Notification About Presence of Asbestos in Student Residence Halls

Last Revised On: May 31, 2018

As a resident or resident family member of Pepperdine University's Housing & Residential community, we are informing you of the presence of asbestos-containing construction materials in residence halls.

Asbestos-containing construction materials (ACCM) pose no threat to your health unless asbestos fibers become airborne due to deterioration, or as a result of damage. As long as the building materials are in good condition, they do not present a health risk to residents.

What Measures Does the University Take to Ensure Our Community's Safety?

Pepperdine University considers the safety of its students, faculty, staff, and visitors to be our highest priority. As an institution with identified locations containing ACCM, the University has implemented an Asbestos Operations and Management Plan (Asbestos O&M Plan) to safely manage asbestos on campus and comply with all applicable federal and state regulations.

When issues with asbestos were first identified in the early 1990s, Pepperdine reached out to outside experts and conducted a campus-wide survey to locations where asbestos might be on our campus, and to create an Asbestos O&M Plan. The University has worked with experts in asbestos management to draft this plan and to review it regularly in order to ensure that the University follows the latest asbestos best practices.

The University also employs a staff of trained professionals and outside experts who conduct building inspections, coordinate and supervise asbestos-related construction activities, perform air monitoring and surveys, and provide employee training.

What Materials May Contain Asbestos?

Asbestos was frequently used in construction for its fire resistant characteristics prior to the 1990s. In fact, unsampled materials in buildings built prior to 1981 are presumed to contain asbestos unless sampling and analysis indicates otherwise. This includes much of Pepperdine's Malibu campus, which was built beginning in the early 1970s.

Materials containing AACM may include flooring, ceilings, walls, thermal system insulation on pipes and tanks and miscellaneous items. (Asbestos fibers have been used – and continue to be used – in a wide range of manufactured goods, including roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper and cement products, textiles, coatings, and friction products such as automobile clutch, brake and transmission parts.)

Required Safety Practices

If you notice any damaged building materials within your room (or in any area), please contact the Department of Facilities Services in writing by submitting a Facilities Services Maintenance Request Form or by calling in a maintenance request at 310.506.4101. Any damaged building material will be repaired right away.

We ask that you:

• Avoid scraping or damaging ceilings, walls or pipes.
• Avoid touching asbestos materials in walls, ceilings, pipes or boilers.
• Do not drill holes in walls or ceilings.
• Do not hang plants or other objects from walls or ceilings.
• Do not disturb damaged AACM or asbestos debris.
• You may hang items on your walls using small nails, tacks, or putty only. No screws or bolts are allowed. TV or surf board mounts are not allowed. Surfboards may be stored in the common living area.

If you have further questions in reference to this information, please contact Housing & Residence Life at housing@pepperdine.edu or 310.506.7586.

Locations Identified As Containing Asbestos

The table below lists the residence halls that have been identified as having surfacing materials containing asbestos.

Check with Planning, Operations & Construction before disturbing any materials in these buildings. This list is representative only. Not all materials have been identified or tested.