Overview:

Three of the University of New South Wales’ Science and Engineering buildings were recently found to contain asbestos materials. As such, ASP was required to carry out a three-phase asbestos removal service with an emphasis on safety, given the surrounding area’s continued use by university students and the proximity of neighbouring buildings.

Summary:

Approached through ASP Australia’s expansive regional network, Brookfield Multiplex funded the $388,455 asbestos removal project for three of the University of New South Wales’ Science and Engineering buildings, following reports from independent assessors that the buildings may be contaminated.

ASP Australia was tasked with addressing a multitude of contaminated articles within the effected buildings, with the team being required to: remove all asbestos cement piping and sheeting structures located in the ceilings and walls across multiple floors; treat or remove all friable asbestos containing materials such as lagged pipes, fire doors, core holes in the buildings’ cement structure and flooring covered with asbestos cement sheeting and; to remove the residual layers of bituminous asbestos adhesive under the floors’ vinyl tiling.

Given that the project was underway during university hours and the students required the space as soon as possible, the team was required to work to very tight deadlines. Furthermore, a 24/7 air-monitoring solution was set up on the site’s perimeter to ensure the ongoing safety of those in the vicinity. The team applied the following solutions over just three weeks:

• Core drilling to address 241 instances of contamination in ceilings and walls
• Chemical peels were used to remove the asbestos-containing adhesive under the flooring
• Two-man groups working above and below floors to remove sections of asbestos cement pipes
• Air quality monitoring 24 hours a day for almost one month, both in and outside of the work site
• Full PPE (P2 and/or P3 face masks and protective clothing)
• Careful handling in removing the fire doors as to not disrupt the friable core

Despite several challenges along the way, including: numerous, unexpected asbestos finds; the proximity of student accommodation, pedestrians and tenants and; the neighbouring bar, adjacent to the site, the team were able to meet the client’s tight deadlines and ensure that the nearby students and faculty were kept safe from lingering asbestos residues.