What type of asbestos can be crumbled in your hand?

Friable asbestos is characterized by its ability to be crumbled or reduced to powder with minimal pressure. This property allows friable asbestos to release fibers into the air, potentially posing significant health risks if disturbed. Materials containing friable asbestos are often found in insulation, ceiling tiles, and certain types of spray-on fireproofing. Because of this attribute, friable asbestos is considered particularly hazardous during building renovations or demolitions, where it can easily become airborne.

In contrast, non-friable asbestos is bound within a solid matrix, making it much less likely to release fibers without significant mechanical disturbance. Encapsulated asbestos refers to materials that have been treated to seal in the asbestos fibers, further reducing the risk of fiber release. Hard asbestos typically describes the robust nature of the asbestos material but does not have specific recognition in regulatory terminology. Friable asbestos is thus recognized as a primary concern in asbestos management due to its potential for fiber release when subject to disturbance.