EPA Discovers Asbestos Insulation on Ductwork in Region 7 school

Read the EPA Region 7’s observations about the discovery of asbestos and transite in a school in the Kansas, Missour, Nebraska and Tribal Regions. A troubling and problematic discovery was the detection of asbestos insulation (transite) on the heating and ventilation ductwork in one school.

Our research has determined that in the late 1960's and early 1970's it was common to line underground ductwork with transite to make it more durable. Our discovery was made by a heating and ventilation specialist, and not by an asbestos inspector.

I encourage all schools to review their heating and ventilation plans to see if this hazard exists at their school. This can be of critical importance for maintaining indoor air quality.

Many schools consider ductwork cleaning to be a first step to maintaining indoor air quality but if you apply abrasive chemicals, a wire brush or vacuum system to a transite lined ductwork then you may be releasing asbestos fibers into the school, and as a result, your efforts will result in a significant degradation of indoor air quality. I encourage you to have both a heating and ventilation specialist and an asbestos inspector review this issue for your school system.

Finally, I have also noted a number of areas in the local schools where ACM may be routinely exposed to water damage. This causes concern because the repetitive exposure of ACM to water increases its rate of degradation and increases the likelihood of a release.

The following types of ACM are susceptible to water damage: acoustical tiles, ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, certain types of fire proofing and insulation, boiler insulation and joint insulation.

I recommend that you a)identify where your ACM is present, b) determine if water damage is present or likely, c) take steps to control or prevent water damage, and d) if water damage cannot be prevented or the damage is beyond repair - remove the ACM.

Courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency