Asbestos

If you are remodeling, renovating, or demolishing, you may be subject to State and Federal Regulations requiring an inspection for asbestos.  If you are impacting greater than the trigger levels of suspect asbestos-containing materials (ACM), you must have your project inspected for ACM by a Colorado-certified asbestos building inspector before commencing work. Demolishing a building in Colorado involves several critical steps, primarily driven by safety, environmental regulations (especially concerning asbestos), and local permitting requirements.  

For All Renovation Projects:

• Mandatory Inspection: Colorado state law requires an asbestos inspection for all demolition projects, regardless of the building's age. 
• This must be performed by a Colorado-certified asbestos building inspector. 
• Trigger Levels: Be aware of "trigger levels" for asbestos-containing materials (ACM). If the amount of suspect ACM to be disturbed exceeds these levels (e.g., 50 linear feet on pipes or 32 square feet on other surfaces for single-family homes; higher for commercial buildings), additional regulations apply.
• Abatement (if necessary): If regulated asbestos-containing materials are found, they must be removed by a Colorado-certified General Abatement Contractor prior to demolition, especially if they are friable (can be crumbled by hand pressure) or will become friable during demolition.  The Asbestos Abatement Notification Permit and Application Form needs to completed and sent to the Colorado Department of Public health and Environment along with its applicable fees. 
• Disposal: All ACM waste, regardless of quantity, must be disposed of at an approved asbestos waste disposal site. 
• CDPHE Notification: Even if no asbestos is found, a Demolition Notification Application Form must be submitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) along with a fee. There's typically a 10-working-day advance notification period before demolition can proceed. 
  • Mandatory Inspection: Colorado state law requires an asbestos inspection for all demolition projects, regardless of the building's age. This must be performed by a Colorado-certified asbestos building inspector.
  • Trigger Levels: Be aware of "trigger levels" for asbestos-containing materials (ACM). If the amount of suspect ACM to be disturbed exceeds these levels (e.g., 50 linear feet on pipes or 32 square feet on other surfaces for single-family homes; higher for commercial buildings), additional regulations apply.
  • Abatement (if necessary): If regulated asbestos-containing materials are found, they must be removed by a Colorado-certified General Abatement Contractor prior to demolition, especially if they are friable (can be crumbled by hand pressure) or will become friable during demolition.
  • Disposal: All ACM waste, regardless of quantity, must be disposed of at an approved asbestos waste disposal site.  You can find a approved asbestos waste disposal site HERE       
  • CDPHE Notification: Even if no asbestos is found, a Demolition Notification Application Form must be submitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) along with a fee. There's typically a 10-working-day advance notification period before demolition can proceed.
• An abatement permit application to CDPHE for a notice/permit may be required, along with payment of a fee and a ten (10) working-day notification period (emergencies may be excluded) before the removal (abatement) of regulated asbestos-containing materials.  ALL ACM waste must be disposed of at an approved asbestos waste disposal site – regardless of the quantity or the necessity for a notice/permit.
• Here is Delta County Public Health's quick Demolition Project for a step by step guideline. 

Visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment abatement web page for more information and forms.

If you have any questions please call a Delta County Public Health Environmental Health Specialist at (970) 874- 2166 or email at eh@deltacountyco.gov.