Define Friable asbestos vs non-friable.

• A. Friable asbestos will crumble, pulverize or release dust under hand pressure.
• B. Friable asbestos cannot release dust.
• C. Non-friable asbestos releases dust easily.
• D. Friable asbestos is always non-conductive.

Answer: (A)

Friability describes how easily asbestos-containing material can become airborne. If something is friable, it will crumble, pulverize, or shed dust with only light handling. That makes it the defining trait, so the statement that friable asbestos will crumble, pulverize or release dust under hand pressure is the best answer. Non-friable asbestos is bound in a solid material and resists crumbling under normal handling, so it does not release dust simply from touch; however, if the material is damaged, cut, or abraded, fibers can still be released. The other descriptions either wrongly claim no dust release, incorrectly describe non-friable as releasing dust easily, or introduce unrelated properties.