Document 91965OL8Z5OY0M1XEgRb8b5YV

FILE NAME: Flooring (FLR) DATE: 1984 DOC#: FLR021 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: EPA Report - Asbestos-in-Buildings Technical Bulletin with BC Note 'fbju b*v*i*-' /^"S- '&4u0s$^_ Jcu fJizJL u _ r r - 3< Aflaney ` WMhlnflton, D.C. - __________ TS-798 , ________`198 - 2 Asbestos-in-Buildings Technical Bulletin INTRODUCTION Topic: ,* * * s s, , USE Of ASBESTOS-CONTAINING FRIABLE MATERIALS AND VINYL-ASBESTOS R O O T TILES IN.PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS. A national survey was carried out by BPA to determine the incidence of- asbestos-containing friable material (ACFM) in public and commercial buildings other than schools. (Friable materials are materials that can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder in the hand.) The survey vas an effort to deal with the broad problem of public exposure to ACFM. .Previous estimate*! of the number of buildings that contain asbestos, ranged, from 5 to 45 percent with an unknown degree of accuracy, No valid national estimates existed and. this.wide range did nbt satisfy the Agency's information needs. Consequently, a national survey wae undertaken to produce more precise and statistically valid estimates with a known degree of accuracy that can be used to support the Office of Toxic Substances' technical assistance and regulatory programs. The study alio gathered data on.th incidence Of vinyl-asbestos floor tiles, in the buildings surveyed since no data on this incidence were' previously available. BOW THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED Public and commercial structures include government buildings, apartments. Office buildings, hospitals., restaurants, and all types of wholesale and retail establishments. In general, they are buildings which are either accessible to the public, or, as a group, are occupied by many people. Altogether, public and commercial buildings in the O.S. number more than four million. For purposes of th survey, three categories of structures were sampled to represent the following buildings; federally owned or leased (excluding the military}, private residential (apartment buildings with 10 or more unite), and private nonrsidential (retail and some wholesale establishments and office buildings), it was not practical to include all categories because qf inadequate building liBts for sampling, or because of the infrequent use or low occupancy of Others. The buildings represented in the survey are estimated to be 3.6., 2 . All Sulk Materials Vere Sampled Rigorous Quality Assurance Program SUMMARY . OF RESULTS miliioxti. !ThCj<'`statistical desimi of t h e s u r v e y ensured that svi^vey resultB cculfl be re liply projected to the ..entire.population of buildings.}. SA. inspected 231 buildings. Of these, roughly eh.rfourth were federal building a, one**fourth were pri\ t ^`residential structures, ahd one-half were jfcivgjt'e. nohrsidential buildings. Ten diffrent Bitesit cities or groups of counties) aeros s. this country w r included in th sample to ensure, geographic representativeness. Buildings of various]sizes^ ages, and constrctibn materials were also included in tfie sample design. ' Each, building', in the sample was !inspected for the prejsn of materiale that may Contain asbestos: friable sprayed ] or trowsled-n materia Lb , ceiling tile, pipe and boiler insulation, and floor tile. ! Over 1500 samples of suspect materials were collectai i ;and analyzed for asbestos. Thse included approximately 500 floor tile Samples i, 1 t ^ ,, The:inspection process was designed: to ensure uniformity of inspection for all buildings ;in the sample, and thoroughness within each building. Standard EPA protocol b were employed In the nabpiing of bulk materials to ensure the representati venosi i o f .samples of sprayedor trow Led- on materials and, *>her.e possible, ceiling tile. Convenience samples-were.tkken of pipe and boiler wrap, se ne ceiling tile, and floor files to avoid damaging or affecting th cosmetic appearance, of the are^. .laboratory analyses of ie bulk samples for. aebstoejfallowed the EPA pro to bjii for polarised light micxpsccpy. The laboratory anallyXie for asbestos in floor tiles required some developmental work to determine an effective sample preparation {method. A rijgrus quality assurance pr< was employed through 3it the'study. At all sti LqeB.of the analysis, workj- was reviewed for consistency -with established proejedur ^ for, data collection a: transmittal. In additioniHj laboratory analyses of] lulk materials were checked iy. randomly collecting de-by-Bide samples and analyzing them:in different'laboj atories. Routine quality control procedures vere jIso utilised in ach laboratory. The sucy:gy was designed to provide information on the number pj!i buildings with different, types of ACFM, the extent 03' A G F M .usage, and the decree tb which usage diffra imong different types of buildings. ' 4 , A Relationship Between Building Age and Type of ACPM. % -- Xt-ia iiDjijortent to keep inmintf that ;the..:.aebeetoe content of hullaing njateriala may. hot be a.gaqd>.engla indicator of fe*p9are .potential. A recent.SPA-.,Study..of.-aaheatoa in n urbici School ayatten {Al^rhorhcAabaatOB Level In School'BPA 560/5-03-003) ehoyed .no correlation between beato content of bulk material and level* of aabeatoa in the ~tir. Fo al^ijfleant differentealn thoverall upe of CFM Were found nong bbildihga of different conatruction techniques or nateriaia. (maionry, -wood frame or eteel beam). j Prior to I960 neat f tha.:iabeetoa-containing friable nateriaia found were boiler n&'J.pipfe insulation materials. -After I960 moat o f t h a eabeatoa-contaning friable matrials were aprayedor traveled out6 ceilihge and ataci btamak This continued until 1973, when the EPA banned |.tfre uae f aprayed-an asbeitoe-eontaieirtg. friable .material for ail but* decorative use 'Theae materials were .ttjfcliy banned in 1978. REPORTS For copies of the survey report and re.la.ted.EPA aabeatoa document including guidance document, call (800) 424-9056]Or ifor technical- assistance call your EPA Regional]lAflbestoa Coordinator1 In the District of. Colubbiau cili 554-1404. m m $m ; ASBESTOS CONTINI '