Please define the term "nonfriable suspected ACBM." Also, what does the term "manner sufficient to determine" mean with respect to sampling such material under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)?

Nonfriable suspected asbestos-containing building material (ACBM) means suspected surfacing asbestos-containing material (ACM), thermal system insulation ACM, or miscellaneous ACM that is found in or on the interior structural members or other parts of a school building and that when dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure. (40 CFR part 763.83) An example of nonfriable suspected ACBM could be wallboard or floor tile.

The phrase “in a manner sufficient to determine” means the accredited inspector must take an appropriate number of bulk samples (plural) of such material that permits a determination of whether the material is or is not ACM. (40 CFR part 763.86(b)(3), (c), (d)) For example, a number of training courses recommend that an inspector take the same number of samples for materials like floor and ceiling tiles as the inspector would for surfacing material.