If you are planning to renovate your old house, then you must be concerned about its safety and must be considering scheduling an asbestos testing session. Asbestos was a common building material used in the construction industry before the 1970s. But over time, the dangers of asbestos become known and its use became prohibited. But if your building was constructed before the 1970s, then there are chances that the builders used asbestos in it and you may get exposed to it while deconstructing or renovating the house. So, here is a guide to help you understand what asbestos is and why asbestos removal is necessary.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos was a widely used construction material that is banned today in most countries. According to studies, prolonged exposure to asbestos can lead to a number of health conditions, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. This material has excellent insulation properties that has high resistant to fire. But today, it is known to cause devastating effects on human health, and that is why removing asbestos is considered a necessary step before starting any renovation or deconstruction work on any old building.
Dangers Associated with Asbestos
Asbestos is a highly fragile material that can easily crumble and release its fibers into the air. If these fibers enter human body, they lead to serious conditions like asbestosis and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer type that is caused due to prolonged exposure to asbestos and affects lining of internal organs. Although surgery and chemotherapy are some of the treatment options available for mesothelioma, a large number of people still die of the condition every year. An asbestos testing will help in determining whether there is asbestos in your premises or not and whether it is friable or not. Thus asbestos removal is a necessary and urgent step that’s taken by companies dealing with renovation and deconstruction.
When Asbestos Removal Becomes Necessary
According to experts, if asbestos is undisturbed in your structure and it is in good condition, then it is considered to be safe and is not very likely to release fibers into the air. So, such asbestos can be left as it is, but its condition should be reviewed from time to time. In fact, asbestos removal can actually lead to exposure to it. However, it is significant to review the condition of the asbestos, and its removal becomes necessary if its state changes. For instance, asbestos can get damaged if you accidentally drill into it while gaining access to an electrical wire. If asbestos testing is conducted, the contractors will be able to know where it is and that they should not disturb it.
If you know that you have asbestos in your building, but in intact condition, then you should schedule an annual testing to update its status and ensure that its condition has not changed. If asbestos removal is not necessary, then the experts may decide to protect or encapsulate it by coating it with some impervious material. This will prevent release of the fibers due to impact, age, or vibration.
Asbestos removal becomes a necessity under following conditions:
- If the asbestos is too damaged
- If it cannot be encapsulated
- If it is a very bad condition
- If it is located in a place where it is easy to get disturbed
- If you are planning to demolish your building
Whom to Call for Asbestos Removal
If you have decided to get asbestos removed from your building, then you must call a responsible, professional, licensed and experienced person to carry it out. Since asbestos removal requires a wide range of specializations that includes proper licensing, tools and safety measures, these experts will have all these necessary things to conduct the necessary process safely and responsibly.
