Asbestos professionals can inspect your home to identify suspected materials, advise about their condition and make corrections accordingly. Asbestos testing and removal Adelaide can also ensure that abatement contractors adhere to federal and state regulations during abatement procedures.
Even minimally damaged asbestos material can release fibres when damaged – tears, abrasions, or water damage can release fibres, as can sanding or scraping.
Inspection
Though asbestos production has been banned for decades, it can still be found in some buildings, including home construction projects. It can be found in floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, fireproofing materials and roofing products; damage can release dangerous fibres into the air and make asbestos even more hazardous than before. Therefore, regular checks for materials containing asbestos must be conducted, with limited access granted and any changes causing it to move during modifications within your home to minimise any risks.
Professional asbestos testing and removal Adelaide inspection are essential when searching for asbestos materials in your home, as they can test for and take samples if needed. Samples are taken by carefully wetting down material containing detergent with water before sending it to an accredited laboratory for analysis. A licensed inspector may suggest either encapsulation or removal. In cases where disturbed material exists, hiring an abatement contractor might be best.
Sampling
Asbestos was widely used in building products due to its strength, fireproofing and chemical corrosion resistance; however, increasing public awareness regarding its detrimental health effects began being phased out during the late 70s and early 1980s.
An asbestos inspector must collect samples for testing. They must then follow appropriate personal decontamination procedures, including donning coveralls and wearing a respirator (if applicable).
Samples should be collected by hand to reduce the risk of spreading asbestos fibres into the air. Before taking samples, all heating or cooling systems should be disabled to help limit any possible spread of fibres into the atmosphere, and disturbance of suspected materials should also be avoided as this could release asbestos fibres into the atmosphere.
Under certain conditions, slightly damaged asbestos materials can be left alone without fear of disturbing or moving them. Depending on their condition and location, you should get them tested before conducting any activities that could disrupt them.
Analysis
Asbestos fibres inhaled into the lungs can lead to lung scarring and, eventually, cancer. Due to different materials containing different concentrations of asbestos, regulations require taking samples from all materials you know.
Once collected, samples are forwarded for laboratory analysis using various techniques, including phase contrast polarised light microscopy (PLM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
X-ray diffraction can also be used to identify asbestos minerals. A crystallographic software examines diffraction patterns of various materials to see if any have distinctive peaks that indicate asbestos minerals’ presence.
Other tests may also be conducted to detect asbestos in soil and water samples to investigate industrial contamination, illegal dumping or environmental concerns. The Environmental Protection Agency recently published methods for analysing water and other aqueous samples to detect asbestos pipe presence.
Abatement
Asbestos testing and removal Adelaide is eliminating or mitigating asbestos’s detrimental effects in homes. It typically entails either encapsulating or removing materials containing asbestos – including building materials and insulation in good condition that remain undisturbed- and collecting it.
They will set up a “negative air” machine, drawing air through several filters (including HEPA filters designed to capture asbestos fibres and dust) into their work area before exhausting clean air outside through another set of filters. They will take air samples outside their work area to ensure there are no elevated levels of asbestos fibres anywhere in the home.
Asbestos removal can be expensive, but it’s worth the investment to protect your family’s health. Professionals have the experience, specialised safety equipment and licensing to safely handle the material and follow strict state and federal regulations and guidelines for disposal. It’s nearly impossible for a homeowner to do the job themselves, especially if it involves removing roof tiles or digging through drywall in cramped attics. Even a simple renovation might be risky because disturbing asbestos-containing materials can release dangerous fibers that can lead to mesothelioma and other serious illnesses.
