Asbestos, once celebrated for its heat-resistance and strength, is now a familiar health risk lurking in homes and buildings. Did you know that inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to severe lung diseases including cancer? Our guide for complete asbestos removal helps you identify, contain, and remove this silent threat, keeping your home and health safe.
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Key Takeaways
- Asbestos is a hazardous mineral fibre that can cause severe lung diseases like cancer when inhaled.
- Common locations of asbestos in the home include steam pipes, boilers, floor tiles, roofing shingles, and textured paints.
- Professional asbestos inspections and DIY tips can help identify asbestos in your home for safe removal.
- Long-term exposure to asbestos fibres poses significant health risks such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Understanding Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in various building materials for its heat resistance and durability. It can pose serious health risks when its fibres are released into the air. Inhaling these fibres can lead to diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Identifying the presence of asbestos in your home is crucial for protecting your health and ensuring proper removal if necessary.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre known for its robustness and heat resistance. It was popular in different industries, especially construction. It was added to many products like steam pipes, floor tiles, cement sheets, and fireproof gloves.
Asbestos is used less now due to health concerns. However, it may still be present in older homes or buildings constructed before stricter regulations were implemented. Breathing in disturbed asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. It’s therefore very important to be cautious of this hazardous substance.
How Can Asbestos Affect Your Health?
Long-term exposure to asbestos fibres can pose serious health risks, primarily related to lung diseases. People can easily inhale the microscopic fibres of damaged materials containing asbestos.
When they enter the body, they attach to the lining of lungs and other organs, causing inflammation. This can lead to serious conditions like asbestosis, mesothelioma, or lung cancer.
Regular exposure to small particles increases your risk. This risk is especially heightened if you smoke, as smoking worsens the harmful effects of breathing in asbestos. It is very difficult to detect symptoms early because they usually appear 20-30 years or more after breathing in harmful substances.
Therefore, avoiding any damage that might release asbestos dust becomes crucial for minimising potential health dangers associated with this mineral fibre.
Common Locations of Asbestos in the Home
Asbestos, a hazardous material, is commonly found in various parts of the home. It’s important to be aware of these locations for your safety and health.
- Steam Pipes: Contractors often used asbestos insulation on steam pipes in older homes. Disturbing or damaging this insulation can release harmful asbestos fibres.
- Boilers: They also frequently had an asbestos covering for heat resistance.
- Floor Tiles: Resilient floor tiles and vinyl sheet flooring from decades ago often contain asbestos.
- Cement Sheets: People widely used asbestos cement sheets because of their fire resistance.
- Roofing and Siding Shingles: Many older homes have asbestos-containing roofing and siding shingles. This poses a risk if they break down over time.
- Textured Paints: Textured paints used until the 1970s often contained this hazardous mineral.
- Stove-Top Pads: Older stove-top pads may contain asbestos as it resists heat well.
- Other Household Items: Other products may also contain this harmful substance. These items include ironing board covers, hairdryers, door gaskets, joint compounds, and artificial ashes for gas fireplaces.
Identifying Asbestos in Your Home
To identify asbestos in your home, you can hire professional asbestos inspectors or follow some DIY tips for identification.
Professional Asbestos Inspections
Engaging a professional asbestos inspector for complete asbestos removal provides an effective way to safeguard your health and property. Trained professionals can find dangerous materials in your building, especially when planning renovations or remodelling.
A comprehensive inspection includes not just superficial observation but also the careful collection of sample material for laboratory analysis. This process checks if there is asbestos in your building, like asbestos cement sheets or insulation on steam pipes and boilers. Following WorkSafe NZ’s guidelines ensures safety during inspections and reduces risk if asbestos is found.
If found, experts suggest quickly sealing or covering the affected area until a certified contractor can remove it properly.
Do-It-Yourself Asbestos Identification Tips
It’s safer to hire an expert for correct testing and removal, but you can still learn to spot asbestos dangers in your home:
- Learn about common asbestos-containing materials: These include pipework insulation, asbestos cement, textured paints and certain vinyl floor tiles.
- Conduct visual inspections: Look for signs of wear or damage such as tears, abrasions, or water damage.
- Know the age of your property: Most homes built before the mid-1980s are likely to contain asbestos materials.
- Be wary of dust: Do not disturb any dust that could potentially contain tiny fibres of asbestos.
- Practise safe handling: Handle suspected materials safely by dampening them with a wetting agent to avoid dust release.
- Obtain a sample for laboratory analysis: But do this only if necessary and follow safety procedures such as wearing protective gear. Ensure lab is IANZ approved.
Learn more about asbestos testing and sampling in our recent article.
The Risks of Asbestos
Asbestos exposure poses significant health risks. It’s essential to be aware of asbestos hazards in your home or workplace to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Diseases Associated with Asbestos Exposure
As you have learned, the inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to various health complications over time. Lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis are among the most severe diseases associated with asbestos exposure.
People typically experience these conditions when they inhale high levels of asbestos, potentially decades before symptoms become apparent.
Moreover, individuals in certain occupations may face increased risks. Workers fixing brakes and clutches may come into contact with asbestos in car brake pads, linings, clutch facings, and gaskets.
Broken pipes or boilers in houses can release dangerous asbestos fibres without people knowing. These fibres can harm the health of those living there.
Potential Asbestos Hazards in the Home
Exposure to asbestos within homes poses a significant health risk. Here are some of the potential dangers you might encounter in a typical residential property:
- Asbestos-cement pipes were a common choice for water and sewage plumbing systems in older buildings.
- Old buildings may have asbestos roofing and siding, which can deteriorate and release dangerous fibres.
- Disturbing some materials during home repair or remodelling can trigger the release of asbestos fibres into the air. These materials include steam pipes, boilers, and furnace ducts insulated with an asbestos blanket or tape.
- Resilient floor tiles and vinyl sheet flooring featuring asbestos: These products present risks when damaged or removed improperly.
- Certain textured paints and soundproofing materials contain asbestos: They become dangerous if scraped, drilled or sanded.
- Asbestos cement sheet and millboard near hot areas may become brittle and release fibres into the air.
- Older household appliances such as hairdryers or heat-resistant gloves often contain asbestos because of its fire-resistant properties.
Professional Asbestos Removal
Trained experts have valuable experience in working with asbestos. Read on to learn what to expect when hiring asbestos removal companies.
What Asbestos Professionals Do
Asbestos professionals play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of your home or business. Here’s what they do:
- They conduct detailed asbestos inspections in your property, checking for the presence of this harmful material.
- Asbestos professionals use government-approved training and follow strict guidelines set by WorkSafe NZ.
- The health risk associated with asbestos exposure requires experts who can safely identify materials containing asbestos.
- Once identified, these licensed asbestos assessors can determine whether contaminated materials pose an immediate threat to your health.
- If the building materials are in good condition, they might recommend leaving them undisturbed as disturbing asbestos can create additional hazards.
- Damaged or deteriorating asbestos materials require skilled handling; therefore, professionals take charge of this process.
- They have the expertise to undertake removal or repair procedures while following the laws.
- Professionals also seal or cover hazardous items to prevent the release of asbestos fibres into the air.
- After successfully removing or repairing, they ensure that they use proper disposal techniques for waste management according to recognised regulations.
- Professional contractors use accredited organisations to analyse and identify asbestos problems in your property. This ensures that appropriate steps are taken to remediate the issue.
What to Expect When Hiring an Asbestos Removal Contractor
Hiring an asbestos removal contractor for complete asbestos removal is important for safely removing and disposing of asbestos in your home or workplace. When you hire a professional, they will evaluate the asbestos issue and create a detailed plan to remove it.
They will follow strict safety protocols to protect both themselves and those around them from exposure to harmful asbestos fibres. The contractor will also handle all necessary paperwork, including obtaining permits if required by local regulations.
Hiring an expert ensures that the job will be done correctly and safely. This also reduces health risks associated with asbestos exposure.
Contact Tech Clean for information on our expert services and get a free quote for asbestos testing and removal.
DIY Complete Asbestos Removal: Do’s and Don’ts
We suggest hiring experts. However, if you decide to remove asbestos by yourself, it is crucial to follow safety rules. Additionally, it is important to dispose of it correctly.
If you are interested in DIY complete asbestos removal, read our article detailing the risks and potential pitfalls.
Safety Precautions when Removing Asbestos
Removing asbestos from your home or workplace requires careful planning and strictly following safety precautions. Here are some important steps to take to ensure the safe removal of asbestos-containing materials:
- Wear protective clothing: Protect yourself from asbestos fibres by wearing disposable coveralls, gloves, goggles, and a HEPA filter mask.
- Seal off the area: Close all doors and windows in the work area and cover them with plastic sheeting. Use duct tape to secure the edges and create an airtight barrier.
- Wet the materials: Mist the asbestos-containing materials with water before starting removal to minimise the release of airborne fibres.
- Work slowly and carefully: Avoid using power tools or abrasive methods that may generate dust. Instead, use hand tools and gentle techniques to remove materials without causing damage.
- Keep debris wet: Dampen asbestos materials while removing them by spraying water or using wetting agents made for complete asbestos removal.
- Double-bag waste: Place all removed materials in heavy-duty plastic bags that are labelled as containing asbestos waste. Seal the bags securely to prevent any fiber release.
- Clean up thoroughly: After removing asbestos, carefully clean all surfaces with damp cloths or mops to pick up any residual fibres. Dispose of cleaning materials as asbestos waste.
Proper Disposal of Asbestos-Containing Materials
Properly disposing of asbestos-containing materials is crucial to protect your health and the environment. Here are important steps and guidelines to follow for complete asbestos removal:
- Contact a licensed asbestos removalist or your local environmental agency for information on approved disposal sites and regulations.
- Double bag any asbestos waste in thick plastic bags labeled with the words “CAUTION: ASBESTOS” or similar warning labels.
- Seal the bags tightly using duct tape or a similar adhesive, making sure there are no openings or leaks.
- Keep the bags wet during transportation to minimise fibre release.
- Transport the bags to an approved disposal site promptly and directly, following any specific requirements provided by authorities.
- Do not dispose of asbestos waste in regular trash bins or recycling containers.
- Never burn or incinerate asbestos-containing materials as this can release toxic fibres into the air.
- If you are unsure about proper disposal procedures, seek advice from professionals or consult relevant government websites for guidance.
Conclusion
Knowing and recognising asbestos in your home is important for keeping you and your family healthy and safe.
By addressing asbestos hazards promptly and responsibly, you can ensure a safer environment for everyone in your home.
It’s best to hire qualified experts to safely remove and dispose of asbestos to protect yourself and others from harm.
FAQs
1. What is complete asbestos removal?
Complete asbestos removal means finding, containing, and safely getting rid of all asbestos products in a house or building.
2. Who conducts the asbestos removal process?
Certified Asbestos Contractors trained under proper Asbestos Training Programs conduct the complete asbestos material disposal following New Zealand regulations.
3. Is repairing an option instead of removing asbestos materials?
Asbestos repair may be possible through methods like encapsulation or enclosure. However, it depends on the condition identified by a professional inspector during a home inspection.
4. Are there special rules for handling and disposing of asbestos in homes?
The Asbestos Removal Rules from WorkSafe NZ help ensure people’s safety. They do this by guiding the proper handling and containment of materials. Additionally, these rules aim to reduce health risks associated with asbestos.
5. How do I know if materials contain the presence of asbestos?
An accredited lab can test samples from your contractor. Some items, like pipe insulation, may also contain them.
6. Why is it important to monitor air quality during and after asbestos removal?
Air monitoring before, during and after removal becomes crucial, because of undetected airborne microfibres leading to diseases.
