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WSP project manage PCB sanitisation in buildings

Property owners are required to report to the inspection authorities that a PCB inventory has been carried out and an action plan for sanitising their buildings has been implemented.  This follows a deadline in 2008 for owners of buildings constructed or renovated during the period 1956-73 to carry out an inventory to investigate the PCB content of joint and floor materials.

According to the PCB Ordinance, owners are required to sanitise buildings if joint or floor materials contain 500 ppm (500 mg/kg) or more of PCB.

The following timetable applies for sanitisation:

• Industrial buildings built/renovated in 1956-73 must be sanitised no later than 30 June 2013.
• Other buildings built/renovated in 1956-69 must be sanitised no later than 30 June 2011. If the joint or floor materials have been used indoors, they must be removed no later than 30 June 2013.
• Other buildings built/renovated in 1970-73 must be sanitised no later than 30 June 2013.

Many property owners have carried out PCB inventories and commenced work on sanitisation. But there is a need for more information, particularly on the best technique to use to sanitise joint and floor materials that contain PCB, while minimising the risk that the PCB will spread and become a danger to health and the environment.

WSP has a great deal of experience in the project management, procurement and inspection of PCB sanitisation.  Correctly implemented procurement means the right demands are made in the contract.  The contract also needs to be examined through inspections both during and after the sanitisation work.

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has submitted a proposal to the government to amend the PCB Ordinance (2007:19).  The proposal mainly involves the granting of certain exemptions, the approval of sanitisation already carried out and the stipulation that sanitisation is required for alterations and extensions as well as demolition where the PCB content in joint and floor materials is between 50 and 500 ppm.

The proposal includes better opportunities for the inspection authorities to ensure that the requirement is met for reasonable consideration in terms of application, as well as clarifying the requirement for the sanitisation of smaller contaminated joint and floor materials.

For more information on PCB and sanitisation contracts, please contact:

Jenny Fäldt:  jenny.faldt@wspgroup.se