Asbestos Surveys and Valley Air District Rule 4002 in Fresno

Asbestos was used in building products for much of the twentieth century. Left intact it is generally not a problem, but demolition and renovation can break it up and release fibers. In the Fresno area the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, usually called the Valley Air District, enforces the local version of the federal asbestos demolition and renovation standard. This is an overview only. Check current requirements with the district or a certified asbestos consultant.

Where asbestos shows up

Common suspects include old floor tile and the mastic under it, plaster and joint compound, texture coatings, roofing, siding and cement board, and pipe or duct insulation. Older homes and pre-war commercial buildings are the most likely candidates, but even buildings from later decades are not automatically clear. Appearance does not settle it. Laboratory testing does.

What a survey looks like

• A certified consultant walks the building and identifies suspect materials.
• Samples are collected and sent to an accredited laboratory.
• A written report lists what contains asbestos, where, and roughly how much.

What Rule 4002 asks for

Rule 4002 adopts the federal national emission standard for asbestos in the Valley. In practice it expects a written notification to the district about ten working days before demolition or covered renovation begins, and that notification is typically required even when the survey finds no asbestos. Exact lead times, forms, fees and thresholds are set by the district and can change, so confirm them before you schedule work.

Why this affects your permit

City building departments commonly want proof of the survey and air-district notification before issuing a demolition permit. Starting the survey late is one of the most common reasons a Fresno-area demolition slips.

Abatement comes before demolition

If regulated asbestos-containing material will be disturbed, it usually has to be removed by properly certified abatement contractors before general demolition proceeds, and disposed of at an approved facility. Abatement is its own trade with its own scheduling and cost.

Other hazards found in the same walk-through

Lead paint in pre-1978 buildings, mercury switches, refrigerants, fluorescent lighting and old fuel or chemical storage can all turn up. Cal/OSHA sets worker-protection rules for lead and asbestos work, and disposal rules differ by material. Raise these early with your contractor.

Practical steps

• Order the survey as soon as you know the project scope.
• Keep the report: the city, the district and your contractor will all ask for it.
• Ask your contractor who files the notification and who pays for abatement.
• Do not start demo, even interior, until the survey and notice are settled.

Fresno Demolition Co coordinates with certified consultants and abatement firms. Call (714) 333-0178 to talk through your building.