There are several ways to protect residents from toxic contaminants by ensuring good air quality. A healthy environment is crucial for the safety of family members or office staff. Asbestos contamination is a serious environmental concern, as its inhalation may cause lung cancer and other ailments.
Several countries prevent the use of asbestos by banning its sale and import. Asbestos is a fibrous substance. It found its use in building construction, roofing, and insulation before 1990. However, asbestos is present in old properties and may require removal by hiring established asbestos removal contractors.
Ensuring asbestos-free environment
Exposure to asbestos fibers in the surroundings may cause developmental, respiratory, and neurological issues, including mesothelioma, a type of cancer. Asbestos was a popular construction material before the discovery of its health hazards by medical science. The hazardous material may be present in hundreds of thousands of residential and commercial properties across the US.
The following actions are necessary if asbestos material is present in a house or office:
- Avoiding any action that may break down the fibrous material
- Hiring experts to check for asbestos before planning renovation
- Planning asbestos removal by professional contractors
The presence of asbestos in a property may not be dangerous if the fibrous material is intact. However, asbestos disintegration during remodeling or renovation activities can release the fibers into the air. Asbestos abatement may be mandatory during the renovation or remodeling of an old construction. Contamination by asbestos is likely during the demolition of an old structure. Professional inspection to detect asbestos and complete asbestos removal may be necessary to safeguard the residents.
How does asbestos become a safety hazard?
Detecting asbestos within a property is challenging because the fibrous material may be present in several areas on the property. Asbestos was a popular material with over 3,000 applications in construction and appliance industry. It may be present in:
- Pipe insulation- Asbestos was a popular insulating material around pipes
- Roofing- Asbestos was a common roofing material
- Floor tiles- Several old buildings had asbestos tiles
- Drywall sheets- Asbestos sheets were in use as drywall material because of their fire-resistant properties
Asbestos becomes a health hazard following breakage of asbestos-containing material during remodeling or repair activities. Breaking of asbestos material releases fine asbestos fibers into the environment. Inhalation of these fibers is a major risk because of the cancer-causing properties of asbestos fibers.
Hiring a knowledgeable asbestos removal expert
A layperson cannot detect hazardous asbestos fibers. Hiring professional asbestos removal contractors is the only way to address the issue. Do not disturb or remove any object or appliance that may contain asbestos because of the possibility of its release into the air.
Asbestos abatement is a professional term for asbestos removal, which mitigates the amount of hazardous material. The permissible asbestos level, as per the OSHA guidelines, is not over 0.1 fiber every cubic centimeter of air. Complete removal of asbestos material on the property is the primary aim of reputed asbestos removal contractors.
The asbestos abatement project begins with site testing to detect asbestos material that is invisible to the naked eye. Asbestos abatement experts may send samples for lab testing or conduct air quality checks to know the amount of asbestos material in the surroundings. Evacuating residents is crucial before starting the process of asbestos removal.
Asbestos removal companies ensure quarantine of the property to avoid contamination. Sprinkling the asbestos-containing material with water is essential to arrest the floating of fibers during the asbestos removal process. Removal of all asbestos-containing material is necessary to prevent future contamination.
The takeaway
Asbestos removal is a complex process requiring the involvement of licensed and experienced asbestos removal contractors. One must not risk the health of residents by using any DIY method for asbestos abatement.