Asbestos exposure is dangerous. To increase job-site and environmental safety, building owners and contractors performing renovation projects, including re-roofing, must comply with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) survey requirements. Failure to do so can result in significant financial penalties from the Clean Air Agency (up to $17,000/day of violation) without warnings issued. Property owners and contractors, it is your responsibility to take action to comply and avoid penalties (no exceptions).*
Examples of suspect materials in roofing products:
Prior to any renovations:
1. Check to see if a survey has been completed regardless of the age of the structure.
2. If none exists, a survey must be done to determine if asbestos is present. The survey must be conducted by an AHERA-certified building inspector. (Call Us! )
3. The survey summary must be posted and communicated with anyone on a construction site who may come in contact with asbestos materials.
4. Prior to any asbestos material removal, a notification and fee must be submitted to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency website: http://www.pscleanair.org/regulated/asbestos/default.aspx
5. Abatement must be performed by a certified asbestos contractor.*
Failure to comply with asbestos requirements may result in penalties. Before you start most renovation (or demolition) projects, you MUST meet these asbestos requirements: Ren.o.vate: altering a facility or part of a facility in any way (except demolition). Renovating? Check for asbestos before you start ASBESTOS Conduct an Asbestos Survey For almost all structures, an AHERA*-certified building inspector must perform the survey. The only exception is if this is a single-family, owner-occupied home, where owners may conduct their own survey for possible asbestos-containing materials (ACM). The ACM must either be removed prior to renovation or be left undisturbed. The results of the survey must either be posted at the work site or communicated in writing to anyone who may come into contact with the material. File a Notification If any friable (disintegrates when crushed by hand) ACM is going to be removed from the structure, you must file a notification and pay a fee to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at www.pscleanair.org/asbestos.
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Before you can legally start any demolition (or most renovation) projects, you MUST meet these asbestos requirements: ASBESTOS Conduct an Asbestos Survey
This survey must be conducted by an AHERA*-certified building inspector. You can search for them on the web or in phone books under “Asbestos Consulting and Testing”.
The results of the survey must either be posted at the work site or communicated in writing to anyone who may come into contact with the material.
File a Notification You must file a completed notification and pay a fee to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at www.pscleanair.org/asbestos before you begin demolition.
Properly Remove Asbestos All asbestos-containing materials must be removed from the structure by an asbestos contractor prior to demolition.
For More Information Contact the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at www.pscleanair.org/asbestos or call 206-689-4058.
SECTION 4.02 ASBESTOS SURVEY REQUIREMENTS Adopted 06/08/95 (818) (a)
Requirements for Renovations It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or allow a renovation unless the property owner or the owner's agent determines whether there are suspect 07/11 4-3 Regulation III asbestos-containing materials in the work area and obtains an asbestos survey of any suspect asbestos-containing materials by an AHERA building inspector. An AHERA building inspector is not required for asbestos surveys associated with the renovation of an owner occupied, single-family residence. (1) If there are no suspect materials in the work area, this determination shall either be posted at the work site or communicated in writing to all contractors involved in the renovation. (2) It is not required that an AHERA building inspector evaluate any material presumed to be asbestos-containing material. (3) Except for renovations of an owner occupied, single-family residence, only an AHERA building inspector may determine that a suspect material does not contain asbestos. (4) A summary of the results of the asbestos survey shall either be posted by the property owner or the owner's agent at the work site or communicated in writing to all persons who may come into contact with the material. (b) Requirements for Demolitions It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or allow any demolition unless the property owner or the owner's agent obtains an asbestos survey by an AHERA building inspector of the structure to be demolished. (1) It is not required that an AHERA building inspector evaluate any material presumed to be asbestos-containing material. (2) Only an AHERA building inspector may determine that a suspect material does not contain asbestos. (3) A summary of the results of the asbestos survey shall either be posted by the property owner or the owner's agent at the work site or communicated in writing to all persons who may come into contact with the material.
SECTION 4.03 ASBESTOS NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS Adopted 06/08/95 (818) Revised 09/12/96 (839), 07/13/00 (918), 05/23/02 (971), 05/22/03 (996), 12/16/04 (1037), 06/22/06 (1068), 03/22/07 (1090), 05/22/08 (1120), 03/26/09 (1148), 05/26/11 (1211) (a) General Requirements It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or allow any work on an asbestos project or demolition unless a complete notification, including the appropriate nonrefundable fee and any additional information requested by the Control Officer, has been submitted to the Agency in accordance with the waiting period and fee requirements in Section 4.03(d) of this regulation. Except for the annual notification requirements in Section 4.03(a)(7) of this regulation, the notification must be submitted on approved forms through the Agency website. (1) The duration of an asbestos project shall be commensurate with the amount of work involved. 07/11 4-4 Regulation III (2) Notification is not required for asbestos projects involving less than 10 linear feet of friable, asbestos-containing material on pipes and/or 48 square feet of friable, asbestos-containing material on other components (per structure, building, or vessel, per calendar year). (3) Notification is not required for removal and disposal of nonfriable, asbestos-containing material. (4) Notification is required for all demolitions involving structures with a projected roof area greater than 120 square feet, even if no asbestos-containing material is present. (5) All demolitions require a 10-day waiting period unless waived under Section 4.03(c)(1) of this regulation. (6) A printout of the notification, all amendments to the notification, and the asbestos survey shall be available for inspection at all times at the asbestos project or demolition site. (7) Annual Notification A property owner may file one annual notification for asbestos projects to be conducted on one or more structures, vessels, or buildings during each calendar year if all of the following conditions are met: (A) The annual notification shall be filed with the Agency before commencing work on any asbestos project included in an annual notification; (B) The total amount of asbestos-containing material for all asbestos projects from each structure, vessel, or building in a calendar year under this section is less than 260 linear feet on pipes and/or less than 160 square feet on other components; and (C) The property owner submits quarterly written reports to the Control Officer on Agency-approved forms within 15 days after the end of each calendar quarter. (b) Amendments (1) An amendment shall be submitted to the Control Officer in a notification through the Agency website for the following changes and shall be accompanied by the appropriate nonrefundable fee as set forth in Section 4.03(d) of this regulation: (A) Changes between asbestos and demolition project types; (B) Increases in the job size category that increase the fee; (C) Changes in the start date; or (D) Changes in the completion date. (2) Amendments may not be used to add or change project site addresses listed on a previously submitted notification. 07/11 4-5 Regulation III (c) Emergencies (1) The waiting period may be waived if an asbestos project or demolition must be conducted immediately because of any of the following: (A) There was a sudden, unexpected event that resulted in a public health or safety hazard; (B) The project must proceed immediately to protect equipment, ensure continuous vital utilities, or minimize property damage; (C) Asbestos-containing materials were encountered that were not identified during the asbestos survey; or (D) The project must proceed to avoid imposing an unreasonable burden. (2) The waiting period and fees may be waived for disposal of abandoned, (without the knowledge or consent of the property owner) friable, asbestos-containing material by written approval of the Control Officer. (d) Waiting Period and Fees Project Waiting Period Asbestos Fee Demolition Fee Single-Family Residence: Asbestos Project prior written notification $25 Demolition (with or without asbestos project) 10 days $0 $65 Other than Single-Family Residence: less than 10 linear ft and/or less than 48 square ft 10 days for demolition $0 $65 10 - 259 linear ft and/or 48 - 159 square ft prior written notification for asbestos $65 10 days for demolition $65 260 - 999 linear ft and/or 160 - 4,999 square ft 10 days $210 $65 1,000+ linear ft and/or 5,000+ square ft 10 days $640 $85 Emergency – 4.03(c)* prior written notification applicable fees + $40 Amendment – 4.03(b) prior written notification applicable fees + $20 Annual Notice of Intent – 4.03(a)(7) prior written notification $1,000 *Single-family residences are exempt from the emergency fee