Asbestos article in Home magazine

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21

Originally Posted By: Caoimh?n P. Connell
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Hello Ryan:


I too am a compliance specialist, and to my knowledge, there are no federal certifications for asbestos inspectors of single dwelling homes. There are NESHAPS requirements (EPA, 40 CFR 61) for demolition and multiple dwelling complexes, AHERA regs (EPA, 40 CFR 763) for schools, OSHA General Industry and Construction (29 CFR 1910.1001 ? which lacks the necessary statutory authority for enforcement of some of it?s provisions where no employer/employee relationship exists), manufacturing, (EPA, 40 CFR 427), etc, but I am not aware of any federal regulations that require ?asbestos inspectors? of single dwelling units to be federally certified.

Also, I don?t believe that the federal rubric you cited (40 CFR 746) actually exists.

Just to give you some idea of who I am, I was one of Colorado?s first TSCA Title II and AHERA instructors; on the original Colorado Regulation 8 advisory committee, and I have logged in several thousands of hours as a compliance manager on hundreds of asbestos related projects in Colorado, Utah, Wymoing, California, New York, Germany, Mexico (and probably others) over the last 17 years.

I try very, very hard not to get involved with asbestos these days, and if there is a new federal regulation that requires certification for inspectors in single dwelling houses, please provide the rubric here.

Cheers,
Caoimh?n P. Connell
Forensic Industrial Hygienist
Forensic Applications, Inc.
http://members.aol.com/fiosrach/main.html


(The opinions expressed here are exclusively my personal pinions and do not necessarily reflect my professional opinion, opinion of my employer, my agency, peers, or professional affiliates. The above post is for information only and does not reflect professional advice and is not intended to supercede the professional advice of others.)

AMDG

22

Originally Posted By: rray
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As time permits, I have been looking for some sort of federal asbestos certification but have not found any so far.

–
Home inspections. . . .


One home at a time.


23

Originally Posted By: john stacy
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Can anyone give me some insight regarding the Transite Vent Pipe on a Water Heater? It is known to contain asbestos according to my inspector. I am asking the seller to replace the water heater stand and in doing so, does this disrupt the Transite Vent in any way… does it need to be removed. Should I have the pipe removed?..Is this something very serious to worry about? Thanks for any help… I appreciate any info or advice.


John

24

Originally Posted By: rray
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Johns-Manville Transite does, indeed, contain asbestos. It’s about the only thing that we, as home inspectors, can say with certainty and great definitiveness, that it does, indeed, contain asbestos.


However, it usually can stay in place providing that it is not deteriorated or disturbed. So make sure that a qualified plumber with experience working with such material at the water heater flue does the work. There in Chula Vista, a qualified plumber would be a licensed plumber, so request of the sellers that they used a California-licensed plumber.

--
Home inspections. . . .
One home at a time.

25

Originally Posted By: bkelly2
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Transite vent pipe may contain asbestos. As transite vent pipes are generally single wall they need to be 6" away from flamable material, also single wall vent pipes ar no longer allowed to pass throught attic spaces.


You may wish to have it replaced with double wall vent pipe.

--
"I used to be disgusted, Now I try to Be amused"-Elvis Costello

26

Originally Posted By: rray
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If you do enough Googling, you can find that Johns-Manville stated unequivocally that anything labeled “Transite” does, indeed, contain asbestos. That’s about as definitive as one can get–the manufacturer stating that a specific product contains asbestos.


Of course, consistency in written reporting demands that I state that "insulation on water heater flue might contain asbestos" since I didn't actually test it.

--
Home inspections. . . .
One home at a time.

27

Originally Posted By: bkelly2
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and your point is?

–
“I used to be disgusted, Now I try to Be amused”-Elvis Costello

28

Originally Posted By: rray
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That Johns-Mansville has stated that Transite has asbestos, but as a unlicensed home inspector (meaning, not a licensed asbestos testing laboratory or an asbestos abatement professional), I am unqualified to state that it has asbestos in it, manufacturer’s statement notwithstanding. I can state that the manufacturer has stated that its Transite product has asbestos, but that is only hearsay in a court of law. One would have to have a Johns-Mansville representative state so on the stand, or have an appropriate asbestos-testing laboratory or asbestos abatement professional state that it does. I’m not stating it, not under any circumstances. Well, not under any circumstances as an unlicensed home inspector. And remember that California has no licensing for home inspectors, so I’m just a peon relative to all these licensed professionals that California has. At least as an unlicensed professional I’m not in the same category as attorneys. icon_lol.gif

–
Home inspections. . . .


One home at a time.


29

Originally Posted By: whandley
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55 page PDF file listing all the specific cease distribution dates with regard to all types of asbestos bearing materials.


http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/ban.html

30

Originally Posted By: rray
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whandley wrote:
Existing inventories were allowed and are commonly found in structures through 1981, (including, but not limited to plaster, siding, roofing, flooring, ducting, venting and or cloth insulated wiring systems).

While that is correct, I can unequivocally state that asbestos ceilings (cottage cheese/popcorn ceilings) with asbestos in them have been confirmed in buildings built in 1985 and 1995. Yep, 1995. That's not a typo.

Either that or the two testing laboratories for the 1985 structure screwed me, and the three testing laboratories for the 1995 structure screwed me. ![icon_cry.gif](upload://r83gSGUzNOacIqpjVReDwcR83xZ.gif)

If I find cottage cheese or popcorn ceilings, I simply state that it "could" or "might" contain asbestos but that only an actual test by a qualified asbestos professional can say for sure.

--
Home inspections. . . .
One home at a time.

31

Originally Posted By: mcyr
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icon_smile.gif icon_smile.gif


Transit pipe does contain asbestos, I worked with it in the past.

This material is called a non-friable asbestos, and if left alone and not cut or sanded is harmless.

Hopefully it still gets identified and new buyers will be informed.

Marcel

32

Originally Posted By: Jay Moge
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Marcel. isn’t most consturction material made of asbestos “non-friable”. like the old siding, if left alone its fine. and fire pads, if left alone it’s fine. non friable asbestos is still asbestos just like the name implies right? i understand it’s not like it pipe wrap wich can fray and become airborn, but asbestos none the less. so is the same cautions necesary? icon_cool.gif

33

Originally Posted By: Caoimh?n P. Connell
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Good morning, Gents ?


The term ?friable? although rather subjective is primarily a regulatory term. In 1990, the US EPA revised the NESHAP regulations (40 CFR ?61 Subpart M) regarding nonfriable asbestos materials. Although the revision did not alter the applicability of friable and nonfriable asbestos-containing materials, nonfriables are now classified as either Category I or Category II material.

For all practical purposes, the term has little application to the homeowner, and unless the HI is a certified asbestos inspector, in my humble opinion, the differentiation has little application to the HI as well. This is because ?friability? is merely one factor in the exposure assessment process and a homeowner could easily receive higher doses from nonfriable material than from friable materials in various scenarios ? especially if they have been lulled into false security from an HI inspector?s comments: ?Don?t worry, that?s NONfriable asbestos??

Although I can?t speak to the issue of HI?s liability, I would suggest that wherever you find suspected material, you at least call it out as ?PACM? (presumed asbestos containing material.) Although it?s mostly true that if it?s in good shape and not subject to erosion, asbestos containing materials can be considered ?safe,? I would be cautious about handling ALL asbestos containing building materials and I would suggest the same degree of caution to my clients.

OK ?Asbestos Inspection Class 101:

Friable asbestos material means any material containing more than one percent asbestos (as determined using a specific analysis method), that, when dry, can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure.

Category I nonfriable means asbestos-containing packings, gaskets, resilient floor covering, and asphalt roofing products containing more than one percent asbestos as determined using the same method.

Category II nonfriable ACM means any material, except Category I nonfriable ACM, containing more than one percent asbestos as determined using the same methods that, when dry, can?t be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure.

Now? because I can?t resist stirring the pot a bit? Remember that not all ?asbestos? is asbestos, and even some forms of asbestos are not ?asbestos? according to the regulations? got that?

Cool.

BTW ? what?s the Official State Stone of California? You got it? Asbestos. (How completely ironic is that?)

Cheers,
Caoimh?n P. Connell
Forensic Industrial Hygienist
www.forensic-applications.com

(The opinions expressed here are exclusively my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect my professional opinion, opinion of my employer, agency, peers, or professional affiliates. The above post is for information only and does not reflect professional advice and is not intended to supercede the professional advice of others.)

AMDG

34

Originally Posted By: rray
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Caoimh?n P. Connell wrote:
BTW ? what?s the Official State Stone of California? You got it? Asbestos. (How completely ironic is that?)


Not true.

http://www.library.ca.gov/history/cahinsig.cfm

Perhaps you meant State Stone of Colorado, since that's where you are? I didn't bother looking up the state stone of Colorado, though, but I knew better about California.

--
Home inspections. . . .
One home at a time.

35

Originally Posted By: Caoimh?n P. Connell
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Mr. Ray…


But it is TRUE!

The link you provided states the following:
Quote:
California has a greater number of minerals and a wider variety of rock types than does any other state. Serpentine, a shiny, green and blue rock found throughout California, was named the official State Rock in 1965. It contains the state's principal deposits of chromite, magnesite, and cinnabar. California was the first state to designate a State Rock.?


Fibrous serpentine is a form of asbestos.

The Colorado State mineral is rhodochrosite and my Daughter?s High School class was the body which initiated the resolution which was signed by the Governor of Colorado just a couple of years ago. There is even a photo of the science class with the Gov! How historical!

Cheers,
Caoimh?n P. Connell
Forensic Industrial Hygienist

(The opinions expressed here are exclusively my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect my professional opinion, opinion of my employer, agency, peers, or professional affiliates. The above post is for information only and does not reflect professional advice and is not intended to supercede the professional advice of others.)

AMDG
36

Originally Posted By: Caoimh?n P. Connell
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


BTW…



Quote:
California has a greater number of minerals and a wider variety of rock types than does any other state.


What a bunch of Californicentric HOOWIE!

Cheers,
Caoimh?n
37

Originally Posted By: rray
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Quote:

Serpentine is a common and very widespread mineral, formed by magnesium hydrate silicate Mg3Si2O5(OH)4. Its names comes from the similarity between the green species and the skin of some snakes. It is crystalized in the monoclinic system and it presents in two different kinds: the antigorite, a massive specie, and the crisotilo, a fibrous one, both dark green or pale green coloured. The brightness of the first one is wax, while the fibrous'one is silky. Its hardness varies between 2-5, the density between 2.2 for crisotilo to 2.65 for antigorite. The Crisostilo is a raw material of amiantus, while the antigorite is often used as ornamental stone. The serpentino forms as result of alteration of other magnesium silicate minerals, such as olivin, anfiboli or piroxene. It is very widespread through all the Valmalenco without a specific area. Thanks to its compactness it is used as semi-precious stone.


And from http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/asbestos/

Quote:

Asbestos is a generic name given to six fibrous minerals that have been used in commercial products. The six types of asbestos are chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite asbestos, tremolite asbestos, and actinolite asbestos. Several properties that make asbestos so versatile and cost effective are high tensile strength, chemical and thermal stability, high flexibility, low electrical conductivity, and large surface area. The leading domestic markets are roofing products, gaskets, and friction products. Nearly all of the asbestos produced worldwide is chrysotile.


And check out http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/dietr1rv/serpentine.htm as well.

Nope. Serpentine and asbestos aren't related in any way.

--
Home inspections. . . .
One home at a time.

38

Originally Posted By: rray
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Caoimh?n P. Connell wrote:
Quote:
California has a greater number of minerals and a wider variety of rock types than does any other state.


What a bunch of Californicentric HOOWIE!


It's probably true with current knowledge, simply because California is the third largest state, varies from 250 feet or so below sea level to 14,000 feet above sea level, and is quite accessible for geological studies. Much of Alaska is not easily accessible and weather conditions aren't conducive for a lot of researhc, and my native Texas, while a big state, doesn't have much geological diversity in the overall scheme of things.

--
Home inspections. . . .
One home at a time.

39

Originally Posted By: mboyett
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Quote:
Serpentine is a common .....and the crisotilo, a fibrous one,

Quote:
Asbestos is a generic name given to....The six types of asbestos are chrysotile,

R?....different spellings but does looks like a connection to me. ![icon_wink.gif](upload://ssT9V5t45yjlgXqiFRXL04eXtqw.gif)

--
Mike Boyett
Capital City Inspections
Austin, Tx
www.capcityinspections.com
40

Originally Posted By: rray
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


No, Michael, they are not.

–
Home inspections. . . .


One home at a time.