Asbestos is regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Local, state, and federal regulations regarding the same handling of asbestos containing building materials require filing certain paperwork, hiring licensed building inspectors and abatement contractors, and inspecting the work both before and after the asbestos removal. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, which is why the strict rules and regulations are put in place by the State of Colorado and enforced by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE).
Not properly testing materials before disturbing or damaging them can result in an asbestos spill, which is much more costly than the initial testing, so the best bet is to follow the regulations to be in compliance with the law, but also for your safety. Not following regulations regarding asbestos can get you a large fine, or even jail time: https://www.denverpost.com/2012/08/17/pueblo-landlord-gets-4-years-for-hiring-homeless-to-remove-asbestos/
Many people have the assumption that asbestos is illegal, and is no longer being used, which unfortunately, is not true!! We continue to import materials containing it, putting anyone who comes in contact with it at risk. According to Maacenter.org, in 2018 750 tons of asbestos were imported into the country, more than double the asbestos that was imported in 2017.
Asbestos can be found in many building materials including but not limited to; ceiling textures, vinyl floor coverings and mastic, roofing products, cooling and heating duct insulation, etc. and prior to damaging or disturbing a suspect asbestos containing building-material, you must have it inspected by a Certified Building Inspector. When asbestos is found, an abatement will need to be performed, after the abatement has been completed, a Final Air Clearance will be performed by an Air Monitoring Specialist to confirm the asbestos abatement was completed correctly and within regulation. 
The State of Colorado has regulations in place to include how many samples of each material need to be collected depending on the quantity of materials, and also the method in which the samples are being collected. Then the samples must be analyzed by an accredited laboratory, and all samples in a set must come back with no asbestos in order for them to be considered non-detect for asbestos These strict regulations are put in place for the safety of the homeowners and contractors that may be exposed.
