CT Asbestos Siding Removal Regulations

Asbestos siding was commonly used in buildings and homes from around the 1920s until the 1970s. It was discovered that when materials that contain asbestos are disturbed, they can release microscopic fibers that if inhaled can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer. So if you're a Connecticut resident and you want to remove asbestos siding from a building, you should become familiar with the state's asbestos regulations.

Connecticut law prohibits anyone without an asbestos abatement license to remove asbestos that is more than three linear feet. Because most siding will exceed that length, you'll need to contact a licensed asbestos removal company. The contractor or property owner must notify the Commission of the Department of Public Health before asbestos abatement that involves more than 10 linear feet or more than 25 square feet of asbestos-containing material. Contact the DPH for the appropriate notification forms, which must be postmarked or hand delivered at least 10 days prior to the abatement.

The asbestos contractor and owner must maintain records relating to the abatement for 30 years. The contractor creates these records and must supply a copy to the property owner. The records must describe the location and a description of the project, as well as the estimated amount and type of asbestos involved in the project. Among the data to be included are the start and completion dates, a summary of the procedures used and results of air sampling tests.

Signs must be posted around the work site, ventilation systems must be shut down, movable objects near the asbestos should be removed and floors and walls must be covered by polyethylene sheeting. The work area must be restricted only to people with proper respiratory protection. Contractors must use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration and wet cleaning techniques to clean up. Waste water must be filtered by the best available technology. Waste that contains asbestos has to be wetted with an amended solution and sealed in leak-tight containers. The asbestos material must be disposed of in an authorized asbestos disposal facility.

All asbestos-containing materials to be removed must be wetted, and components must be removed intact or in large sections if possible. A special coating should be applied to the surface under the asbestos siding or other material to be removed. This will seal any residual fibers. No vehicles or equipment should be removed from the site without proper decontamination. Wood or other materials to be removed from the site may be wrapped in polyethylene for disposal or transport.