AHERA stands for the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. It is a federal law enacted by the United States Congress in 1986 and administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The law was established to protect students, teachers, and school employees from exposure to asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in school buildings.
What Does AHERA Require?
AHERA requires all public school districts and private non-profit elementary and secondary schools (K-12) to:
- Conduct an initial asbestos inspection of each school building.
- Develop and maintain an Asbestos Management Plan.
- Reinspect asbestos-containing materials every three years.
- Perform surveillance of known or suspected ACM every six months.
- Notify parents, teachers, and employees annually of the availability of the Management Plan.
- Use accredited asbestos inspectors, management planners, project designers, supervisors, workers, and laboratories for asbestos-related activities.
- Maintain records of inspections, response actions, and asbestos-related activities for the life of the building.
Who Must Comply?
AHERA applies to:
- Public elementary schools
- Public middle schools
- Public high schools
- Charter schools (if publicly funded)
- Private non-profit K-12 schools
AHERA does not apply to:
- Private for-profit schools
- Colleges and universities
- Commercial buildings
- Residential properties
- Industrial facilities
Not exempt from everything
These facilities may still be subject to OSHA, EPA NESHAP, and applicable state asbestos regulations.
What Is an AHERA Inspection?
An AHERA inspection is a comprehensive inspection performed by an EPA-accredited Asbestos Building Inspector to identify suspect asbestos-containing building materials. The inspector:
- Identifies homogeneous material areas.
- Collects representative bulk samples.
- Documents the location, quantity, and condition of ACM.
- Assesses the potential for fiber release.
- Provides recommendations for management or response actions.
The inspection forms the basis of the school's Asbestos Management Plan.
What Is an AHERA Management Plan?
The Management Plan contains:
- Inspection reports
- Laboratory analysis
- Building drawings
- Material assessments
- Response actions
- Six-month surveillance records
- Three-year reinspection reports
- Training documentation
- Annual notifications
The plan must be maintained at the school and made available for public review upon request.
Why Is AHERA Important?
The goal of AHERA is not necessarily to remove all asbestos, but to ensure asbestos-containing materials are properly identified, monitored, and managed so they do not present a health hazard to building occupants. When ACM remains in good condition and is not disturbed, it can often be safely managed through an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Program rather than removed.
Related Regulations
Although AHERA specifically applies to K-12 schools, other asbestos regulations may also apply depending on the project, including:
- EPA AHERA: 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E
- EPA NESHAP: 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M
- OSHA Construction Standard: 29 CFR 1926.1101
- OSHA General Industry Standard: 29 CFR 1910.1001
- Applicable state asbestos regulations (such as TDEC, GEPD, ADEM, etc.)
How Axis Remedial Sciences Can Help
Axis Remedial Sciences performs AHERA inspections, three-year reinspections, six-month surveillance, and Asbestos Management Plan assistance for public and private K-12 schools, using EPA-accredited asbestos professionals.
- AHERA School Inspections
- Three-Year AHERA Reinspections
- Six-Month Surveillance
- Asbestos Management Plans
- Bulk Sampling & Laboratory Coordination
- Renovation & Demolition Surveys
If your school needs an AHERA inspection, a three-year reinspection, or Management Plan assistance, contact Axis Remedial Sciences to discuss your compliance needs.
Serving Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.