IL Asbestos Abatement flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Class I work

Removal of surfacing material, thermal system insulation, or asphalt and vinyl flooring that is ACM. It carries the highest exposure potential and requires the strictest controls.

Class II work

Removal of ACM that is not surfacing material, thermal system insulation, or flooring. Examples include gaskets and roofing, and work practices depend on friability.

Class III work

Repair and removal of small amounts of ACM during maintenance or custodial activity. It includes tasks such as replacing a valve gasket or patching pipe insulation.

Class IV work

Maintenance and custodial activity where ACM may be disturbed but is not removed. Examples include sweeping debris and cleaning up after abatement in a regulated area.

Friable ACM

Material that can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure. Friable material releases fibers readily and is subject to the strictest handling requirements.

Negative pressure enclosure

A containment held at approximately -0.02 inches of water column relative to adjacent spaces so air flows inward. It prevents fiber migration and must be monitored and documented.

Excursion limit

An OSHA limit of 1.0 fiber per cubic centimeter averaged over 30 minutes. It applies in addition to the 8-hour time-weighted average permissible exposure limit.

P100 filter

A particulate filter with 99.97 percent efficiency at 0.3 micron. It is used on air-purifying respirators and provides an assigned protection factor of 10 on a half mask.

NESHAP notice threshold

A written demolition or renovation notice is required when the project involves at least 260 linear feet, 160 square feet, or 35 cubic feet of regulated asbestos-containing material.

RACM

Regulated asbestos-containing material includes friable ACM and non-friable ACM that will be or has been crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by the planned work.

Regulated area signage

Warning signs must mark regulated areas and bear the DANGER legend with the asbestos caution text. Access is limited to authorized, trained, and medically cleared persons.

Waste manifest

A shipping document tracking ACM from the project to a permitted landfill. Signed disposal receipts are retained to prove proper disposal and support the closeout package.

Decontamination sequence

Workers exit through the equipment room, then the shower, then the clean room. Entry reverses the order, and showering is required before leaving the containment.

Clearance criteria

Visual inspection showing no visible debris, followed by air samples below the specified limit, commonly 0.01 f/cc by PCM. Work cannot resume until clearance is documented.

Daily project log

A record of date, work area, personnel, tasks, pressure readings, monitoring results, and deviations. It supports the closeout package and demonstrates compliance during the project.

Stop-work authority

The supervisor halts work when negative pressure is lost, containment is breached, or exposure limits are exceeded. The condition is corrected and documented before work resumes.

Respirator fit testing

Annual fit testing is required, plus testing whenever a new respirator model or size is issued. Records are kept and verified before a worker is assigned to abatement.

Abatement scope document

A specification stating ACM locations and quantities, work classification, containment type, abatement method, clearance standard, and monitoring responsibilities for each building component.

Critical-path sequencing

Notification and permits, containment and negative air, abatement, visual inspection, air sampling, clearance, then demolition or renovation. Clearance must precede demolition.

Third-party monitoring

Air monitoring and clearance sampling contracted independently from the abatement contractor. Separation avoids a conflict of interest and strengthens the credibility of results.

Closeout package

The project record containing waste manifests, disposal receipts, daily logs, monitoring results, clearance reports, and training and certification records for the completed abatement.

PCM fiber counting

Phase contrast microscopy counts fibers longer than 5 micrometers with a length-to-width ratio of at least 3:1. It reports f/cc but does not identify fiber type.

TEM with EDX

Transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis identifies asbestos fiber type and is used for clearance and for distinguishing asbestos from other fibers.

Sample volume formula

Volume in liters equals flow rate in liters per minute multiplied by sampling time in minutes. The result converts fiber counts to fibers per cubic centimeter.

Pump calibration

Pumps are calibrated with a primary standard before and after sampling, and the average of the two calibrations is used. Calibration data accompanies samples to the laboratory.

Aggressive sampling

Forced air from a fan or leaf blower suspends settled dust before clearance samples are collected. The specific method must match the contract or regulatory protocol.

Air changes per hour

The number of times enclosure air is replaced in one hour, used to size negative air machines. Typical abatement targets range from 4 to 12 air changes per hour.

Critical barrier

A sealed barrier at openings, penetrations, and HVAC or electrical systems that prevents fiber migration outside the containment. It is part of the project designer's containment plan.

Homogeneous area

A group of materials similar in appearance, age, and function that can be sampled as a unit. Sampling counts per area depend on material type and protocol.

PLM bulk analysis

Polarized light microscopy with dispersion staining identifies asbestos type and estimates percentage in bulk samples. It is the standard method for building material inspection.

Material condition rating

Inspectors rate ACM as good, damaged, or significantly damaged, and record accessibility and potential for disturbance. These ratings drive the hazard assessment.

O&M program

A management plan response action combining work practices, periodic surveillance, custodial training, and reinspection schedules to keep ACM in good condition in place.

Reinspection interval

ACM in good condition is typically reinspected every 12 months and damaged material every 6 months. Intervals are adjusted for building use and local requirements.