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ASEI@StUS For Removing A.C.M. (Asbestos Containing Mater.alj (THE ENCAPSULATING REMOVAL) BATTELLE CONFIRMS THAT BWE 5000 REMOVAL ENCAPSULANT WETS AND ENCAPSULATES BOTH CHRYSOTILE AND AMOSITE FIBERS The Columbus Division of Battelle Laboratories recently conducted an independent test of the wetting and encapsulating capabilities of the BWE 5000 removal encapsulant manufactured by Better Working Environments, Inc. of Las Vegas, Nevada. BWE's removal encapsulant is fast replacing amended water as the material used to wet asbestos during removal operations. Battelle, which has tested well over 100 traditional encapsulants, concluded that BWE 5000 is "an outstanding material for wetting and encapusulation of asbestos fibers." It is observed that BWE 5000 wet both chrysotfle and amosite fibers "almost instantaneously" when . the fibers were placed in contact with the removal encapsulant. BWE points to this ability to wet amosite as a significant technological advance, for traditional anended water is known not to be effective on amosite. Of equal importance is Battelle's conclusion that the BWE product actually coats fibers onto which - it is sprayed: Once coated,-. it is highly likely that the fibers will lose their aerodynamic properties. In other words, fibers coated with BWE 5000 connot remain airborne. BWE represntatives say this factor explains why airborne asbestos fiber counts during removal with BWE 5000 are certain to be lower than the counts obtained when' amended water is used. The ability of BWE- ,. 5000 to. "wet, coat,, encapsulate and render asbestos fibers incapable of remaining `- airborne 'makes it a superior product for meeting the NESHAPS wet methods .requirements. OSHA "POINTS TO" REMOVAL. ENCAPSULANT TECHNOLOGY IN DECIDING THAT 0.2 F/CC PEL IS TECHNOLOGICALLY FEASIBLE . a The Department of, Labor's :Occupational Safety an Health Administration (OSHA)' concluded an almost three year . long revision to its asbestos exposure regulations by publishing, in' -the "June 20,' 1986 Federal Register, its final rules for general industry and for the:: construction industry. The construction industry standard applicable to asbestos abatement activities, sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL)` of 0.2 fibers per : cubic centimeter : of down from the ; ° previous PEL of 2.0 f/,cc`s The standard, effective January 17, 1987, also recognizes the use of asbestos. removal encapsulants, an alternative to traditional amended water removal, as,, ani acceptable work practice. OSHA established the 0.2 f/cc PEL despite comments from industry representatives. claiming that it was not technologically feasible for such a low standard to be met. In reaching its conclusion on technological feasibility, OSHA specifically pointed to the existence of the removal, encapsulant technique for . reducing asbestos dust during abatement activity. ; Information on the removal encapsulant technology was provided to OSHA's Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health by Better Working Environments, Inc., the manufacturer of BWE 5000 removal encapsulant and an asbestos penetrating encapsulant. Since the new 0.2 f/cc PEL became effective,. the use of removal encapsulants such as BWE 5000 has been an effective method in contractors' efforts to comply with the lower PEL. Studies have shown, and OSHA has concluded, that it is very difficult to achieve the 0.2 level using amended water, the wetting technique employed in the abatement industry in years past. ILI D El 71 17