Asbestos Floor Tile Policy

UFEHS-OSH-04/27/06

Environmental Health and Safety

Finance and Administration

University of Florida

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this policy is to clarify the requirements for addressing the removal of vinyl asbestos floor tile and other asbestos-containing floor coverings during renovation and remodeling projects.

AUTHORITY

OSHA 1926.1101 (Asbestos Standard for Construction); 40 CFR Part 763 (EPA Worker Protection Rule); FAC 469 (Asbestos Practices Act)

POLICY

The goal of this policy is to eliminate asbestos-containing materials from the University of Florida main campus and from off-campus facilities as they are encountered during renovation/refurbishment projects.  It has been determined that covering over asbestos flooring (e.g., vinyl asbestos tile and sheet goods) and adhesive leads to greater costs and additional time to do future projects.  This has also led to confusion as to which areas never had asbestos flooring, which have asbestos flooring under another covering and which were removed prior to new covering being applied.

RESPONSIBILITY

Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for administering the University’s asbestos management program and for monitoring compliance with applicable State and Federal asbestos regulations.

Project managers and supervisors are responsible for determining whether or not asbestos floor covering will be impacted by a project and, if so, arranging for its safe removal and disposal.

PROCEDURES

The presence of asbestos flooring and/or adhesives that contain asbestos must be determined at the beginning of affected projects so additional funding and time can be incorporated into the project.

Floors with existing exposed asbestos tile that are well maintained and firmly attached to the substrate may remain in service, provided that the tiles are free of broken or crumbling material.  If the area is remodeled or a new floor covering is to be installed all flooring related asbestos in the affected area is to be properly removed.

If existing materials covering asbestos flooring are replaced, all materials including the asbestos flooring and adhesive, must be removed prior to installation of new material.  These materials include, but are not limited to existing vinyl composition tile, glued-down carpet, or stretched carpet with pad.  The costs involved in asbestos removal shall be borne by the entity that is funding the remodeling or new floor covering project.

All asbestos removal activities will be done by appropriately licensed companies using only trained workers or by appropriately trained and certified in-house staff, in concert with the Division Project Manager and Specialists from Environmental Health and Safety. All necessary safeguards required to protect the workers, University staff, students, visitors and property from asbestos exposure will be utilized during removal projects. Every effort will be made to maintain good indoor air quality conditions in the affected space when solvent-based adhesive removal is conducted.