Targus was retained to perform a Pre-Renovation Asbestos Survey of the area designated for renovation at the City of Dallas MLK Child Care Center. The renovation was anticipated to include removal and replacement of damaged original classroom floorings in the early 1970s building. Suspect asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that appeared to have the potential for disturbance during the repairs included floor tile/ mastic and cove base/ mastic located along the base of the wall in the area of the damaged floor tile.
The survey was performed to comply with requirements applicable to the U.S. EPA (40 CFR 61 (M) - National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants [NESHAP]), the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules (TAHPR). Collectively, these regulations require that, prior to any construction, renovation, or demolition, the area where the work is to be performed shall be inspected by a properly trained and licensed individual for the presence of ACMs that may be disturbed during the work. Collectively, these rules set forth requirements for the minimum number of samples per homogeneous area of suspect ACM with a minimum of no fewer than three samples to demonstrate that a suspect material is non-asbestos-containing.
After an inspection of the renovation areas, a map of the classrooms in question was prepared to illustrate the locations of homogeneous flooring areas included in the survey. A description of each area and ACM, together with its condition, was included. A total of 12 bulk samples of suspect ACMs anticipated to be disturbed during the proposed renovation were collected and submitted for bulk sample analysis by Polarized Light Microscopy with Dispersion Staining (PLM/DS) EPA Method 600/ R-93/ 116.
Asbestos was not detected in the floor tile, rubber shoe molding, or associated mastics. However, a layer of texture from the concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall adhered to the shoe molding mastic was found to contain 2% chrysotile asbestos. As a result of these findings, Targus reported that the flooring itself could be removed and replaced without necessity of asbestos abatement. However, it was cautioned that the renovation must be completed without disturbance of the mastic underlying the shoe molding unless asbestos abatement was undertaken in advance.
As a result of the assessment report, the city and its building contractors were able to undertake the renovation project without costly additional abatement measures.
