What is Asbestos?

What should be done about asbestos in the home?

If you think asbestos may be in your home, don’t panic! If the asbestos material is in good condition it is normally safe to leave it where it is.

Generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fibres and there is no danger unless fibres are released and inhaled into the lungs.

Check the material regularly if you suspect it may contain asbestos. Don’t touch it, but look for signs of wear or damage such as tears, abrasions, or water damage. Damaged material may release asbestos fibres. This is particularly true if you disturb it by hitting, rubbing, or handling it, or if it is exposed to extreme vibration or air flow.

Sometimes, the best way to deal with slightly damaged material is to limit access to the area and not touch or disturb it. Always consult with an asbestos specialist if you believe you need to remove or dispose of asbestos materials or check with your local health, environmental, or other appropriate officials to find out proper handling and disposal procedures.

If asbestos material is more than slightly damaged, or if you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, repair or removal by a professional contractor will be needed. Before you have your house remodelled, find out whether asbestos materials are present by having an asbestos survey carried out.

How to identify materials that contains asbestos?

You can’t tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labelled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos or have it sampled and analysed by a qualified professional. Only fully trained individuals should take samples for analysis, since a professional knows what to look for, and because there may be an increased health risk if fibres are released during the sampling process. In fact, if done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone. Taking samples your-self is not recommended. Material that is in good condition and will not be disturbed should be left alone.

 Asbestos do’s and don’ts for the homeowner.

• Do keep activities to a minimum in any areas having damaged material that may contain asbestos
• Do take every precaution to avoid damaging asbestos material
• Do have removal and major repair done by people trained and qualified and licenced to work with asbestos. It is highly recommended that sampling and minor repair also be done by asbestos professionals
• Don’t dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos
• Don’t saw, sand, scrape, or drill holes in asbestos materials
• Don’t use abrasive pads or brushes on power strippers to strip wax from asbestos flooring or its backing. Never use a power stripper on a dry floor
• Don’t sand or try to level asbestos flooring or its backing. When asbestos flooring needs replacing, install new floor covering over it, if possible
• Don’t track material that could contain asbestos through the house. If you cannot avoid walking through the area, have it cleaned with a wet mop. If the material is from a damaged area, or if a large area must be cleaned, call an asbestos professional.

Where asbestos hazards may be found in the home?

• Some roofing and panel materials are made of asbestos cement
• Houses built between 1930 and 1970 may have asbestos as insulation
• Asbestos may be present in textured paint and in patching compounds used on wall and ceiling joints
• Internal walls and ceilings may be formed from insulating board materials
• Older products such as stove–top pads may have some asbestos compounds
• Walls and floors around boiler units may be protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets
• Asbestos is found in some vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives
• Hot water and heating systems may be coated with an asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape

How to manage an asbestos problem.

If the asbestos material is in good condition and will not be disturbed, do nothing! If it is a problem, there are two types of corrections: repair and removal.

REPAIR usually involves either sealing or covering asbestos material.

Sealing (encapsulation) involves treating the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos fibres together or coats the material so fibres are not released. Pipe and boiler insulation can sometimes be repaired this way. This should be done only by a professional trained to handle asbestos safely.

Covering (enclosure) involves placing something over or around the material that contains asbestos to prevent release of fibres. Exposed insulated piping may be covered with a protective wrap or jacket.

With any type of repair, the asbestos remains in place. Repair is usually cheaper than removal, but it may make later removal of asbestos, if necessary, more difficult and costly. Repairs can either be major or minor.

Major repairs must only be carried out by a professional trained in methods for safely handling asbestos.

Minor repairs should also be done by a professional since there is always a risk of exposure to fibres when asbestos is disturbed.

Doing minor repairs yourself is not recommended since improper handling of asbestos materials can create a hazard where none previously existed.

REMOVAL is usually the most expensive method this is because removal poses the greatest risk of fibre release. However removal may be required when making changes to your home that will disturb asbestos material. Removal may also be required if asbestos materials are damaged extensively and cannot be otherwise repaired. Improper removal of asbestos materials may lead to the spread of asbestos contamination and therefore increase the risk to personal safety.