The only way to know for sure if a building material or product contains asbestos is to have an approved laboratory analyze a representative sample. The following list of materials provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists some (but not all) products/materials that may contain asbestos. It is intended as a general guide:

• Cement Pipes
• Elevator Brake Shoes
• Cement Wallboard
• HVAC Duct Insulation
• Cement Siding
• Boiler Insulation
• Asphalt Floor Tile
• Breaching Insulation
• Vinyl Floor Tile
• Ductwork Flexible Fabric Connections
• Vinyl Sheet Flooring
• Cooling Towers
• Flooring Backing
• Pipe Insulation (corrugated air-cell, block, etc.)
• Construction Mastics (floor tile, carpet, ceiling tile, etc.)
• Heating and Electrical Ducts
• Acoustical Plaster
• Electrical Panel Partitions
• Decorative Plaster
• Electrical Cloth
• Textured Paints/Coatings
• Electric Wiring Insulation
• Ceiling Tiles and Lay-in Panels
• Chalkboards
• Spray-Applied Insulation
• Roofing Shingles
• Blown-in Insulation
• Roofing Felt
• Fireproofing Materials
• Base Flashing
• Taping Compounds (thermal)
• Thermal Paper Products
• Packing Materials (for wall/floor penetrations)
• Fire Doors
• High Temperature Gaskets
• Caulking/Putties
• Laboratory Hoods/Table Tops
• Adhesives
• Laboratory Gloves
• Wallboard
• Fire Blankets
• Joint Compounds
• Fire Curtains
• Vinyl Wall Coverings
• Elevator Equipment Panels
• Spackling Compounds