Asbestos in North Carolina’s Schools

Federal regulations require public, charter and private not-for-profit schools to get inspected and have plans to manage asbestos hazards. 

North Carolina offers resources for management plan development. We also conduct random inspections to ensure compliance with the regulations.

Management Plan Forms and Resources

Find an NC-Accredited Asbestos Professional

Reimbursement for Asbestos Work

What Work Qualifies and How to Get Reimbursed

About Federal Regulations

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of 1986

The federal AHERA directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a rule for managing asbestos in schools.

The Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools Rule (PDF) requires public, charter and private not-for-profit schools:

  • Undergo a building inspection to identify any asbestos-containing building materials (ACBMs). These inspections must occur before a school occupies a building.
  • Prepare management plans and take action to prevent or reduce asbestos hazards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tab/Accordion Items

Asbestos is the name given to a naturally occurring group of minerals made up of tiny, easily inhaled fibers.

Asbestos is a hazardous substance that was used in more than 3,000 different building materials.

There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems.

When asbestos gets in the air, breathing in the fibers can lead to an increased risk of:

  • Lung cancer
  • Cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity (mesothelioma)
  • Scarring of the lung tissue (asbestosis)

Examples of typical building materials known to contain asbestos include, but are not limited to:

  • Trowel-applied or sprayed-on decorative treatments
  • Fireproofing
  • Certain insulation products
  • Vinyl flooring
  • Gypsum wall board
  • Joint compound
  • Adhesives
  • Plaster
  • Ceiling tiles
  • Certain paints
  • Cementitious materials such as siding or roofing

An NC-accredited asbestos inspector must perform the inspection. Find an NC-accredited asbestos inspector.

Until Dec. 31, 2026, or until funding is exhausted, schools may be eligible for inspections and reimbursement for asbestos work through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Learn more about ARPA.

If your school is randomly selected for a compliance inspection, we review your management plan and walk through a selected number of your school buildings. We will make a report of observations based on this inspection. We give this report to the EPA.

We also assist local education agencies (LEAs) maintain AHERA compliance by providing:

  • Technical resources
  • Compliance assistance
  • Training to help manage asbestos

Disturbing asbestos during a renovation or demolition activity could result in:

  • Unnecessary occupant exposure
  • Building contamination
  • Regulatory violations
  • Penalty assessments
  • Potential litigation

Before you renovate, the school building must be inspected by an NC-accredited asbestos inspector.

About Our Program

North Carolina's Asbestos Hazard Management Program (AHMP) monitors AHERA compliance in all public, charter, and private not-for-profit schools in North Carolina. This compliance monitoring is on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

AHMP is administered by the Health Hazards Control Unit (HHCU).

More Resources