In New Mexico, asbestos contractors need the GB-98 general and GS-29 special contractor licenses from the Construction Industries Division. When suspect material is found during a demolition step, the work in that area should stop until a licensed asbestos contractor has assessed it and handled any material that contains asbestos.
Key takeaways
- Asbestos contractors in New Mexico need the GB-98 general and GS-29 special contractor licenses from the Construction Industries Division.
- The New Mexico Environment Department publishes asbestos guidance in its frequently asked questions.
- Suspect material should not be broken, scraped, sanded or swept until it has been assessed by a licensed contractor.
- A demolition step that would disturb suspect material should be planned around the assessment, not around the schedule.
- A homeowner should ask the contractor for its license numbers and check them with the Division before the work is signed.
- The record of where suspect material was found and what was done is kept for the owner and for any inspector who asks.
Which licenses does an asbestos contractor need in New Mexico?
An asbestos contractor in New Mexico needs the GB-98 general contractor license and the GS-29 special contractor license from the Construction Industries Division. Those two classifications are the ones to ask for and to check with the Division.
The Division licenses contractors under the Construction Industries Licensing Act, NMSA 1978, Section 60-13-1 et seq. The GB-98 and GS-29 classifications sit within that system, and the contractor should be able to name both, with the numbers, in writing.
A contractor that is not licensed for asbestos work should not remove or break suspect material, even if the job seems small. The license is the protection for the owner, the crew and the people who will live or work in the building afterward.
What does the state's environmental guidance say?
The New Mexico Environment Department publishes frequently asked questions about asbestos, which are linked in this guide's sources. They explain how the agency views asbestos in buildings and the work done on it, and they are a useful starting point for a homeowner.
The guidance is written for the public and for contractors. A homeowner who reads it can understand why suspect material should be left alone until it is assessed, and why the removal is done by a licensed contractor rather than by the people who find it.
The guidance does not replace a licensed assessment of a particular building. Each building, and each material in it, needs its own assessment before the work is planned.
| Step | Who does it | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Stop the work in the area | The crew on site | Nobody cuts, sands, breaks or sweeps the suspect material |
| Keep the area closed | The crew and the owner | Keep occupants and pets out and switch off fans that pass through the area |
| Assess the material | A licensed asbestos contractor | Sampling and analysis by a contractor with the GB-98 and GS-29 licenses |
| Remove or leave in place | The licensed contractor, with the owner | A written plan for removal, containment and disposal, or a decision to leave the material |
| Resume demolition | The general contractor, once cleared | Work resumes only after the licensed contractor has confirmed the area is cleared |
What should I do first if suspect material is found?
Stop the work in that area, leave the material where it is and keep people out. Do not clean it up yourself. Call the contractor, then ask the licensed asbestos contractor to assess it, and write down where the material was found.
Keep the room closed and the fans off if the air system passes through it. Wash hands and keep clothing that was in the area separate from the rest of the laundry until it has been checked.
Photograph the material from a distance and note what it appears to be, what it is attached to and how much there is. That record helps the licensed contractor plan the assessment, and it helps the owner explain the delay to the insurer and to anyone else who is affected.
How is suspect material assessed?
A licensed contractor takes samples in a way that limits the release of fibers, sends them for analysis and writes down the result with the location of each sample. The result decides whether the material is removed, sealed or left in place.
Sampling is done with protective equipment and methods that keep the release of fibers low. The number and location of samples depend on the material and the area, and the contractor should explain its approach before it begins.
The written result is the basis for the plan. It should say which materials contain asbestos, where they are, what condition they are in and what the plan is for each. An owner should keep a copy of that result with the scope and the contract.
How does asbestos work change the demolition schedule?
The schedule follows the assessment. An area with suspect material is held until a licensed contractor has assessed it and handled any asbestos, and the rest of the demolition can often continue elsewhere. Scheduling around the assessment is cheaper than spreading fibers through the building.
The owner should be told when suspect material is found and what the effect on the schedule will be. The general contractor can often keep working in other areas, and the schedule for the held area can be set once the assessment is complete.
A demolition plan that does not allow for an assessment is likely to need changing once suspect material appears. A plan that includes a hold point for suspect material is easier to keep to.
What should the contract say about asbestos?
The contract should say who finds and reports suspect material, who assesses it, who removes it, who pays for the assessment and removal and how the schedule changes. A contract that is silent on those points leaves the owner with the question when the material appears.
Ask for the license numbers of every contractor who will handle asbestos, and check them with the Division before the contract is signed. The contract should name the classification each contractor holds for the work.
The price of an asbestos assessment and removal depends on the material and the location. This guide does not give a price, and the scope should be written and approved before any licensed work starts.
Does asbestos affect the insurance claim?
This guide cannot say what a policy covers. An insurer may treat asbestos differently from other damage, and the policy and the cause of the loss decide the answer. The record of the assessment and the removal helps any claim that follows.
Keep the assessment result, the photographs, the license numbers and the removal plan with the claim file. Those documents show what was found, what was done and who did it.
Ask the insurer in writing what the policy says about asbestos before the work is planned. The insurer decides, and the owner should have the answer before the cost is committed.
What should I keep from an asbestos assessment?
Keep the written result, the sample locations, the photographs, the license numbers of every contractor involved and the removal plan. Those documents show what was found, where, what was done and who did it, and they are the core of the file.
The result should say which materials contain asbestos and which do not, with the location of each sample. A result that lists only a conclusion, without the locations and the method, is harder to rely on later.
The removal plan should describe the containment, the disposal and the clearance. Ask for the final clearance result in writing. A later owner, an insurer or an inspector who asks what was removed and how should be able to answer from these documents alone.
How do I choose between firms for asbestos work?
Compare the firms on their license numbers and classifications, the written plan, the way they handle containment and disposal and the clearance they will provide. Ask each for the same information so the answers can be compared on the same points.
A firm that can show its license in writing, explain its plan step by step and name its clearance method is the one to compare on price. A firm that cannot explain its plan, or that wants to start before the material is assessed, should be questioned before any work begins.
Ask each firm who will be on site, what they are licensed to do and how the work will be checked. The answers show whether the firm is equipped for the specific job, and they are the basis for a decision that the owner can explain later.
What if suspect material is in a part of the building I plan to keep?
Material that is found in a part of the building that will be kept may not need to come out. A licensed asbestos contractor can assess whether it is in sound condition and whether it can be left in place, sealed or otherwise managed, and the plan should say which.
Material that is intact, out of the way and not likely to be disturbed is treated differently from material that is broken, crumbling or in the path of the work. The licensed contractor decides that from the assessment, and the decision is written into the plan.
Whatever is decided, the owner should know where the material is, what condition it is in and what the rules are for work near it. A note on the plan for future trades helps prevent an accidental disturbance years later.
Frequently asked questions
Which license does an asbestos contractor need in New Mexico?
An asbestos contractor needs the GB-98 general contractor license and the GS-29 special contractor license from the Construction Industries Division. Ask for both numbers and check them with the Division before work starts.
Can my own crew remove a small piece of suspect material?
No. A crew that is not licensed for asbestos should not remove or break suspect material, even a small piece. Stop the work in that area and call a licensed asbestos contractor to assess it.
Is every older material asbestos?
No. Many materials do not contain asbestos, and the only way to know is to have suspect material assessed. Until the assessment is done, the material is treated as suspect and left alone.
Where can I read the state's guidance on asbestos?
The New Mexico Environment Department publishes asbestos frequently asked questions, linked in this guide's sources. The guidance explains the agency's view and is a useful starting point, but it does not replace an assessment of a particular building.
What happens to the demolition schedule?
The area with suspect material is held until a licensed contractor has assessed it, and the rest of the demolition can often continue. The schedule for the held area is set once the assessment is complete.
Who pays for asbestos work?
The cost depends on the material, the location and the removal, and this guide does not give a figure. Who pays is set by the contract and by the owner's insurance, and both should be read before work is planned.
Sources
- New Mexico Environment Department, asbestos frequently asked questions
- New Mexico Construction Industries Division, About Us
This guide is general information for Bernalillo County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.