Commercial Asbestos Removal
From Residential to Commercial Xtract Handles It All with Care
Colorado’s Top Choice for Asbestos Removal
Many commercial buildings constructed before 1980 contain asbestos, a naturally occurring silicate mineral known to be toxic and carcinogenic. While its use has significantly declined, asbestos may still be present in buildings constructed or renovated even after the 1980s. In commercial settings, asbestos often poses the greatest risk when disturbed during demolition, remodeling, or maintenance projects, when fibers can become airborne and endanger workers and occupants.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), along with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, have established strict regulations and abatement procedures to protect employees, contractors, and the public from asbestos exposure during commercial operations.
Despite its dangers, asbestos has never been fully banned in the United States, and many business insurance policies do not cover abatement. Common asbestos-containing materials in commercial buildings include ceiling and wall insulation, HVAC duct insulation, fireproofing materials, vinyl floor tiles, roofing, and textured coatings.
If your business is preparing for a renovation, demolition, or tenant improvement project and you suspect asbestos-containing materials may be present, contact Xtract today. Our certified team has extensive experience safely and efficiently removing asbestos from commercial properties throughout Colorado.
Critical Barriers
All windows, doors, vents, and other openings are sealed with a minimum of one layer of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting to create an airtight barrier. Negative air pressure is established and continuously monitored to prevent contamination outside the work zone.
Decontamination Units
Dual-entry decontamination chambers are constructed on either side of a portable shower equipped with running, heated water. “Z-flaps” — three overlapping layers of polyethylene sheeting — are installed between each chamber to restrict airflow. Wastewater passes through a multi-stage filtration system before being discharged into the sanitary sewer per regulatory standards.
Waste Loadout Area
Designated loadout chambers act as airlocks, enabling safe transfer of tools and asbestos waste materials in and out of the containment without compromising air quality.
Interior Preparation
Containment areas are lined with one layer of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting on floors and one layer of 4-mil sheeting on walls. These layers overlap by at least 24 inches (12 inches at each seam) to provide an interlocking seal. Any immovable equipment or fixtures within the abatement zone are double-wrapped and sealed with 6-mil polyethylene and industrial-grade tape.
Material Removal
All asbestos-containing materials (ACM) are carefully removed while maintaining adequate moisture with amended water to prevent fiber release. Waste is double-bagged in 6-mil asbestos-labeled bags, thoroughly wetted, and sealed in accordance with EPA and OSHA regulations.
Loadout Procedure
Each sealed debris bag is wet-wiped before being placed in the primary decontamination chamber, then re-bagged into a second 6-mil asbestos waste bag marked with hazard warnings. A label including the building owner’s and abatement contractor’s contact information is inserted, and each bag is sealed to regulatory standards to ensure no leakage of liquids or fibers during transport.
Detailed Cleaning
Polyethylene sheeting from walls and floors is removed in controlled layers to minimize debris disturbance. All exposed surfaces are wiped with rags and amended water, followed by HEPA vacuuming to remove residual fibers.
Air Clearance Testing
A certified third-party Industrial Hygienist conducts a thorough visual inspection and deploys air sampling equipment for a project-specific duration. Collected samples are analyzed to confirm that no asbestos fibers remain airborne before the containment is dismantled.
Tear Down
Once clearance criteria are met, all containment materials, negative air equipment, and decontamination units are carefully removed and disposed of in accordance with federal and state guidelines.
Waste trailers or dumpsters are pre-lined with two layers of 6-mil polyethylene and sealed identically to the containment setup. All asbestos waste is securely loaded and transported to an approved landfill certified to accept asbestos-containing materials, ensuring full compliance with local, state, and federal disposal regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Colorado, asbestos abatement is required before any renovation, demolition, or remodeling project that could disturb materials containing asbestos. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) mandates an asbestos inspection for all commercial buildings constructed before 1989 — and even for newer buildings if asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are suspected. If asbestos is found, it must be removed or managed by a CDPHE-certified asbestos contractor before any construction activity begins.
The only way to confirm asbestos presence is through testing conducted by a Colorado-licensed asbestos inspector. Common materials that test positive in commercial properties include ceiling and floor tiles, HVAC insulation, boiler wrap, sprayed-on fireproofing, and roofing materials. Inspections must follow CDPHE Regulation No. 8, Part B, which governs asbestos control in Colorado.
Not typically. Asbestos fibers are only hazardous when they become airborne — usually through drilling, sanding, cutting, or demolition. However, even minimal disturbance can release fibers, which is why Colorado law requires inspections before any permitted construction activity. Businesses are also responsible for ensuring safe conditions for employees under OSHA standards.
Usually, yes. The abatement area must be fully sealed off and unoccupied to ensure safety. For some larger commercial properties, containment barriers can be configured to isolate the affected area while allowing non-impacted sections of the building to remain open. Your abatement contractor will coordinate with local building authorities to ensure compliance and minimize downtime.
Asbestos abatement in Colorado is regulated by multiple agencies:
CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division, which issues permits and enforces Regulation No. 8, Part B.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which oversees waste handling and disposal.
OSHA, which protects workers involved in abatement.Contractors must be state-certified, and all projects must be reported to CDPHE before work begins.
All asbestos debris is double-bagged, labeled, and transported by licensed haulers to a CDPHE-approved landfill authorized to accept asbestos waste. Each load is documented through waste shipment records to maintain full regulatory compliance and environmental accountability.
Timelines vary based on project size, material types, and containment complexity. Small-scale abatements can take two to five days, while large building projects may last several weeks. Colorado law also requires a minimum 10-day notification to CDPHE before abatement begins, which should be factored into scheduling.
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Have Insurance Questions? We Can Help
Need help understanding your commercial insurance claims for asbestos mitigation? Xtract’s knowledgeable team can walk you through these often-complex processes to give you complete peace of mind. We are committed to the most cost-effective outcome for you, so do not hesitate to ask us questions about your insurance situation.
Add-on Demolition Services
While on-site, Xtract’s team can complete additional, small-scale demolition tasks for additional fees. On a typical jobsite, we encounter parts of a building that may not need hazardous material removal, but you may want them removed for another reason.
If you need another wall, staircase, or ceiling stripped out—or any other kind of small demolition job—just ask your project manager. We’ll factor these into your estimate and get the job done so you don’t have to worry about hiring a separate demolition contractor.
Planning Renovations? Let us Know
If you’re planning to renovate your commercial space, be sure to contact us to see if there are any hazardous materials that may be disturbed in the process. Even if you’re sure of when the building was constructed, if you have any concerns at all, it’s better to get the property assessed than run into costly and dangerous materials later on.
Committed to Your Safety
Xtract Environmental has more than 30 years of experience safeguarding Colorado properties from the dangers of hazardous materials. We serve Northern Colorado, Denver Metro, the Western Slope, and Southern Colorado. Take the first step toward your peace of mind by giving our team a call today: 970-282-4333 and 970-852-0400