LGA Institut für Umweltgeologie und Altlasten GmbH

Fire dampers containing asbestos – New VDI guideline

Posted on 18 March 2024.

Almost all fire dampers produced up to 1988 contain components containing asbestos. Millions of these old dampers are still in use. We have already reported on this several times (see articles from April 2021 and December 2021).

The new version of the asbestos directive (November 2020) now clarifies that an individual assessment of the condition must be carried out by the builder/owner. In March 2021, the German Association for the Restoration of Hazardous Substances (GVSS) initially published “Recommendations for handling fire dampers containing asbestos”. Ms. Weiblen, Mr. Malkmus and Dr. Kisskalt from our company were involved in the drafting process.

Based on this publication, the VDI founded a committee to draw up a VDI guideline on “Asbestos-containing fire dampers” (VDI 6202 Sheet 3.1). Our colleagues were again represented here. Dr. Kisskalt took over the deputy chairmanship of the committee (Chairman: Mr. Olaf Dünger). In a very short time – for guideline committees – a draft was prepared and finished in a final reading in the committee on 28.11.2023, which is to be published shortly as a green print (probably in April 2024).

Inspection of a BSK containing asbestos

Further information on “Fire damper inspection” can be found here.

Notification as a testing laboratory for water analyses in Bavaria (LaborV) for the sampling of groundwater and surface water

Auszug aus der Laborverordnung (LaborV) vom 22. November 2010:

Certification according to § 18 BBodSchG extended

Posted on 14 February 2024.

According to § 18 BBodSchG, “experts and examination centers that perform tasks in accordance with this law must have the necessary expertise and reliability for these tasks as well as the necessary technical equipment”.

In Bavaria, soil and contaminated site investigations must be carried out in the legally regulated field by examination centers approved in accordance with § 18 BBodSchG. We have therefore once again successfully applied to the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU) to extend our certification for the sampling and laboratory analysis of solid matter, water and soil gas samples.

Our institute is certified with this certificate and the associated annex for the examination fields 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 (sampling and on-site examinations of solids, eluates and percolates, aqueous media, soil air/landfill gas) until January 2029.

Asbestos contamination investigation in buildings – VDI Guideline 6202 Sheet 3 creates legal certainty

Posted on 01 February 2024.

Construction materials containing asbestos are still widespread in many buildings. All buildings from before 1994 are considered to be suspected of containing asbestos. This means that asbestos fibers can be released during conversion or demolition work in particular and can endanger users and workers. Systematic inspection and documentation should therefore be standard for all older buildings. In the run-up to demolition, this is mandatory anyway (see article “LAGA M23”).

Above all, a professional investigation requires the expert to have extensive experience of contaminants in buildings and their locations. VDI Guideline 6202-3 (“Contaminated buildings and technical installations – Asbestos – Exploration and assessment”; 2021-09) describes the necessary systematic procedure for investigating building contaminants for asbestos. During a detailed inspection by the expert, all “suspicious facts” (i.e. materials suspected of being contaminated and their locations) are identified. The number of necessary samples is then derived on a reliable statistical basis (sampling plan). This ensures that materials containing asbestos can be identified with sufficient certainty. Only in this way can hazards be ruled out and the proof of “asbestos-free” required for the disposal of building rubble be provided (see article “LAGA M23”).

You can find our services on the subject of “building contaminants” here.

Disposal of construction waste – requirements of the new LAGA M23 on asbestos

Posted on 30 January 2024.

LAGA M23 (” Execution aid for the disposal of waste containing asbestos”) regulates the disposal of waste containing asbestos. A new version is now available dated November 29, 2023. It will be successively being introduced by the individual countries, whereby country-specific modifications are possible.

This results in serious changes for the disposal of construction waste: All buildings that were built before 1994 are initially considered to be suspected of containing asbestos:

Before any construction work, such as demolition, renovation or maintenance, is carried out on buildings whose construction began before October 31, 1993 and for which there is no proof that they are asbestos-free due to an asbestos removal project that has already been carried out, an investigation for asbestos as a pollutant is required. This requirement results from the requirements of the KrWG, the GefStoffV, the Baustellenverordnung (BaustellV) and the respective state building regulations. Implementation is specified by the requirements of VDI 6202 Sheet 3.

(see article “VDI 6202 Sheet 3”)

If this is not done or if materials containing asbestos are not completely separated on the basis of a dismantling concept before demolition, the resulting construction waste must be disposed of as hazardous waste at very high cost.

You can find more information on the topic of “building contaminants” here.
You can find our services on the subject of “Waste” here.