Asbestos in the Home By J. Brent Kynoch, Managing Director, Environmental Information Association
Generally speaking, homes that were built prior to 1980 are more likely to have asbestos containing products than newer homes. Asbestos use in home building materials was common from the early 1900’s through the 1970’s. Several uses of asbestos were banned in the late 1970’s, however, there are still many uses of asbestos that have not been banned. For this reason, owners of homes built even after 1980 should exercise caution and care when handling or disturbing potential asbestos-containing products in their homes. Where can asbestos be found in homes?
The most likely asbestos containing materials inside and outside homes are:
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) By Tom Laubenthal, Technical Director, Environmental Institute
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA, 40 CFR Part 763) became law in 1986 and it applies to private and public non-profit elementary and secondary schools or Local Education Agencies (LEA, often as a county school system). The purpose of AHERA is to identify and manage asbestos in schools and it is enforced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). AHERA requires all LEAs to inspect for asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) and perform re-inspections every three years. The schools are required to develop a Management Plan to manage the asbestos in each school building. Other requirements include: