There are some different asbestos removal methods. Hiring a professional abatement company is the safest option. For more information, Click Here to proceed.
Ensure the contractor you hire follows regulations set by government agencies responsible for worker protection laws. These include the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Friable asbestos must be removed by a contractor with a bonded asbestos license. If this material is found in your home, it cannot go through the regular garbage pickup.
Asbestos is a set of minerals used in everything from building insulation to oven mitts throughout the 20th century. However, public knowledge of its ability to cause various types of cancer, particularly a rare and aggressive form called mesothelioma, prompted governments around the world to ban or greatly limit its use.
Although asbestos is now banned, it can still be found in many building materials in older homes, and there are ways for homeowners to identify and test suspect materials. Since microscopic asbestos fibers have no odor or taste, testing is the only way to know whether a material contains asbestos.
However, even if you have a sample of suspected asbestos material, you must consult an accredited asbestos abatement professional to determine its level of danger. It would be best to have a professional inspect the area before beginning any renovations that may disturb the suspect material. If the material isn’t damaged or you’re not planning a major remodel, it’s best to leave it alone.
The type of asbestos in a product can be determined by looking at it under a microscope. Chrysotile, the type most commonly found in buildings, is fibrous and curly, while crocidolite, often found in clothing, has a blueish color and sharp fibers. Other clues include the age of the home, any remodeling history, and the maker or builder of the item.
There are also several products available for homeowners to use in their inspections of suspect material, such as a special resettable cloth that can be used to wet the material and make it easier to see its condition. Suppose you have a large amount of suspected material. In that case, you can also check with your local health department, board of health, fire department, and environmental agency to find out how to handle and test it properly.
It’s also important for homeowners to know their state regulations, usually similar to federal ones, that protect people from unnecessary removal of asbestos and require contractors to follow strict guidelines. Some states also have abatement and disposal regulations, including specific rules on labeling, transporting, and disposing debris.
Before the actual asbestos removal begins, the site must be prepared. The area is demarcated and sealed to prevent the spread of asbestos fibers. This is done by putting up polyethylene plastic sheets, using duct tape to seal openings, and turning off the HVAC system in the non-abatement areas.
Workers entering the abatement area will wear face masks and respiratory protection. They also wear disposable coveralls. The coveralls can be removed for a shower, which a portable HEPA vacuum cleaner will clean before the worker returns to the work area. All waste materials will be double-bagged in 6-millimeter bags and placed into a plastic, leakproof container for disposal.
When working on Class I asbestos removal, the material is wetted with water before and during the operation. Cutting, abrading, or breaking the material is prohibited unless it can be demonstrated that methods less likely to release asbestos fibers are not feasible. Workers may use alternative engineering and work practice controls for Class II reduction if it can be shown that these alternatives will reduce employee exposure to PELs below the PELs under worst-case usage conditions. The employer must demonstrate this by providing data representing employee exposure during the use of the alternative control method under conditions that closely resemble the work practices and controls expected for the project.
Any contaminated waste materials generated during the abatement process must be wetted, then double-bagged and enclosed in a plastic, leakproof container, and transferred to the receptacle no later than the end of the work shift. The container will be transported to a landfill specially licensed to receive asbestos waste.
If the asbestos is removed in an occupied building, the work site must be fully decontaminated after each shift. This must include clean changing rooms and showers for all employees. Employees exposed to airborne asbestos must change into street clothing in a clean changing room. This is the only way to avoid the spread of asbestos particles to the outside world.
Asbestos is not something you can remove by yourself. It is a deadly carcinogen, so only trained asbestos abatement professionals should touch it. They will have special protective clothing and equipment, including respirators and goggles. They will also wet the asbestos materials before using special tools to cut them up and dispose of them. The waste will be double-bagged, sealed in plastic, and put into leakproof containers that can only be transported by licensed hazardous waste transporters. It will then be taken to a special landfill that is certified to handle asbestos.
During the abatement process, the professionals will mark off infected areas of the building. This helps keep the abatement process efficient and avoids contaminating clean areas of the building. The marked areas will be closed off from the rest of the building. A special air filtration unit will be set up within the containment area, and this will exhaust through a series of filters, including a HEPA filter that is 99.9 % effective at removing asbestos fibers and any air that could have contaminated other parts of the building. A third-party firm will then test the outside air to confirm that other building parts have detected no elevated asbestos levels.
Any vents and other portals leading into the work area will be closed off so there is no risk of contaminated air escaping during the process. The HVAC system may also be turned off during the abatement process to prevent the spread of asbestos dust. HEPA vacuums will be used to vacuum up any stirred dust during the abatement process. This is much safer and more effective than simply blowing the dust into the air with a regular Shop-Vac.
Asbestos abatement is usually accompanied by remediation. Remediation refers to a comprehensive plan of action, covering everything from the first to the final inspection and creating a prevention plan for future asbestos problems. The two processes are not mutually exclusive, and both are vital for the safety and success of any asbestos removal project.
Asbestos is a dangerous mineral, and the inhalation of its fibers poses a health risk. Because of this, homeowners and business owners must seek the services of a licensed asbestos abatement contractor for any renovations that may disturb asbestos-containing materials (ACM). The EPA regulates how ACM is handled and abated. The agency requires that anyone working with ACM receive proper training and certification to ensure the work is done properly.
Homeowners should also be aware of possible misleading claims by firms that provide asbestos testing or inspections, removal, or remediation services. In some cases, these companies may encourage unnecessary or improper removal of asbestos from homes, increasing the risk to occupants.
The EPA has guidelines for safe handling of ACM, including wetting the material to reduce airborne dust. In addition, wetting makes it easier to clean up the material after removal and disposal. A trained professional should carefully remove and dispose of any contaminated equipment or clothing during the process. The contaminated material should be placed in a sealed, leakproof container labeled with the sample’s date and location. The contaminated container must be taken to a certified landfill using a specially prepared vehicle.
Once the reduction is complete, the work area should be cleaned with wet methods, using sponges, mops, or wet wipes, and then with a HEPA vacuum cleaner. After the cleaning, all areas should be visually inspected for asbestos debris and dust, and air monitoring should be conducted to ensure that the asbestos levels have not increased. Any contaminated equipment or clothing should be removed and placed in sealed, leakproof containers labeled as ACM and stored in a special dumpster until they can be taken to a hazardous waste landfill.
In many cases, if the ACM is not disturbed and the asbestos stays intact, it will not pose any health risks. In this case, the consultant will recommend encapsulation or enclosure to seal the asbestos and prevent its release into the environment. However, in many situations, the best action is to remove the asbestos and safely dispose of it fully.