ASBESTOS BUILDING INSPECTOR 2024 UPDATE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT EXAM
STUDY GUIDE A+
Building Inspector Responsibilities (AHERA & ASHARA)
1. Determining whether ACBM is present in a building
2. Assessing the physical characteristics of the ACBM within the building.
A building inspection involves:
1. Investigation of records for the identification of ACBM
2. A physical and visual inspection of the building for suspect materials
3. Sampling and analyzing suspect materials to test for asbestos
4. Assessing the condition and location of the ACBM and other characteristics of the
building
Management Planner Role
Uses info from the building inspection to estimate the degree of current or potential
hazard posed by the ACM and develop a plan for managing the ACM. After ACM is
confirmed, create O&M plan, stays in effect until ACM is removed.
AHERA
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E. Started
1986 and requires that all schools, grades K-12 (non-profit), be inspected for the
presence of ACBM (asbestos-containing building material).
ACBM
Asbestos Containing Building Material
ASHARA
The Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act. Started 1990, effective
Nov. 1992, requires that an accredited Building Inspector perform any asbestos
inspection conducted in a public or commercial building. Extended the training
requirement to cover asbestos workers, supervisors, and inspectors in public and
commercial buildings. ("Under the ASHARA revisions AHERA's training requirements
now apply to all persons working with asbestos in public and commercial buildings...")
Increased number of hours required for asbestos worker and supervisor training to 32
and 40 hrs respectively.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Protects workers
How AHERA affects your work/changed things:
1. Defines ACM as being more than 1%.
2. Lays out 5 control methods: operations and maintenance, enclosure, encapsulation,
repair, and removal.
3. Describes clearance air sampling at end of job with aggressive air sampling and a
TEM.
, 4. Regulates training classes like this one and requires this training for all workers
working with asbestos (excludes single-family homes)
What are the 5 control methods for asbestos, and what laid them out?
O&M, enclosure, encapsulation, repair, and removal. AHERA created.
TEM
Transmission Electron Microscope/Microscopy. May be used to detect smaller fibers of
asbestos.
ASHAA
Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act. 1984, Directed EPA to help schools carry out
their asbestos hazard responsibilities.
MAP
Model Accreditation Plan. From EPA, said now everyone doing things with asbestos
must adhere, not just schools.
Public and commercial buildings:
All buildings other than school buildings and apartment buildings with greater than 10
units.
NESHAP
National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants. 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M
How NESHAP affects your work/changes things:
1. Defines any job at least 160 sqft (100 in SoCal under SCAQMD), 260 lf, or 35 cf as a
large job
2. Asbestos must be wet before taken down and sealed in airtight container
3. Employer must notify EPA of the job 10 working days before begins (notify even if no
asbestos for a demo)
4. Waste bags must be labeled with the location of the job and name of waste
generator, be 6 mil thick, say "Danger
contains asbestos fibers
avoid creating dust
cancer and lung disease hazard"
4. Buildings musts be inspected for asbestos prior to demo or reno.
5. Requires there be no visible emissions to the outside air during removal
Buildings covered under NESHAP (and exclusions)
Excluded: private homes and apartment buildings with 4 or less units (Except these are
covered still in SoCal under SCAQMD)
Included: Institutional Buildings (hospitals, schools), commercial buildings (offices,
apartment buildings), industrial buildings (warehouses, factories).
Removal before reno or demo rule & exceptions
All RACM must be removed before demo or reno of a building if the amount of ACM is
greater than 160 sqft, 260 lf, or 35 cf
Exception: Does not need to be removed if it's Cat I nonfriable ACM (packing, gaskets,
asphalt roofing, vinyl - have flexibility and won't become DUST if hit), on a component
packed in concrete, not accessible for testing, not discovered before demo, or Cat II
nonfriable (that are unlikely to become crumbled, or reduced to powder during demo).
RACM
Regulated asbestos containing material.
Friable ACMs (like popcorn ceiling)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT EXAM
STUDY GUIDE A+
Building Inspector Responsibilities (AHERA & ASHARA)
1. Determining whether ACBM is present in a building
2. Assessing the physical characteristics of the ACBM within the building.
A building inspection involves:
1. Investigation of records for the identification of ACBM
2. A physical and visual inspection of the building for suspect materials
3. Sampling and analyzing suspect materials to test for asbestos
4. Assessing the condition and location of the ACBM and other characteristics of the
building
Management Planner Role
Uses info from the building inspection to estimate the degree of current or potential
hazard posed by the ACM and develop a plan for managing the ACM. After ACM is
confirmed, create O&M plan, stays in effect until ACM is removed.
AHERA
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E. Started
1986 and requires that all schools, grades K-12 (non-profit), be inspected for the
presence of ACBM (asbestos-containing building material).
ACBM
Asbestos Containing Building Material
ASHARA
The Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act. Started 1990, effective
Nov. 1992, requires that an accredited Building Inspector perform any asbestos
inspection conducted in a public or commercial building. Extended the training
requirement to cover asbestos workers, supervisors, and inspectors in public and
commercial buildings. ("Under the ASHARA revisions AHERA's training requirements
now apply to all persons working with asbestos in public and commercial buildings...")
Increased number of hours required for asbestos worker and supervisor training to 32
and 40 hrs respectively.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Protects workers
How AHERA affects your work/changed things:
1. Defines ACM as being more than 1%.
2. Lays out 5 control methods: operations and maintenance, enclosure, encapsulation,
repair, and removal.
3. Describes clearance air sampling at end of job with aggressive air sampling and a
TEM.
, 4. Regulates training classes like this one and requires this training for all workers
working with asbestos (excludes single-family homes)
What are the 5 control methods for asbestos, and what laid them out?
O&M, enclosure, encapsulation, repair, and removal. AHERA created.
TEM
Transmission Electron Microscope/Microscopy. May be used to detect smaller fibers of
asbestos.
ASHAA
Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act. 1984, Directed EPA to help schools carry out
their asbestos hazard responsibilities.
MAP
Model Accreditation Plan. From EPA, said now everyone doing things with asbestos
must adhere, not just schools.
Public and commercial buildings:
All buildings other than school buildings and apartment buildings with greater than 10
units.
NESHAP
National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants. 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M
How NESHAP affects your work/changes things:
1. Defines any job at least 160 sqft (100 in SoCal under SCAQMD), 260 lf, or 35 cf as a
large job
2. Asbestos must be wet before taken down and sealed in airtight container
3. Employer must notify EPA of the job 10 working days before begins (notify even if no
asbestos for a demo)
4. Waste bags must be labeled with the location of the job and name of waste
generator, be 6 mil thick, say "Danger
contains asbestos fibers
avoid creating dust
cancer and lung disease hazard"
4. Buildings musts be inspected for asbestos prior to demo or reno.
5. Requires there be no visible emissions to the outside air during removal
Buildings covered under NESHAP (and exclusions)
Excluded: private homes and apartment buildings with 4 or less units (Except these are
covered still in SoCal under SCAQMD)
Included: Institutional Buildings (hospitals, schools), commercial buildings (offices,
apartment buildings), industrial buildings (warehouses, factories).
Removal before reno or demo rule & exceptions
All RACM must be removed before demo or reno of a building if the amount of ACM is
greater than 160 sqft, 260 lf, or 35 cf
Exception: Does not need to be removed if it's Cat I nonfriable ACM (packing, gaskets,
asphalt roofing, vinyl - have flexibility and won't become DUST if hit), on a component
packed in concrete, not accessible for testing, not discovered before demo, or Cat II
nonfriable (that are unlikely to become crumbled, or reduced to powder during demo).
RACM
Regulated asbestos containing material.
Friable ACMs (like popcorn ceiling)
