Asbestos

ASBESTOS IS NOT UNCOMMON in old buildings. In some cases, it's not particularly dangerous. When it becomes friable, however, the problems with air quality and health begin.

Asbestos containing materials are present throughout West Street School. Alderman and MacNeish reports that the most serious concern is where there is "contact damage to friable material, which allows asbestos fibers to contaminate the air and adjacent surfaces. These materials consist of insulation on boilers, piping, and pipe fittings in the boiler room and pipe tunnels under classroom floors."

The original fiberboard ceiling tiles also have asbestos in the glue used to adhere them in place.

Asphalt floor tiles are assumed in the AHERA

Report to be asbestos containing, although they had not been tested at the time of the report. The Granby School Department has received reports from AHERA, compiled by Con-Test, and ATC Environmental of East Longmeadow, but these are not detailed in the Alderman & MacNeish report.

According to Alderman & MacNeish, the AHERA report recommends priority be given to the removal of all asbestos-containing material in the following order:

1. insulation above the floor slab throughout the building (in the case of major renovation, pipe tunnel insulation may be encapsulated)

2. removal of asbestos floor tiles
3. asbestos glue daubs above the ceilings

Any informed guesses on how much all of this will cost?

Mb