Asbestos is still a major concern in older commercial buildings because many materials installed decades ago may contain it, especially insulation, surfacing materials, sprayed fireproofing, roofing products, and certain flooring materials. The danger is not simply that asbestos exists, but that it becomes airborne when damaged, drilled, cut, renovated, or demolished. Once fibers are released, exposure can increase the risk of serious diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, often with symptoms appearing many years later.
For building owners and facility managers, the practical issue is management, not panic. EPA notes that asbestos-containing material in good condition is often best left undisturbed and managed through an operations and maintenance program rather than removed automatically. That means tracking where the material is, limiting disturbance, training relevant personnel, and using qualified asbestos professionals before repair, tenant improvement, renovation, or demolition work begins.
Compliance becomes stricter once work starts. OSHA requires building and facility owners to determine the presence, location, and quantity of asbestos-containing material or presumed asbestos-containing material before covered work begins, and to notify contractors, employees, and even tenants who may be affected. EPA also requires specific asbestos work practices for demolition and many renovation projects in commercial buildings, along with advance notice to the appropriate state agency when threshold amounts are involved.
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