Bags shall not be overfilled.  The bags shall be sealed to prevent accidental opening and leakage by tying the tops in an overhand knot or by taping in gooseneck fashion.  Bags shall not be sealed with wire or cord.  Bags may be placed in drums for staging and transportation to the landfill.  Bags shall be decontaminated on exterior surfaces by wet cleaning before being placed in clean drums and sealed with locking ring tops.

f)         Large components shall be wrapped in two layers of six mil polyethylene or equivalent sheeting, secured with tape and labeled ACBM prior to transport to the landfill.

g)         Asbestos-containing waste materials with sharp-edged components (e.g., nails, screws, metal lath, tin sheeting, floor tile, and metal ceiling components) which may tear the polyethylene bags or sheeting shall be placed into drums for disposal.  In lieu of disposal drums, floor tile may be wrapped in two layers of reinforced plastic or one layer of burlap and two six mil labeled polyethylene or equivalent bags.

h)         After completion of  stripping of ACBM,  surfaces from which asbestos-containing building materials have been removed shall be cleaned (e.g., wet brushed and sponged) to remove all visible residue.