Asbestos Removal Laws in the State of Connecticut

Asbestos contains fine fibers that can be separated. According to the site Asbestos Abatement, the Connecticut Department of Health acknowledges asbestos as either being friable or non-friable. Friable asbestos is asbestos that can easily be pulverized with your hands; whereas non-friable asbestos is asbestos that cannot be pulverized with hand pressure. The removal of asbestos may be necessary since asbestos particles can become airborne and become dangerous to your health when inhaled.

Friable

• Asbestos containing material can become friable when that material has more than one percent asbestos and can be reduced to a powder. When asbestos containing material becomes friable, this material will then fall under federal regulations. This means that the removal of such material must be regulated by state laws.

Certified

• Workers should be certified specifically for asbestos removal.

  When your home is deemed unsafe due to asbestos, it becomes your responsibility to safely have the asbestos removed. However, any worker who removes asbestos from your home must be certified and properly trained for the removal of asbestos. According to Asbestos Abatement, to be considered "certified" a worker must complete courses in accordance with the inspection and containment procedures of asbestos. Unlicensed workers should never remove asbestos from your home.

Preparation Procedures

• Ventilation such as fans need to be turned off.

  The affected areas of your home containing the asbestos should be contained by your workers. Signs should be posted around your home to alert others that the home contains asbestos. Your workers must turn off any ventilation systems to prevent any asbestos from spreading beyond contaminated areas. Barriers should be placed around the home to separate the contaminated areas from the rest of the home. All contaminated areas should be cleaned with a HEPA vacuum.

Abatement Regulations

• Tools should be cleaned.

  After your home has been properly sealed and prepared, the process of abatement can begin. Your workers must wet contaminated products before the material can be removed from your home. This will ensure that asbestos particles cannot be further released into the air. Asbestos containing material need to be removed in large pieces. Workers should not break materials into small pieces. Any supplies (such as tools) used within your home by workers must be thoroughly cleaned prior to leaving your home.

Encapsulation

• Encapsulation is meant for small areas such as around water pipes.

  Encapsulation of asbestos is only an option if your home contains small areas of asbestos; which can include insulation around water pipes or steam pipes. Encapsulation must be done by a certified worker. Encapsulants (adhesive materials) are applied to the asbestos containing material to solidify loose asbestos fibers and prevent the fibers from becoming airborne.