There are no safe levels of asbestos exposure according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the medical community. For this reason the State of Colorado, in compliance with EPA guidelines and regulations, has strict laws regarding the testing, removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM).
What is Asbestos? Why Is/Was It Used? Why Is It Dangerous?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral silicate that has been mined and used for manufacturing since the time of Ancient Greeks and Romans. The name asbestos comes from a Greek word meaning inextinguishable and it was/is widely used in many different products because of its fire-resistant properties. The fibers that make up asbestos are easily inhaled, and once in the lungs they cannot be absorbed or expelled by the body. Since the fibers are permanently stuck in the lungs, scar tissue builds up around them causing breathing difficulties. Inhalation also causes asbestosis, a chronic lung disease, and/or mesothelioma, a fatal cancer.
Multiple Agency Oversight
Because of the potential deadly health risks of exposure to asbestos fibers in the air, most forms of it for building materials and other products were banned around the globe and the United States.
However, the complete ban on ACM was over-turned by the Supreme Court in the 1990s allowing for building materials imported from other countries to used in the United States. Any homes or building built prior to the late 1980s most likely have asbestos in them, but even newly built properties could have it as well.
To protect the public from exposure, multiple federal and state government agencies oversee the testing, analysis, abatement (removal) and disposal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in Denver and the State of Colorado.
At the federal level the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established procedures and guidelines for all things concerning asbestos. It is up to the individual states to create and enforce laws, regulations and compliance requirements when it comes to asbestos in private and public buildings.
In Colorado, these agencies are primarily responsible for enforcing asbestos laws and regulations:
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
- Air Pollution and Control Division
- Hazardous Waste Management Division
- Occupational Safety And Hazards Administration (OSHA) which is also part of the Federal Department of Labor
- Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) which is also a part of the Federal Department of Transportation
Compliance For Asbestos Testing, Analysis and Abatement
Any homeowner or commercial property owner who intends to renovate, repair or demolish a private home or publicly accessed building must have the dwelling tested for asbestos containing materials (ACM) prior to any work commencing. This applies to all buildings, regardless of when they were constructed, with only very few exemptions.
Commercial Properties (any dwelling with public access)
Regulation 8, Part B is a 143-page document from the Colorado Air Quality Commission extensively detailing all the rules and regulations one must follow to be compliant with all asbestos safe practices in the state of Colorado.
It establishes “trigger levels” for residential and public buildings, the amount of work-site testing samples that must be collected, the guidelines and the requirements for air quality testing during any renovation or demolition and after completion of the work.
There are step-by-step guidelines for:
- Critical barriers or protective measures to be used during abatement work
- Decontamination rooms
- Storage rooms for the tools used and the ACM removed
- The proper packaging of those materials before they can be transported to an approved landfill
- The laws concerning final air quality testing after the abatement process has been completed
It is important to always remember that the regulations for testing and removal of asbestos containing materials are not just suggestions, but are required by law in Colorado. Failure to obtain the proper permits, use a state certified professional abatement company with a certified asbestos contractor to oversee all removal and testing can result in high fines, other severe penalties and even the risk of having the building work halted indefinitely.
Private Residence
A homeowner is exempt from having a certified asbestos contractor from performing the testing for asbestos. As long as the home is their primary residence (not a rental property) a homeowner can collect their own samples for testing and even remove ACM from the dwelling themselves.
However, all asbestos safety agencies strongly recommend that you DO NOT attempt to take asbestos samples or remove anything from your home that contains asbestos yourself. The health risks are just too great.
The sheer amount of safety precautions can be overwhelming for an individual not trained and certified by the state to work with asbestos. The layer upon layer of safety measures and precautions, testing and disposal requirements are in place because asbestos is such a deadly substance if it becomes friable (meaning that it is easily reduced to powder form and inhalable).
Because hiring a professional to package and transport any building materials with asbestos is required anyway homeowners should contact a Colorado Certified Abatement Company to oversee the testing to keep themselves, their family and their neighbors safe.
Asbestos in the home is not necessarily dangerous. If the building materials are in good condition the best course of action is to not disturb them in any way. However, if you see signs of wear like fraying floor tiles or insulation, crumbling or cracks in and around pipes and walls, then contact a company certified by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Asbestos Laws, Regulations and Compliance Saves Lives
Any exposure to asbestos fibers can be lethal. The State of Colorado has created a multi-layered system for the thorough testing, safe removal and disposal of any asbestos containing materials to protect the public. The fibers cannot be seen with the human eye, one cannot tell if it is present in any kind of material just by looking at it because it can only be identified with a special microscope.
Anyone considering renovations, repairs, or the destruction of any building of any age should always seek the services of a Colorado State Certified Abatement Company with a certified asbestos contractor. It is not worth the health risks, fines or penalties one could be exposed to by failing to adhere strictly to the laws and regulations created to ensure the public is protected from deadly asbestos fibers.