Surfacing Material

Surfacing material is the regulatory term for material sprayed, troweled or otherwise applied to ceilings, walls, beams and other surfaces, such as fireproofing, acoustical plaster and decorative textures. Asbestos-containing surfacing material was widely used in buildings until the 1970s, and much of it is friable, meaning it can crumble and release fibers.

Origin

The category was defined in EPA's AHERA regulations for schools and in OSHA's asbestos standards of the 1980s, alongside thermal system insulation and miscellaneous material. EPA restricted spray-applied asbestos for fireproofing and insulation under the Clean Air Act in the 1970s, but existing material remained in place in many buildings.

Significance in Asbestos Context

Asbestos surfacing material exposed both the workers who applied it and many people who came later: electricians, plumbers, HVAC workers and maintenance staff who disturbed it above ceilings, and occupants and custodians when it aged, was damaged or flaked. Spraying it released heavy dust onto everyone nearby in a building under construction. Because it is applied over large areas, damage can spread fibers through a building, which is why AHERA requires schools to inspect it and manage it. For a claim, identifying the product and its maker matters, along with evidence of how it was disturbed. OSHA treats its removal as Class I work, and buildings built before 1981 must presume it contains asbestos unless tested.

Example Sentence

The building survey found asbestos surfacing material on the steel beams above the drop ceiling, where the electrician had run conduit for years.

Related Terms

Spray-Applied Fireproofing, Acoustic Ceiling Texture, Thermal System Insulation (TSI), AHERA, Friable, Presumed Asbestos-Containing Material (PACM), Spray Boy, Monokote

Notes

• If you worked above ceilings or near sprayed beams, tell your lawyer the buildings, years and what the material looked like.
• Building owners and schools often have asbestos survey records that can show what was present.
• Do not scrape or drill sprayed coatings in an older building without testing first.