Is it legal to use asbestos in building material?

Is it legal to use asbestos in building material?

Since the late 1970s, the United States has passed regulations limiting asbestos use. These regulations:

• Ban asbestos use in situations where it could be released into the air (like in gas fireplaces).
• Require regular inspections to make sure asbestos materials are intact and undamaged.
• Establish guidelines to ensure asbestos particles aren’t released during use.

Many products — especially buildings built before the regulations — contain asbestos. However, overall there has been a significant decline in the use of asbestos in the United States.