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Asbestos Demolition/Renovation
Project Notification Requirements
Asbestos fiber-release exposure has been associated with the development of
diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, a rare and usually fatal disease. The health risk associated with asbestos has resulted in Federal Regulations, some of which are contained in
the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). The Palm Beach County Health Department is the agency responsible for enforcing the NESHAP regulations in Palm Beach County.
The asbestos regulations specify notification and work practice requirements for demolition and renovation activities at facilities. Facilities are defined as institutional, commercial and industrial
structures, installations and buildings. Ships, individual dwelling units operated as residential cooperatives and entities containing condominiums are included in the definition of a facility and are
therefore subject to these rules. Residential units having 4 or less dwelling units are excluded from these rules only if they have not been and are not presently used for commercial purposes and they
are not being demolished or renovated as part of a commercial or public project.
Written notification is required to be submitted for all demolition activities at facilities (as defined above).
Written notice is required even if asbestos materials are not present in the facility/structure. Demolition is defined as : (a) the complete wrecking of a structure, (b) the taking out of any load
bearing structure/member of a facility together with any related handling operation, or (c) the intentional burning of any facility.
Written notification is also required for renovation activities
at facilities (as defined above) if the amount of regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) being removed or disturbed is greater than or equal to 160 square feet on facility components, greater than
or equal to 260 linear feet on pipes, and/or greater than or equal to 35 cubic feet. Renovation is defined as the altering of a facility or one or more facility components in any way, including the
stripping or removal (intentionally or unintentionally) of RACM from a facility component.
A thorough inspection of a facility (or applicable part) for the presence of asbestos is required in
order to properly complete a written notification. Individuals who conduct asbestos surveys, prepare abatement specifications, and/or conduct abatement work, must also comply with the licenser
requirements contained in Section 469.003 Florida Statues, regulated by the
Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Written
notifications are required to be sent to the Palm Beach County Health Department for all the regulated structures or buildings, except for County owned buildings or structures. Notifications for County
owned buildings in Palm Beach County shall be sent to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Southeast District asbestos program authority. Notifications are required to be postmarked or
delivered at least ten (10) days prior to any demolition, or renovation activity involving regulated quantities of RACM. The addresses and phone numbers for the asbestos program authorities throughout
the State of Florida are listed on the back of this page. Notification forms are available upon request from any of the listed authorities.
Failure to comply with work practice standard and/or
notification requirements can result in civil penalties of up to $10,000.00 per day, per violation.
DEP -
(Florida
Dept. of Environmental Protection Agency).
Asbestos Notification
For further information please contact:
Palm Beach County Health Department
Asbestos Program Coordinator
Air Pollution Control
800 Clematis Street
West Palm Beach, FL 33402
(561) 837-5900
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