National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Asbestos
- There are specific federal regulatory requirements that require the identification of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in many of the residential buildings that are being demolished or renovated by a municipality.
- There may also be state and local regulations that apply to the identification of such materials.
The NESHAP for asbestos apply to most demolition projects conducted by municipalities, counties and land banks.
The regulatory requirements were enacted to protect public health and welfare. They are good practices to follow, even if your demolition or renovation project that involves ACM in a residential building is not subject to the federal asbestos regulations.
Inspection
For demolitions that are subject to the asbestos NESHAP, the regulation requires a thorough inspection before demolition or renovation begins.
The residential structures, or the portion of the structures that will be demolished or renovated, must be thoroughly inspected for the presence of asbestos, including Category I and Category II non-friable ACM.
Information gathered during the thorough inspection allows the owner or operator to determine which requirements of the NESHAP for asbestos will apply to the demolition or renovation project. What we have provided here is only a brief summary of some of the requirements of the asbestos NESHAP.
Learn about requirements of the asbestos NESHAP
- Asbestos NESHAP
- Municipal Demolitions and the Asbestos NESHAP (June 2011) Presentation given during the 2011 National Asbestos Meeting
- State Demolition Information (including asbestos programs)
The asbestos NESHAP prohibits the reinstallation or installation of any insulating materials that contain commercial asbestos if the materials are either molded and friable or wet-applied and friable after drying. It is not recommended that other asbestos containing materials be reused.
Commercial Asbestos is defined in the regulations. It means any material containing asbestos that is extracted from ore and has value because of the asbestos content.
- Asbestos in Your Home (EPA 745F93006) 1993 – lists typical kinds of ACM found in residential structures
- How Can People Be Exposed to Asbestos?
- Early Warning Report: Use of Unapproved Asbestos Demolition Methods May Threaten Public Health (EPA Inspector General Report No. 12-P-0125) 2011
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