[MassHistPres] FW: Window actions and resources

[SCeccacci at aol.com]

I agree that there needs to be an all out effort to make people aware  of 
alternatives to window replacement in historic buildings. If it were done at  the 
statewide and national levels, it wouldn't seem to be the  reactions of just 
a few "nuts" who are against progress.  Publicity  surrounding the 
"endangered" nominations of windows could be very  valuable.
 
As part of the effort to preserve historic windows, documentation  should be 
gathered to determine the actual threat of asbestos glazing  putty.  Asbestos 
glazing putty is becoming a common excuse for wholesale  removal of historic 
windows.  In the past few months I have seen windows  replaced in two Worcester 
buildings (not homes, but adaptively  reused former municipal and industrial 
buildings) because of asbestos  glazing putty.  In one of these cases, I am 
aware that salvage of the sash  that were still in good condition was not 
allowed because of the asbestos  glazing.  We need to understand what percentage of 
asbestos in glazing  putty is truly dangerous and also to understand what is 
the process and cost of  removing it from historically significant windows.
 
Susan McDaniel Ceccacci
Historic Preservation Consultant
Jefferson, Massachusetts