Built in the tract-home years
More than half of Orange County's homes were built between 1950 and 1979, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Homes from those decades often have materials worth sampling before a remodel: acoustic "popcorn" ceilings, vinyl floor tile, wallboard, and duct or pipe insulation. A photo can't tell you what a material is. Only a sample and a lab report can.
What the air district's rule says
Orange County is in the South Coast AQMD's area, where Rule 1403 calls for an asbestos survey by an asbestos consultant before a demolition or renovation. For a renovation, the main exception is a house where less than 100 square feet of intact material is removed.
About 1 in 8 Orange County homes is a townhome or other attached single-family home. The rule's owner-occupant exemption doesn't cover townhouses, condos, or rentals, so check the rule before a remodel in one of those. A demolition needs notice to the air district 10 working days ahead, and your city's building department may have its own permit steps. This is a summary, not legal advice; the South Coast AQMD publishes the full rule.
Who does the survey
The credential belongs to a person, not a company. In California, the person who surveys for asbestos holds a Cal/OSHA certification as a Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) or Site Surveillance Technician (CSST). You can look that person up on Cal/OSHA's list before the visit.
How Request a tester works
Tell us the job and your ZIP. We send your request to a testing partner who covers Orange County, where one is available. The partner contacts you, quotes the price, and sends the invoice.
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