Asbestos Building Inspector Initial
Questions and Answers 2024/2025
AHERA - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-Asbestos Containing Building Material
ASHARA - CORRECT ANSWER-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.
Building Inspector Responsibilities (AHERA & ASHARA) - CORRECT ANSWER-1.
Determining whether ACBM is present in a building
2. Assessing the physical characteristics of the ACBM within the building.
A building inspection involves: - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-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.
OSHA - CORRECT ANSWER-Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Protects
workers
How AHERA affects your work/changed things: - CORRECT ANSWER-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? - CORRECT
ANSWER-O&M, enclosure, encapsulation, repair, and removal. AHERA created.
TEM - CORRECT ANSWER-Transmission Electron Microscope/Microscopy. May be
used to detect smaller fibers of asbestos.
ASHAA - CORRECT ANSWER-Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act. 1984,
Directed EPA to help schools carry out their asbestos hazard responsibilities.
MAP - CORRECT ANSWER-Model Accreditation Plan. From EPA, said now everyone
doing things with asbestos must adhere, not just schools.
Public and commercial buildings: - CORRECT ANSWER-All buildings other than school
buildings and apartment buildings with greater than 10 units.
NESHAP - CORRECT ANSWER-National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air
Pollutants. 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M
How NESHAP affects your work/changes things: - CORRECT ANSWER-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) - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-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
Questions and Answers 2024/2025
AHERA - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-Asbestos Containing Building Material
ASHARA - CORRECT ANSWER-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.
Building Inspector Responsibilities (AHERA & ASHARA) - CORRECT ANSWER-1.
Determining whether ACBM is present in a building
2. Assessing the physical characteristics of the ACBM within the building.
A building inspection involves: - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-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.
OSHA - CORRECT ANSWER-Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Protects
workers
How AHERA affects your work/changed things: - CORRECT ANSWER-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? - CORRECT
ANSWER-O&M, enclosure, encapsulation, repair, and removal. AHERA created.
TEM - CORRECT ANSWER-Transmission Electron Microscope/Microscopy. May be
used to detect smaller fibers of asbestos.
ASHAA - CORRECT ANSWER-Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act. 1984,
Directed EPA to help schools carry out their asbestos hazard responsibilities.
MAP - CORRECT ANSWER-Model Accreditation Plan. From EPA, said now everyone
doing things with asbestos must adhere, not just schools.
Public and commercial buildings: - CORRECT ANSWER-All buildings other than school
buildings and apartment buildings with greater than 10 units.
NESHAP - CORRECT ANSWER-National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air
Pollutants. 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M
How NESHAP affects your work/changes things: - CORRECT ANSWER-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) - CORRECT ANSWER-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 - CORRECT ANSWER-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
