Is 1980 an appropriate end date for asbestos use?
In the construction industry, we use certain years as the end date in determining if a building was constructed with asbestos containing materials. In New York State, the Department of Labor, which regulates asbestos abatement, uses the year 1974. While the federal government, under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation 1926.1101 (k) (1), requires building owners, of buildings built no later than 1980, presume surfacing materials, thermal system insulation, roofing materials, and floor tiles contain asbestos.
Owners are required to handle these building materials as asbestos containing materials (ACM) until a certified asbestos inspector takes samples of the materials, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (EPA AHERA), and the samples verify the materials do not contain asbestos. However, are 1974/1980 appropriate dates to use in making a determination whether building materials can contain asbestos?
Customer comments
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as far as I know the asbestos used in UK buildings in the 1980's is compacted asbestos