NYS Asbestos Investigator UPDATED
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Asbestos types - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Chrysotile,
Amosite,
Crocidolite,
Anthophyllite
Actinolite
Tremolite
ACM is defined as what? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Asbestos-containing material, defined
as any material containing more than 1% asbestos by weight
When did the EPA guidance go into effect? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔March 31, 1986
Friable Asbestos - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔means any ACM applied to ceilings, walls,
structural activities that can be crumbled pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure
Local Education Agency (LEA) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔public school district or any
owner of a private, non-profit or secondary education facility
Response action - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔means methods to protect human health and
the environment from ACM
What is the goal AHERA? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔To identify the presence of ACM in a
school facility
When is a response action required? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔When damage or potential
damage occurs
ACBM - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Asbestos Containing Building Material
,homogenous area - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔means an area of surfacing material, thermal
insulation, or miscellaneous material that is uniform in color and texture
miscellaneous building materials - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔materials that are not included
in thermal or surfacing, interior building components; floor and ceiling tiles, wall paper, glue
operations and maintenance program - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔A program of work
practices regarding ACBM
Surfacing Material - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔material sprayed, troweled on or applies to
surfaces (acoustical plaster or fire proofing materials)
Thermal System Insulation is considered what? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔insulation
applied to pipes, fittings, boilers, tanks, ducts or other structural components to prevent heat
loss or gain.
How many samples at minimum should be taken for surfacing material for 1,000 SF or less -
CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔At least 3
How many samples at minimum should be taken for surfacing material for 1,000 SF to 5,000
SF - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔At least 5
How many samples at minimum should be taken for surfacing material for 5,000 SF or
greater - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔at least 7
What is the recommended sample number for surfacing material - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔always 9
How many samples of thermal insulation should be taken in general? - CORRECT
ANSWER- ✔✔At least 3 bulk samples in a random matter of each homogenous material
, When can you take 1 sample of thermal insulation - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔If the
material is a patch and is less than 6 linear feet
When do you not need to sample thermal insulation? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔If it is
fiberglass
How many samples are required for miscellaneous material - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔2 or
as many as to determine if it is ACM or not
PLM - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Polarized Light Microscopy
TEM - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔transmission electron microscopy
Can bulk samples be composited - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔No
When is a material considered asbestos? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔If at least one sample
has greater than 1% ACM
What does the lab need to provide on the report? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔name, address,
person performing and signature, and date of analysis
If there is ACM or suspect ACM what must be done in the report? - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔You need to report the square or linear feet, position of material, floor, and condition of
the material
What should diagrams/blueprint have on them for the report/inspection? - CORRECT
ANSWER- ✔✔Date of sampling, address, specific locations of sampled materials, square
footage, PACM
What must be on the DEP form regarding the inspectors? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Name,
address, and signature of each licensed inspector or investigator, and their accreditation
number
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Asbestos types - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Chrysotile,
Amosite,
Crocidolite,
Anthophyllite
Actinolite
Tremolite
ACM is defined as what? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Asbestos-containing material, defined
as any material containing more than 1% asbestos by weight
When did the EPA guidance go into effect? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔March 31, 1986
Friable Asbestos - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔means any ACM applied to ceilings, walls,
structural activities that can be crumbled pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure
Local Education Agency (LEA) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔public school district or any
owner of a private, non-profit or secondary education facility
Response action - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔means methods to protect human health and
the environment from ACM
What is the goal AHERA? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔To identify the presence of ACM in a
school facility
When is a response action required? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔When damage or potential
damage occurs
ACBM - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Asbestos Containing Building Material
,homogenous area - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔means an area of surfacing material, thermal
insulation, or miscellaneous material that is uniform in color and texture
miscellaneous building materials - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔materials that are not included
in thermal or surfacing, interior building components; floor and ceiling tiles, wall paper, glue
operations and maintenance program - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔A program of work
practices regarding ACBM
Surfacing Material - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔material sprayed, troweled on or applies to
surfaces (acoustical plaster or fire proofing materials)
Thermal System Insulation is considered what? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔insulation
applied to pipes, fittings, boilers, tanks, ducts or other structural components to prevent heat
loss or gain.
How many samples at minimum should be taken for surfacing material for 1,000 SF or less -
CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔At least 3
How many samples at minimum should be taken for surfacing material for 1,000 SF to 5,000
SF - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔At least 5
How many samples at minimum should be taken for surfacing material for 5,000 SF or
greater - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔at least 7
What is the recommended sample number for surfacing material - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔always 9
How many samples of thermal insulation should be taken in general? - CORRECT
ANSWER- ✔✔At least 3 bulk samples in a random matter of each homogenous material
, When can you take 1 sample of thermal insulation - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔If the
material is a patch and is less than 6 linear feet
When do you not need to sample thermal insulation? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔If it is
fiberglass
How many samples are required for miscellaneous material - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔2 or
as many as to determine if it is ACM or not
PLM - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Polarized Light Microscopy
TEM - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔transmission electron microscopy
Can bulk samples be composited - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔No
When is a material considered asbestos? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔If at least one sample
has greater than 1% ACM
What does the lab need to provide on the report? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔name, address,
person performing and signature, and date of analysis
If there is ACM or suspect ACM what must be done in the report? - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔You need to report the square or linear feet, position of material, floor, and condition of
the material
What should diagrams/blueprint have on them for the report/inspection? - CORRECT
ANSWER- ✔✔Date of sampling, address, specific locations of sampled materials, square
footage, PACM
What must be on the DEP form regarding the inspectors? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Name,
address, and signature of each licensed inspector or investigator, and their accreditation
number
