DESIGN ALERT FROM PROCATS
(PROACTIVE CLAIMS ANALYSIS AND TRACKING SYSTEM)
ISSUE:
Lead Abatement
BACKGROUND:
At times, A/Es fail to address presence of lead lining (sheet lead) in the walls of
Radiology area when a building is planned to be demolished. It has caused problems
and expensive change orders had to be issued during construction for its removal and
disposal. Lead is defined by EPA as a toxic material, and elemental lead waste would
be considered a hazardous waste. However, the disposal process of sheet lead is
recommended to be examined further to save cost. Sheet lead could be sold as scrap.
Instead of spending money, VA could make money.
RECOMMENDATIONS/CONCLUSION:
1. Where demolition work is involved, the A/E must address all existing
hazardous materials including lead to avoid expensive change orders during
construction.
2. Check with the State to ensure that selling the lead as scrap does not have any
regulatory strings attached to it. Each State may be different in treating the disposition
of sheet lead as scrap material.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFOR MATION:
Contact Satish Sehgal at 202.565.5032 in the Standards Service (187C).
25 October 1994
FM-187C-DA11
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