ASBESTOS

If your building tests positive for asbestos, is there a small allowable amount that can be removed for emergency plumbing etc repairs? (under X number of sq feet, no abatement needed?)

Or do we let the units flood out while we wait for the men in moonsuits to arrive to cut a small hole in the drywall so we can fix the leak.

thanks in advance for any guidance in this matter.

I had my team do some research and from what I can find so far there is no minimum sq ft rules like you would find in lead paint for example. Its better to err on the side of caution and contact the EPA for further guidelines

According to the information I have from the asbestos class I took, the limit is 3 square feet but according to OSHA, it must be reported to them first before the work is done. Also, one tip that I learned was to wet the sheetrock first to help eliminate the dust, thereby eliminating it from becoming airborne. If this is a problem you expect to have again in the future (such as the ceiling below a shower) there are small plastic trap doors that can be installed instead of replacing the sheetrock.