Chapter 10.6Asbestos Abatement and Control

Section § 25925

Explanation

This law section defines key terms related to asbestos. 'Asbestos' refers to a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals, such as chrysotile and amosite. 'Asbestos materials' are products made by mixing asbestos fibers with other substances like rock wool or plaster. Lastly, a 'public building' is any facility owned or rented by the California State, University of California, or local agencies, but does not include primary or secondary schools.

(a)CA Health and Safety Code § 25925(a)  “Asbestos” means naturally occurring fibrous hydrated mineral silicates, including chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, fibrous tremolite, fibrous anthophyllite, and fibrous actinolite.
(b)CA Health and Safety Code § 25925(b)  “Asbestos materials” means materials formed by mixing asbestos fibers with other products, including, but not limited to, rock wool, plaster, cellulose, clay, vermiculite, perlite, and a variety of adhesives, whether sprayed on surfaces or applied to surfaces in the form of a plaster or a textured paint.
(c)CA Health and Safety Code § 25925(c)  “Public building” means any structure, facility, or building owned or leased by the State of California, the University of California, or any local agency as defined in Section 54980 of the Government Code. “Public building” does not include any building or structure used for a primary or secondary school.
asbestos definition fibrous minerals asbestos materials chrysotile amosite public building California state-owned buildings local agency buildings University of California buildings asbestos products rock wool plaster with asbestos building exclusions
(Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 116, Sec. 1. Effective May 28, 1986.)

Section § 25926

Explanation

The law highlights the dangers of asbestos exposure, which is linked to serious diseases like cancer. To protect children and school staff, California has implemented a program to remove asbestos from schools. Asbestos was widely used in public buildings for many purposes, but if it deteriorates, it can release harmful fibers into the air. This poses a health risk to the public and employees. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and manage asbestos in public buildings carefully, especially during repairs or renovations, to ensure public safety.

The Legislature finds that:
(a)CA Health and Safety Code § 25926(a)  Substantial medical and scientific evidence indicates that human exposure to asbestos fibers significantly increases the risk of contracting cancer and other debilitating or fatal diseases, including, but not limited to, asbestosis.
(b)CA Health and Safety Code § 25926(b)  The Legislature has taken measures to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure for school children and school employees by creating a statewide program to rid schools of asbestos (Chapter 1751, Statutes of 1984).
(c)CA Health and Safety Code § 25926(c)  Asbestos materials were commonly used in public buildings for fireproofing, soundproofing, decoration, thermal insulation, and other purposes.
(d)CA Health and Safety Code § 25926(d)  When these materials deteriorate or become loose, damaged, or friable, they release asbestos fibers into the ambient air. This may result in exposure of employees and the public to potentially dangerous levels of asbestos.
(e)CA Health and Safety Code § 25926(e)  It is vital for the safety of the public to identify the precise location and condition of asbestos materials in public buildings in order to institute abatement and control procedures as needed and to ensure that when repairs or renovations are undertaken that any asbestos materials present are properly handled.
asbestos exposure asbestos risks cancer risk asbestosis asbestos abatement school asbestos program public building safety asbestos management asbestos fiber release asbestos in public buildings asbestos condition assessment safety procedures public health protection renovation precautions asbestos control
(Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 116, Sec. 1. Effective May 28, 1986.)

Section § 25927

Explanation

This law creates the Asbestos Assessment Task Force to address asbestos issues in California's public buildings. It involves several state departments focusing on public and employee safety. The task force will inspect buildings, design inspection forms, rate buildings by asbestos hazard levels, and develop emergency procedures for buildings with severe asbestos threats.

They will also create a system to inform maintenance staff and the public about asbestos risks and actions being taken, along with maintaining a statewide asbestos info register. By reviewing laws and research, the task force will set standards to assess and control asbestos exposure, including holding public hearings for input.

However, the state is not obliged to repair buildings unless that duty existed before this law. Local agencies are encouraged to help by providing necessary data to the task force.

It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure the safety of the public and of public employees by creating an interdepartmental task force composed of representatives from the State Department of Health Services, the Department of Industrial Relations, the Department of General Services, and the Commission on Building Standards, which shall be known as the Asbestos Assessment Task Force to analyze the magnitude of the asbestos problem in public buildings.
The State Department of Health Services shall be responsible for coordinating the work of the Asbestos Assessment Task Force and compiling a report to include all of the following:
(a)CA Health and Safety Code § 25927(a)  A statewide inspection plan and a schedule for assessing the presence and condition of asbestos in public buildings. In developing the inspection plan the Asbestos Assessment Task Force shall do all of the following:
(1)CA Health and Safety Code § 25927(a)(1)  Inspect a representative sample of public buildings and utilize the data to project priorities and costs for inspection and asbestos abatement and control required for public buildings.
(2)CA Health and Safety Code § 25927(a)(2)  Design a uniform reporting form for building inspection to document the presence of asbestos and their location within the building. The form shall contain an evaluation of the extent to which any asbestos materials are loose, friable, flaking, dusting or otherwise show evidence of damage, deterioration, or disturbance and the causes, if ascertainable, of such problems.
(3)CA Health and Safety Code § 25927(a)(3)  Develop criteria to rate buildings according to the degree of hazard posed by the presence and condition of the asbestos materials in the buildings. The criteria shall include, but not be limited to, considerations of the exposure potential for the type of public and employee use of the building and the condition and location of the asbestos material. The criteria shall include a designation of an emergency situation in which the condition or location of the asbestos materials constitutes an imminent and severe threat to human health.
(4)CA Health and Safety Code § 25927(a)(4)  Design an emergency procedure for buildings in which the condition of the asbestos materials constitutes an imminent and severe threat to human health.
(5)CA Health and Safety Code § 25927(a)(5)  Design an information system which will provide building maintenance personnel, employees and the public with information about the asbestos materials in the building. The information system shall include a notification procedure for employees and the public concerning any activities to contain or remove asbestos materials or to renovate, repair, or engage in construction activities in buildings containing asbestos materials.
(6)CA Health and Safety Code § 25927(a)(6)  Design a statewide register which contains information, including, but not limited to, reports of any inspection for asbestos and any containment, abatement, encapsulation or other asbestos control measures.
(b)CA Health and Safety Code § 25927(b)  Review the relevant research, laws and regulations and develop methods and standards to accurately assess the potential for employee and public exposure to asbestos in public buildings. These methods and standards shall include recommendations for effective asbestos control which may be taken to minimize employee and public exposure and recommendations regarding standards for minimum levels of asbestos concentration in ambient air in public buildings. In developing the methods and standards the Asbestos Assessment Task Force shall hold public hearings to obtain testimony from the scientific community and the public.
The duties to inspect public buildings and to report to the Legislature which are imposed on the state pursuant to this chapter shall not be interpreted to impose on the state, the University of California, or any local agency any duty to repair buildings if that duty does not exist on the date this chapter becomes operative.
Local agencies are urged to provide the Asbestos Assessment Task Force with data needed by the task force to complete the duties imposed pursuant to this chapter.
Asbestos Assessment Task Force public safety asbestos inspection emergency procedures uniform reporting form hazard rating imminent threat information system exposure potential public hearings asbestos control ambient air standards asbestos abatement statewide register public buildings
(Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 116, Sec. 1. Effective May 28, 1986.)

Section § 25929

Explanation

This law states that any new building standards developed under this chapter must be added to the State Building Standards Code, which is part of Title 24 of the California Administrative Code.

If any building standards are adopted pursuant to this chapter, the standards shall be placed in the appropriate sections of the State Building Standards Code, contained in Title 24 of the California Administrative Code.
building standards State Building Standards Code Title 24 California Administrative Code adoption process placement of standards regulatory updates code integration construction regulations compliance requirements building regulations administrative procedures California building code state regulations standards adoption
(Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 116, Sec. 1. Effective May 28, 1986.)