PipeTaz: Automated Pipe Asbestos Insulation Removal and Processing System

60104 Asbestos abatement costs, associated with the DOE¿s national weapons¿ complex clean-up efforts, may amount to $300-500 million, while nationally, asbestos abatement may cost more than $100 billion over the next 25 years. Abatement methods have changed little in the past 20 years, and there is a need for a cheaper, faster, and safer abatement method. This project will design, build, test, and commercialize an in-situ asbestos abatement system, called PipeTaz, designed to: (1) reduce the personnel required to abate asbestos, (2) increase the speed at which asbestos insulation can be removed, (3) allow the cleaned pipe to be recycled, and (4) reduce the volume and weight of asbestos. In Phase I, laboratory tests of various concepts for PipeTaz were conducted, design specifications for the system were developed, the functionality of a pre-prototype cutting system was tested, and a hand-held asbestos removal tool was modified. The Phase I effort showed that the conceived PipeTaz abatement approach is feasible and demonstrated optimal cutting and pipe transport technologies. Phase II will: (1) develop a complete and detailed system design; (2) fabricate, assemble, and test the prototype system using simulant-material; (3) develop a Technology Safety Data Sheet, Human Factors Assessment Document, and a regulatory and operational review; and (4) perform pilot-trials with asbestos-containing materials under realistic field conditions. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: PipeTaz should be useful for any pipe-asbestos demolition job, and the system could be used by most companies. PipeTaz will (1) reduce pipe-asbestos removal costs, (2) increase abatement productivity, (3) increase abatement safety, (4) reduce waste packaging in handling costs, (5) allow for waste stream separation, (6) allow for waste volume reduction, (7) result in reduced disposal costs, (8) enable the recycling of steel pipe waste, (9) reduce the volume of asbestos waste, and (10) reduce environmental costs/burdens.