Asbestos use has been restricted, but not banned

Spokane Complex Fire property owners: Please visit this webpage for guidance.

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that was widely used in building materials due to its fire-resistent, insulating, and durable characteristics.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began regulating asbestos in the early 1970s after it became widely-recognized as a health hazard. Asbestos is classified as a hazardous air pollutant by the EPA. There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure.

Although certain asbestos-containing products and applications have been banned, there are still numerous products containing asbestos and it is still found in many homes and buildings.

Below is a summary of primary uses of asbestos that have been banned and when:

• Sprayed-on materials such as fireproofing (banned in 1973)
• Pre-molded insulation (banned in 1976)
• Popcorn/decorative ceilings (banned in 1978)
• In 1991, a court overturned EPA’s 1989 rule that would have banned most asbestos-containing products. As a result, the 1989 rule only banned the use of asbestos in products that have not historically contained asbestos, in other words, “new uses” of asbestos. It also banned some specific asbestos-containing products: flooring felt, rollboard, and corrugated, commercial, or specialty paper.

Because there isn’t a total ban on all uses of asbestos, there is no “safe date” of construction to indicate a structure is asbestos-free. Even newer buildings may have asbestos-containing materials (ACM), including mastics, joint compounds, etc. While finding asbestos in newer buildings isn’t as common as in older buildings, it still occurs.

For property owners affected by Spokane Complex Fire: Please visit this webpage for guidance.

So where can asbestos be found?

Asbestos containing material (ACM) may be present in homes, offices, stores, restaurants, schools, factories, and public buildings. Most often asbestos is found in certain building materials rather than in specific types of businesses. Common places and materials are identified in the diagram above.

When left intact and not disturbed, ACM generally does not pose a health risk. For most intact ACM, it’s recommended that it be managed in place and maintained, unless work will disturb it.

However, when ACM is damaged, sanded, cut, demolished, or otherwise disturbed, microscopic fibers become airborne and inhaled. This is why demolition and renovation of buildings, houses, and other structures must comply with requirements enforced in Spokane County by Spokane Clean Air. Anyone managing or contracting work involving asbestos may face legal liabilities if proper permits are not secured prior to work being started.

When it comes to asbestos, it’s always better to know in advance what you are working with rather than risk exposure – physical and legal – down the road.