Arkansas Demolition Safety

Regulation 21 aims to prevent people from being exposed to asbestos by regulating how asbestos-containing material (ACM) must be handled. It mandates that building material containing more than one percent asbestos is considered ACM and requires that persons handling asbestos greater than 160 square feet or 260 linear feet of regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) are trained, certified professionals.

The regulation applies only to facilities as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This includes a variety of structures such as institutional, commercial, public, industrial, schools, churches, ships, active and inactive waste sites, and certain residential buildings with more than four units, among others.

Yes, the regulation does not apply to SFDs occupied by the homeowner. However, it does regulate SFDs that are intentionally burned for fire training, demolished for urban renewal or highway development, used by a commercial business, or are part of a larger demolition or renovation project.

Before any demolition or renovation, all facilities must be inspected for asbestos. If RACM is present in excess of 160 square feet or 260 linear feet, or if the renovation involves resilient floor and/or mastic covering greater than 160 square feet or 260 linear feet (even if no RACM is present), a Notice of Intent (NOI) must be submitted. Additionally, renovation that will disturb more than three square or three linear feet of RACM requires a project design, and renovation of RACM greater than 160 square/260 linear feet must be performed by a certified asbestos professional. All demolitions require a written NOI to be sent to DEQ, even if no asbestos is present.