Help! I found asbestos in my home – what should I do?

Feb. 8, 2011 - PRLog -- What Should I Do if I Find Asbestos In My Home?  

If you think asbestos may be in your home, don’t panic. Usually the best thing is to leave asbestos material that is in good condition alone.  Generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fibres.
Check material regularly if you suspect it may contain asbestos. Don’t touch it, but look for signs of wear or damage such as tears, abrasions, or water damage. Damaged material may release asbestos fibres. This is particularly true if you often disturb it by hitting, rubbing, or handling it, or if it is exposed to extreme vibration or air flow.
Sometimes the best way to deal with slightly damaged material is to limit access to the area and not touch or disturb it. Discard damaged or worn asbestos gloves, stove-top pads, or ironing board covers. Check with local health, environmental, or other appropriate officials to find out proper handling and disposal procedures.
If asbestos material is more than slightly damaged, or if you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, repair or removal by a professional is essential. Before you have your house remodeled, find out whether asbestos materials are present by getting a survey.

How Can I Manage an Asbestos Problem?  

If the asbestos material is in good shape and will not be disturbed, do nothing! If it is a problem, there are two types of corrections: repair and removal.
Repair usually involves either sealing or covering asbestos material.
•   Sealing (encapsulation) involves treating the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos fibers together or coats the material so fibers are not released. Pipe, furnace and boiler insulation can sometimes be repaired this way. This should be done only by a professional trained to handle asbestos safely.
•   Covering (enclosure) involves placing something over or around the material that contains asbestos to prevent release of fibers. Exposed insulated piping may be covered with a protective wrap or jacket.
With any type of repair, the asbestos remains in place. Repair is usually cheaper than removal, but it may make later removal of asbestos, if necessary, more difficult and costly. Repairs can either be major or minor.
Asbestos Do’s and Don’ts for the Homeowner:
•   Do keep activities to a minimum in any areas having damaged material that may contain asbestos.
•   Do take every precaution to avoid damaging asbestos material.
•   Do have removal and major repair done by people trained and qualified in handling asbestos. It is highly recommended that sampling and minor repair also be done by asbestos professionals.
•   Don’t dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos.
•   Don’t saw, sand, scrape, or drill holes in asbestos materials.
•   Don’t use abrasive pads or brushes on power strippers to strip wax from asbestos flooring. Never use a power stripper on a dry floor.
•   Don’t sand or try to level asbestos flooring or its backing. When asbestos flooring needs replacing, install new floor covering over it, if possible.
•   Don’t track material that could contain asbestos through the house. If you cannot avoid walking through the area, have it cleaned with a wet mop. If the material is from a damaged area, or if a large area must be cleaned, call an asbestos professional.

Major repairs must be done only by a professional trained in methods for safely handling asbestos, for more information or advice about this, please speak to one of our professionals at Fibre Environmental Services Ltd.
Minor repairs should also be done by professionals since there is always a risk of exposure to fibres when asbestos is disturbed.
Doing minor repairs yourself is not recommended since improper handling of asbestos materials can create a hazard where none existed.
Removal is usually the most expensive method, this is because removal poses the greatest risk of fibre release. However, removal may be required when remodeling or making major changes to your home that will disturb asbestos material. Also, removal may be called for if asbestos material is damaged extensively and cannot be otherwise repaired. Removal is complex and must be done only by a professional. Improper removal may actually increase the health risks to you and your family.

Asbestos Professionals: Who Are They and What Can They Do?  

Asbestos professionals are trained in handling asbestos material. The type of professional will depend on the type of product and what needs to be done to correct the problem.
Asbestos professionals can conduct home inspections, take samples of suspected material, assess its condition, and advise about what corrections are needed and who is qualified to make these corrections. Once again, material in good condition need not be sampled unless it is likely to be disturbed. Professional asbestos removal contractors repair or remove asbestos materials.
For more information about asbestos in homes and what it can look like you can click on the HSE link http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/gallery.htm, or contact our team of professionals at www.fibreservices.co.uk, email; fes@fibreservices.co.uk for further assistance.

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Fibre Environmental Services provide specialist Asbestos removal and management services throughout the UK
Our team will provide asbestos removal solutions which are tailored specifically for you supported by our highly skilled professional workforce.