Document EvGO7G8DKKZRkrbvq5MX1wmKR

FILE NAME: Flooring Defense Exhibits (FLDX) DATE: 1979 Aug DOC#: FLDX008 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo - Dept of the Navy RE Use of Asbestos-Containing Materials EXHIBIT 8476 \ DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY W A SH IN G TO N . D-.C. 20372 . . " ' in MCPkr h c fc h t o BU.MED-31422-AAS:lh 6260.4 .. AUG i 0 1579 . Prom:' To: Chief,Bureau of Medicine and Surgery ' Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22332 ' Use of Asbestos-containing Materials (a) COMNAVFACENGC0M ltr 0 4 6 l E / P R ^ 5100, of 29 May 1979 ]eference (a) requested a Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (3UM3!D) position on using construction materials which contain bonded or encapsulated asbestos fibers. BUMED continues to :I naint ain that highly-hazardous materials should be substituted ij^V ith less hazardous materials where feasible and where accepz- ? * v V a b l e substitutes are readily available. fcUMED considers asbestos or asbestos-containing materials lemselves are not hazardous except under conditions during numerous individual fibers are released into the envint as a result of cutting, grinding, or abraiding. Such tions occur-during "ripout" of asbestos thermal insulation rocessing friable asbestos products. These produces . in loosely-bound asbestos and crumble easily. Use of le asbestos products is inappropriate and should be pro-, except in situations where no acceptable substitutes The majority of building materials contain asbestos which ocked-in firmly in a cement binder. Under normal circumces, these materials are not hazardous unless the material ubjected to unusually severe conditions (abrasive sawing, pulverizing, etc.), or if they are used in a manner which is . con'rary to recommended work practices. To minimize potential risks, such construction materials (including cement pipe, shingles, wallboard, etc.) should be substituted :with a*sbestosfret' materials where suitable substitutes exist. Consideration shoWLic be given to factors inducing but not limited to durab lity, maintenance requirements, fire/heat resistance, and cos , to determine acceptability. 1 r BUK2D- 31 4 2 2 - M S :lh 6260.4 AUG 1 0 1S79 Use of Asbestos-containing Materials 4. Materials which contain asbestos encapsulated in a pliable or m .lleable organic binder (vinyl-asbestos floor tile or . asDh ^lt-asbestos roof tile) are n o t likely to release asbestos fibers even under the most severe conditions and consequently need not be substituted except where specifically directed. Materials that could conceivably be broken down to release fibers should be appropriately labelled. to: - (Codes CP-4}, OP-093) iAT VIRKLTHCEN W. P. ARENTZEN u? rv y'r~? lt+ iijfm tr. X* k