Agency: Ohio EPA, Division of Air Pollution Control — Asbestos Program (OAC 3745-20 emission control; OAC 3745-22 licensing and certification)
Official program page
Ohio EPA’s asbestos program covers two things: emission control during demolition and renovation under OAC 3745-20, which Ohio EPA says is consistent with the federal NESHAP, and licensing and certification of the people and companies in the industry under OAC 3745-22 (Ohio EPA Asbestos Abatement & Demolition). The terminology is Ohio’s own — an “evaluation specialist” where other states say inspector.
Is my house covered?
Ohio’s emission-control rules apply to “facilities,” and the definition excludes residential buildings with four or fewer dwelling units. Two catches: a building with a loft used as a dwelling is not treated as residential, and a building that was previously covered because of its prior use stays covered regardless of how it is used now (OAC 3745-20-01).
Inspection before demolition or renovation
Each owner or operator of a demolition or renovation operation must have the affected facility, or the part where work will occur, thoroughly inspected by a certified asbestos hazard evaluation specialist before work begins — including for Category I and II nonfriable material (OAC 3745-20-02(A)). Nobody may inspect, identify, or assess asbestos-containing materials, or prepare management plans, without that certification (OAC 3745-22-02(B)(2)).
Notification
Notice of intention to demolish or renovate goes to the director at least ten working days before demolition, asbestos stripping or removal, or any other activity — including salvage and preparation — that would disturb asbestos, and must be updated when the amount of asbestos changes by at least 20% (OAC 3745-20-03). The full work-practice rules apply at 260 linear feet on pipes, 160 square feet on other components, or 35 cubic feet; a demolition below those amounts still triggers the notification requirements (OAC 3745-20-02(B)).
Who may take air and clearance samples
Environmental monitoring or clearance air sampling may only be done by a certified asbestos hazard abatement air-monitoring technician, a certified evaluation specialist, or a certified industrial hygienist (OAC 3745-22-02(B)(4)). Evaluation specialists must do a final inspection of a contained work area to confirm debris is cleaned up before clearance air sampling (OAC 3745-22-06(C)(3)).
Licensed abatement contractors
Any business or public entity doing an asbestos hazard abatement project — removal, renovation, enclosure, repair or encapsulation of more than 50 linear or 50 square feet of friable asbestos-containing material — must be licensed as an asbestos hazard abatement contractor (Ohio EPA certification guide, PDF; OAC 3745-22-01). Smaller related jobs that add up to more than 50 feet count together.
Verify an Ohio certification
Ohio EPA’s asbestos Resources page publishes lists of Certified Individuals and Licensed Asbestos Contractors, plus a spreadsheet of demolition and abatement project notifications.
What an Ohio evaluation specialist has trained for
Ohio’s evaluation specialist certification requires both an EPA-approved three-day building inspector course and a two-day management planner course, an application, and an annual fee, with refresher training to renew. The air-monitoring technician certification requires an Ohio EPA-approved 15-hour course, or an EPA-approved asbestos course plus NIOSH 582 or an equivalent (Ohio EPA individual certification guide, PDF). When you hire someone to test, ask which certification they hold and check it against Ohio EPA’s published list.
Ohio homeowners: remodeling, flooring and pipe wrap
A single-family home or a building with four or fewer units falls outside Ohio’s facility definition, so the evaluation-specialist inspection rule is not written for most owner-occupied houses (OAC 3745-20-01). EPA’s guidance is the one to follow there: you can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it, sampling yourself is not recommended, and you may want a trained, accredited professional to inspect if you plan to remodel or have damaged materials (EPA — Protect Your Family).
EPA also says not to sand, scrape, or power-strip flooring that may contain asbestos and, where possible, to install new flooring over it; pipe, furnace, and boiler insulation can sometimes be sealed rather than removed, but only by a trained professional (EPA — Protect Your Family). If you are converting a building to commercial use or the house was ever used for a covered purpose, Ohio’s rules can apply — ask before you start.
Common asbestos materials checklist
EPA and state agencies list these as places asbestos may be found. Checking a box does not mean the material in your building contains asbestos — only a laboratory analysis can determine that. Use this list to brief a licensed inspector, then request a match below.
Sources: EPA — Learn About Asbestos (where asbestos may be found); EPA — Protect Your Family; Maine DEP inspection FAQ and Rhode Island homeowner asbestos page, cited on those state pages.
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Do I need asbestos testing in Ohio?
Answer three questions. The result cites EPA’s “don’t disturb it — use a trained and accredited professional” guidance, plus this state’s official rules. It is educational, not a legal determination.
If you are planning to remodel, do not assume the work is risk-free. EPA’s homeowner guidance says remodeling can disturb building materials and that a trained and accredited asbestos professional should take samples for analysis. EPA also says taking samples yourself is not recommended, because sampling done incorrectly can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone.
Federal Asbestos NESHAP rules require a thorough inspection where demolition or renovation will occur at a facility — structures, installations, and buildings, excluding residential buildings that have four or fewer dwelling units. Any demolition or renovation at an institutional, commercial, or industrial building is regulated; at a minimum the thorough inspection requirement applies. The owner or operator must notify the delegated agency (often the state) before any demolition, and before renovations of buildings that contain a threshold amount of regulated asbestos-containing material. NESHAP does not require regulated ACM to be removed before demolition or renovation if the total amount to be removed or disturbed is less than 260 linear feet, 160 square feet, or 35 cubic feet. Houses demolished as part of a commercial or public project are not treated as exempt. Your state can be stricter than this federal floor — read the state notes below.
EPA says that if building materials in your home are not damaged and will not be disturbed, you do not need to have the home tested for asbestos. Material that is in good condition and will not be disturbed (by remodeling, for example) should be left alone.
For an owner-occupied home, start with EPA’s rule of thumb: leave undamaged material alone, and use a trained and accredited professional if you will remodel or if material is more than slightly damaged (Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos). State licensing, inspection, and notification rules can still apply when a contractor does the work or when you renovate — check your state page.
Rental housing and apartments are often treated more strictly than an owner-occupied single-family home. Landlords, property managers, and contractors more often need a licensed inspector and a licensed abatement contractor. OSHA regulates asbestos in construction and general industry; Maine DEP notes that OSHA rules apply whenever an employer/employee relationship exists. Read your state’s rental and multi-unit notes on this page.
Ohio’s emission-control rules exclude residential buildings with four or fewer units; larger residential buildings are “facilities” that need an evaluation-specialist inspection before renovation (OAC 3745-20-01; OAC 3745-20-02).
EPA’s Asbestos NESHAP page states that any demolition or renovation operation at an institutional, commercial, or industrial building is regulated, and that at a minimum the thorough inspection requirement applies. Schools have extra duties under AHERA: inspections and response actions must be done by professionals trained under EPA’s Model Accreditation Plan, and school bulk samples and TEM clearance air samples must go to a NIST NVLAP-accredited laboratory. EPA also recommends accredited labs for non-school buildings.
Ohio requires a certified asbestos hazard evaluation specialist to inspect before demolition or renovation (OAC 3745-20-02).
EPA says asbestos-containing materials that are not damaged or disturbed are not likely to pose a health risk, and that the best step is usually to leave material alone if it is in good condition. Do leave undamaged asbestos-containing materials alone, and take every precaution to avoid damaging them.
If you suspect a material contains asbestos, EPA says not to touch it. Look for signs of wear or damage such as tears, abrasions, or water damage. Damaged material may release fibers, especially if it is hit, rubbed, handled, or exposed to vibration or airflow. If the material is more than slightly damaged, or you are going to make changes that might disturb it, repair or removal by a trained and accredited asbestos professional is needed.
EPA’s homeowner don’ts include: don’t dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos; don’t saw, sand, scrape, or drill holes in asbestos-containing materials; and don’t use abrasive pads or a power stripper on flooring that may contain asbestos.
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Ohio asbestos testing FAQ
Who can do asbestos testing in Ohio?
For regulated facilities, inspections must be done by an Ohio EPA–certified asbestos hazard evaluation specialist. Source: OAC 3745-22-02.
Does Ohio’s asbestos inspection rule apply to my house?
Ohio’s facility definition excludes residential buildings with four or fewer dwelling units, with exceptions for lofts and buildings previously used for covered purposes. Source: OAC 3745-20-01.
How much notice does Ohio EPA need?
At least ten working days before demolition or asbestos removal, with updates when the asbestos amount changes by 20% or more. Source: OAC 3745-20-03.
Who can collect clearance air samples in Ohio?
A certified air-monitoring technician, a certified evaluation specialist, or a certified industrial hygienist. Source: OAC 3745-22-02(B)(4).
How do I check an Ohio asbestos certification?
Ohio EPA publishes Certified Individuals and Licensed Asbestos Contractors lists on its Resources page.
Every fact above is taken from official state, city/county, or EPA pages fetched for this site (last checked November 2026). If a detail could not be verified, it was left out.
Testing guides
Ohio separates the evaluation specialist who inspects from the certified technician who samples air — see our bulk-sampling and air-testing guides.