Asbestos Program

Environmental Health & Safety manages an asbestos program to ensure that construction, renovation, and demolition activities on Texas A&M property follow applicable state and federal guidelines regarding asbestos. EHS coordinates asbestos surveys at the request of Facilities Services/SSC and other university departments. EHS also employs individuals licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services as Asbestos Inspectors and Asbestos Management Planners to conduct the inspections.

Billing rates for FY26 are as follows:

• Regular turnaround (report within 10 business days, unless otherwise notified of delay) - $375 per report, plus sample fees
• Rush (report requested within 5 business days) - $675 per report, plus sample fees
• Per sample fee - $67.50
• Point count (as required) - $12 per sample

Survey FAQs:

• Why do we have to have an asbestos survey?

State and federal law require that an asbestos survey be performed before renovation of suspect building materials in most public and commercial buildings, which applies to Texas A&M University campus facilities. The EPA generally considers these materials to be suspect of containing asbestos.

• How many samples will be taken in the survey?

Inspectors will not know how many samples will be taken until they review the scope of work, prior asbestos survey records, and assess suspect building materials.

According to state regulations, any material can be assumed to contain asbestos without sampling. However, to prove that asbestos is not present, at least three samples of each similar material must be tested. If the inspector finds that a previous asbestos survey included a representative sampling of materials similar to those that will be disturbed in the current project, they may use the results from that prior survey instead of conducting new samples.

• How much will the survey cost?

As inspectors will not know how many samples may be required until the assessment/survey is completed, there is no way to predict the cost in advance. The cost is also based on the requested turnaround time (regular or rush).

However, EHS will use the most conservative approach while ensuring all suspect materials are assessed as applicable laws require. Because we have extensive records of previous asbestos surveys and material sampling on campus, inspectors may be able to determine that the survey can be completed without additional sampling or with minimal new sampling. Therefore, the cost may be $375 for a regular turnaround report that does not include new samples. The cost will increase above $375 for each sample taken (most often in quantities of three, per state regulations).

• What is point count?

Point counting is a precise analytical method that may be used when a building material is found to have low, but not zero, asbestos content after initial Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) analysis.

State law regulates asbestos at 1% or greater. If a material is found to have an asbestos content between 1% and 5% after initial PLM analysis, the samples will be point-counted by the laboratory. If the point counting determines that the asbestos content is actually less than 1%, it is not considered “asbestos-containing” by law and thus not regulated as if it were.

• Where can I learn more?

Please see the Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Program or contact the EHS Asbestos team if you have any additional questions.

Contact Information

ehsd-asbestos@tamu.edu