Search Frequent Questions

Displaying 61 - 75 of 174 results

• Will an air cleaner or air purifier help protect me and my family from COVID-19 in my home?

  When used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a home or confined space. However, by itself, a portable air cleaner is not enough to protect people from COVID-19. When used along with other best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, operating…

  • Last published: August 27, 2024

• I use/used vermiculite to enhance my potting soil. Should I be concerned?

  EPA's investigation ( https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/protect-your-family-asbestos-contaminated-vermiculite-insulation ) into these products indicates that consumers face only a minimal health risk from using vermiculite products at home or in their gardens. To further reduce the risk associated with the occasional use of vermiculite products during gardening activities, EPA recommends that consumers: Use vermiculite outdoors…

  • Last published: March 6, 2024

• Under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), are five transmission electron microscopy (TEM) outside air samples required to be collected with the five inside and the two blanks if the inside samples and blanks are below 70 structures/mm2?

  The five outdoor samples must be collected in addition to the five indoor samples, the two field blanks, and the one sealed blank for a total of thirteen air samples. (40 CFR part 763.90(i)(3)) If the five inside samples are below 70 structures/mm2 and the volume of air used for…

  • Last published: March 15, 2024

• Does the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) require that a written design plan be prepared by an accredited project designer before a covered response action begins inside a school or public and commercial building?

  No, the MAP does not explicitly mandate written design plans for covered response actions in a school or public and commercial building. However, EPA strongly recommends preparation of a written design plan before undertaking a response action. Other Frequent Questions about Asbestos Learn About Asbestos Asbestos and School Buildings Information…

  • Last published: March 15, 2024

• Are churches or sanctuaries that are under the local education agency's (LEA's) authority, which are attended by students for religious worship purposes during normal school hours, required to be inspected?

  If the church is not used for school instruction (e.g., math, spelling, etc.) purposes, no. However, when the church is under the authority of an local education agency (LEA) and is used for school instruction it must be inspected and included in the management plan. (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act…

  • Last published: March 15, 2024

• Are there criteria under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) for doing aggressive asbestos air monitoring?

  Yes. Unit III.B.7.d. of Appendix A to 40 CFR part 763, subpart E provides criteria for aggressive air monitoring. Other Frequent Questions about Asbestos Learn About Asbestos Asbestos and School Buildings Information for Owners and Managers of Buildings that Contain Asbestos Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos Asbestos Contaminated…

  • Last published: March 15, 2024

• A school uses a single room in a non-school building on a regular basis as a classroom for elementary and secondary education purposes during regular school hours. Is the room covered by the asbestos-containing materials in schools rule?

  The single room used by the school on a regular basis as a classroom is covered by asbestos-containing materials in schools rule (40 CFR part 763, subpart E), in addition to the hallways and bathrooms used by the school children. However, the rest of the building is not covered. Other…

  • Last published: March 21, 2024

• A school building burns down. A local education agency (LEA) wants to use a local community center under the authority of an LEA for 6 months due to the emergency. Does this temporary school building have to be inspected?

  Yes. 40 CFR part 763.85(a)(2) of the asbestos in schools rule states that, “[i]n the event that emergency use of an uninspected building as a school building is necessitated, such buildings shall be inspected within 30 days after commencement of such use.” Other Frequent Questions about Asbestos Learn About Asbestos…

  • Last published: March 21, 2024

• I work for a commercial lab and have questions on how to report the results of asbestos analysis for a local education agency (LEA). Who should I talk to?

  You can contact the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST’s) National Voluntary Lab Accreditation Program (NVLAP) at (301) 975-4016 or at [email protected] . Other Frequent Questions about Asbestos Learn About Asbestos Asbestos and School Buildings Information for Owners and Managers of Buildings that Contain Asbestos Protect Your Family from…

  • Last published: April 4, 2024

• If vermiculite insulation bulk samples analyzed by standard polarized-light microscopy (PLM) analysis is found to be less than 1% asbestos is it still considered an asbestos-containing material under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)?

  Vermiculite insulation containing less than 1 percent asbestos does not qualify as asbestos containing material (ACM) under AHERA and the asbestos-containing materials in schools rule. If standard PLM analysis, ensuring that bulk samples comply with sampling requirements as laid out in 40 CFR part 763.86 and that subsequent analysis of…

  • Last published: April 4, 2024

• If my school does not have any known or assumed asbestos containing building materials (ACBM), do I need to reinspect?

  No. Only schools that contain friable and non-friable known or assumed ACBM must be reinspected once every 3 years. Other Frequent Questions about Asbestos Learn About Asbestos Asbestos and School Buildings Information for Owners and Managers of Buildings that Contain Asbestos Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos Asbestos Contaminated…

  • Last published: April 4, 2024

• How does EPA know that the products on List N work on SARS-CoV-2?

  List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. EPA expects the products on List N to kill SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, because they: Demonstrate efficacy against the coronavirus…

  • Last published: April 10, 2024

• I can’t tell if the product I’m interested in is on the list or not. Can you help me?

  List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Disinfectant products may be marketed and sold under different brand and product names. To determine whether EPA expects a given product to…

  • Last published: April 10, 2024

• Can disinfectant products be used on people?

  List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The products included in EPA's list of disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) are for use on surfaces, not humans. Please see…

  • Last published: April 10, 2024

• Are there any changes to the registration of disinfectants due to COVID-19?

  List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. At the federal level, EPA has published guidance on amending product registrations to add claims of efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 , claims of…

  • Last published: April 10, 2024