Popcorn ceilings were source of asbestos in Jacksonville Townhouse Apartments

We now know the source of the asbestos found in a Jacksonville high-rise, and it’s something that could be in your living room right now.

After a fire displaced about 200 people in HUD-subsidized high-rise Jacksonville Townhouse Apartments on Philips Highway, contractors found asbestos in the building.

Through a public records request, Action News Jax got hold of a letter from an industrial hygienist, who reveals the source of the asbestos inside the building was the popcorn ceilings.

"You lay down, and you go to bed and you're looking up and … I don't know how many times I've thought about the popcorn ceilings," said Dawn Richey, who moved back into her unit on the 6^th floor less than two weeks ago.

The letter from J.S. Held said a contractor removed asbestos in the community room, laundry room and 27 units on the 1^st through sixth floors.

When the letter was written, on Feb. 1, the asbestos on the seventh floor still had not been removed.

Tenants have since moved back in.

Cambridge Management has not responded to Action News Jax’s questions about which specific units on the seventh floor had asbestos removed.

The eighth floor, where the fire was caused by a heating and A/C unit, is still off limits until asbestos abatement is complete.

No asbestos removal was required on the ninth and 10th floors.

Richey’s unit was not on the list of places where asbestos had to be removed.

“Praise the Lord,” said Richey.

Multiple asbestos contractors tell Action News Jax, that if your home was built in the 1980s or earlier, it’s common for popcorn ceiling texture to contain asbestos.

“That doesn’t mean that some of that material, as it’s starting to take off the shelf, may not have been used in buildings even in the early '90s,” said Atlas Inspections & Construction Consulting owner Jim Cocuzza.

If you have popcorn ceilings that you suspect may contain asbestos, don’t try to remove it yourself, because asbestos becomes dangerous when disturbed; Cocuzza said your best bet is to get it tested professionally.

Units at Jacksonville Townhouse Apartments where asbestos was removed after the fire:

• Community Room – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 27, 2018. The Community Room was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 30, 2018.
• Unit 105 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 18, 2018. Unit 105 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 22, 2018.
• Unit 106 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 18, 2018. Unit 106 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 22, 2018.
• Unit 107 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 18, 2018. Unit 107 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the following samples passed clearance criteria on January 22, 2018.
• Unit 108 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 18, 2018. Unit 108 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 22, 2018.
• Unit 109 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 18, 2018. Unit 109 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 22, 2018.
• Unit 110 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 15, 2018. Unit 110 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 18, 2018.
• Unit 111 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 15, 2018. Unit 111 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 18, 2018.
• Unit 114 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 15, 2018. Unit 114 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 18, 2018.
• Unit 115 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 15, 2018. Unit 115 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 18, 2018.
• Unit 211 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 26, 2018. Unit 211 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 30, 2018.
• Unit 218 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 26, 2018. Unit 218 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 30, 2018.
• Unit 220 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 26, 2018. Unit 220 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 30, 2018.
• Unit 226 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 26, 2018. Unit 226 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 30, 2018.
• Laundry Room – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 27, 2018. The Laundry Room was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 30, 2018.
• Unit 302 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 23, 2018. Unit 302 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 24, 2018.
• Unit 311 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 23, 2018. Unit 311 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 24, 2018.
• Unit 320 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 23, 2018. Unit 320 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 24, 2018.
• Unit 409 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 29, 2018. Unit 409 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 30, 2018.
• Unit 509 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 29, 2018. Unit 509 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 30, 2018.
• Unit 601 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 24, 2018. Unit 601 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 25, 2018.
• Unit 602 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 24, 2018. Unit 602 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 25, 2018.
• Unit 619 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 22, 2018. Unit 619 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 23, 2018.
• Unit 620 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 22, 2018. Unit 620 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 23, 2018.
• Unit 621 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 22, 2018. Unit 621 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 23, 2018.
• Unit 622 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 22, 2018. Unit 622 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 23, 2018.
• Unit 623 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 22, 2018. Unit 623 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 23, 2018.
• Unit 624 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 22, 2018. Unit 624 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 23, 2018.
• Unit 625 – The abatement of the ACM was completed on January 22, 2018. Unit 625 was sampled in accordance with AHERA. J.S. Held reviewed the results and the air samples passed clearance criteria on January 23, 2018.
• 7^th Floor: Asbestos abatement complete, according to Jacksonville Townhouse Apartments' management company Cambridge Management. Cambridge Management would not confirm specific units.
• 8^th Floor: Off limits until asbestos abatement is complete, air testing is clear, smoke/fire damage is repaired.
• 9^th Floor: No asbestos removal required.
• 10^th Floor: No asbestos removal required.

Cox Media Group