Asbestos Disclosure Letter

Dear R&DE Student Housing Residents:

This notice provides information about asbestos-containing materials on the Stanford University campus.  Asbestos is a common name for naturally occurring minerals that were added to a wide variety of building construction materials such as plaster, floor tile, tile adhesive, and pipe insulation in the past.  Asbestos was used to protect life and property because of its excellent heat insulating and fire retardant properties. However, once some of the health effects of asbestos exposure became known, asbestos was removed from most of these products by the mid-1970s.

Asbestos is only a hazard when small particles become airborne and are inhaled or ingested.  Asbestos-containing materials in buildings pose no risk to health unless the materials are disturbed and the asbestos fibers are released into the air.  Intact, sealed and undisturbed materials are not a hazard.

All renovation of campus buildings is reviewed in advance by the Stanford University Environmental, Health and Safety Department to ensure that no asbestos-containing materials are disturbed without proper safeguards to protect people in the area.  Work that requires removal or repair of asbestos-containing material or the testing of suspect building products is restricted to trained and qualified personnel only.

We ask, and your residence agreement requires, that you help us maintain a healthy and safe environment.  Even though there is only a minimal risk of exposure, please observe the following simple rules:

• Building materials including plaster, floor tile, tile adhesives, linoleum, and pipe insulation may contain asbestos.  Therefore, do not remove, cut, drill, sand, grind or otherwise disturb any material that may contain asbestos.
• Do not enter building spaces such as attics and crawl spaces unless these areas have been inspected and cleared by R&DE Maintenance Operations and Capital Projects.  Only trained maintenance personnel may enter.
• Do not install screws, pins, nails or hangers into textured ceiling plaster. 
• Be careful not to damage walls, ceilings or floors when moving furniture or equipment.
• Do not brush, sweep or vacuum textured ceiling plaster or plaster debris.
• Do not hit, puncture or hang items from insulated (wrapped) pipes in basement areas.
• Immediately report damaged building materials to your R&DE Housing Front Desk. A staff member will be sent to examine the situation and take corrective action if necessary.

For more information about the University’s Asbestos Program, please visit the EH&S website here. If you have any questions about the above information or R&DE plans for asbestos abatement and control, please contact Susie Claxton, Health, Safety, and Environmental Program Manager for Residential & Dining Enterprises at 723-7187.

Sincerely,