Emission Control and Work Practices
What the exam tests
This domain tests engineering controls, wet methods, enclosure integrity, and cleanup for abatement.
Core rules and concepts
- No visible emissions to the outside air from abatement, demolition, or waste handling.
- Use wet methods and amended water (water with a surfactant) to suppress dust; keep ACM wet until packaged.
- For friable removal, use a negative-pressure enclosure with HEPA filtration, critical barriers, and a decontamination unit.
- Glove bags are acceptable for small pipe fittings; wrap-and-cut is used for large diameter pipe or components that cannot be disassembled.
- HEPA vacuums are required for cleanup; dry sweeping, compressed air, and ordinary shop vacuums are prohibited.
- Waste is bagged or wrapped in leak-tight containers, labeled, and removed from the work area without visible dust.
- Clearance may include visual inspection and air sampling; the project is not complete until the enclosure is clean.
Worked example
A crew removes 40 linear feet of friable pipe insulation inside a mechanical room. They build a critical barrier, establish negative pressure with a HEPA unit, wet the insulation with amended water, cut it in sections, and place it in 6-mil bags. They HEPA-vacuum the area and conduct a visual clearance. If visible debris remains, they reclean; they do not release the enclosure.
Traps
Do not use water alone as a substitute for amended water; do not rely on a negative-pressure machine without HEPA; do not dry-sweep at the end of the shift. Do not confuse no visible emissions with no air-sampling exceedance.