N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 12 §§ 56-7.11

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 50, December 11, 2024

Section 56-7.11 - Regulated abatement work area enclosure

(a) Critical barriers. Critical barriers shall be constructed to seal off all openings and penetrations to the regulated abatement work area including, but not limited to, operable windows and skylights, doorways and corridors (which shall not be used for passage), ducts, grills, diffusers, HVAC system seams, and any other penetrations to surfaces within the regulated abatement work area. Critical barriers shall be constructed using two independent layers of at least six mil fire-retardant plastic sheeting with each layer sealed separately with duct tape. Caulk and fire-retardant expandable foam may be used to seal small openings or penetrations. Doorways and corridors, which shall not be used for passage during the asbestos project, shall also be sealed.

(b) Isolation barriers. Temporary hardwall barriers to complete the containment enclosure and establish the asbestos project regulated abatement work area shall be constructed using the following framing, sheathing, sealing and plasticizing criteria:

(1) Framing. Isolation barrier partitions shall be constructed of wood or metal framing in all openings larger than 32 square feet, except that where any one dimension is one foot or less, framing is not required. Existing walls or framing may be used to support isolation barrier partition framing and sheathing.

(2) Sheathing. A plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing material of at least 3/8-inch thickness shall be fastened to the regulated abatement work area side of the barrier partition.

(3) Sealing of isolation barriers. The edges of the isolation barrier partition shall be sealed at the floor, ceiling, walls and fixtures using caulk, fire-retardant expandable foam or duct tape to form an airtight seal. The seams of the partition sheathing shall also be sealed airtight using these techniques.

(4) Plasticizing isolation barriers. The regulated abatement work area side of the isolation barrier partition shall be covered with two layers of, at a minimum, six mil fire-retardant plastic sheeting with staggered joints and sealed airtight.

(c) Removal of mounted objects. After critical barriers and isolation barriers are in place, mounted objects shall be removed and HEPA-vacuumed or wet wiped or both. Localized HEPA-filtered vacuum equipment shall be used during mounted object removal to reduce potential asbestos dispersal.

(d) Elevator shutdown or isolation. Elevators running through the regulated abatement work area shall be shut down except as noted in this subdivision:

(1) Isolation detail. In projects where the elevator cannot be shut down, the hoistway door frames shall be enclosed with nominal 2" x 4" framing, 16 inch on center, covered with 3/8-inch thickness plywood or OSB sheathing, and caulked or duct taped airtight at all seams. The enclosures shall be covered with two seamless layers of at least six mil plastic sheeting duct taped and sealed airtight. A final larger layer of at least six mil plastic sheeting shall be duct taped and sealed airtight, but with slack, forming a larger perimeter diaphragm to sense air movement caused by elevator operation.

(2) Elevator shaft ports. Elevator shaft ports for pressure equalization when within the regulated abatement work area, shall be vented to the outside or non-work areas using oversized solid-walled ducts or chambers constructed with 3/8-inch thickness plywood or OSB sheathing over nominal 2" x 4" framing, 16 inch on center. The joints shall be caulked and the ducts or chambers shall be sealed with two layers of at least six mil fire-retardant plastic sheeting and duct tape. The first layer of plastic sheeting shall be attached to the ducts or chambers using spray adhesive. This system shall be subjected to and pass a negative pressure test daily.

(e) Floor, wall and ceiling plasticizing and sealing. All floor, wall and ceiling surfaces, except where abatement of ACM, PACM or asbestos material shall be performed on those specific surfaces, shall be covered with two layers of, at a minimum, six mil fire-retardant plastic sheeting. The floor shall be plasticized first, and its plastic sheeting shall extend up the walls a distance of at least 12 inches on all sides. The walls shall then be plasticized by applying plastic sheeting from the ceiling to the floor, overlapping the floor sheeting by at least 12 inches. Next, the ceiling shall be plasticized overlapping the walls by at least 12 inches, to form a secure airtight seam. This process shall be repeated for the second layer of plastic sheeting for the floor, walls and ceiling. All seams within a layer shall be separated by a distance of at least six feet and sealed airtight with duct tape. All seams between layers shall be staggered at least two feet.

(f) Barrier/pIasticizing exemptions.

(1) Negative pressure tent regulated abatement work area enclosure. An alternate isolation method may be used where preparation of the entire room/space is either unfeasible or not necessary to adequately access all impacted ACM, PACM or asbestos material.

(i) Where allowed. Negative pressure tent enclosures are allowed to be utilized for gross abatement of any quantity interior and exterior non-friable ACM or asbestos material, glovebag abatement of any quantity friable TSI, or gross abatement of minor and small quantities of friable ACM, PACM or asbestos material. For tent enclosures with gross abatement of friable materials, attached (contiguous) decontamination system enclosures shall be constructed, maintained and utilized as per this Part. Minor size tent enclosure work areas shall at a minimum have decontamination areas installed and utilized, as per the requirements of section 56-11.3 of this Part.

(a) Multiple minor size regulated abatement work areas. If the small or large asbestos project consists of multiple negative pressure tent regulated abatement work area enclosures with minor quantities of ACM to be abated within each tent enclosure, these tent enclosures shall be constructed as per this subpart, including attached airlock if remote decontamination systems are allowed and utilized for the asbestos project.

(ii) Tent construction.

(a) Tents with greater than 20 square feet of floor space, that are scheduled for gross removal of friable ACM, PACM, or asbestos material, shall be constructed of two layers of six mil fire-retardant plastic sheeting and shall include walls, ceiling and a floor (except for portions of walls, floors and ceilings that are the removal surface) with double-folded seams. Seams shall be duct taped airtight and then duct taped flush with the adjacent tent wall.

(b) Tents with no gross removal of friable ACM, PACM or asbestos material, shall be constructed of one layer six mil fire-retardant plastic sheeting and shall include walls, ceiling and a floor (except for portions of walls, floors and ceilings that are the removal surface) with double-folded seams. Seams shall be duct taped airtight and then duct taped flush with the adjacent tent wall.

(c) Tents or tent-like structures or enclosures shall be adequately supported and reinforced to withstand local environmental conditions and the negative pressures developed within them.

(d) Airlock. An airlock shall be constructed as per section 56-7.5(b)(11) of this Subpart, at the entrance to each tent that utilizes remote decontamination system facilities. Each tent and airlock shall be cordoned off 25 feet from it perimeter, or the interior space/ room where the tent and airlock is located shall be secured from non-certified personnel or public access, and signage shall be installed as per section 56-7.4(c) of this Subpart.

(iii) Negative air. Manometers consistent with the requirements of section 56- 7.8(a)(4) of this Subpart, are required for negative pressure tent enclosure regulated abatement work areas with OSHA Class I abatement. Negative air shall be maintained at four air changes per hour for non-friable and glovebag abatement tent enclosure work areas. Eight air changes shall be maintained for friable gross removal tent enclosure work areas. If a HEPA-filtered vacuum is used for a minor size abatement tent enclosure work area to maintain the required air changes, after final cleaning is completed 20 minutes shall elapse, then ventilation may be stopped, clearance air samples collected if required, and the tent sealed until results are read. If air sample results are unacceptable, ventilation shall be reestablished, the area recleaned and new samples taken.

(2) Fire-retardant spray plastic. Fire-retardant spray plastic may be used in lieu of two layers of six mil plastic sheeting as required by subdivision (e) of this section, under the following conditions:

(i) Critical barriers are installed per subdivision (a) of this section.

(ii) The fire-retardant spray plastic is used, applied, maintained and removed in accordance with the manufacturer's detailed procedures by persons who have been trained by the manufacturer or others authorized to perform such training. Proof of appropriate training shall be located at the work site and shall be produced upon verbal request of the commissioner or his or her duly authorized representative.

(iii) Application shall be made to result in a dry thickness of not less than six mils.

(3) Special projects. See Subpart 56-11 of this Part regarding work area preparation requirements for special projects. These projects include exterior non-friable ACM roofing, siding, caulking, glazing compound, transite, tars, sealers, coatings, and other NOB ACM abatement, abandoned intact pipe/duct/conduit wrap and cut abatement, flooring and mastic abatement, pre-demolition abatement, demolition with asbestos in place, in-plant operations abatement, emergency project abatement and minor size project abatement.

(4) Removal of ceilings and components. Suspended ceiling and components that exist below friable ACM or PACM material, and that are not themselves ACM or PACM, shall remain in place until the remainder of the regulated abatement work area has been plasticized, negative air established, and personal and waste decontamination enclosures have been constructed. The ceiling tiles and components shall then be removed and disposed of as asbestos waste or decontaminated if possible. This type of removal must be done prior to commencement of Phase II B abatement, but after the remaining regulated abatement work area preparation has been completed. Critical barriers shall be installed above the suspended ceiling as per subdivision (a) of this section, prior to the commencement of Phase II B abatement.

(5) Exits. Emergency and fire exits from the regulated abatement work area shall be maintained or alternate exits shall be established and appropriately signed according to all applicable codes. Temporary hardwall barriers are not required at emergency and fire exit locations.

(g) Toilet facilities. Adequate toilet facilities shall be readily accessible to the personal decontamination enclosure.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 12 §§ 56-7.11