You are here: American University Finance Environmental Health and Safety Hazardous Building Materials

Back to top

Hazardous Building Materials

Picture of old AU building

Asbestos containing materials, as well as other hazardous building materials such as lead and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), were routinely used in building construction through the late 1970's. While the amounts of these materials located in buildings has decreased significantly as a result of removal associated with construction/renovation activities, they are still present in some American University buildings.

Regulated building materials may exist in building materials such as walls, floors, ceilings, insulation, caulk, glazing, mastic, paint, light fixtures, fireproofing, and equipment. Regulated building materials pose no health risk when left alone and intact; however, during maintenance, renovation, or demolition, materials that may pose health risks must be managed, abated, and disposed of appropriately according to regulations.

Renovations

It is important to identify hazardous materials during the early planning and design phase of a renovation or building project. Identifying impacted hazardous materials proactively is the best way to ensure a project proceeds smoothly, avoiding unexpected costs, budget delays, health and environmental hazards, and regulatory violations. Environmental Health & Safety has created a checklist to guide university staff members overseeing renovations involving hazardous building materials. Please see our resources.

There are two methods of Identifying Hazardous Building Materials.

  1. Consult Our Historical Data Base: Use Archibus to conduct a historical evaluation of your building site to identify removed, known, and/or presumed hazmat. This will inform what kind of sampling and remediation efforts, if any, are needed! This data base requires special access. Please email Environmental Health & Safety if you need access granted. To learn how to access and use the data base and more please see our resources.
  2. Conduct an Hazardous Building Material Survey (HBMS): A HBMS is a survey conducted by a third party Industrial Hygienist that identifies the presence of hazardous materials in the scope of work of a renovation project.

Asbestos: A naturally occurring fibrous mineral, historically used in thermal system insulation, fire doors, plaster, floor and ceiling tiles, and adhesives and mastics. Inhaled asbestos fibers become trapped in the body and cause diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

ACM: Asbestos-Containing Material. Any material containing greater than one-percent (1%) asbestos.

Lead-Based Paint: Lead-based paint is still present in millions of homes built prior to 1978, normally under layers of newer paint. If the paint is in good shape, the lead-based paint is usually not a problem. Deteriorating lead-based paint is a hazard to occupant health and needs immediate attention. The District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia define lead-based paint (LBP) as paint or other surface coating that contains greater than 0.50% lead by weight or equal to or greater than 1.0 milligrams of lead per square centimeter. The State of Maryland defines LBP as paint or other surface coating that contains greater than 0.50% lead by weight or greater than 0.7 milligrams of lead per square centimeter. Definitions of LBP may vary in other jurisdictions.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): PCBs are a group of man-made chemicals that are highly carcinogenic and were used in many consumer and industrial products before 1980. They were popular for being great insulators.

Mercury-Containing Lamps: All fluorescent and high-intensity-discharge lights, bulbs, tubes, and lamps on campus.  The mercury contained in these lamps is in vapor form and is extremely harmful to humans and the environment. This policy also covers mercury-based thermometers which are no longer in use by the university. In the event someone comes across a mercury based thermometer notify Environmental Health & Safety for proper disposal.