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Asbestos - Other Locations - School & Office

Asbestos-containing construction materials were widely used on schools and office buildings. Such instances are often managed rather than removed because undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk and only become hazardous if damaged or disturbed in some manner. For an extensive list of construction materials and other products that may contain asbestos, see "Products Containing Asbestos."

Asbestos in Schools

The use of asbestos in new construction is not as widespread as it used to be, though it is still not banned in the United Sates. Older schools are likely to have been built with asbestos-containing construction products, particularly in locations that required heat and fire protection.

Asbestos-containing products were often used in schools for areas needing acoustic or thermal insulation and fire protection:

• Acoustical plasters and finishers in ceilings and walls of classrooms and halls
• Thermal insulation materials, particularly for insulating pipes, boilers and furnaces
• Cement board around boilers and furnaces
• Sheet and tile flooring in classrooms and halls
• Heavy fabric for use as auditorium fireproof curtains, and in school laboratories for products such as safety gloves and asbestos pads for Bunsen burners

The Environmental Protection Agency regulations on asbestos does not require schools to remove all asbestos-containing materials. It does, however, require that all schools manage asbestos materials and prevent exposure to the substance. Schools must undergo inspections of asbestos-containing materials every three years.

While some schools have asbestos-containing materials completely removed from their premises, most schools manage asbestos levels according to EPA requirements.

These requirements include regular monitoring of asbestos levels and complete removal of any damaged asbestos-containing products. In addition, all schools with asbestos-containing products must report to Parent-Teacher Organizations once per year regarding the school's asbestos management plan. Parents, teachers, and any school employers also have the right to review this plan at any time.

Asbestos in the Office

Office buildings constructed prior to the mid-1980s may contain asbestos materials, but as with any such building, the presence of asbestos does not automatically mean that working in the building is a health risk. Asbestos-containing materials may be present in office buildings in a variety of locations:

• Acoustical plasters and finishers in ceilings and walls where sound control is needed
• Thermal insulation materials may be present in walls, and around pipes, boilers and furnaces
• Cement board around boilers and furnaces
• Sheet and tile flooring
• Cladding or lagging for structural steelwork

In general, asbestos-containing products do not release large numbers of fibers. Most office workers are not exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos, but janitors and other maintenance workers are more likely to be exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos, particularly if they are unaware that the risk exists.

In most cases, the risk of asbestos exposure can be managed with patching or repairs to asbestos-containing materials and with proper control over custodial practices and maintenance. Any custodial worker, including contractual workers such as plumbers and electricians, should be informed that asbestos is present and should take safety precautions when asbestos-containing materials are involved.

Sometimes airborne fiber levels may be too high for these management procedures to be effective. If so, stricter management techniques or even removal of asbestos-containing materials may be required.

What Should Be Done About Asbestos in the School or Office?

In any school or office building where asbestos is suspected to be present, all materials that are believed to contain asbestos should be tested by a professional to confirm whether asbestos is present. Identification of asbestos-containing materials cannot be achieved by looking at the materials and professional testing of suspected samples is needed. In buildings that were constructed prior to the 1980s, it is safe to assume that some asbestos-containing materials may be present, particularly in locations where protection from extreme heat is needed.

Many asbestos experts believe the removal of asbestos-containing materials may be more hazardous than leaving them alone and using management and repair techniques to control the risks.

Determining whether or not to remove asbestos-containing materials from schools and office buildings is a complicated process that must take many factors into account.These factors include the current level of airborne asbestos fibers, the types of materials that contain asbestos, their current condition, and whether or not asbestos exposure can be controlled effectively. Owners of buildings that contain asbestos should seek expert advice before taking any action to control asbestos exposure or remove asbestos-containing products.

For information on identifying asbestos in the school or office, please see "Asbestos - How to Identify it & What to Look For". Please see "Asbestos Abatement/Removal" for more information about removing asbestos safely.

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