Asbestos and Lead Information for Building Professionals

In This Section:

The information is for:

Contractors
Architects or engineers
Asbestos professionals
Lead professionals

Why are Asbestos and Lead Regulated in Vermont?

Asbestos and lead pose health risks, and they may be found in buildings and other structures. Because of this, the Health Department and the Environmental Protection Agency have specific requirements for the maintenance, renovation and demolition of buildings and other structures.

Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are only dangerous when they are disturbed or handled incorrectly. If ACMs are not handled properly, asbestos particles can be breathed in. Even a small amount of ACM can cause health effects.

Lead-based paint becomes a hazard when it is disturbed. This can be from chipping and peeling paint, when painted surfaces rub together, or when the paint is not properly sanded, scraped or burned. If lead-based paint is not handled properly, lead dust can be breathed in or swallowed by workers and by people, especially children, who use the building or other structure. Learn more about the hazards and health effects of asbestos and lead

License Application Forms

Asbestos

Vermont Department of Taxes Statement of Compliance is required with all applications. Since this form contains sensitive information, please print it and mail it along with the first page of your application and check or money order.
Asbestos Abatement Contractor Entity application form for abatement, analytical, consulting and training
Asbestos Contractor application form for workers, supervisors, inspectors, inspector/management planners, project designers, project monitors and analysts)

Submit a signed, completed application with all necessary documentation including the required Statement of Compliance and fees in accordance with the fee schedule. Checks should be made payable to the Vermont Department of Health. For licensing and certification requirements, please refer to the Vermont Regulation for Asbestos Control. The appeal process for a licensing decision can be found in the Statement of Procedural Rights.

Lead

Vermont Department of Taxes Statement of Compliance is required with all applications. Since this form contains sensitive information, please print it and mail it along with the first page of your application and check or money order.
Lead Abatement Contractor Entity application form for abatement, analytical, consulting and training
Lead Contractor application form for workers, supervisors, inspectors I or II, Inspector/Risk Assessors, project designers and sampling technicians

Submit a signed, completed application with all necessary documentation including the required Statement of Compliance and fees in accordance with the fee schedule. Checks should be made payable to the Vermont Department of Health. For licensing and certification requirements, please refer to the Vermont Regulations for Lead Control. The appeal process for a licensing decision can be found in the Statement of Procedural Rights. To appeal an administrative penalty decision, see the Administrative Penalty Statement of Procedural Rights.

Training

Where can I find online training courses for asbestos or lead licensing?

The Health Department accredits training courses for asbestos and lead disciplines. Asbestos and lead contractors must have up-to-date training from an accredited training provider before they can be licensed to work in Vermont. If you want to be licensed in Vermont, check the table of approved online courses below. These online classes are approved as interim alternatives to in-person classroom training.

If the training you want to take is not on the table below, contact the Asbestos and Lead Regulatory Program before taking the online training course to confirm that it has been approved and meets the requirements in Vermont.

**Approved Online Asbestos & Lead-Based Paint Training Courses**
Course Title	Training Provider	Approval Date
Asbestos Inspector Refresher	ATC	4/15/2020
Asbestos Management Planner Refresher	ATC	4/15/2020
Asbestos Supervisor Refresher	ATC	4/15/2020
Asbestos Project Designer Refresher	ATC	4/15/2020
Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher	ATC	4/15/2020
Lead Supervisor Refresher	ATC	5/19/2020
Asbestos Inspector Refresher	Institute for Environmental Education (IEE)	4/9/2020
Asbestos Supervisor Refresher	Institute for Environmental Education (IEE)	5/8/2020
Asbestos Management Planner Refresher	Institute for Environmental Education (IEE)	12/30/2020
Asbestos Project Designer Refresher	Institute for Environmental Education (IEE)	12/30/2020
Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher	Institute for Environmental Education (IEE)	12/30/2020
Lead Supervisor Refresher	Institute for Environmental Education (IEE)	1/14/2021
Asbestos Worker Refresher	CNS Environmental	12/7/2020
Asbestos Supervisor Refresher	CNS Environmental	10/15/2020
Asbestos Inspector Refresher	CNS Environmental	4/12/2021
Asbestos Supervisor Refresher	Alpine Environmental Services	1/4/2021
Asbestos Inspector Refresher	Chem Scope	5/30/2021
Asbestos Management Planner Refresher	Chem Scope	5/30/2021
Asbestos Project Designer Refresher	Chem Scope	5/30/2021
Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher	Chem Scope	5/30/2021
Asbestos Supervisor Refresher	Chem Scope	9/1/22
Lead Inspector Refresher	Chem Scope	5/30/2021
Lead Risk Assessor Refresher	Chem Scope	5/30/2021
Lead Project Designer Refresher	Chem Scope	5/30/2021
Asbestos Worker Refresher	CHC Training	9/1/2022
Asbestos Supervisor Refresher	CHC Training	9/1/2022
Asbestos Inspector Refresher	CHC Training	9/1/2022
Asbestos Management Planner Refresher	CHC Training	9/1/2022
Asbestos Project Designer Refresher	CHC Training	9/1/2022

I am a training provider. How can I get my online training course for asbestos and lead licensing accredited?

Historically, only in-person classes have been accredited by the Health Department, but many training providers are considering online learning opportunities for asbestos and lead disciplines. If you are a training provider who is planning an online training course to license Vermont asbestos or lead contractors, you must submit the following to [email protected] for review and approval before it can be offered:

Information to the on the course
Course syllabus
List of instructors
Details about the hands-on training segment
Details on the course exam

What Building Professionals Need to Know

What do I need to know before beginning a renovation or demolition (notice of intent, inspections, surveys, project design)?

Asbestos

No one may renovate or demolish a building or other structure or a portion of a it without first getting confirmation from the owner that an asbestos assessment has been completed according to the conditions outlined below. The assessment must be conducted by a Vermont-licensed asbestos inspector.

If no asbestos-containing materials are found:

Notify the Health Department within 10 working days before the demolition begins. The Health Department does not need to be notified of renovation work if no asbestos-containing materials are found.

If asbestos-containing materials are found, and these materials will be disturbed due to the renovation or demolition, then:

Asbestos-containing materials must be removed by a Vermont-licensed asbestos abatement entity before the renovation or demolition.
The asbestos abatement entity must notify the Health Department at least 10 working days before the project begins by filing an application for permit and fee (see the Asbestos Abatement Permits section below).

Required Instructions and Fact Sheets

Required Notice Instructions for All Demolition and Renovation Activities
Planning for Renovations and Demolitions Fact Sheet
Asbestos and Fire Damage Cleanups Fact Sheet
Fire Training Fact Sheet (Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation)

Federal Notification Form

Notification of Demolition and Renovation Form and instructions for the Asbestos Demolition/Renovation Notification Form

Asbestos Abatement Permits

If you are a Vermont-licensed asbestos abatement company and want to begin work on an asbestos abatement project, you must submit an asbestos abatement permit application to the Health Department using the licensing and permitting portal. Only the company's primary contacts can submit the permit application on behalf of the company. To be assigned a primary contact for your company, create an account on the portal, then email [email protected].

Small Scale Short Duration Asbestos Abatement Activities

Small Scale Short Duration (SSSD) abatement activities include any asbestos abatement activity that encompasses up to and including:

10 linear feet of asbestos-containing materials located on pipes

10 square feet of asbestos-containing materials from any surface within the abatement area within a facility

Projects divided up into smaller segments are asbestos abatement projects and not SSSD activities.

All SSSD abatement activities must be performed by a trained and Vermont-certified asbestos worker or supervisor. Send a completed SSSD Activities Notification Form to the Health Department within 48 hours of completing the SSSD abatement activity.

Lead

If you are a Vermont-licensed lead abatement company and want to begin work on a lead abatement project, you must submit a lead abatement permit application to the Health Department using the licensing and permitting portal. Only the company's primary contacts can submit the permit application on behalf of the company. To be assigned a primary contact for your company, create an account on the portal, then email [email protected].

What do I need to know about Inspection, Repair and Cleaning (IRC) Practices?

Asbestos

IRC Practices do not apply to asbestos.

Lead

The Vermont Lead Poisoning Prevention Law requires owners of residential rental buildings and child care facilities built before 1978 to do IRC Practices to help prevent people from being poisoned by lead. IRC Practices are relatively inexpensive maintenance activities that reduce lead-based paint hazards.

IRC Practices must be performed by an IRC Practices-certified person. You must attend a Health Department approved IRC Practices class to become certified. Classes are generally available at no cost at various locations throughout Vermont on a continual basis. Find an IRC Practices training class

Additionally, all maintenance and renovation of rental properties and child care facilities built before 1978 must comply with the Vermont Lead Poisoning Prevention Law. Learn more about IRC Practices and the Vermont Lead Poisoning Prevention Law

What are safe work practices for asbestos and lead?

Asbestos

Under Vermont law, only licensed contractors are allowed to perform asbestos abatement activities and must follow the regulations regarding the handling and disposing of asbestos-containing materials.

Lead

Under Vermont law, contractors are required to use lead-safe work practices.

What are the rules about worker safety (VOSHA)?

Asbestos

Worker safety is addressed in the:

Lead

Worker safety is addressed in the:

Asbestos

If you want to know whether there are asbestos-containing materials in a home, building, structure or material, hire a Vermont-licensed asbestos inspector to conduct an inspection.

Lead

Lead-Based Paint

If you want to know whether lead-based paint is on a home, building or other structure, hire a Vermont-certified lead inspector or risk assessor to conduct a lead inspection or risk assessment. A lead inspection determines the presence or absence of lead-based paint on painted or coated surfaces. A risk assessment identifies lead hazards from deteriorated paint, dust and bare soil, and ways to control the lead hazards.