Provide examples of friable and nonfriable asbestos-containing materials.

• A. Sprayed-on fireproofing and pipe insulation.
• B. Vinyl asbestos floor tile and asbestos cement siding.
• C. Friable: vinyl asbestos floor tile; Nonfriable: pipe insulation.
• D. Asbestos cement siding and vinyl asbestos floor tile.

Answer: (B)

This item is about telling friable from nonfriable asbestos-containing materials. Friable means the material can crumble or powder into dust with only light handling, so fibers can be released easily. Nonfriable means the asbestos is bound in a solid matrix (like cement or vinyl) and doesn’t break apart or shed fibers under normal handling.

The option that lists vinyl asbestos floor tile and asbestos cement siding fits the nonfriable category. Both of these are bound in a matrix (vinyl and cement, respectively), so they tend to stay intact unless they’re cut, broken, or severely damaged. That makes them classic examples of nonfriable asbestos-containing materials. The other choices include items that are typically friable (such as sprayed-on fireproofing or pipe insulation) or mix classifications, so this one best demonstrates nonfriable materials in the context of the question.