What is Asbestos?

You must have heard of asbestos at one point or another in conversations, or maybe you caught a glimpse on a website. If you have no idea what asbestos is, here is a brief explanation. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that exits naturally. It contains silicates and is capable of forming long thin fibers. These fibers possess high tensile strength and are resistant to heat, and chemical attack.

When disturbed, Asbestos gets scattered in the air and becomes very easy to inhale. Its hazardous nature makes it a subject of severe health concerns. Considering its vast applications in construction, asbestos is a source of worry for everyone. Some of its typical applications include thermal asbestos insulation, pipes, asbestos tiles, and door gaskets. Others include…

• asbestos cladding
• soundproofing, roofing
• asbestos flooring
• guttering
• asbestos ceilings
• patching compounds
• fireproof gloves and ironing board covers
• brake pads, paints
• crayons and even portable hair dryers

Why is asbestos such a threat to health then?

Asbestos is no doubt one of the earliest building materials in the history of construction. Many have come up with different dates as to its discovery, but one cannot say precisely when it was first discovered. Dating back 3000 to 5000 years, asbestos has been employed in construction, especially as a roofing material like an asbestos ceiling.

Up until this era of technological advancement, people have consistently employed asbestos in building their houses. Little did they know the high health risk they are exposing themselves to. Building regulation bodies all over the world have since raised the alarm on the dangers and risk factors associated with asbestos. We will discuss this in later parts of this article.

 

How we come in contact with asbestos?

Asbestos has found use in construction, from serving as a fire retardant to furniture and roof shingles. There are still bricks, concrete, and fireplace cement made from asbestos. This simply goes to show that as we go about our business, we need to be cautious of our health safety. You must be aware of your environmental, residential, and occupational safety when it comes to asbestos!

Risk factors of asbestos

Exposure to asbestos is the cause of asbestosis and mesothelioma. These are common diseases that have been traced to asbestos. How does one get the disease? Inhalation! These diseases are gotten through inhalation or ingestion of asbestos fibers. Their symptoms are quite undetectable and can take a long time (between 20 to 50 years) before they manifest.  So, one must be careful at all times to ensure that these risk factors are checked at all times.

Asbestos regulations and control

Companies that deal on asbestos and derivatives like asbestos coating and its insulation products are required by law to attain a license.  

This regulation requires that all works associated with asbestos be communicated to relevant authorities before commencement of work. At least a 14 days’ notice is to be given. Despite the massive campaign launched by regulatory bodies, there are still cases of asbestos hazards been recorded. Most of which are traced to the carelessness and inconsistency in methods adopted by some construction firms. This is even more pronounced in the areas of containing and disposal of asbestos materials.

What is asbestos testing and asbestos removal?

As concerns continue to grow about asbestos and its health risk factors. It is also worth mentioning that a recent study shows that we still have over 28 million pounds of asbestos been used in construction materials vastly because of its insulation properties. 

This means that workers like carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and insulation workers have a high tendency of carrying asbestos linings around. This maximizes the risk of exposure to asbestos for their relatives, friends, and family members. Asbestos testing is a professional way of ensuring that you are protected from this likelihood of exposure. You get to protect yourself and your family as well.

To do this, you will need the services of a certified asbestos testing company like Fairview Property Inspections Ltd They are trained and equipped to detect asbestos presence around you. They will inspect your home or work environment and collect the samples. The samples will be sent to a licensed asbestos lab where it will be examined. Then they will analyze the results and put in measure to carefully contain and remove asbestos from your property. This may sound easy but rest assured, this process requires very competent hands!

Are you planning a remodelling or renovation project?

Always ensure that you test for asbestos before taking on renovation or remodelling projects in your house. This company know where to look and exactly what has to be done in every situation. Employ their services and be sure you are not putting yourself and family at risk.

How about asbestos removal?

Asbestos removal is fast gaining popularity in many homes because of the dangers of having asbestos around where we work and live. Fairview Building Inspections Ltd is your if you are ever in need of advice on asbestos removal.

Asbestos removal is a very technical operation that must be left to professionals. It includes crucial aspects of works, like building inspection, sampling, and testing.  It also extends to demolition asbestos survey and quality control of asbestos projects.

Did you know that asbestos can also be found in nature? Well, it does! As a property owner or someone looking to buying one, you must perform due diligence by enduring that you are not walking into an asbestos risk-prone area. It could also be that you are purchasing an old building that has not been tested.

Why you need a trusted professional asbestos testing and removal company

Doing all of these is in the job specification of a competent and licenses asbestos testing and removal company like  Fairview Building Inspections Ltd As soon as you employ their services, agents will be sent to your property for inspection. They will then collect samples like water, soil, flooring, drywall, and even house siding. This may not be all, it depends on the situation at hand, and it varies from house to house. Working with a licensed asbestos testing and removal company will significantly eliminate the chances of getting any asbestos-related disease like Mesothelioma, Asbestosis, and Lung Cancer.

Do you think you’re exposed to asbestos? Here is what you should do!

Minimal exposure and inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to life-threatening health conditions. It’s best to employ an asbestos testing, and removal company to evaluate your property. This will save you a lot of money that would have otherwise gone into costly medical treatments.

There are chances of been exposed to asbestos in older buildings like schools, airports, hospitals, and factories. Working in such places put you and everyone that comes in contact with you at risk. Proper asbestos testing and removal remain the best solution to this danger. Here are some tips for you if you fear you are exposed.

• Stop work
• Evacuate the area and ensure that access is restricted
• Call the proper authorities in your area
• Arrange for asbestos testing and removal as soon as possible.

Don’t endanger your health by attempting to this yourself. Contact a licensed asbestos testing and removal company at all times. Their removal costs are affordable and conform with all safety regulations for inspection and removal of asbestos. Fairview Building Inspections Ltd will guide you through every aspect of asbestos risk assessment and management. In summary, here are some facts you must always have at the back of mind. Asbestos is not easy to detect, it exists virtually everywhere, it poses health risks, and most importantly, it should be removed by professionals!