In spite of my best advice to the contrary, I now am in a position where the Owner insists on including asbestos abatement in the contract for construction, which does include some demolition. I have a copy of the asbestos report; asbestos was found in window “chalking” (I hope it means calking) and in pipe insulation.
Does anyone have a section they’d be willing to share? The project is in New York. I have a Wisconsin section that is for a much more complex abatement situation and I’d feel better about this if I had another section for comparison.
Thanks. (ljavoroski@flad.com)
For what it is worth considering the source, the following is link to State of NY Office of Gen’l Services:
http://ogs.state.ny.us/dnc/generalInfo/MasterSpecMF04/html/028213.htm
Folks, Peter Angelos bought the Baltimore Orioles baseball team, not that it’s much of a team this year, with the money he made on asbestos litigation.
Please get your clients to use environmental engineers who specialize in hazmat abatement. Get them to provide extensive surveys and detailed documents. Preferably, have the abatement work issued as a separate package. Major League Baseball can’t afford to have another Peter Angelos, or another team as bad as the O’s.
Ken,
That’s the best argument I’ve heard. None of the obvious arguments for hiring experts in this field could possibly top that. Go Red Sox.
I won! We will not be doing asbestos abatement as part of the package!
That’s great news.
So Lynn, did you use my Baltimore Orioles argument?
Not exactly…I just pointed out that it would cost more if it was subbed through the general…I’ve got enough on my baseball plate with the Brewers!
We always include asbestos abatement in construction contracts–it should not be any issue at all, and has been done this way for at least 15 years by designers all over this area. But, we hire a consultant (typically an industrial hygienist with ACM experience) to do investigation, write abatement specs, and prepare drawings showing scope and location. This has never been a problem and the work typically goes off smoothly.
We handle it the same way in the Great White North eh?!
Except we call them Environmental Consultants up here.
I used to work for a GC and we had this work in our contract five or six times with no issues.
The abatement workers wore the suits, respirators, and had special showers on the job site, but at break time, they were chain smoking cigarettes on loading dock like there was no tomorrow.
If the asbestos doesn’t kill you, the tobacco will!!!
In my experience, including the abatement in the construction contract has not been a problem. I would assume that there are a number of demolition contractors who are also licensed to do hazmat work.
The problem is having this included in the architect’s scope. Most (if not all) architects who carry E&O insurance are not covered for this type of work.
Peter, I do not believe this is true anymore. We certainly are covered, provided we use a consultant with the proper initials after their name.