Non-friable asbestos

Non-friable asbestos is locked inside a solid product. Common examples are vinyl floor tile, asphalt roofing, cement siding and some gaskets. While the product stays whole and in good shape, it releases few fibers.

That changes when someone breaks it. Sanding a floor, grinding off adhesive, or smashing siding can turn a non-friable material into a friable one. The EPA rule says Category I material that is sanded, ground, cut or abraded becomes regulated.

Many Missouri owners find this out during a remodel. A contractor lifts old tile and finds black glue under it, the kind covered in the mastic entry. Stop work and test before you go further.

You do not always have to remove non-friable material. Sometimes it can stay in place and be managed, or sealed. Only a lab test and a certified inspector can tell you which path makes sense for your building.