Demo Day Requirements

4/19/2022 (Permalink)

Asbestos Warning Sign

If you have ever watched an episode of just about any HGTV home renovation show, you know what I'm referring to when I say "Demo Day." In a water loss, demo work is a fairly typical part of drying out a home or business, especially if the water laden sheetrock has been sitting for any period of time. 

New state requirements in New Hampshire require you test a sample of the materials you intend to demo for asbestos before performing the demo work, regardless of the age of the home. 

Asbestos can be found in a number of building materials such as attic & wall insulation, vinyl floor tiles & tile adhesives, roofing & siding shingles, textured paint & patching compounds, etc...

According to the EPA, "Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease." Three of the major health effects associated with asbestos are:

1. Lung Cancer
2. Mesothelioma
3. Asbestosis 

Symptoms may take many years to develop following exposure. This is a truly a better safe than sorry situation. Better to pay the cost of testing now, than with health issues later in life.

The Building Performance Institute, Inc, has some good information about asbestos in the home. Here's the link: https://www.bpihomeowner.org/blog/things-you-should-know-asbestos-use-still-legal