Safe Asbestos Abatement & Boiler Demolition in Westerly, RI

When it comes to industrial abatement and demolition in confined, hard-to-access spaces, Banner Environmental Services delivers expert results without compromise. Our team recently completed a highly specialized asbestos abatement and boiler demolition project for an industrial facility in Westerly, Rhode Island, navigating complex challenges while maintaining strict compliance with OSHA, EPA, and Rhode Island DEM regulations.

This project demonstrates Banner’s ability to manage technical hazards, ensure workplace safety, and deliver results under demanding site conditions—every time.

Tackling an Aging Industrial Boiler with Known Hazards

The centerpiece of this project was the demolition of a massive American Standard 10-section boiler, measuring approximately 95” x 63” x 58”. This piece of legacy equipment was not only heavy and difficult to access—it also included presumed asbestos-containing materials (PACM) commonly found in older boilers, insulation, and piping systems.

Before demolition could begin, Banner’s team developed a full abatement plan in line with state and federal asbestos regulations. The job was anything but standard, requiring a deep understanding of engineering controls, containment, and confined space safety.

Full-Scale Asbestos Abatement with Engineering Controls

The first priority was safety. Our licensed abatement team implemented full engineering controls to manage potential exposure to asbestos fibers. This included:

HEPA-filtered negative pressure containment
3-stage decontamination units
Poly sheeting and controlled access zones
Proper PPE, fit-tested respirators, and full-body protection

Once containment was secure, the team removed asbestos-containing insulation from the boiler and surrounding mechanical systems. This included:

~10 linear feet of thermal system insulation (TSI) on a 24-inch breaching pipe
Presumed asbestos insulation on boiler sections and components

All materials were properly wetted, double-bagged, and handled as regulated ACM waste, then transported for disposal in accordance with federal RCRA and Rhode Island DEM guidelines.

Learn more about our approach to safe, compliant asbestos abatement

Selective Demolition in a Confined Space

With the ACM abated, Banner’s team transitioned to boiler demolition, carefully dismantling the aging unit section by section within an extremely confined basement room.

There was no loading dock. No large-scale access. All materials—including tools, rigging, and crew—had to enter and exit through a sidewalk-level access hatch. This required detailed planning, special rigging equipment, and careful sequencing to avoid any disruption to the active facility above.

Each boiler section was disassembled, loaded into containment units, and staged for removal via hoisting operations through the sidewalk hatch.

Final Lift: Rigging and Extraction to the Street

The culmination of the project was a precision lift-out operation, where the disassembled boiler sections were hoisted from the basement to the sidewalk above. This required traffic coordination, perimeter controls, and mechanical lifting equipment to safely extract the final debris without damage or risk.

Thanks to careful planning and expert execution, the entire process—from containment setup to final debris removal—was completed without incident, on time, and in full compliance with Rhode Island state regulations.

Why Banner for Confined Space Asbestos Abatement and Demolition?

This project is a textbook example of why so many industrial clients trust Banner Environmental Services. Our team is equipped for the toughest jobs in the toughest spaces, including:

Boiler rooms
Mechanical chases
Confined basements
Historic or structurally limited buildings

We combine field-tested expertise with a culture of safety and precision, ensuring every project is handled with care, from mobilization to final clearance.

Get Expert Help with Your Next Project

If your commercial or industrial facility requires asbestos abatement, boiler demolition, or selective interior demolition, call on the trusted team at Banner Environmental Services. We’re ready to help with: