Project Designer
The Project Designer domain tests the licensed professional who prepares abatement specifications and drawings. The designer translates inspection findings into a safe, buildable, code-compliant project-not a generic specification.
Core rules
- Base the design on the inspector’s report: material types, quantities, friability, condition, location, and access.
- Specify abatement methods, containment and critical barriers, negative pressure, decontamination units, HVAC isolation, electrical safety, and fire protection.
- Include air monitoring, visual inspection, clearance criteria, waste packaging, transport, and disposal requirements.
- Address occupied-building issues: scheduling, occupant relocation, emergency egress, and protection of adjacent areas.
- Prepare drawings and specifications detailed enough for contractors to bid uniformly and for the project manager to enforce.
Worked example
In an occupied school, damaged ceiling tile must be removed during a break. The designer compares removal during closure with enclosure, then specifies critical barriers, negative pressure, sealed HVAC, a three-stage decon unit, independent monitoring, and clearance before reoccupancy. The designer does not simply tell the contractor to “follow EPA rules.”
Traps that cost marks
- Writing performance language with no quantities, containment details, or clearance criteria.
- Designing from memory instead of the inspection report.
- Overlooking HVAC, electrical, structural, or egress impacts.
- Assuming the contractor will design the containment.
- Failing to include contingency work for concealed asbestos.