Asbestos Tile in Basement

[Billy Maloney]

I have a duplex in Euclid OH, (Cuyahoga County). the basement has asbestos tile. There are no cracks in it. Anyone have an experience with this? Plan is to cover it with a heavy duty carpet.  Im assuming this is a pretty common thing in the area. 

[William Murrell]

I know what the Federal regs are, but California is notorious for going above and beyond in terms of their requirements so I'd caution you to call around and do some research.  

From a health and safety standpoint, it is not a health hazard as long as it is not friable, or in a state that readily releases fibers into the air when disturbed.   Think of a really old book sitting on a shelf and as soon as you touch it dust goes everywhere.  That's obviously an oversimplification, but it hammers home the point.  Sitting there undisturbed, it isn't technically hurting anything since asbestos only affects people when they breathe in the fibers.   There are tons of houses all around our area that have it and people just floor right over it.