N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 12 §§ 56-7.5

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

Section 56-7.5 - Personal and waste decontamination system enclosures

(a) Installation. Personal decontamination system enclosures shall be constructed and functional prior to commencing the remainder of the Phase II A regulated abatement work area preparation activities. Waste decontamination system enclosures shall be constructed and functional at the completion of Phase II A preparation activities. After installation of the personal decontamination system enclosure, all access to the regulated abatement work area shall be via the installed personal decontamination system enclosure.

(b) Personal decontamination system enclosure--large project.

(1) Enclosure--general. A personal decontamination system enclosure shall be provided outside the regulated abatement work area and attached to all locations where personnel shall enter or exit the regulated abatement work area. One personal decontamination enclosure system for each regulated abatement work area shall be required. This system may utilize adequate existing lighting sources separate from the decontamination system enclosure, or shall be supplied with a GFCI protected temporary lighting system. The personal decontamination system enclosure shall be sized to accommodate the number of workers and equipment required for the intended purpose. Such system may consist of existing attached rooms outside of the regulated abatement work area, if the layout is appropriate, that can be plasticized and are accessible from the regulated abatement work area. When this situation does not exist, personal decontamination enclosure systems may be constructed of metal, wood or plastic supports covered with fire- retardant plastic sheeting. A minimum of one layer of six mil fire-retardant plastic sheeting shall be installed on the ceiling, and walls of the enclosure system. At least two layers of six mil fire-retardant reinforced plastic sheeting shall be used for flooring protection of this area. This system must be kept clean, sanitary and climate controlled at all times in conformance with all Federal, State and local government requirements. This system shall remain on-site, operational and be used until completion of Phase II C of the asbestos project.

(2) Rooms and configuration. The personal decontamination system enclosure shall consist of a clean room, a shower room and an equipment room connected in series but separated from each other by airlocks. There shall be a curtained doorway separation between the equipment room and the regulated abatement work area, and there shall be a lockable door to the outside. (See Figure 1 within this section.) Minimum dimensions for each airlock, shower room and equipment room shall be three feet wide by six feet in height, to allow for adequate access to and from the regulated abatement work area.

(3) Curtained doorway. An assembly which consists of at least three overlapping sheets of six mil fire-retardant plastic over an existing or temporarily framed doorway. One sheet shall be secured at the top and left side, the second sheet at the top and right side, and the third sheet at the top and left side. All sheets shall have weights attached to the bottom to insure that the sheets hang straight and maintain a seal over the doorway when not in use.

(4) Framing. Enclosure systems accessible to the public shall be fully framed, hard-wall sheathed and utilize a lockable door for safety and security.

(5) Sheathing. A plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing material of at least 3/8 -inch thickness.

(6) Plastic sheeting. Enclosure systems constructed at the work site shall use at least one layer of six mil fire-retardant plastic sheeting on walls and ceiling. At least two layers of six mil fire-retardant reinforced plastic sheeting shall be used for floor protection of this area.

(7) Prefabricated or trailer units. A completely watertight fiberglass or marine painted prefabricated unit does not require plasticizing. Rooms shall be configured as per paragraph (2) of this subdivision. All prefabricated or trailer decontamination units shall be kept in good condition, and shall be completely decontaminated after final cleaning and immediately prior to clearance air sampling. Upon receiving satisfactory clearance air results, the prefabricated units shall be sealed then separated from the regulated abatement work area and removed from the site.

(8) Clean room. The clean room shall be sized to accommodate a full workshift of asbestos abatement contractor personnel, as well as the air sampling technician and the project monitor. The clean room shall be a minimum of six feet in height. A minimum of 32 square feet of floor space shall be provided for every six full shift abatement workers, calculated on the basis of the largest work shift. If the largest work shift consists of three or less full shift abatement workers, the minimum clean room size requirement is reduced to 24 square feet of floor space. Benches, lockers and hooks shall be provided for street clothes. Shelves for storing respirators shall be provided. Clean clothing, replacement filters for respirators, towels and other necessary items shall be provided. The clean room shall not be used for storage of tools, equipment or materials. It shall not be used for office space. A lockable door shall be provided to permit access to the clean room from outside the regulated abatement work area or enclosure and shall be used to secure the regulated abatement work area and decontamination enclosure during non-work hours.

(9) Shower room. The shower room shall contain one shower per every six full shift abatement workers, calculated on the basis of the largest work shift. Multiple showers shall be simultaneously accessible (installed in parallel) to certified personnel. Each showerhead shall be supplied with hot and cold water adjustable at the tap. The shower enclosure shall be constructed to ensure against leakage of any kind. Uncontaminated soap, shampoo and towels shall be available at all times. Shower water shall be drained, collected and filtered through a system with at least 5.0-micron particle size collection capability. Submersible pumps shall be installed, maintained and utilized in accordance with pertinent OSHA regulations and manufacturer's recommendations. A multi-stage filtering system containing a series of several filters with progressively smaller pore sizes shall be used to avoid rapid clogging of the filtering system by larger particles. Filtered wastewater shall be discharged in accordance with applicable codes. Contaminated filters shall be disposed of as asbestos-contaminated waste.

(10) Equipment room. The equipment room shall be used for the storage of decontaminated equipment and tools. A one-day supply of replacement filters for HEPA-vacuums and negative pressure ventilation equipment in sealed containers, extra tools, containers of surfactant and other materials and equipment that may be required during the abatement project may also be stored here. A container lined with a labeled, at least six mil plastic bag for collection of clothing shall be located in this room. Contaminated footwear and work clothes shall be stored in this area.

(11) Airlocks. Airlock construction shall consist of two curtained doorways with three alternating six mil fire-retardant polyethylene curtains per doorway, separated by a distance of at least three feet, such that one passes through one doorway into the airlock, allowing the doorway sheeting to overlap and close off the opening before proceeding through the next doorway. Minimum airlock size shall be three feet wide, by three feet long, by six feet in height.

(c) Personal decontamination system enclosure--small project.

(1) Enclosure requirements. A personal decontamination system enclosure for a small asbestos project shall consist of, at a minimum, an equipment room, a shower room and a clean room separated from each other and from the regulated abatement work area and other areas by curtained doorways as defined in section 56-2.1 of this Part. All other provisions for personal decontamination system for a large asbestos project shall apply. Equipment storage, personal gross decontamination and removal of clothing shall occur in the equipment room just prior to entering the shower. (See Figure 4 in this section.) The full personal decontamination system enclosure specified for large asbestos projects is recommended.

(d) Remote personal decontamination system enclosure. If a personal decontamination system cannot be attached to the regulated abatement work area, due to available space restrictions or other building and fire code restrictions, a remote personal decontamination system enclosure may be used for limited special projects as per Subpart 56-11 of this Part, negative pressure tent enclosure work areas with glovebag only abatement, or if non-friable ACM is being removed in a manner which will not render the ACM friable. If it is found during Phase II B, that the non-friable ACM or asbestos material will become friable during the removal process, and it is logistically possible to attach the decontamination system enclosure, abatement work must stop immediately while the remote personal decontamination system is relocated to be attached and contiguous to the regulated abatement work area. The following requirements apply for all remote personal decontamination systems:

(1) Protective clothing. Workers shall don two sets of disposable protective clothing and a supply of protective clothing shall be kept in the airlocks attached to the regulated abatement work area.

(2) Location. The remote personal decontamination system shall be constructed as close to the regulated abatement work area as physically possible. If the remote personal decontamination system must be located at the exterior of the building/structure due to space or code restrictions, it shall be constructed within 50 feet of the building/structure exit used for access by the asbestos abatement contractor personnel. The decontamination unit shall be cordoned off at a distance of 25 feet to separate it from public areas.

(3) Airlocks. At a minimum, two extra airlocks as defined in section 56-2.1 of this Part shall be constructed as per paragraph (b)(11) of this section. One shall be constructed at the entrance to the equipment room or equipment/washroom. The other extra airlock shall be constructed at the entrance to the containment or regulated abatement work area(s). These airlocks shall have lockable doorways at the entrance to the airlock from uncontaminated areas. These airlocks shall be cordoned off at a distance of 25 feet and appropriately signed in accordance with section 56-7.4(c) of this Subpart. Airlocks shall not be used as a waste decontamination area and shall be kept clean and free of asbestos containing material.

(4) Designated pathway. The walkway from the regulated abatement work area to the personal decontamination system or next regulated abatement work area shall be cordoned off and signage installed as per section 56-7.4(c) of this Subpart, to delineate it from public areas while in use during Phases II A through II D.

(5) Travel through uncontaminated areas. If at any time a worker must travel through an uncontaminated area to access the personal decontamination area, the worker shall HEPA-vacuum and/or wet wipe his/her outer protective clothing while in the regulated abatement work area, then proceed into the airlock, which serves as a changing area, where he/she shall remove the outer clothing and don a clean set of protective clothing. The worker may then proceed to the personal decontamination system enclosure only along a designated pathway as described above. Travel in any other area shall not be allowed.

(6) Removal. The remote personal decontamination unit shall be removed only after satisfactory clearance air sampling results have been achieved.

(e) Waste decontamination system enclosure--large and small asbestos projects.

(1) Enclosure--general. A waste decontamination system enclosure shall be provided outside the regulated abatement work area and shall be attached to the regulated abatement work area. One waste decontamination enclosure for each regulated abatement work area shall be required. This system may utilize adequate existing lighting sources separate from the decontamination system enclosure, or shall be supplied with a GFCI protected temporary lighting system. The waste decontamination system enclosure shall be sized to accommodate the number of workers and equipment for the intended purpose. Such system may consist of existing attached rooms outside of the regulated abatement work area, if the layout is appropriate, that can be plasticized and are accessible from the regulated abatement work area. When this situation does not exist, enclosure systems may be constructed of metal, wood or plastic supports covered with fire-retardant plastic sheeting. A minimum of one layer of six mil fire-retardant plastic sheeting shall be installed on the ceiling, and walls of the enclosure system. At least two layers of six mil fire-retardant reinforced plastic sheeting shall be used for flooring protection of this area. This system must be kept clean, sanitary and climate controlled at all times in conformance to all Federal, State and local government requirements. This system shall remain and be used until completion of Phase II C of the asbestos project.

(2) Rooms and configuration. A waste decontamination system enclosure shall consist of a washroom and a holding area connected in series but separated from each other by an airlock. There shall be a lockable door to the outside, and there shall be a curtained doorway between the washroom and the regulated abatement work area. (See Figure 2 in this section.)

(4) Washroom. A room/chamber between the regulated abatement work area and the holding area in the waste decontamination system enclosure, where equipment and waste containers are wet cleaned or HEPA-vacuumed. Adequate drainage and bag/container wash water shall be provided within the room/chamber, as well as a sufficient quantity of clean waste bags/containers.

(5) Equipment/washroom alternative. Where there is only one exit from the regulated abatement work area, the holding area of the waste decontamination system enclosure may branch off from the equipment room of the personal decontamination system enclosure. The equipment room will also be used as a waste washroom. (See Figure 3 in this section.)

(6) Plastic sheeting. Waste decontamination system enclosures constructed at the work site shall use at least one layer of six mil fire-retardant plastic sheeting on walls and ceiling. At least two layers of six mil fire-retardant reinforced plastic sheeting shall be used for flooring protection of these areas.

(7) Enclosure security. The waste decontamination system enclosure and regulated abatement work area airlock(s) (when remote decontamination systems are used) shall be constructed with lockable doors to prevent unauthorized entry. Enclosure systems located within 25 feet of an area of public access shall be fully framed and hard-wall sheathed for safety.

(8) Drains. The waste washroom shall be equipped with a wash bin of sufficient size to perform waste container washing operations and shall have a submersible pump installed to collect waste water and deliver it to the shower wastewater filtration system where it shall be filtered in accordance with paragraph (b)(9) of this section.

(9) Shower/washroom alternative -- small asbestos project. For small asbestos projects with only one exit from the regulated abatement work area, the shower room may be used as a waste washroom. The clean room shall not be used for waste storage, but shall be used for waste transfer to carts, which shall be immediately removed from the enclosure. Waste shall be transferred only during times when the showers are not in use. (See Figure 4 in this section.)

(f) Waste decontamination system enclosure -- when remote personal is allowed. When a remote personal decontamination system enclosure is allowed and utilized for a regulated abatement work area, the following requirements shall apply:

(1) Minor size regulated abatement work area. No specific waste decontamination system enclosure is required for minor size regulated abatement work areas. The waste generated shall be immediately bagged/containerized within the regulated abatement work area.

(2) Small and large size regulated abatement work areas.

(i) Washroom. An additional chamber shall be constructed within the regulated abatement work area, attached to the existing airlock used to access the work area. The washroom/airlock combination shall be utilized as the contiguous waste decontamination enclosure for waste bagging/containerization and waste transfer activities. The washroom shall be constructed and supplied with equipment/materials consistent with waste decontamination system enclosure washroom requirements for contiguous personal and waste decontamination system enclosures.

(ii) Removal. The washroom chamber shall be removed only after satisfactory clearance air sampling results have been achieved.

Figure 1

PERSONAL DECONTAMINATION SYSTEM ENCLOSURE

LARGE ASBESTOS PROJECT (OPTIONAL FOR SMALL ASBESTOS PROJECT)

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Figure 2

WASTE DECONTAMINATION SYSTEM ENCLOSURE

LARGE ASBESTOS PROJECT

(OPTIONAL FOR SMALL ASBESTOS PROJECT)

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Figure 3

PARALLEL PERSONAL AND WASTE DECONTAMINATION SYSTEM ENCLOSURES