Renovation and Demolition - "Red Flag" List

This list has been designed as an aid to local officials involved in renovation and demolition. If you see any of the things listed in the table below, please call the agencies referenced in the right-hand column. The names of the agencies and their telephone numbers are listed in Table 1 .

About the "Red Flag" List

This "Red Flag" List does not include all the requirements that apply to renovation and demolition. A brief summary of some of the more important issues relating to renovation and demolition are provided below. For more information on the programs and requirements that apply to these activities, please see Renovation and Demolition: Environmental, Health and Safety Requirements You Should Know About , or call the agencies listed in Table 1.

ASBESTOS can be present in many kinds of building materials, including duct, pipe, boiler, tank and other thermal insulation, floor tile, plaster, wallboard, siding, roofing, and other materials. The improper removal or disposal of asbestos can expose construction workers, residents, and others to asbestos, and result in serious illness or injury (sometimes years after the exposure).

LEAD-BASED PAINT is found in many pre-1978 houses (use of lead in paint was banned in 1977). Lead-based paint can be found on interior and exterior surfaces, windows, doors, and trim. Lead-based paint can also be found on almost any material, including wood, metal, vinyl, plaster, and others. The improper removal or disposal of lead-based paint can expose workers, residents, and others, and result in serious illness, especially to children under the age of six.

SAFETY ISSUES at work sites can include physical hazards (e.g., fall protection, confined spaces, trenching, use of tools). Chemical exposure hazards can also be a concern (e.g., asbestos, lead-based paint, paints, solvents, etc.). If renovation and construction work is not done in accordance with required safety protocols, serious injuries or illnesses could result.

WASTE DISPOSAL is a major issue at renovation and demolition sites, since significant amounts of wastes are typically generated. While some of these wastes may be ordinary construction and demolition ("C&D") waste, some of these wastes may be hazardous wastes that require special disposal.

WASTEWATERS can often be generated at renovation and demolition sites, from activities such as power-washing. If these wastewaters are not properly managed, they can cause water pollution, contaminate septic systems, or cause problems at the local wastewater treatment plant.

AIR EMISSIONS can be produced by activities such as crushing or sandblasting. If not properly controlled, these air emissions can expose on-site workers to nuisance dusts or harmful air pollutants. If the emission travels off-site, it can contaminate adjacent properties and expose their occupants.

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic chemicals that were used for many years in transformers, capacitors, fluorescent lighting ballast, and in certain building materials.  Although their manufacture was banned in 1978, there are many PCB-containing materials still in use today. Mismanagement of PCBs can result in worker exposures, and pollution of soil, surface waters and groundwater.

USTs, or underground storage tanks, are often used to store heating oil, fuels, and other materials. Old and leaking USTs, or improperly abandoned or removed USTs, can cause pollution of soil, ground, and surface waters

FREON^® is a trade name for a group of gases that are used as refrigerants in air conditioners, refrigeration equipment, etc. Certain kinds of Freon^® are known to attack the Earth’s ozone layer if they are improperly vented to the atmosphere.

Table 1 - Agency Contacts

Content Last Updated on February 5, 2020