Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl asked City Council yesterday to accept $300,000 from a state oversight agency to help train building inspectors to check for asbestos in structures slated for demolition.

The state-picked Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority recommended the training and is supplying the funding. The training is meant to speed the process and reduce the cost of demolitions of abandoned houses.

The administration announced that it will begin training Fire Bureau personnel in building code enforcement and will provide building inspectors with cars. They now use personal cars on their neighborhood rounds, and the city reimburses them based on mileage.