Whether you have just moved in or have been living for a long time in your house, Get Rid of Asbestos identification is a must. Asbestos was extensively used in construction from the early 1940s through the 1970s due to its strength and heat resistance.
Although asbestos identification is a highly effective and inexpensive fire-retardant material that has excellent friction and wear resistance, it is harmful to your health. It’s a natural mineral composed of thin fibres that you can’t see but can be inhaled when disturbed. If these fibres are inhaled, they can cause serious lung diseases, such as lung cancer, It is and mesothelioma.
How will you know if there’s asbestos in your home?
Asbestos cannot be found by just looking at your house and its parts. Its fibres are considerably small so you can’t see them with your naked eye. They also have no smell or odour. Unless the product is labelled to contain asbestos, you won’t have any idea that it is present.
Not many products today contain Get Rid of Asbestos. However, this material can still be detected in many old building products and materials. In Australia, if your home was built or renovated:
- before the mid-1980s, it is highly likely to contain asbestos-containing products;
- between the mid-1980s and 1990, it is likely to contain asbestos-containing products and
- after 1990, it is unlikely to contain It-containing products.
If you want the most accurate way to know whether Get Rid of Asbestos is present in your house, have it inspected by a professional or an accredited laboratory. These experts can carry out a this survey, which is done within a structure, building or property to identify it containing materials. They can take samples to analyse and confirm if the material contains asbestos. Hiring a professional to test and identify asbestos in your home also reduces the risk of your exposure.
Where can you find asbestos in your home?
It’s can be found in many household materials, and they can be loosely or firmly bound. Firmly bound asbestos may be present in the following:
- Artificial brick cladding
- Flexible building boards
- Flat or corrugated cement roofing
- Exterior fibre cement cladding
- Flue pipes
- Cement pipe columns
- Textured paint
- Roof guttering
- Ridge capping
- Vinyl floor tiles or coverings.
Meanwhile, friable or loosely bound it is typically used in insulation on hot water pipes, old domestic heaters, stoves and other ceiling insulation products.
What should you do if you Get Rid of Asbestos is present in your home?
If you think there’s are in your home, you must regularly check for tears, abrasions or any damage. It fibres are only released when the material is damaged. In case of any damage, do not touch or disturb it. Despite the fact that homeowners may legally remove asbestos from their property in Australia, calling for an asbestos abatement contractor to help repair or remove it is recommended, especially for friable asbestos. These professionals have the proper training and equipment to do the job.
Do you need to remove asbestos-containing materials from your home?
If the asbestos-containing materials are in good condition, then it’s better to leave them alone. The risk with asbestos only happens when the fibres are disturbed or damaged. When the materials are intact, they pose no risk.
What are some precautions when removing asbestos from your home?
Improper handling of asbestos can cause more damage than leaving the material alone. That’s why safety precautions must be observed when you suspect asbestos in your home or when it is being removed. Below are some of the tips to remember:
- During sampling or removal, make sure that, except for the professionals, no one else is in the room to avoid exposure.
- Turn off any heating or cooling system during sampling or removal to lessen the spread of fibres.
- Ensure that the area is well ventilated.
- Put a plastic sheet around the area to catch any debris.
- Wet the asbestos surface to reduce the risk of fibre spreading.
- The person who will do the work should wear a disposable overall, hat and gloves.
- Unless you have proper training, don’t carry out any work near asbestos-containing materials.
- Do not sand, saw, scrape or drill materials that contain asbestos.
- If the material to be removed is a sheet, try not to break it.
- Use a wet mop when sweeping is needed to avoid the spreading of fibres.
- Contaminated clothing should also be bagged, sealed and disposed of with other contaminated items. They should not be reused.
- Do not dispose of asbestos-containing materials with the typical household waste.
Exposure to asbestos can pose health hazards. If you’re a homeowner, you should work on identifying asbestos in your property and have it addressed if present. However, you should not do it by yourself. Regardless of how much asbestos is present, hiring a professional is always the best option to identify, repair or remove any asbestos-containing material.
