Asbestos drives up costs of school demolition

Whitman, Massachusetts - Asbestos that was discovered during the demolition of a school has driven up the demolition costs by almost six times. Demolition of the Holt School in Whitman, Massachusetts was to have cost around $300,000. However, after asbestos was discovered, the cost has gone up to more than $1.6 million. Town Administrator Frank Lynam said asbestos was found in tiles, floor lining beneath the tiles, and in exterior bricks used in construction of the original school buildings. Lynam also said that the pre-demolition asbestos survey which had been carried out was inadequate, as it had failed to find any of the asbestos that was discovered during the demolition. The discovery of asbestos drives the cost of demolition up considerably for several reasons. First is the fact that the asbestos must be removed before the school buildings can be demolished. Leaving the asbestos intact during demolition could potentially spread large clouds of asbestos dust into the environment, creating an environmental and health hazard. Second, the asbestos removal must be carried out by professional contractors who are licensed to handle asbestos. In addition, special procedures must be used in removing the asbestos, to prevent the dispersion of asbestos dust. These procedures include a process called wet removal, in which asbestos-containing materials are wetted down before they are removed, to prevent the release of dust and airborne fibers. Finally, the cost of disposing of asbestos waste is significantly higher than disposing of non-hazardous material. Asbestos disposal is generally around three times more expensive than disposal of non-hazardous waste. All of these are particularly important considerations that are necessary to prevent asbestos exposure to anyone involved in handling the substance. Even a small amount of exposure can cause a deadly cancer called mesothelioma. The health hazards of asbestos exposure have prompted most states to have strict regulations about handling the substance, as well as regulations governing demolition of buildings that contain it. However, the very high cost of this abatement could have been at least partially avoided. Had the town known of the asbestos earlier, Lynam said, the cost for asbestos abatement would be lower, as the town would have been able to put the work out for contractor bids. Instead, the town has had to pay a higher cost to get the work done with minimum delay. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)