s101015 Do I have to reporting possible asbestos if it is not friable?
Identifier: s101015
Date: 10/15/2010
Question:
Does the presence of possible asbestos containing materialneed to be reported if it is not friable and is still in a solid form.
Why: Some attorneys and/or judges have stated that thepresence of asbestos (or a possible asbestos containing material) must bereported as the SoP are being misinterpreted that unless it has become airborneor has been found to be in soil, water and air, it is within the scope ofreportable standards. Is there a way to separate or define the meaning ofstrictly the presence of environmental hazards from those in soil, water andair? I realize that this is subjective interpretation.
Response:
An inspector is not required to report the presence of any (emphasis added) possible asbestoscontaining material. The condition and the location of the material are notrelevant.
Identification of environmental hazards is a separatediscipline beyond the scope of a home inspection. Home inspectors typically arenot trained, equipped, or licensed to perform environmental inspections andtesting. Also note that many materials found in a home may contain asbestos.It’s unreasonable to expect a home inspector to identify and test all materialsthat might contain asbestos.
Standards of Practice clause 13.2.A.12 states that inspectors are not required to determine the presence of any (emphasis added)environmental hazards. The remaining part of this clause identifies example of environmental hazards. It is not a complete list of all environmental hazards and is not a complete list of all possible locations of such hazards.