ASTM E2394-04
(Practice)Standard Practice for Maintenance, Renovation and Repair of Installed Asbestos Cement Products
Standard Practice for Maintenance, Renovation and Repair of Installed Asbestos Cement Products
SCOPE
1.1 This standard practice describes work practices for asbestos-cement products when maintenance, renovation and repair are required. This includes common tasks such as drilling and cutting holes in roofing, siding, pipes, etc. that can result in exposure to asbestos fibers if not done carefully.
1.2 Materials covered include those installed in or on buildings and facilities, and those used in external infrastructure such as water, wastewater and electrical distribution systems. Also included is pavement made from asbestos-cement manufacturing waste.
1.3 The work practices described herein are intended for use only with asbestos-cement products already installed in buildings, facilities and external infrastructure. They are not intended for use in construction or renovation involving the installation of new asbestos-cement products.
1.4 The work practices described herein are not intended for use where the primary objective is the removal of asbestos-cement products from the building or other location. The work practices are intended to be used in situations where small amounts of asbestos-cement products must be removed or disturbed in order to perform maintenance, renovation or repair necessary for operation of the building, facility or infrastructure.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.6 This standard practice does not address safety hazards associated with working on asbestos-cement products such as falling through roof panels or trench cave-ins. The use of power tools presents possible electrical hazards, particularly in wet environments. These and other safety hazards must be considered and controlled in compliance with the employer's policies and applicable regulations.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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An American National Standard
Designation:E2394–04
Standard Practice for
Maintenance, Renovation and Repair of Installed Asbestos
Cement Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2394; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1 This practice describes work practices for asbestos-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
cement products when maintenance, renovation and repair are
required. This includes common tasks such as drilling and
2. Referenced Documents
cutting holes in roofing, siding, pipes, etc. that can result in
2.1 ASTM Standards:
exposure to asbestos fibers if not done carefully.
E 631 Terminology of Building Constructions
1.2 Materials covered include those installed in or on
E 1368 Practice for Visual Inspection of Asbestos Abate-
buildings and facilities, and those used in external infrastruc-
ment Projects
ture such as water, wastewater and electrical distribution
2.2 Other Standards:
systems. Also included is pavement made from asbestos-
Guidance Manual: Asbestos Operations and Maintenance
cement manufacturing waste.
Work Practices
1.3 Theworkpracticesdescribedhereinareintendedforuse
ISO 7337 Asbestos Reinforced Cement Products—
only with asbestos-cement products already installed in build-
Guidelines for On-site Work Practices
ings, facilities and external infrastructure. They are not in-
tended for use in construction or renovation involving the
3. Terminology
installation of new asbestos-cement products.
3.1 Definitions:
1.4 The work practices described herein are not intended for
3.1.1 amended water, n—water to which a surfactant has
use where the primary objective is the removal of asbestos-
been added to reduce surface tension.
cement products from the building or other location. The work
3.1.2 asbestos, n—the asbestiform varieties of serpentinite
practices are intended to be used in situations where small
(chrysotile), riebeckite (crocidolite), cummingtonite-grunerite
amounts of asbestos-cement products must be removed or
(amosite), anthophyllite, and actinolite-tremolite.
disturbedinordertoperformmaintenance,renovationorrepair
3.1.3 asbestos-cement products, n—materialscontainingas-
necessary for operation of the building, facility or infrastruc-
bestos fiber added during the manufacturing process to cement
ture.
and other binders or fillers. Pavement made from waste
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
material produced by this manufacturing process is considered
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
an asbestos-cement product.
information only.
3.1.4 asbestos-containing materials, n—material containing
1.6 This practice does not address safety hazards associated
more than one percent asbestos.
with working on asbestos-cement products such as falling
3.1.5 dust and debris, n—visible particles, fragments, or
through roof panels or trench cave-ins. The use of power tools
chunks of material, large enough to have settled in the work
presents possible electrical hazards, particularly in wet envi-
area by virtue of their weight, that are presumed to have
ronments. These and other safety hazards must be considered
originated from asbestos-containing material.
and controlled in compliance with the employer’s policies and
applicable regulations.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
1 3
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Perfor- Available from National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), 1090 Vermont
mance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.24 on Avenue, NW, Suite 700, Washington DC 20005-4905.
Building Preservation and Rehabilitation Technology. Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1 rue de
Current edition approved Oct 1, 2004. Published October 2004. Varembé, Case postale 56, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E2394–04
3.1.6 friable material, n—material easily crumbled or pow- 5. Significance and Use
dered by moderate (hand) pressure. Alternate terms are
5.1 The inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers has been
weakly-bound and low-density materials.
shown to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. The
3.1.7 non-friable material, n—material not easily crumbled
U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency reports that “Effects on
or powdered by moderate (hand) pressure. Alternate terms are
the lung are a major health concern from asbestos, as chronic
strongly-bound and high-density materials.
(long-term) exposure to asbestos in humans via inhalation can
3.1.8 thickened substance, n—a liquid with sufficient den-
result in a lung disease termed asbestosis. Asbestosis is
sity and viscosity to capture dust and debris released from a
characterizedbyshortnessofbreathandcoughandmayleadto
material during one of the operations described in Section 7.
severe impairment of respiratory function. Cancer is also a
major concern from asbestos exposure, as inhalation exposure
4. Summary of Practice
can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the
4.1 Thisstandardpracticedescribesthefollowingaspectsof
thin membranes lining the abdominal cavity and surrounding
maintenance, renovation and repair operations involving in-
internal organs), and possibly gastrointestinal cancers in hu-
stalled asbestos-cement products:
mans. EPAhas classified asbestos as a GroupA, known human
4.1.1 The characteristics of asbestos-cement products com-
carcinogen” (1) . The World Health Organization states: “Ex-
monly found in buildings, facilities and external infrastructure
posure to chrysotile asbestos poses increased risks for asbes-
such as utilities.
tosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma in a dose-dependent
4.1.2 Maintenance, renovation and repair operations that
manner. No threshold has been identified for carcinogenic
can result in the release of airborne asbestos fibers and the
risks” (2).
creation of asbestos-containing dust and debris.
5.2 Extensive litigation has occurred worldwide as a result
4.1.3 Methods for controlling the release of airborne asbes-
of the health effects of asbestos over the past century, resulting
tos fibers and minimizing the creation of asbestos-containing
in considerable economic consequences. The regulatory re-
dust and debris.
sponse to asbestos hazards has resulted in civil sanctions and
4.1.4 Methods of determining and minimizing worker and
criminal prosecution of violators.
community exposure to airborne asbestos fibers from these
5.3 Regarding the production and use of asbestos fiber, the
materials and operations.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports that “Production
4.2 This standard practice accepts the premise that removal
declined from 5.09 million metric tons (Mt) in 1975 to about
of asbestos-cement products is always the preferred approach
1.93 Mt in 1999. Several Western European countries have
because it eliminates the potential for exposure to asbestos
banned some or all asbestos products.” The USGS report
fibers, but also acknowledges that removal is not always
continues, however: “In other regions of the world, there is a
feasible or the most advantageous course of action. In situa-
continued demand for inexpensive, durable construction mate-
tions where asbestos-cement products cannot be removed and
rials.Consequently,marketsremainstrongforasbestos-cement
replaced with asbestos-free materials, this standard practice
(A/C) products, such as A/C panels for construction of build-
provides techniques for maintenance, renovation and repair
ings and A/C pipe for water-supply lines” (3). The World
operations that are most protective of worker and community
Health Organization also states “Construction materials are of
health.
particular concern for several reasons. The construction indus-
4.3 Iftheworkcanbedonewithoutdisturbinganyasbestos-
try workforce is large and measures to control asbestos are
cement products, that is the most desirable course of action to
difficult to institute” (2).
reduce the potential for exposure to asbestos fibers. Before
5.4 The Asbestos Institute reports that “Chrysotile cement
commencing any work involving materials that are suspected
represents between 85 % and 90 % of the market for chrysotile
of containing asbestos, ask if there is reliable information
asbestos.” and that 23 million metric tons of asbestos was
available to confirm the presence or absence of asbestos in the
used in Europe for post-war reconstruction (4). It follows that
product. See 8.1.1 and 8.1.2.
the installed base of asbestos-cement products worldwide is
4.4 This standard practice includes supporting information
enormous and continues to grow. In other words, the problem
and general precautions applicable to the materials and work
of exposure to asbestos fibers from working with these
practices covered to enhance their understanding by the user.
materials is substantial and will remain significant for the
These sections are intended for users with a sufficient technical
foreseeable future.
background to benefit from the material contained therein, and
5.5 The significance of this standard practice is that it
who are probably in a supervisory, management or other
provides work practices that protect worker and community
official capacity within their organization. The appendices
health within the resources available in developing as well as
contain detailed step-by-step instructions for selected proce-
industrialized countries. It relies as much as possible on tools,
dures and materials, and it is expected that these instructions
equipment and supplies that are readily available without
will either be provided to workers in writing or explained to
recourse to specialty suppliers. The techniques require careful
them verbally by their supervisors.
and diligent workmanship but do not require the services of
4.5 This standard practice does not reference the regulations
highly-skilled tradesmen.
of any governmental agency, although excerpts therefrom may
be included. It is expected that users of this standard practice
will comply with all applicable regulations in their country and
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
other governmental jurisdiction thereof. this standard.
E2394–04
5.6 This standard practice is intended to be used not only by weathering, chemical attack, corrosion and physical damage
constructionworkersandtradesmenintheperformanceoftheir that may result in degradation of the surface. The asbestos-
work, but also by building owners and others as the basis for containing dust and debris that is released must be treated as
preparing contracts and tenders for activities included in the friable asbestos-containing material.
scopeofthisstandardpractice.Itwillalsoprovideafoundation 6.3 Another common characteristic of all asbestos-cement
for government officials to develop regulations intended to products is their relative impermeability to water, which
protect worker and community health. Where such regulations reduces the effectiveness of wetting agents that penetrate
already exist, of necessity they take precedence over this friable asbestos-containing materials and reduce fiber release
standard practice in event of a conflict. when the matrix of the material is disturbed.
5.7 Thepersonswhoaremostatriskofexposuretoairborne 6.4 Asbestos-cement products may be installed in combina-
asbestosfibersarethosewhoperformworkonasbestos-cement tion with other friable and non-friable asbestos-containing
productsduringmaintenance,renovationandrepairoperations. materials. For example, asbestos-containing soundproofing
This standard practice places its primary emphasis on the may have been sprayed on the underside of an asbestos-cement
protection of their health. However, other members of the roof deck or inside walls made of asbestos-cement panels.
community—other workers and individuals in a building being Work practices for these associated asbestos-containing mate-
renovated, residents of a house undergoing repairs and unsus- rials are outside the scope of this standard practice, but are
pecting bystanders—are at risk to a lesser degree. By minimiz- discussed in Standard Practice E 1368 and the ASTM Manual
ing the risk to the worker performing the maintenance, reno- on Asbestos Control (5).
vation and repair operations, the potential exposure of others is 6.5 Examples of common asbestos-cement products include
reduced as well. the following. This list is by no means exhaustive.
5.8 It is expected that employers will comply voluntarily 6.5.1 Roofing Materials—The afore-mentioned resistance
with the provisions of this standard practice in the interest of to water penetration resulted in widespread use of asbestos-
protecting worker and community health and reducing their cement corrugated sheets and flat shingles for roofing applica-
ownliability.However,theexistenceofaregulatoryinfrastruc- tions.
ture for occupational and community health greatly enhances 6.5.2 Siding—The afore-mentioned resistance to water pen-
compliance with measures to reduce exposure to asbestos etration resulted in widespread use of asbestos-cement corru-
fibers and other toxic materials. In some countries, such a gated sheets and flat shingles for construction of exterior walls
system is highly advanced, but in others it needs to be created on buildings.
or further developed. These efforts can be furthered by refer- 6.5.3 Flat Panels—Panels of various thickness and finishes
encing this standard practice in laws and regulations and were used inside and outside buildings as architectural mate-
requiring compliance with its provisions. rials, tile underlay, electrical and thermal insulation, and in
5.8.1 Issuance of construction permits can be made contin- greenhouses.
gent on showing evidence of worker training, experience in the 6.5.4 Tanks—Tanks for water and other liquids have been
use of these procedures, and ade
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