(a) For purposes of funding pursuant to Section 39619.9, the factors determining the need for abatement of friable asbestos or potentially friable asbestos shall include, but not be limited to, visual inspection and bulk samples and air monitoring showing an airborne concentration of asbestos in the school building in excess of the standard 0.01 fibers/cc by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) monitoring, as specified in subdivision (b), or the concurrently measured concentration of asbestos in the ambient air immediately adjacent to the building, whichever is higher. For purposes of reconstruction and rehabilitation projects approved pursuant to Chapter 22 (commencing with Section 17700) of Part 10 of the Education Code, for which asbestos abatement related work commenced on or after October 2, 1985, and for purposes of abating asbestos contained in pipe and block insulation, air monitoring shall not be required to determine the need for abatement of friable asbestos or potentially friable asbestos.

(b) For purposes of air monitoring, the operating agency for each public school building in which friable asbestos-containing materials (other than pipe and block insulation or materials to be abated during rehabilitation or reconstruction projects as specified in subdivision (a)) have been identified shall monitor airborne asbestos levels in each sampling area. Each sampling area in which asbestos-containing materials have been identified shall be monitored for at least eight hours during a period of normal building activity. Analysis of samples shall be by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) methods, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency provisional method and update, to measure the number of observable asbestos fibers. The results of this monitoring shall be recorded in terms of the number of visible fibers greater than 1 micron in length per cubic centimeter of air (f/cc) in accord with standard definitions for asbestos monitoring established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

“Sampling area,” as used in this section, means any area, whether contiguous or not, within a building that contains friable material that is homogenous in texture and appearance.

(c) Any public primary or secondary school building in which asbestos abatement work has been performed shall not be reoccupied until air monitoring has been conducted to show that the airborne concentration of asbestos does not exceed the air monitoring standard of subdivision (a). Not less than one month after the reoccupancy of the school building where asbestos abatement work has occurred, the building shall be remonitored to determine compliance with subdivision (b).

(d) “School building,” as used in this section, means any of the following:

(1) Structures used for the instruction of public school children, including classrooms, laboratories, libraries, research facilities, and administrative facilities.

(2) School eating facilities and school kitchens.

(3) Gymnasiums or other facilities used for athletic or recreational activities or for courses in physical education.

(4) Dormitories or other living areas of residential schools.

(5) Maintenance, storage, or utility facilities essential to the operation of the facilities described in paragraphs (1) to (4).

(e) School districts and county offices of education may apply for reimbursement from the Asbestos Abatement Fund for the costs of air monitoring completed pursuant to this section.

(Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1254, Sec. 1. Effective September 27, 1987.)