Instructions for Completing the Asbestos Inspection Form
Contact: (207) 287-2651
State and Federal laws require that buildings be inspected for asbestos-containing materials before
renovation or demolition activities begin. To determine whether you need to have an inspection
performed by a Maine-licensed Asbestos Inspector, or whether you can have an evaluation performed by
a knowledgeable non-licensed individual familiar with asbestos containing building materials, (e.g.
building inspectors and CEO’s who have asbestos-awareness training) depends on the age of the building,
current/past use, and number of units. If you are renovating a building you need only inspect the area(s)
that will be impacted by the renovation. If you are demolishing the building, the entire structure must be
inspected.
For projects in single family residences and residential buildings with less than 5 units, please read and
answer the questions on the Asbestos Inspection Form
provided on the reverse side. You are not required
to submit the form to our department, however, you should sign and keep a copy for your records. If you
answer Yes to any question, you need to have your building inspected by a Maine-licensed Asbestos
Inspector.
Except as noted above, the following applies:
• Buildings other than residential buildings with less than 5 units
(ie institutional, commercial,
public, industrial) must be inspected by a Maine-licensed Asbestos Inspector.
• Residential buildings with 2-5 units that were built before 1981
can be surveyed for likely
asbestos-containing materials by knowledgeable non-licensed people (e.g. building inspectors and
CEO’s who have asbestos-awareness training); any materials likely to contain asbestos must be
tested by a DEP-licensed inspector or assumed to be ACM.
• Single-family residences and residential buildings built after 1980
are not required to be surveyed
for asbestos-containing materials prior to demolition (residential buildings built after 1980 are not
likely to contain ACM).
In lieu of any required inspection you may assume suspect material to be positive for asbestos
and have it removed accordingly. You may never
assume material to be non-asbestos.
If your renovation
project will impact more than 3 square feet or 3 linear feet of asbestos containing
materials, the ACM must be removed by a Maine-licensed asbestos abatement contractor prior to
renovation, except single-family homeowners may remove some asbestos under certain circumstances
(Contact DEP for more information). Before you can demolish
any building, including single-family
residences, all asbestos materials must be removed from the building; again the removal of ACM must be
done by a Maine-licensed asbestos abatement contractor. Once the asbestos is removed, the renovation or
demolition project may be performed by any preferred contractor.
With the exception of a single family home, building owners are required to submit the Asbestos
Building Demolition Notification to the DEP at least five (5) working days prior to the demolition
EVEN IF NO ASBESTOS is present.
If you have any questions or need assistance completing the forms do not hesitate to call the Maine DEP
Asbestos Program at (207) 287-2651. You may also go to
www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/asbestos/index.htm to access forms and other information on asbestos.
