Asbestos Removal Part of $78 Million Renovation

As the school district moves forward on a $78 million renovation and expansion of Bensalem High School, containing, removing and abating asbestos will be integral, an official told Patch.

School board member Wayne Lewis, who heads the facilities committee, told Patch after this week's school board meeting that officials recently reviewed buildings and looked at "how to contain" asbestos.

For the most part, Lewis said asbestos work will coincide with demolition efforts at the high school. The board will put out a request for proposal for bidders to provide price quotes for contractors to "go wall to wall" to remove asbestos tiles, as well as the building's original piping and fireproofing. 

It's too early to determine the total cost of asbestos removal and abatement efforts, Lewis said. 

District officials said previously that $15 million of the $78 million price tag would be reserved for soft costs, such as asbestos abatement, furniture and construction fees, and contingency funds for change orders.

Asbestos was commonly used in certain products, including building materials, to resist heat and corrosion, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Exposure to asbestos, even in small amounts, can cause lung disease and cancer, particularly for workers during construction, or other instances when asbestos is disturbed, according to OSHA.

For more information on asbestos, click here to read OSHA's fact sheet.