Asbestos is a mineral that is made of soft fibers. While asbestos is naturally occurring, it still can cause many health concerns. This highly toxic material is heat and electricity resistant and is a good insulator. Asbestos can be found in cement, plastic, paper, and cloth, and can be found in household materials such as tiles, roofing, and certain adhesives or sealants.
If it is such a dangerous material, why was it used in homes? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that more than 30 million tons of asbestos were used in home construction between 1900 and 1980. Since asbestos is so resistant to heat, it was used in many parts of home construction and could also sometimes be found in items such as crockpots or hairdryers. While links to cancer have been recorded as early back as the 1940s, regulations against asbestos were not put into place until the early 1970s. Since then, the use of asbestos has fallen considerably, but in older homes, asbestos could still be hiding in plain sight.
Asbestos, when inhaled, can become trapped in the body, which may lead to deadly cancer called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma causes difficulty breathing and chest pain and has an average prognosis of about 12 months after diagnosis. When doing a remodel of an older home, if materials containing asbestos are not handled correctly, the asbestos dust will be released and may put anyone who is in contact with it at risk. That’s why when the professionals are handling asbestos removal you’ll often see them wearing a self contained breathing apparatus to avoid breathing in any of this toxic and harmful dust.
If your home was built before 1980, and you are planning on working on areas in the home such as roofing, insulation, popcorn ceilings, drywall, plaster or caulking, switchboard panels, plumbing, pipe or duct coverings, or vinyl tiling, it is best to test for asbestos before doing any work there.
If you want to test for asbestos in your home yourself, a product like the Asbestos Testing Kit, created by the brand Asbestos Sampling, and can be found on Amazon UK, will help you figure out if there is asbestos present. This kit comes with full personal protective equipment and easy-to-follow instructions. Sample bags are included in the kit as well as a pre-paid test at a laboratory. Professional asbestos removal companies in Liverpool can also safely test your home for you.
If you find that asbestos is present in your home, it is recommended that you get an expert to safely remove the items. Anyone without proper training should never attempt to remove any materials or products containing asbestos. The EPA emphasizes that there are no safe levels of asbestos exposure. An expert either recommends abatement or encapsulation. Abatement is the complete removal of the asbestos, whereas encapsulation involves the asbestos-containing materials being coated in a product that prevents the asbestos from becoming airborne.
If you discover that there is asbestos in your home, try to limit activity in that area and keep children and pets away from that area. Do not sweep, vacuum, or dust the area, because that could spread the asbestos dust. And never try to remove the asbestos on your own. Always call a licensed asbestos abatement company to help you. These companies are specifically trained in preparing the area for removal, creating decontamination units, following all safety protocols, and the proper care and removal of the asbestos.
If the asbestos from your home needs to be removed, you can expect a few things to happen. The work area will be sealed off and all vents and HVAC units will need to be sealed and turned off to prevent the asbestos dust from spreading. Workers will wear coveralls and a full face mask respirator while working and any items removed from the site will have to be in a marked and sealed container. After the removal is complete, wet cleanup methods will be used to thoroughly clean the area.
All asbestos abatement companies are different, so it is okay to get multiple opinions and consultations to find the best company for your needs. Research different companies in your area and ask for recommendations and references. Different companies have different qualifications and guidelines for asbestos removal may vary from city to city. There are also different types of asbestos work for different construction needs.
1. Class 1
a. This involves the removal of asbestos in materials used to prevent the loss of heat, such as insulation.
2. Class 2
a. This involves the removal of non-thermal materials such as tiles, sheeting, siding, roofing, and wallboards.
3. Class 3
a. This involves the removal of any asbestos-containing materials and repairing of any materials that may be disturbed during the process. This type is the most common.
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