Asbestos FAQs

• Asbestos: A set of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties.

• ACM: Asbestos Containing Material. Any building material or product containing >1% asbestos.

• ACBM: Asbestos Containing Building Material. Surfacing, thermal system insulation or miscellaneous ACM that is found in or on interior structural members, the underside of covered walkways or the exterior portion of HVAC systems.

• Suspect ACBM: Various building materials that historically have been manufactured to contain asbestos, such as vinyl floor tiles, mastic (glue), ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, wallboard, joint compounds and others. [See figure, below]

• Assumed ACBM: A suspect ACBM that has been installed, but not tested for asbestos or “excluded” by a statement from an architect or engineer.

• Friable: A material that, when dry, may be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure. Friable ACBMs are easily damaged and therefore pose the greatest risk.

• AHERA: Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. EPA rule covering asbestos in schools.

• HAR §11-502: Hawaii Administrative Rule 11-502 "Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools." Hawaii State Department of Health implementation of AHERA.

• Homogeneous Area: An area of ACBM that is uniform in color and texture, and which does not extend to other floors or buildings. (also called, USA: uniform sampling area)

• School Building: An interior space in a K-12 public, private or charter school.

–Includes: classroom, lab, library, cafeteria, gym, administrative offices, maintenance & storage areas, underside of covered walkways, exterior portion of an HVAC system, and non-school sites used for the administration of education, such as District Offices (see 3., below).

HAR §11-502 definition of "School building":

1. Any structure suitable for use as a classroom, including a school facility such as a laboratory, library, school eating facility, or facility used for the preparation of food;

2. Any gymnasium or other facility which is specially designed for athletic or recreational activities for an academic course in physical education;

3. Any other facility used for the instruction or housing of students or for the administration of educational or research programs;

4. Any maintenance, storage, or utility facility, including any hallway, essential to the operation of any facility described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3);

5. Any portico or covered exterior hallway or walkway; and

6. Any exterior portion of a mechanical system used to condition interior space.

• PSR: Periodic Surveillance Report.