Connecticut State Department of Public Health

 
The Asbestos Program is responsible for enforcing regulations involving the management of asbestos-containing materials in school buildings.  These regulations apply to all public and private, not-for-profit schools for grades kindergarten to 12 (K-12).  These regulations include the following requirements:
  • Each school is required to inspect for the presence of asbestos-containing building material (ACBM) and to document the condition of the material(s).
  • An Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) must be developed based upon the inspection. 
  • The AMP must be submitted to the Asbestos Program for review and approval prior to the use or occupancy of a building as a school building.
  • Each school has a trained designated person who is responsible for making sure that the AMP is followed.
  • A minimum of two (2) hours of awareness training is required for all maintenance and custodial personnel that work in a school that has ACBM present.
  • The school is required to inspect the ACBM every six (6) months to document any change in the condition of ACBM.
  • A full reinspection of the school is required every three (3) years.
  • Parents, teachers and employee organizations must be notified annually regarding the availability of the AMP.  A copy of the plan must be available for review upon request.

Corresponding Regulations:

Asbestos Abatement While School is in Session:

 

Section 19a-333-7 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies prohibits the performance of asbestos abatement while school is in session without the prior written approval of the DPH.

Newsletters for Asbestos Management in Schools:

 

Newsletter #1 (pdf, 196 KB)

October 2002 - Provides information regarding reinspection, written notification of the asbestos management plan, periodic surveillance, custodial and maintenance training, record keeping, and compliance.

 

Newsletter #2 (pdf, 353 KB)

July 2003 - Information regarding "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants" (NESHAP), what to do if asbestos has been identified in an area that is being renovated, record keeping requirements, list of records that the Local Education Agency (LEA) must incorporate into the Asbestos Management Plan.

 

Newsletter #3 (pdf, 489 KB)

May 2006 - Responsibilities of Local Education Agency (LEA), additional Connecticut regulations to the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), and information for parents, teachers, and other school employees.

 

Newsletter #4 (pdf, 288 KB)

Summer 2007 - Keeping the Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) up-to-date and what should be in your AMP.  

 

Newsletter #5 (pdf)  

Summer 2010 - Focus on Asbestos in Schools

 

Newsletter: Consortium of North East States (CONES) (pdf, 210 KB)

Information on compliance with AHERA requirements for superintendents of schools, headmasters, directors, asbestos inspectors and management planners.

 

Asbestos in Schools Resources:

 

Asbestos Management in Schools (pdf, 1.48 MB)

Information on compliance with Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) requirements for superintendent of schools, headmasters, directors, asbestos inspectors and management planners.

 

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) Regulations  (pdf, 673 KB)

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) requires that all public or private, non-profit elementary and secondary schools inspect all of their facilities for asbestos, develop a plan to manage any asbestos, notify parents and staff of any asbestos management plans, provide asbestos awareness training to school maintenance and custodial staff, and respond in a timely manner to dangerous asbestos situations.

 

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) Designated Person’s Self Study Guide (pdf, 354 KB)

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools regulation (Section 19a-333-1 through Section 19a-333-13) requires each local education agency to designate a person to ensure that the requirements related to these regulations are properly implemented.  The US Environmental Protection Agency developed this Study Guide for training “Designated Persons”. The original Study Guide (EPA 9: O/R 93-023) published January 1996 has been modified to incorporate specific requirements contained within the DPH regulation.

 

Suggested maintenance and precautions for asbestos containing floor coverings.
 

3 Year Inspection for Asbestos Contained Materials (PDF 11/21/16 Update) 

This document is required to be filed in accordance with Section 19a-333-3(b) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (Asbestos Containing Materials in Schools).   This form must be completed by an asbestos consultant within 30 days of the three-year inspection.

 

Reinspection Checklists: