Posts Tagged ‘asbestos contamination’
Asbestos Testing – Why Test For Asbestos!
Asbestos testing and one major reason it is required is because a person cannot tell that the material he is looking at contains the material fibers. Under some circumstances when you do not know if some materials contain asbestos it is best to treat them as if they do. Until the testing is preformed either by yourself or a professional you will want to take precautions.
Do It Yourself Asbestos Testing
Do it yourself asbestos testing kits are readily available from many sources today. Maybe the easiest place to order a testing kit is from the internet. The big question everyone would like to know up front is? Are do-it-yourself asbestos testing kits a reliable method of finding out if you have asbestos contamination or not?
The testing kits are low cost and most often just contain simple plastic gloves and plastic bags to return the samples collected to a professional testing facility. The reports that you get back can be a little hard for the average person to decipher at times but it can be done. The tests are reliable and safe.
Some of the asbestos testing kits include the cost of the laboratory charges and some do not. The do-it-yourself kits only contain the materials needed to do the sampling safely. The samples then are sent into a certified testing facility to get verified results.
When is Asbestos Testing Needed?
Homes and buildings built at late as 1986 could contain the banned construction materials with asbestos. Asbestos is dangerous if the fibers can be inhaled and skin irritation can occur if it comes in contact with it. In many cases there is no danger is the asbestos is contained.
Building renovation or home repairs to one of these older structures should have a professional test for asbestos. The other case would be just do the repairs or renovation as if there is asbestos contamination there without testing. The better companies will treat older homes and buildings as if they contain asbestos anyway. So no risk of exposure by allowing it to become airborne is ever permitted.
Other cases may provide you a recommendation of it is in good shape and it would be less hazardous to leave the older material undisturbed.
Many cases of exposure occur when renovation is done on an older structure. When there is a lot deterioration of an older structure and airborne particles can post a danger. If there is no damage from deterioration or from restoration the fibers are unlikely to break off and become airborne.
For the older home with deterioration it would be recommended to hire a contractor specializes in not only the asbestos testing but also the clean up and asbestos removal. A contractor of this type will be bonded and maintain certifications that they follow all the safe procedures needed for asbestos abatement. Also check for referrals to insure their goal is safety first for their clients and their employees.
With older construction you will most often find asbestos is floor tiling, insulation, roofing and siding and the hazardous material can be in almost anything. So having asbestos testing performed before renovations is always recommended.