Asbestos and lead

Asbestos was popular for a reason. It was commonly used in home building materials before the mid-1970s, and occasionally until the late 1980s, because it is strong, resists fire and corrosion, and insulates well. Materials with more than one percent asbestos are called asbestos-containing materials (ACM).

In a heating and cooling system, it can hide in insulation and fittings. The EPA advises checking a system before duct cleaning to be sure there is no asbestos-containing material in it, such as insulation or register boots. If you are not sure whether your home has it, ask people who often work around it, such as plumbers, contractors and heating specialists, or hire an asbestos inspector. Inspectors identify asbestos by sampling the materials they suspect.

Source: Illinois EPA · U.S. EPA · Illinois Department of Public Health

Finding asbestos does not mean it has to go. Asbestos in your home is not a concern if it stays undamaged and does not crumble. If it is in good condition and left in place, it should not present health risks. Leaving it in place when possible is often the best option.

The risk comes from disturbing it. Disturbing it may release microscopic fibers into the air that could be breathed in. A person must breathe in asbestos fibers to have any chance of an asbestos-related disease; swallowing fibers does not pose a health risk. Once breathed in, fibers can stay lodged in the body for a long time and can cause cancer. So do not cut, scrape or pull at old pipe or boiler wrap yourself.

Source: Illinois EPA

Asbestos that crumbles easily needs watching. If it is present, inspect it regularly for damage, such as missing or fallen sections or pieces hanging loose. Damaged asbestos material can be repaired instead of removed, and a trained professional should make the repairs. Sealing it over (encapsulation) is not appropriate if the material is deteriorated or the sealant does not stick to it.

Planned work changes the picture. Hire a qualified inspector to check your building for asbestos before any renovation or tear-down. It should be removed before tear-down and some renovation, by a licensed contractor. In some renovation projects it may need to be removed, but removal is not required.

Source: Illinois EPA

The rules depend on the building. The federal asbestos air rules and other asbestos regulations do not apply to privately owned homes and apartment buildings with four or fewer units. In commercial and public buildings, Illinois requires contractors, workers, supervisors, inspectors and project designers to be licensed by the Department of Public Health. Licensing is required for work on more than 3 square feet or 3 linear feet there. All contractors who do asbestos abatement must carry insurance and be licensed.

Heating work in Chicago has its own requirement. The city's permit guide says HVAC work must follow the asbestos handling practices required by city, state and federal law, and you may need to file an Asbestos Project Notification with the Chicago Department of Public Health before work involving asbestos. Some towns also have permit fees or other rules for asbestos work, so check with local authorities first.

Source: Illinois EPA · Illinois General Assembly · Illinois Department of Public Health · City of Chicago

Lead is the other old-house hazard. Homes built before 1978, when lead-based paint was banned, probably contain it, and when the paint peels and cracks, it makes lead dust. Chicago says to assume the indoor and outdoor paint in pre-1978 housing contains lead unless tests show otherwise. About 1.6 million homes in Illinois may contain lead-based paint.

Heating work can disturb it. Any renovation, repair or painting project in a pre-1978 home with lead-based paint can easily create dangerous lead dust. Even the deepest layers of lead paint can be disturbed during remodeling or repair, and the only way to know for sure is to have it tested by a licensed lead professional. Most lead-poisoned children are poisoned in their own homes, through dust from deteriorated lead paint or from paint disturbed by renovation and repainting. Illinois law says intact lead paint is not by itself a lead hazard.

Source: City of Chicago · Illinois Department of Public Health · U.S. EPA · Illinois General Assembly

Federal rules control who may disturb old paint for pay. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in housing or child-occupied buildings built before 1978 must be certified, including sole proprietors. Since April 22, 2010, firms doing this work must be EPA- or state-certified and use certified renovators who follow specific work practices. The rule covers remodeling and repair, electrical work, plumbing, painting preparation, carpentry and window replacement.

There are limits and exceptions. Minor repair and maintenance that disturbs six square feet or less of paint per room inside, or 20 square feet or less outside, is generally not covered. Paint testing is not required, but unless there is paperwork showing the paint is not lead-based, the rule applies. The rule generally does not apply to homeowners working on their own pre-1978 homes, but it does if they rent out all or part of the home, run a child care center there or renovate homes to sell.

Renters and owners both have a part. If you rent a pre-1978 home, your landlord or property manager must follow the rule when doing work that disturbs paint. The EPA recommends that homeowners hire a lead-safe certified contractor for this kind of project. Lead abatement, the specialized work meant to address lead in the home, is different, and in Chicago it must be done by a state-licensed lead abatement contractor.

Source: U.S. EPA · City of Chicago