N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 12 §§ 56-7.9

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

Section 56-7.9 - Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (hvac) systems

(a) Isolation. HVAC systems shall be isolated from the regulated abatement work area. Acceptable means of HVAC system isolation include:

(1) Shutdown and isolation. Shutdown and isolation of HVAC systems to prevent contamination and asbestos dispersal to other areas of the building or structure.

(2) Local isolation. Local isolation and provision for temporary HVAC.

(3) Positive pressurization. Positive pressurization of the HVAC system.

(i) Positive pressurization shall be restricted to circumstances where HVAC must service the remainder of the building or structure and the HVAC equipment is in the regulated abatement work area or the ducts run through the regulated abatement work area. The appropriate HVAC duct and plenum outlets, inlets and exhaust dampers shall be sealed with caulking and a minimum 3/8-inch thickness plywood, or oriented strand board, or sufficient gauge sheet metal, covered with a double layer of at least six mil fire-retardant plastic sheeting and duct taped airtight. The HVAC duct and plenum joints shall be duct taped airtight. The mixing and balancing damper positions shall be altered and the return fan(s) shall be shut down to produce the required positive pressures.

(ii) Project phasing, climate conditions, load conditions and HVAC equipment limitations and controls shall be considered when this alternate procedure is evaluated. Aerodynamics in the duct system, particularly spurs or trunks, shall be considered and, if necessary, the ducts or dampers shall be altered or removed to prevent loss of positive pressure in any part of the system. Precautions shall be taken during abatement activities to insure that the ducts, seals and static pressure lines are not damaged.

(iii) The presence of positive pressure shall be demonstrated daily by testing, including days when no Phase II work or support activities are scheduled, and the results must be noted in the asbestos abatement contractor supervisor's daily project log. Air sampling in occupied, downstream, non-work areas shall be performed on a daily basis as per the requirements of section 56-7.1(b)(1) of this Subpart, except days when there are no Phase II A, II B, or II C activities. Positive pressure verification shall be done on a continuous basis. The differential pressure shall be easily verifiable by use of a leak free, rigid static pressure taps, static lines on the supply and return ducts and static lines originating in the regulated abatement work area, adjacent areas or downstream non-work areas.

(b) HVAC filters and ducts. Potentially contaminated HVAC filters in existing building/structure HVAC systems shall be handled and disposed of as asbestos contaminated waste material. The ducts and filter assembly shall be wet cleaned and HEPA-vacuumed where system air samples or bulk samples indicate asbestos contamination within the interior of the HVAC ducts. Existing building/structure HVAC system filters shall be treated as potentially contaminated for all friable OSHA Class I and Class II asbestos projects, and shall be removed and disposed of by the asbestos abatement contractor after the affected filters are identified by the building/structure owner's HVAC contractor or maintenance personnel. The building owner or their agent shall supply appropriate replacement HVAC system filters to the asbestos abatement contractor during HVAC system filter removal and replacement.

(c) Chimney effects. All boilers and other equipment exhausts within the regulated abatement work area shall be shut down and the burner/boiler/equipment accesses and openings shall be sealed until abatement is complete and satisfactory clearance air-sampling results have been achieved. If the boiler(s) or other exhausted equipment will be subject to abatement, all breeching, stacks columns, flues, shafts and double-walled enclosures serving as exhausts or vents, shall be segregated from the affected boilers or equipment and sealed airtight to eliminate potential chimney effects within the regulated abatement work area.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 12 §§ 56-7.9