If you’re an apartment complex owner or building manager looking to demolish, repair, renovate, or maintain asbestos-containing material on your property, you may need to conduct an apartment complex asbestos inspection first.
A thorough inspection of the property for asbestos-containing materials will protect you, anyone entering, working, or dwelling in your property, and the environment. Keep reading to learn your responsibilities as the apartment complex owner, where asbestos-containing materials may be found in your buildings, and regulatory information on rental property asbestos inspection and potential abatement.
What is the Responsibility of the Apartment Complex Owner?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that building owners of apartment buildings, among others, have an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Program in place to have a protocol for work practice, training, cleaning, and surveillance to maintain asbestos-containing materials to minimize exposure.
While there are no federal laws around owner or landlord-specific disclosures regarding hazardous materials, like asbestos, in rental properties, owners are responsible for providing habitable living quarters for their tenants. If a tenant suspects asbestos exposure due to damage, like a cracked floor tile or ceiling panel, then the owner is responsible for fixing those conditions.
Fixing any asbestos-containing material requires proper protocol, in which an asbestos inspection is conducted, samples are taken and provided to a lab for analysis, and abatement is performed. If abatement work is needed, OSHA does protect tenants during that time, requiring the owner or landlord to provide a habitable space for the tenant or reimburse them for alternative accommodations.
Asbestos-Containing Materials Found in Apartment Buildings
Part of having an O&M program in place is to provide specific direction for dealing with the various categories of asbestos-containing materials. Safety is the number one priority with our experts, so all O&M practices and procedures will be employed during the process. The following are three categories of asbestos-containing material that may be found in apartment buildings:
- Surfacing Material: This category includes asbestos-containing materials (ACM) sprayed on surfaces, including acoustical ACM, fireproofing materials, and decorative plaster.
- Thermal System Insulation: This category includes ACM applied to tanks, boilers, ducts, and pipes.
- Miscellaneous ACM: This category includes any ACM found in textiles, cement panels, ceiling or floor tiles, roofing materials, siding, electrical insulation material, and sound insulation material.
Asbestos Inspection and Abatement in Rental Properties
Many residential and commercial buildings, especially those built before the 1990s, are undergoing asbestos abatement to ensure the safety of everyone who works or lives on the premises. There are various reasons for undergoing abatement, including renovations, structural damage, safety concern, and demolition.
An apartment complex has its unique challenges when it comes to inspection and abatement. If the asbestos-containing materials are intact and undisturbed, they are generally left alone. However, with any building, especially rental properties, there is always the risk of structural damage. There is the normal wear and tear that comes with habitation, but there is also property damage that can occur at any time, like broken tiles, holes in the walls, water damage from flooding, etc. This type of structural damage could disturb asbestos-containing materials in the building, exposing tenants to the associated health risks.
Residential buildings of 10 or more dwelling units are considered commercial properties. They are required under The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) to hire an accredited asbestos contractor for asbestos inspection and abatement. Hiring our trained experts guarantees the least disruption and harm to tenants and the environment.
Why Choose ACM for Asbestos Inspection Services
When you choose ACM, you know that all our inspections are conducted with the most modern technology to guarantee precision and accuracy. We use crafted expertise and skills to conduct a comprehensive survey of your property for asbestos-containing material before we start with asbestos removal or management processes.
With the ACM Team, you can trust that our apartment complex asbestos inspection experts are experienced professionals who will provide a personalized plan and safe process for removing hazardous materials from your property. With over 20 years of expertise in this industry, we guarantee satisfaction with every project. Contact us today at (603) 319-1270 to learn more about our services and how we can help you.
