1. (a) Prior to the start of the abatement, the owner or operator shall prepare each work area as follows:

   1. (1) Post telephone numbers of the nearest emergency facilities in a location that is visible from the work area;
   2. (2) Ensure that all heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in or passing through the work area are turned off, and take other measures, such as taping over on/off switches, to prevent accidental start-ups of the HVAC system;
   3. (3) Isolate contaminated areas from uncontaminated areas with air-tight barriers over all openings between the work area and uncontaminated areas, including but not limited to windows, doorways, elevator openings, corridor entrances, ventilation openings, drains, ducts, grills, grates, diffusers, and skylights, but excluding the decontamination enclosure system doorways, using sheeting having a minimum thickness of 6 mil;
   4. (4) Post warning signs, as specified in 29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(4), at all entrances to the work area;

   5. (5) For movable objects in the work area:

      1. a. Remove all uncontaminated objects;
      2. b. For all contaminated objects:

      3. i. Decontaminate the object; or

         ii. Prepare the object for disposal as asbestos waste prior to removal from the work area; and

      4. c. Remove objects specified in b. from the work area;

   6. (6) For non-movable objects in the work area:

      1. a. Decontaminate all contaminated objects; and
      2. b. Cover with sheeting having a minimum thickness of 4 mil secured in place; and

   7. (7) Except as provided in (b), below, completely cover all uncontaminated floors, walls, ceiling surfaces and HVAC system components in the work area with sheeting as follows:

      1. a. Size and install so as to minimize seams;
      2. b. Do not locate sheeting seams at any floor/wall, wall/wall or ceiling/wall corners;
      3. c. Cover the floor with a minimum of 2 layers of at least 6 mil sheeting and extend the sheeting at least 12 inches up each wall;
      4. d. Cover the walls with a minimum of one layer of at least 6 mil sheeting and extend the sheeting at least 12 inches across the floor;
      5. e. Cover the ceiling with a minimum of one layer of at least 6 mil sheeting and extend the sheeting at least 12 inches down each wall; and
      6. f. Cover all intake and exhaust openings and any seams in all HVAC system components with a minimum of 2 layers of at least 6 mil or thicker sheeting or with tape.

2. (b) For vinyl asbestos floor tile or vinyl asbestos floor sheeting that has mastic or felt backing, protective sheeting shall be used as follows:

   1. (1) Ceiling sheeting as specified in (a)(7)e. shall not be required; and
   2. (2) Wall sheeting as specified in (a)(7)d. shall be 4 mil or thicker and cover the bottom 4 feet of each wall.

Source. (See Revision Note #1, Revision Note #2, and Revision Note #3 at chapter heading for Env-A 1800) #14104, eff 11-1-24, EXPIRES: 11-1-34