Homeowners living in single family dwellings may remove asbestos they find in their homes themselves. They are also exempt from the requirement to notify DNREC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Owner-occupants of single-family dwellings are exempt from the regulations regarding the training and licensing of asbestos workers overseen by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). See Section 5 (Compliance) of the Regulation Governing the State of Delaware Asbestos Certification and Training Program (19 DE Admin. Code 4103).

This exemption does not include landlords or real estate developers.

Homeowners may assume that building materials contain asbestos. Or they can have a professional service firm, certified by the state OMB, test to see if asbestos is present.

If homeowners decide to hire a contractor to remove asbestos, they must hire an asbestos contractor licensed by the OMB.

If homeowners decide to remove asbestos themselves, they must follow the requirements for “non-NESHAP” asbestos projects found in Section 10 of the Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (7 DE Admin. Code 1121). These include wetting, packaging, labelling, transporting and disposing of asbestos at approved waste disposal facilities.

Any asbestos that is in good condition and will not be disturbed during renovation or demolition may be left in place. However, any asbestos in poor condition, beyond repair, or that will be disturbed, must be removed before the start of renovation or demolition.

Homeowners should use extreme caution when dealing with asbestos. They should consider hiring a licensed asbestos contractor.

For more information on self-removal of asbestos, please review How to Properly Remove Cement Asbestos Board Siding.

Related Topics:  air quality, asbestos, clean air, Health and Safety, home, homeowners