Asbestos Inspection Required Before Demolishing or Renovating Buildings
BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) is reminding building owners and operators that an inspection by a North Dakota-licensed asbestos inspector is required prior to demolition or renovation. Asbestos, a mineral material commonly used in building products in the past, has been classified as a known human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
State and federal regulations require all institutional, commercial and public buildings, and city-owned residences to be inspected for asbestos before any demolition or renovation begins. Privately owned, single-family residences are typically exempt unless they are being demolished or renovated as part of a larger project. A list of asbestos-licensed companies can be found at https://deq.nd.gov/AQ/PDFs/Documents/Asbestos/AsbestosContractors.pdf.
For demolition work, the building owner or operator must submit a notification form to the NDDoH after the inspection and at least 10 working days before demolition, even if asbestos is not present. The form will include inspection results, a description of intended work, and waste disposal details. The form can be found at https://deq.nd.gov/forms/AQ/asbestos/SFN17987.pdf .
In cases of renovation, no notification is required if the inspection determines there are less than 160 square feet or 260 lineal feet of regulated asbestos material present.
Failure to comply with the requirements may result in penalties – up to $10,000 per day per violation, and even criminal prosecution in some cases. It is the responsibility of both the building owner and the contractor to ensure all requirements are met. For more information on demolition and renovation regulations, contact Justin Otto, Division of Air Quality, at 701.328.5188, or email jotto@nd.gov.
