Renovations and Demolitions | South Carolina Department of Environmental Services

You Must Notify SCDES of Renovations & Demolitions

Prior to removing regulated asbestos-containing materials, written notification (pdf) must be submitted to SCDES (up to 10 working days in advance, depending on the amount of asbestos to be removed). The notification must include certain required items of information about the owner, the contractor, the facility, and the asbestos removal project. Required fees must be submitted along with the notification. You must obtain a permit from the Department prior to the renovation activity.

Prior to the demolition of any regulated facility, written notification (pdf) must be submitted to SCDES at least 10 working days in advance even if a building inspector determines that asbestos is not present at the facility. The notification must include certain required items of information about the owner, the contractor, the facility, and the demolition project. Required fees and a copy of the building inspector's report must be submitted along with the notification of demolition. You must obtain a permit from the Department prior to the demolition activity.

Background Information

Renovation means altering a facility or one or more facility components in any way, including the stripping or removal of regulated asbestos-containing materials (RACM) from a facility component. "Remodeling" is considered renovation.

Demolition is wrecking or taking out any load-supporting structural member of a facility together and any related handling operations. Structural burns are prohibited by State Open Burning Regulations.

Renovation and demolition of most facilities (including buildings, structures, and other installations) are subject to State and Federal asbestos regulations. Certain residential buildings may be exempt. Please refer to the following Residential Demolition section for more information.

All asbestos-containing materials must be removed from a facility prior to demolition. Only the following asbestos-containing materials (ACM) may be left in place during demolition:

ACM on a facility component that is encased in concrete or other similarly hard material and is adequately wet whenever exposed during demolition.
RACM that was not accessible for testing and was, therefore, not discovered until after demolition began and, as a result of the demolition, cannot be safely removed. If not removed for safety reasons, all exposed RACM and any asbestos-contaminated debris must be treated as regulated asbestos-containing waste material.
Category I and Category II nonfriable mastic, glue, and adhesive ACM that is not friable or in poor condition, and where the probability is low that the materials will become crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder during demolition operations.

The facility owner and the renovation or demolition contractor are both responsible for ensuring compliance with these regulations.

Contact the SCDES Asbestos Section at (803) 898-4289.

Residential Demolitions

The demolition of a private residence containing four or fewer units (i.e., single-family home, duplex, etc.) is exempt unless the following conditions apply:

The demolition is part of a larger commercial or public project, such as, but not limited to, highway construction; development of a shopping mall, industrial facility, other private development; or urban renewal, etc.
The demolition involves multiple private residences within a compact area ("city block") under the ownership and/or control of a single owner and/or operator. Examples would be a municipality clearing a block of houses for urban renewal purposes or SCDOT clearing a row of houses for a highway-right-of-way project.
The residence is part of an installation such as a military facility, university campus, etc.
The residence is being burned for fire training.
The residence has been used in the past for non-residential purposes.

Contact the SCDES Asbestos Section at (803) 898-4289.