How to safely handle Asbestos Shingles?

[bobpaquette]

Need to know how to safely secure a meter and wire and make a penetration to a service panel onto/into a older multi-family with asbestos/ceramic shingles. The electrical techniques are not confusing me.....its my ignorance on how to safely handle these asbestos shingles without exposing my customers, the public, and myself to asbestos dust.
This building's exterior is in good shape and would be cost prohibitive to completely re-side, but, a attic is to be converted to a new living space and needs a new above ground service.
Does anyone have any creative solutions/ tecniques/ products for this problem?
Run water while drilling? Replace shingles in the service drop area with wood or plastic? Find or make a non-asbestos shingle and paint it to match?
I appreciate any ideas or information you may share....Thanks.

Sincerely
Bob Paquette

Removed the e-mail address. Please use the PM system to exchange personal information and e-mail addresses. Thanks, Charlie

[ May 26, 2005, 08:59 PM: Message edited by: charlie ]

 

[petersonra]

Re: How to safely handle Asbestos Shingles?

Pay someone who knows how to handle asbestos properly to do the drilling and sealing of the siding?

 

[bobpaquette]

Re: How to safely handle Asbestos Shingles?

Do you mean a Asbestos Abatement contractor? Or a nother type of service provider?
Thanks

 

[mdshunk]

Re: How to safely handle Asbestos Shingles?

Are you sure that these are asbestos? I took a sample of what I was sure was some asbestos siding to a lab and had it checked for a rental I was considering purchasing. I thought it might provide some leverage for price negotiation. For 20 bucks, they told me it wasn't asbestos.

 

[bobpaquette]

Re: How to safely handle Asbestos Shingles?

Good point...still, this is highly likely to be asbestos...but, it would be worth my while to test. Just trying to plan for the worst.
There are many older single/multi family dwellings in this region of the country that have these hard tall shingles.
I have seen some short cement shingles that are available for new housing [on HGTV]. But the cement ones where longer and not as tall.
No matter the outcome of testing, I will need to learn how to deal with it sooner or later if I plan to do old work. [Whether to sub with some expert or find ways around the problem]
Need to have a worst case plan so I can plan for the costs and not freak out the customers.

 

[apauling]

Re: How to safely handle Asbestos Shingles?

if you are the electrical contractor, not the GC, have the GC deal with the abatement as there will be plenty of it, if actually is asbestos.

if you drill slow with a very, very sharp spade bit, slowly, there's better than a 50%chance that you won't split the shingle. back the split and caulk the crack.

paul

 

[petersonra]

Re: How to safely handle Asbestos Shingles?

Originally posted by apauling:
if you drill slow with a very, very sharp spade bit, slowly, there's better than a 50%chance that you won't split the shingle. back the split and caulk the crack.

paul

but if he does that, he will create airborne dust particles containing asbestos, which is not ideal. splitting the shingle is the least of his problems.

I say its the GC's problem to deal with unless the GC told him there was asbestos.

 

[apauling]

Re: How to safely handle Asbestos Shingles?

it's wet. no dust.

if these shingles are such hazards, they should be abated without reference to new construction. A number of things bang into houses, from garbage cans to baseballs, splitting the shingles, or even breaking them off. If this creates a real hazard, then they should be abated. Since this was not the homowner's fault, but oversight on the part of the manufacturer, and testing agencies. The various fed agencies that have signed off on the company, the listing agency for the shingles, and the requiring agency should pick up the tab.

paul

 

[wtucker]

Re: How to safely handle Asbestos Shingles?

Here are your legal concerns: OSHA, which is concerned with how much asbestos an employee might breathe; EPA, which is concerned with how much might get into the environment, and whatever state or local laws or regulations might come into play.
Often the simplest, safest way is not to remove all the asbestos, but to simply hire an asbestos abatement company to make whatever penetrations you need. Intact transite, even when cracked, typically does not release asbestos fibers. It's the drilling, saw-cutting, abrading, etc., that creates the problem. Have a pro do that, and you're off the hook. They have the training, equipment and (at least in my state) the license to do it right.

 

[gregoryfast]

Re: How to safely handle Asbestos Shingles?

You need to erect a visquene shelter and maintain positive pressure at all times. Monitor air to prove that you didn't exceed max. allowable levels. Wear a respirator, disposable clothing and rubber boots with ducktape around the hem. Clean shave, no beard with respirator

All kidding aside, if you put shaving cream on your hole saw and go slow, you won't raise dust. Hose it down and you are good to go. This is for outside only. The major concern with asbestos is that the fibers float around forever inside. Asbestos is naturally occuring outside in many parts of the country.

 

[be4jc]

Re: How to safely handle Asbestos Shingles?

Hepa Vacume!!! I used one once @ CSU chico to clear the air while I cut holes thru plaster walls to install new doors.


Or Contact your local City or County health Dept. for what there requirements are for drilling a hole thru such shingle(s)

[ June 02, 2005, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: be4jc ]