NV Asbestos Abatement cheat sheet

Classification A-23 covers the removal, encapsulation, or enclosure of asbestos-containing material (ACM) as a specialty contractor classification under NRS 624; it is not a general building or general engineering classification.

The scope includes removal of asbestos-containing thermal system insulation, surfacing material (sprayed-on or troweled), and miscellaneous ACM such as floor tile, mastic, roofing, and cement products.

Regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) is material with more than 1% asbestos by weight, determined by polarized light microscopy (PLM) per the applicable analysis method; removal of RACM triggers full abatement work-practice requirements.

Friable ACM is material that can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry; non-friable ACM can become friable through cutting, sanding, grinding, or demolition.

A regulated abatement work area requires a negative-pressure enclosure: critical barriers at openings, plastic sheeting on surfaces, and HEPA-filtered negative air machines maintaining pressure differential relative to adjacent spaces.

Personal protective equipment for Class I removal work includes a full-face or half-mask respirator with HEPA cartridges at minimum, disposable coveralls, and boot covers; employees must be fit-tested and medically cleared.

Decontamination requires a three-stage unit (equipment room, shower, clean room) with the dirty-to-clean flow direction; workers exit through the shower before entering the clean room.

Waste handling: ACM must be wetted, bagged in labeled leak-tight containers (typically 6-mil or thicker), and sealed; containers are labeled with the OSHA/NIOSH warning and transported to an approved disposal site.

Clearance requires visual inspection of the work area and air sampling (aggressive or non-aggressive PCM sampling, depending on the protocol) before the containment is dismantled and reoccupancy is allowed.

The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) issues licenses; a person may not bid, offer to bid, or perform work on a construction project in Nevada without a valid license in the appropriate classification.

An applicant must have at least four years of experience in the classification applied for within the preceding ten years, verifiable through employer statements or equivalent documentation.

A qualifying party (the person who takes the trade and law exams and holds the license's qualifications) must be identified; for an individual license the qualifier is the licensee, and for a business entity the qualifier must be an owner, officer, or employee with authority.

The applicant must pass the Nevada contractor law and business management exam and the trade exam for Classification A-23 (asbestos abatement).

A financial statement prepared by a certified public accountant is required; the license monetary limit (bid limit) is set based on the applicant's net worth and working capital.

The application requires fingerprints and a background check through the Nevada Department of Public Safety and FBI; disqualifying offenses may bar licensure.

The license application must include proof of workers' compensation coverage (or a valid exemption) and a surety bond or cash deposit in the amount required by the Board.

Licenses are renewed every two years; continuing education and updated financial statements may be required at renewal, and the license number must appear on all contracts and advertising.

NRS 624.700 makes it unlawful to act as a contractor without a license; violations are subject to administrative fines and criminal penalties, and contracts entered into by an unlicensed contractor are generally unenforceable by the contractor.

NRS 624.3016 lists grounds for disciplinary action, including abandonment of a project, failure to comply with building codes, and diversion of construction funds.

NAC 624 sets the classification definitions (including A-23), the examination and experience requirements, and the bonding and financial requirements referenced by NRS 624.

A contractor must include the license number in all advertising and on all contracts, bids, and proposals, per NRS 624. and NAC 624 requirements.

The Board may require a contractor to complete a project, correct defective work, or pay restitution to an injured party as part of a disciplinary order under NRS 624.

Written contracts must include the scope of work, the total price, the schedule, and the license number; changes must be documented in writing and signed by the parties.

A contractor must maintain records of the project, including contracts, change orders, and payroll, for the period required by the Board, and make them available on request during an investigation.

Failure to comply with an order of the Board can result in license suspension or revocation, and the Board may impose civil penalties for each violation.

Nevada requires a surety bond or cash deposit as a condition of licensure; the bond amount is set by the Board based on the license monetary limit and can be increased for cause.

The license monetary limit is the maximum contract value the contractor may bid or contract for; it is derived from the applicant's net worth and working capital as shown on the CPA-prepared financial statement.

The contractor must maintain the financial responsibility that supported the license; material deterioration of net worth may require a reduction of the monetary limit or a Board inquiry.

Construction funds received from an owner are trust funds under NRS 624; diversion of those funds to other projects or personal use is grounds for discipline and may constitute a crime.

A contractor must carry workers' compensation insurance for employees and general liability insurance; certificates of insurance must be maintained and produced on request.

The contractor is responsible for the acts of its employees and subcontractors on the job; subcontractors must be properly licensed, and the prime contractor must verify licensure.

A written contract must state the license number, the scope, the price, and the payment schedule; a down payment may not exceed the limits set by the Board for residential work.

A contractor must respond to Board inquiries and complaints within the time specified; failure to respond or to comply with a disciplinary order is itself a violation.