Asbestos Removal

Asbestos Removal

Asbestos is naturally occurring mineral that has been used in a range of building materials to make them more rigid and fire resistant. It has also been used in household products like ironing boards and oven gloves. Asbestos fibres and dust are potentially very dangerous if inhaled in higher concentrations over a period of time. If this happens, they can cause serious lung diseases including cancer. The symptoms of these diseases often don’t appear for between 20 and 30 years after exposure to asbestos Mesothelioma Symptoms.

Asbestos Removal procedures, the part of the building from which asbestos is being removed has to be sealed off in order to prevent contamination of the other areas. Methods of sealing off an area often include the use of Polyethylene film, duct tape and negative air pressure machines which are fitted with HEPA filters. The idea is that the contained area is pulling fresh air in as to not allow asbestos fibers into the surrounding environment. Only a special vacuum cleaner that's designed for asbestos containment (class H) can be safely used when cleaning up during and after asbestos removal. Ordinary vacuum cleaners cannot be used, even those fitted with a HEPA filter. An ordinary vacuum cleaner will expel the asbestos fibres into the room air.

Asbestos Removal is not the only means of asbestos abatement. Asbestos and asbestos-bearing materials may be "enclosed" or "encapsulated" to prevent building occupants from being exposed to the fibers. An asbestos-containing building that is to be torn down may have to be sealed (see third picture on right), and to have its asbestos safely removed before ordinary demolition can be performed. The asbestos removal may take longer and cost more than the actual demolition.