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Bulk and Air Sampling

Bulk Sampling

The Asbestos Inspector is responsible for conducting bulk sampling for suspect building materials. More information is available here.

Bulk sample data

Historical building sampling data is kept in Access databases (by building). Bulk samples collected since 2002 have been kept by the designated safety representative in hard copy or electronic format. Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, all new bulk samples shall be entered into the historical Access databases. Designated Safety Representatives (DSRs) should have a plan for adding samples taken between 2002 and 2017 into the system in a timely manner. The Access databases shall be maintained by Environmental Health & Safety and made accessible to all necessary parties via Sharepoint (or other appropriate means).

Renovation/demolition projects

Information regarding asbestos for renovation or demolition projects shall be provided by the Designated Safety Representative to the respective project manager upon request. This information shall be provided in writing, and in accordance with state and federal requirements. Asbestos Inspection Reports shall be provided to the project manager and contractor prior to the start of abatement activities.

For leased properties, third-party sampling to identify asbestos-containing material is typically performed for construction and renovation projects. Environmental Health & Safety should be copied on the analysis and report.

General Information

General information regarding ACM in buildings can be obtained by contacting the respective DSR or Environmental Health & Safety.

Bulk sample collection

Unless presumed to contain asbestos, all suspect materials must be sampled prior to renovation, demolition, or maintenance projects where the suspect material has the potential to be disturbed. Suspect materials must be identified as asbestos-containing material or non-asbestos-containing material with the use of historic sampling data, written product certification, or sample collection and analysis. Historic sampling data should be supplemented with confirmatory sampling when in doubt.

Where the project will render previously inaccessible materials (e.g. located within a wall cavity or above a hard ceiling) accessible, it is recommended that every effort be made to access and sample suspect materials in advance of the project. Upon discovery of previously untested, inaccessible suspect materials, work must cease until further sampling is conducted. Locked rooms or spaces above drop ceiling tiles or below raised floors are not considered inaccessible and are required to be sampled.

Bulk samples collected for Virginia Tech to be shared with third-parties (e.g. contractors, vendors, etc.) shall be collected by a Virginia licensed and accredited Asbestos Inspector. Asbestos Inspectors shall conduct all asbestos inspections in accordance with 40 CFR 763.86 and are to include both building interior and exterior suspect materials, floor to roof, as applicable to the project scope. Each sample shall be assigned a unique identification number, using one of the following formats - work order number-sequential number (of samples), or building number-room number-sequential number (of samples).  Examples:  2-123456-001, 22-123456-002 or 123-456-001, 123-456-002. 

Air sampling is performed on asbestos abatement projects on campus where the building is occupied, or intended to be occupied upon completion of projects meeting or exceeding VOSH notification, or whenever the building or property owner deems it necessary.

Project Monitoring

Air Sampling