Asbestos in building materials
Asbestos is something that's commonly found in building materials. Damaged asbestos fibers are known to cause a wide variety of health issues. Knowing how to identify asbestos and how to remove asbestos is critical to eliminating any health risks that it can pose.
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[edit] The most common uses of asbestos
Asbestos is commonly used for various construction materials as well as fireproofing. There has been a ban on using asbestos in certain manners since 1973, but there are still buildings that contain asbestos.[1]
[edit] Asbestos insulation
Asbestos was used in many forms of insulation until its use became banned in the United States. To this day, there are still buildings that contain insulation made of asbestos.
[edit] What does asbestos insulation look like?
The appearance of asbestos insulation can be compared to that of attic insulation. It looks like a big ball of fuzz. The fibers that are known to float around and cause health ailments are actually microscopic making it virtually impossible to see them when they become damaged and start moving around.[2]
[edit] Asbestos attic insulation
Vermiculite insulation is a common form of insulation that's used for the attic. However, this type of attic insulation is known to contain asbestos. Vermiculite insulation isn't like modern insulation as it's loosely packed and placed inside exterior walls as well as between beams and floor joists.[3]
Many homes that were built between the 1920s and 1980s have a high risk of containing asbestos attic insulation which has been linked to health problems such as mesothelioma.
[edit] Asbestos pipe insulation
Asbestos pipe insulation is used to protect drains, water pipes, and heating pipes from cold weather. It's usually held in tact with a paper wrap to keep it in tact.
[edit] Asbestos in tile
Tile that was used for flooring prior to 1981 was known for containing asbestos. The tiles that were made up of asphalt, rubber, or vinyl had the most likeliness that they contained asbestos. Not only were the materials used to make tile known for containing this particular material, but the glue that was used to make them stick also contained asbestos.[4]
[edit] Asbestos in ceiling
Prior to 1981, ceiling tiles were known to contain asbestos. Not only was the ceiling tile itself known to contain asbestos, but the paper backing of these ceiling tiles also contained it at times. The most common ceiling tiles to contain asbestos were the ones that were used to construct suspended ceilings.[5]
Health problems caused by asbestos in ceiling tiles are usually only an issue when the ceiling tiles become damaged or disturbed.[6]
[edit] Asbestos in popcorn ceilings
The texture that was used for popcorn ceilings up until the 1980s (when the stock of this particular material ran out after being banned in 1978) contained asbestos. The most effective way to determine if a popcorn ceiling contains asbestos is to take into account when it was first installed. If it was installed during this time frame it's likely that it does contain asbestos.[7]
[edit] Asbestos in siding
Asbestos used in siding isn't as risky as other building materials that use asbestos.[8] The reason for this is that it's not as likely to release the asbestos fibers that have been known to cause asbestos related cancer. This form of siding holds together just like cement and it was mainly used due to its ability to insulate homes from extremely cold temperatures.
[edit] Why remove asbestos?
Asbestos poses the most risk when it becomes airborne. This happens when building materials containing asbestos become damaged.[9] There is a higher risk with insulation that contains asbestos than there is with building materials such as siding, ceiling tiles, and tile flooring. If you have asbestos insulation in your home or damaged building materials containing asbestos you should consider having it removed before it has a chance to pose a health risk. [10]
[edit] Removing asbestos yourself
[edit] The risk of removing asbestos yourself
Not only will you be risking your health if you become exposed to asbestos fibers, but you'll also be taking on all of the liability associated with the asbestos that you're removing. If you hired a professional company to do this for you they would take on the liability and if it's not done right or if you become the victim of asbestos exposure you'd be entitled to pursue your legal options. Not only are you taking on the liability when removing asbestos yourself, but you're also forfeiting the opportunity to get help removing it as it's illegal to hire other people to help you remove asbestos.
[edit] Acquiring asbestos removal permits
Asbestos removal is usually regulated at the state level. Fees and procedures for removing asbestos yourself does vary dependent upon which state you're located in. Contact your state government agencies to find out what asbestos removal permits you'll need. You'll also want to make yourself fully educated on the process so that you can sleep easy knowing you're not doing anything illegal.
[edit] Asbestos removal safety gear
- Disposable Coveralls - You'll need a few pairs of these during the asbestos removal process. Make sure that they have booties and that you dispose of them in a sealed plastic bag prior to departing the area that's contaminated with asbestos.
- Goggles - Goggles are essential to protecting your eyes from any asbestos fibers that are flying around while you remove asbestos. Make sure that they have vents so that they don't fog up as you're working. Make sure that you keep these on and that they fit snugly so you don't put yourself at risk.
- Respirator - You need a half-face respirator that accepts dual cartridges. Make sure that you grab up some extra HEPA filters so that you can change them out periodically to ensure that you don't breathe in asbestos due to a worn out filter.
- Rubber Boots - Look for the rubber boots that don't have any metal fasteners or laces. These can be reused if you wash them off or you can just toss them in the back with your disposable coveralls.
- Rubber Gloves - You'll need several pairs of these and they should be thrown out just like the disposable coveralls.
[edit] Asbestos removal tools
- Dish Soap
- Hoses
- Knife
- Pry Bar
- Water Sprayer
[edit] What to do after removing asbestos
You'll start off by sealing up all of the bags that contain asbestos and make sure that there's not any left on the floor or anywhere else. If there's still asbestos you'll want to wet it down and remove it like you usually would.
When you're finished up with the asbestos removal job, wet yourself down and take off the protective clothing. Once you've done this make sure that you take a shower to remove any asbestos fibers that may have found themselves on your skin. [11]
[edit] Hiring a professional asbestos removal company
This is the safest way to remove asbestos. The cost for professional asbestos removal can range from $2,000 to $10,000. However, one won't be liable for anything that happens during the asbestos removal process and they won't be putting their health in harm's way. There are some things that should be kept in mind to assure that they're making the best choice when hiring a professional asbestos removal company.[12]
- Check to see if the company has any pending lawsuits due to safety violations.
- Check with the local air pollution board to make sure the contractor has the required permits.
- Check the BBB (Better Business Bureau) rating to make sure that they have a good level of customer satisfaction.
- Get a written agreement that outlines the project, cost, methods to be used, and the regulations that they must following during the asbestos removal process. Upon completion, get written confirmation that the contractor followed the steps that were outlined in the original plan.
- Make sure that the contractor has proper methods in place for preventing asbestos from contaminating the rest of the residence.
- Make sure they wet down the asbestos prior to removal to make it harder for asbestos to become airborne.
[edit] Proper asbestos disposal
Disposing asbestos must be done at an authorized site that follows the EPA's NESHAP (National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants).[13] Some guidelines that must be followed for handling asbestos waste includes:
- Asbestos must be wet and double-bagged when being contained.
- A formal record must be kept when disposing of asbestos.
- Asbestos can't be contained in leaking containers.
- Asbestos must be disposed of at a landfill.
[edit] References
- ↑ http://www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com/asbestos-3-uses.htm
- ↑ http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/tips/asbestos1.htm
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/garden/14fix.html
- ↑ http://www.mesorc.com/asbestos-exposure/asbestos-products/construction-industrial/ceiling-tiles
- ↑ http://www.mesorc.com/asbestos-exposure/asbestos-products/construction-industrial/ceiling-tiles
- ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/18/AR2007011802315.html
- ↑ http://www.mesotheliomanews.com/2009/08/22/misconceptions-about-asbestos-and-popcorn-ceilings/
- ↑ http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/asbestos/sidingremoval.htm
- ↑ http://www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com/asbestos.htm
- ↑ http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/workplacesafety/asbestosfactsheet.htm
- ↑ http://www.maacenter.org/asbestos/abatement/diy-abatement.php
- ↑ http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html#inspector
- ↑ http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr/demodebris/pages2/asbsummary.html#Disposal%20Requirements
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