Construction, demolition and alteration work

• Pages: 57-58

18. Construction, demolition and alteration work

18.1. Construction work

18.1.1. All material to be used on site and containing asbestos should be labelled

in such way as to alert the user to the potential health hazards involved and to the

appropriate precautions to be taken.

18.1.2. (1) Where a large amount of work has to be carried out on materials

containing asbestos, such work should be done on a portion of the work site set aside

for the purpose.

(2) Where practicable, a shed or a separate part of a building should be

allocated for such work.

18.1.3. The provisions of this code should be followed for all work on asbestos-

cement materials and also on all other products containing asbestos, such as asbestos

boards and tiles.

18.1.4. Materials containing asbestos in bonded form, such as caulking

compounds and bituminous damp coursing, should, when sanded or otherwise abraded,

be subject to appropriate precautions.

18.1.5. At regular intervals, and at the end of each work period, the provisions

on waste disposal of this code should be followed.

18.2. Demolition and alteration work

18.2.1. (1) Where it has been previously identified that buildings or fixed or

movable structures contain substantial amounts of asbestos-containing insulation

materials liable to become airborne, only persons or bodies acceptable to the competent

authority in accordance with national practice should carry out their demolition or

alteration.

(2) Where it is subsequently discovered that such asbestos-containing

materials are present, or where such materials are present only to a limited extent,

specialised contractors acceptable to the competent authority in accordance with

national practice should undertake that part of the work.

18.2.2. It should be the responsibility of these authorised persons or bodies to

identify asbestos-containing insulation or lagging before demolition commences and to

ensure the safe removal and disposal of the material in accordance with the provisions

of the national regulations.

18.2.3. All sprayed thermal or acoustic insulation, lagging and loose insulation

of a fibrous nature should be regarded as containing asbestos until otherwise

established.

18.2.4. (1) For positive identification the samples taken to identify the possible

presence of asbestos should be analysed in a suitably equipped laboratory.

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