What is friable ACM?

Friable Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM) refers to any material that can be easily crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder through hand pressure when it is dry. This characteristic is critical because friable ACM poses a higher risk of releasing asbestos fibers into the air, which can lead to exposure and health hazards.

Understanding friability is essential for assessing potential risks in buildings, especially those constructed before regulations were established to limit asbestos use. This category includes materials like some types of insulation, acoustic tiles, and old plaster that might easily break down and release harmful fibers.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately describe friable ACM. The notion that friable ACM includes materials that cannot be crushed or are excessively heavy and dense fails to acknowledge the distinct concern associated with the ability of material to become airborne. Additionally, stating that it consists of materials that are simply solid and stable overlooks the critical aspect of how easily the material can be disturbed and thus poses a threat in terms of asbestos exposure.