Fundamental material safety

Some hazardous materials that are no longer used in the United States, such as asbestos and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), are often encountered in older buildings. Others, including lead, remain in limited use.

This feature restricts the presence of added lead and asbestos in building materials and limits occupant exposure to these hazards where they might exist in older structures. Refer to Table A3 in the Appendix for specific chemical names and registration numbers.

Part 1: Asbestos and Lead Restriction

The following materials composition requirements are met for all building materials:

a) Asbestos.

b) Not more than 100 ppm (by weight) added lead.

Part 2: Lead Abatement

For repair, renovation, or painting on buildings constructed prior to 1978, lead evaluation and abatement is conducted in accordance with the below guidelines:

a) An on-site investigation of the commercial space conducted by a certified risk assessor or inspector technician to determine the presence of any lead-based hazards in paint, dust, and soil using the definitions in US EPA 40 CFR Part 745.65 for residential dwellings or child-occupied facilities.

b) All commercial and institutional spaces found to have lead-based hazards must adhere to US EPA 40 CFR Part 745.227 work practice standards for conducting lead-based paint activities, as outlined for multi-family dwellings.

c) Adherence to final rules, as they are proposed by the EPA, regarding the lead renovation, repair and painting program for public and commercial buildings (RIN: 2070-AJ56) supersedes adherence to definitions and protocols outlined in EPA 40 CFR Part 745 for residential dwellings or child-occupied facilities.

Part 3: Asbestos Abatement

To reduce hazards in buildings with known or suspected asbestos, the following testing, evaluation and abatement is conducted:

a) Projects conduct asbestos inspection every three years through an accredited professional per Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)’s Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP), National Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) accredited asbestos consultant (State or local equivalent) or by a United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) EPA accredited company experienced in asbestos assessment.

b) In accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), development, maintenance and update of asbestos management plans, including all necessary actions to minimize asbestos hazards: repair, encapsulation, enclosure, maintenance and removal, follow protocol detailed in the Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools Rule (40 CFR part 763).

c) Projects conduct post-abatement clearance in accordance with Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools (40 CFR part 763).

Part 4: Polychlorinated Biphenyl Abatement

Any projects constructed or renovated between 1950 and 1977 and undergoing current renovation or demolition carry out the following:

a) Conduct evaluation and abatement of materials in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Steps to Safe PCB Abatement Activities.

b) Conduct removal and safe disposal of PCB-containing fluorescent light ballasts in accordance with United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) guidelines.

Cardiovascular

Respiratory

Nervous

	Core & Shell	New Construction	WELL Interiors
Part 1: Asbestos and Lead Restriction	P	P	P
Part 2: Lead Abatement	P	P	P
Part 3: Asbestos Abatement	P	P	P
Part 4: Polychlorinated Biphenyl Abatement	P	P	P

	Commercial Kitchen	Education	Multifamily Residential	Retail
Part 1: Asbestos and Lead Restriction	P	P	P	P
Part 2: Lead Abatement	P	P	P	P
Part 3: Asbestos Abatement	P	P	P	P
Part 4: Polychlorinated Biphenyl Abatement	P	P	P	P

Verification Methods Matrix

	Letters of Assurance	Annotated Documents
PART 1 (Design) Asbestos and Lead Restriction	Architect
PART 2 (Design) Lead Abatement		Remediation Report
PART 3 (Design) Asbestos Abatement		Remediation Report
PART 4 (Design) Polychlorinated Biphenyl Abatement	Contractor

Show Standard Citations

31

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Work Practice Standards for Conducting Lead-Based Paint Activities: Target Housing and Child-occupied Facilities. http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/745.227. Published 1996. Accessed September 15, 2014.
11.2.a	The EPA's Work Practice Standards for Conducting Lead-Based Paint Activities document establishes requirements for conducting lead-based paint activities.
11.2.b	The EPA's Work Practice Standards for Conducting Lead-Based Paint Activities document establishes requirements for conducting lead-based paint activities.
11.2.c	The EPA's Work Practice Standards for Conducting Lead-Based Paint Activities document establishes requirements for conducting lead-based paint activities.

33

**U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Guidelines for Conducting the AHERA TEM Clearance Test to Determine Completion of an Asbestos Abatement Project. Published 1989: 5**
11.3.a	AHERA's Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan establishes asbestos limits.
11.3.b	The EPA's Guidelines for Conducting the AHERA TEM Clearance Test to Determine Completion of an Asbestos Abatement Project guidelines establish requirements for conducting post-abatement checks.
11.3.c	The EPA's Guidelines for Conducting the AHERA TEM Clearance Test to Determine Completion of an Asbestos Abatement Project guidelines establish requirements for conducting post-abatement checks.

34

**U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Steps to Safe PCB Abatement Activities. http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/caulk/guide/guide-sect4a.htm. Published 2012. Accessed 2011.**
11.4.a	The EPA's Steps to Safe PCB Abatement Activities establishes PCB abatement procedures.
11.4.b	The EPA's Steps to Safe PCB Abatement Activities provides guidance on the handling, storage, and disposal of PCB waste.

36

**U.S. Green Building Council. Pilot Credit 54: Avoidance of Chemicals of Concern. http://www.usgbc.org/node/2606894?return=/pilotcredits/Commercial-Interiors/v2009. Accessed September 15, 2014.**
11.1.b	USGBC's LEED v4 Pilot Credit 54, v3 2009 requires that a minimum of 20%, by cost, of at least 3 building product and material types must not contain lead and lead compounds greater than 0.01% (100 ppm) as calculated by mass.

This is a legacy version of the WELL Building Standard. Please check the latest version here.

11. Fundamental material safety