Chapel Hallway Construction
On September 22, construction will begin on the hallway outside the Chapel in the main church building to repair a leak in the ceiling. Due to the nature of the work and the material of the ceiling, this work will include asbestos abatement.
This construction will likely not affect any proceedings on Sundays, it will only occur during the week.
We have selected a District of Columbia licensed and insured asbestos abatement contractor to perform this work. The abatement will be performed in accordance with all OSHA, EPA, and District of Columbia regulations. The abatement contractor plans to take all necessary precautions to contain the work area in accordance with the regulations. Air sampling will be performed at the conclusion of the work by a District of Columbia licensed and insured third party industrial hygiene firm to confirm the area is safe to reoccupy.
Asbestos is likely to be found in any ‘popcorn’ ceiling installed before the mid-1980s. It is not a hazard if left undisturbed, it becomes a hazard if it becomes friable (when it can be easily crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure making it likely to release asbestos fibers into the air with minimal disturbance). Given the nature and location of the repairs, it is prudent to have the ceiling remediated prior to the work being done.
The abatement will require two weeks, so half the hallway will be done in one week, the other half the following week. The full hallway will be closed to everyone while the abatement is being performed, look for signage to direct you around the hallway. It may reopen on Fridays for the weekend so long as the air quality passes required testing. Once the abatement is done, the restoration/painting will require another week.
Detour Path
The path above, the main entrance, or the porte cochere entrance can be utilized to access the Sanctuary building during construction.
Chapel Hallway Construction Timeline
*subject to change*
-
Abatement Notice goes up on Friday, August 22, 2025.
-
Abatement Phase One begins Monday, September 22, 2025. Chapel will be offline. Phase One should be complete by Friday, September 26, 2025.
-
Abatement Phase Two begins Monday, September 29, 2025. Chapel will be offline. Phase Two should be complete by Friday, October 3, 2025.
-
Ceiling restoration to begin on Monday, October 6, 2025. The Chapel will be accessible from the Narthex. Should be complete by Friday, October 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Asbestos is located in the ‘popcorn’ ceiling in the Chapel Hallway. Asbestos was put into these types of ceilings as a fireproofing additive up until the 1980s. Buildings built before 1970 generally have asbestos in one form or another, as it was commonly used for fireproofing in different forms.
Asbestos is a hazard when it is in a ‘friable’ or crumbly state. When asbestos crumbles, it releases particles into the air that may affect lung function if inhaled. So any work being done in an area where asbestos that can be friable is located needs to be remediated. Removing asbestos protects the workers.
Before we do any major repairs, we have the area tested for asbestos-containing materials (ACM). The ceiling tested positive for ACM. In 2018, before the church renovation, a full study was done of the campus buildings. A 191-page report was generated providing helpful information on where potential ACMs could be found on the NPC campus. NPC has been testing for asbestos since 1984.
Yes, only a DC-approved and certified remediation company can perform asbestos removal. Part of the requirement is that a notice must be posted in prominent locations no fewer than 30 days before remediation begins. The last notice to be posted was in the Agencies Building in March of this year, before the boiler replacement work began.
Before any worker can begin their work, asbestos testing is performed to ensure that all asbestos has been removed. No one will be allowed in the area while the remediation is underway, and an Industrial Hygienist will be monitoring air quality to ensure the safety of everyone.