What is the NYS Code Rule 56 final clearance air quality standard?

• A. <0.01 fiber/cc or background level, whichever is greater
• B. 0.1 fiber/cc
• C. 0.01 fiber/cc
• D. 0.001 fiber/cc

Answer: (A)

After asbestos abatement, final clearance is determined by how clean the air is compared to two benchmarks: a fixed limit of 0.01 fiber per cubic centimeter and the actual background fiber level in a comparable area. The rule requires the final air concentration to be below the greater of those two values. This means you declare clearance only when the air is as clean as the outside/background conditions or better, but not stricter than the ambient level if that ambient is higher. If the background level is higher than 0.01 f/cc, the clearance criterion becomes that background level; if the background is lower, you must achieve below 0.01 f/cc. This approach accounts for natural background fiber levels while still protecting health.