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PCBs in Building Demolition

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) can be found in older buildings built prior to a ban in 1979 by the US Environmental Protection Agency. 

Typically, older buildings containing PCBs are found within the following:

  • Caulking (sealant, plaster)
  • Thermal insulation
  • Fiberglass insulation
  • Adhesives/mastic
  • Paint
  • Exterior building materials, i.e. caulks and roofing materials
  • Rubber gaskets

The Bay Area municipal stormwater permit requires most San Francisco Bay Area municipalities to develop a program to ensure that Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) from building materials (e.g., legacy caulk) do not enter storm drains during building demolition.

Permit requirements addressed by the project include:

  • Developing methods to identify applicable structures and materials before demolition
  • Developing protocols to ensure that PCBs are not discharged to the storm drain during demolition of these structures
  • Establishing the necessary authority for the protocol via municipal ordinance or other mechanism.

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