Classes of Asbestos Work

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (VDOLI) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) use a four class system for ACM. For more informaiton, refer to VDOLI's Asbestos Fact Sheet.

No Asbestos

If there is no asbestos in the building or the materials involved in the renovation or demolition activities, there are no OSHA/VOSH asbestos requirements, but you must properly notify authorities for demolition projects in accordance with NESHAP.

Class I (Regulated Area)

Activities involving the removal of thermal surfacing insulation (TSI) and surfacing ACM or PACM. Class I requirements in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.1101 include:

• Work must be performed by a licensed Asbestos Abatement Contractor.
• Project notification is required if the project is greater than or equal to 10 linear or square feet.
• An Asbestos Competent Person is required..
• Asbestos Workers are required.
• Work site must be regulated (i.e. access restricted).
• Personal air monitoring or a Negative Exposure Assessment (NEA) is required.
• Wet methods
• Decontamination unit
• *Respiratory protection
• **Medical Surveillance
• ***Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Waste disposal (sealed, impermeable bags/containers).
• Engineering controls for partial interior demolition and pre-building demolotion interior removals (isolation/containment per 29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(4) and (5)).
• Engineering controls for demolition of building where ACM remains (see 29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(6)).
• NESHAP requirements apply.

Class II (Regulated Area)

Activities involving the removal of ACM which is not TSI or surfacing material. This includes, but is not limited to, the removal of asbestos-containing wallboard, floor tile and sheeting, roofing and siding shingles, and construction mastics.

One Non-Intact Class II ACM (i.e. roofing, flooring, siding, or transite materials)

• Work must be performed by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor, if friable.
• Project notification is required if the project is is friable and greater than or equal to 10 linear or square feet.
• An Asbestos Competent Person is required..
• Asbestos Workers are required.
• Work site must be regulated (i.e. access restricted).
• Personal air monitoring or a Negative Exposure Assessment (NEA) is required.
• Wet methods
• Decontamination unit (drop cloth and HEPA vacuum) if no NEA.
• *Respiratory protection
• **Medical Surveillance
• ***Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Waste disposal (sealed, impermeable bags/containers).
• Engineering controls for partial interior demolition and pre-building demolotion interior removals (isolation/containment per 29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(7) and (8)(i)-(v)).
• Engineering controls for demolition of building where ACM remains (see 29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(8) (vi)).
• NESHAP requirements apply.

More than 1 Non-Intact Class II ACM (i.e. roofing, flooring, siding, transite materials ro ceiling tiles)

• Work must be performed by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor, if friable.
• Project notification is required if the project is is friable and greater than or equal to 10 linear or square feet.
• An Asbestos Competent Person is required..
• Asbestos Workers are required on friable projects. Workers must be 8 our initially trained and anual refresher training on non-friable projects.
• Work site must be regulated (i.e. access restricted).
• Personal air monitoring or a Negative Exposure Assessment (NEA) is required.
• Wet methods
• Decontamination unit (drop cloth and HEPA vacuum) if no NEA.
• *Respiratory protection
• **Medical Surveillance
• ***Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Waste disposal (sealed, impermeable bags/containers).
• Engineering controls for partial interior demolition and pre-building demolotion interior removals (isolation/containment per 29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(7) and (8)(i)-(v)).
• Engineering controls for demolition of building where ACM remains (see 29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(8) (vi)).
• NESHAP requirements apply.

Class III (Regulated Area)

Activities involving the repair and maintenance operations where ACM, including TSI and surfacing ACM and PACM, is likely to be disturbed. Disturbance means activities that disrupt the matrix of, crumbles or pulverizes, or generates visible debris from ACM or PACM.

Class IV

Activities involving maintenance and custodial activities during which employees contact, but do not disturb ACM or PACM, and activities to clean up dust, waste and debris resulting from Class I, II, and III activities. In accordance with 29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(10), employees performing Class IV work must be trained.

Notes

*Respirators are mandatory if:

• Non-intact removal, or
• No NEA, or
• Exposure greater than the OSHA PEL, or
• Dry removal (except for intact roofing where NEA obtained), or
• In emergencies.

**Medical Surveillance is mandatory if:

• Wearing a negative pressure respiratory, or
• Exposed to greater than the OSHA PEL for more than 30 days of work per year, or
• Class I, II, or III work for 30 days or more per year.

***PPE

• Class I work greater than 25 feet or 10 square feet, or
• Less than 25 feet or 10 square feet and no NEA, or
• Exposure is greater than the OSHA PEL.

Warning Signs - Regulated Areas

In accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(4), warning signs shall be provided and displayed at each regulated area and at all approaches to regulated areas so that personnel may read the signs and take necessary protective steps before entering the area. After June 1, 2016, signs shall bear the following:

In addition to the verbage above, where the use of respirators and protective clothing is required in a regulated area, the warning signs shall include: WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING IN THIS AREA.

Signs may include the use of foreign languages, pictographs, and graphics to ensure personnel comprehension.

Signs shall be provided and displayed that meet OSHA requirements. As of June 1, 2016, signage should read: