Regulated Asbestos-Containing Material (RACM)

Regulated asbestos-containing material, or RACM, is the EPA's term under the asbestos NESHAP for material that must be handled under federal emission controls during demolition and renovation. It includes friable asbestos material and nonfriable material that has become, or will become, crumbled or powdered by the work.

Origin

The definition is part of the asbestos National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants, 40 C.F.R. Part 61, Subpart M, which EPA first issued in the 1970s under the Clean Air Act and revised over time. It covers friable ACM, Category I nonfriable ACM that has become friable or will be sanded, ground, cut or abraded, and Category II nonfriable ACM likely to be crumbled or pulverized during demolition or renovation.

Significance in Asbestos Context

When a building with enough RACM is demolished or renovated, the NESHAP requires advance notice to the regulating agency, wetting of the material, careful removal before work that would disturb it, and proper packaging and disposal. These rules are aimed at keeping fibers out of the outdoor air and away from workers and neighbors. Violations can be civil or criminal under federal and state law. For someone exposed during a demolition or remodeling project, records of whether RACM was identified and handled properly can be important evidence. Note that RACM is different from regulated asbestos, which refers to the specific mineral types the law covers.

Example Sentence

Because the old boiler room's pipe insulation was RACM, the contractor had to notify the state and remove it wet before demolition began.

Related Terms

NESHAP, Asbestos-Containing Material (ACM), Category I and II Nonfriable ACM, Friable, Regulated Asbestos, Abatement

Notes

• If you lived or worked near a demolition of an older building, write down the date and address.
• State environmental agencies often keep demolition notifications that can be requested as public records.