An Aspen, Colo.-area county courtroom will close for nearly a month in the fall while abatement professionals remove asbestos.

According to an article in the Aspen Daily News, the Pitkin County district courtroom will be closed from approximately Sept. 1 until Sept. 22 while asbestos-containing tiles discovered underneath its carpet are removed and replaced.

“It is not a bio-hazard and it’s not a health issue,” stressed Jerry Morris, who is managing the project for the county. “But because of the ‘A’ word, we’re being very careful.”

Most asbestos tiles, when undisturbed, do not present an asbestos hazard. However, tiles that are uncovered and have been damaged could potentially release asbestos fibers, which might cause mesothelioma or other similar asbestos-related diseases. The possible release of fibers demands the closing of the courtroom until the tiles are removed and air quality tests deem the room clear of asbestos dust.

Morris said the kind of asbestos found in the tiles and the glue underneath is basically harmless, and should not be confused with the dangerous type often found wrapped around old pipes and commonly used as insulation. “You’d have to work really hard to breathe this stuff in,” he confirmed.

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