Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) are most likely to release harmful fibres when they are damaged or “friable”. Because these fibres are small and light, they tend to stay in the air for a long time, increasing the risk of exposure. For this reason, when a college or university campus undertakes construction, renovation or demolition activities, it must be aware of regulations that have been established for dealing with ACM. Among the asbestos-containing materials that could create a hazard are many plastics, paper products, floor tiles, cement pipes and sealants, insulation and textile products. Asbestos was so widely used in the past as a building material that there is still plenty of asbestos in existing structures and equipment, and it becomes subject to environmental laws and regulations when, for example, demolition work takes place.

To see what these are-and whether they apply to your facility-click through this section of the EVC.