Asbestos Removal – When is it Required?
There are still many homes and buildings that need asbestos removal in the U.S. and very often go unchecked.
One of the most common forms of asbestos used in construction was spray applied thermal insulation systems that are flame retardant.
This type of material containing asbestos was often (flocked) in to create a textured surface. The process is depositing small fiber particles on a surface to give a textured surface.
You are very likely to still see buildings and homes today that still have flocked acoustic ceilings. These were the “popcorn ceilings” a process banned in the U.S. back in 1978.
The bad part allowed installers to use up all their remaining material. So homes and buildings could have this type of acoustic ceiling asbestos installed as late as 1986.
To Be Sure When Asbestos Removal is Required
The one way to be sure when asbestos removal is required is to have it tested. This is done by taking a small sample and submitting it to an accredited laboratory for testing and verification.
Asbestos Removal Accredited Testing
NIST (National Institute for Standards and Technology) provides a list of accredited laboratories do asbestos testing. The NVLAP (National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program) can be contacted at the following websites:
The Polarized Light Microscopy Test Method
The Transmission Electron Microscopy Test Method
It is always possible that the method used in installation may not pose any risk. Some of the methods used to apply the asbestos was done in such a way that the fibers could not become dislodged so they could not be inhaled. In this case the asbestos poses no risks.
When the flocking method is used to apply asbestos the fibers do drop off and pose hazards, especially when workers need to drill holes to install wiring, cables and pipes. Many workers do use the proper protection in such cases but with the release of the toxic fibers pose a danger to others.
In such cases when asbestos is present very stringent procedures are required.
The airborne dust created from asbestos fibers even has its own name special name “friable”. As an example floor tiles made from asbestos are considered non-friable. But, the popcorn ceiling is considered extremely friable.
Asbestos Removal Procedure
Asbestos Removal Procedure
Asbestos Removal Procedures
When people will still be in a building when removal is to be perform proper procedures for relocation must be followed temporarily. The area of the building must be sealed off to prevent any contamination reaching the other parts of the building.
Some of the methods used install polyethylene film with duct tape. HEPA filters are installed to create negative air flow. The asbestos fibers are blocked from getting into the surrounding areas. The protected area pulls fresh air in not allowing asbestos fibers in.
Asbestos removal with a vacuum cleaner can only be done with an asbestos containment class H vacuum. The class H vacuum is designed for this purpose.
A standard vacuum with a HEPA filter cannot be used because they still spread asbestos fibers into the air.
In very severe cases some buildings need to be closed off from any use and must be sealed off from the outside air. Some cases can contaminate the outside air causing a danger during asbestos removal.
There are some cases where removal is not used as a means of asbestos abatement. In special cases the asbestos containing materials are sealed of with some type of encapsulation method to close off any exposure to the fibers in a building. When this is possible asbestos removal is not required.
Still there are other cases where the asbestos removal in a building must be safely performed even before the building can demolished. Performing asbestos removal before demolition can take place can be a very costly, taking a lot longer than normal.