Asbestos removal from Foster building creates some concern among students
Ben Kleppinger
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News
The multi-phase renovation of the Foster music building has begun, but the first step of the renovation has some students concerned about their health.
In order to make renovations, Eastern is first removing asbestos-a mineral used in construction that can cause serious lung problems if fibers of it are inhaled-from the ceiling of the renovation area.
Chris Robinson is the director of operations for ARC Safety and Environmental Services, the company in charge of removing the asbestos from Foster.
Robinson said students worried about the asbestos in Foster have a "legitimate concern," but the asbestos fibers do not pose a threat to students' health.
The hazardous asbestos fibers are located on Foster's original ceiling, which is hidden by a hanging tile ceiling, he said. As long as the original ceiling coating is not disturbed, the asbestos fibers will not become airborne, he said.
Director of Facilities Services Rich Middleton said asbestos is actually present in a completely safe form many places around campus.
Asbestos comes in two forms-friable and non-friable. Friable asbestos fibers can become airborne when disturbed or crushed, Robinson said. Non-friable asbestos is hard like rock, and poses no threat of airborne fibers, he said.
Many tile floors around Eastern's campus are made of non-friable asbestos and completely safe, Middleton said.
"We know of no areas on campus where there is exposed asbestos that is posing a risk to the community," he said.
Robinson said ARC is using several layers of safety precautions to ensure the asbestos removal from Foster is completely safe.
Robinson said ARC uses 2-ply plastic sheeting to create an airtight containment area around any area in Foster where asbestos fibers are being removed.
The containment area is under-pressurized so if there is a leak, air will leak into the containment area, not out of it. Under-pressurization is the same technology used at the Blue Grass Army Depot to make sure nerve agents don't escape while they're being destroyed.
In order to make renovations, Eastern is first removing asbestos-a mineral used in construction that can cause serious lung problems if fibers of it are inhaled-from the ceiling of the renovation area.
Chris Robinson is the director of operations for ARC Safety and Environmental Services, the company in charge of removing the asbestos from Foster.
Robinson said students worried about the asbestos in Foster have a "legitimate concern," but the asbestos fibers do not pose a threat to students' health.
The hazardous asbestos fibers are located on Foster's original ceiling, which is hidden by a hanging tile ceiling, he said. As long as the original ceiling coating is not disturbed, the asbestos fibers will not become airborne, he said.
Director of Facilities Services Rich Middleton said asbestos is actually present in a completely safe form many places around campus.
Asbestos comes in two forms-friable and non-friable. Friable asbestos fibers can become airborne when disturbed or crushed, Robinson said. Non-friable asbestos is hard like rock, and poses no threat of airborne fibers, he said.
Many tile floors around Eastern's campus are made of non-friable asbestos and completely safe, Middleton said.
"We know of no areas on campus where there is exposed asbestos that is posing a risk to the community," he said.
Robinson said ARC is using several layers of safety precautions to ensure the asbestos removal from Foster is completely safe.
Robinson said ARC uses 2-ply plastic sheeting to create an airtight containment area around any area in Foster where asbestos fibers are being removed.
The containment area is under-pressurized so if there is a leak, air will leak into the containment area, not out of it. Under-pressurization is the same technology used at the Blue Grass Army Depot to make sure nerve agents don't escape while they're being destroyed.
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