by Sawsan Elzayyat

Created on: October 22, 2008

Asbestos in the Home: Safety Tips and Guidelines for Hiring

Asbestos-Consulting / Testing Contractors

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was commonly used for insulation and fire resistance purposes in construction until the late 1970s. Asbestos was also in the manufacture of many every day products. Since then, studies have shown that inhaling airborne asbestos fibers is hazardous to health and can drastically increase the risk of developing serious diseases, including lung cancer. Depending on when your home was built, asbestos may be present in hot water or steam pipes, boilers, furnace ducts, certain types of floor tiles, textured paints, soundproofing material, shingles, siding and insulation. The brake pads, clutch facings, and gaskets in some cars also contain asbestos. Products that continue to be manufactured using asbestos are today legally required to state this on their labels.

It is important to know that asbestos is only hazardous if its fibers are released into the air. This happens when materials containing asbestos are damaged or otherwise disturbed. For example, damaged asbestos-coated pipes may release asbestos fibers. Asbestos fibers may also be released in the course of removing or repairing floor tiles that contain asbestos. Since materials that contain asbestos but are in good condition will not normally release asbestos fibers, it is often best not to disturb them. For example, roofing made of asbestos cement is only a health hazard if you drill or cut it. Following the safety tips below will keep homeowners safe from the hazardous health effects of asbestos.

Regularly check all materials you know, or suspect, contain asbestos for any sign of damage, including water damage. Don't attempt to do any asbestos testing yourself, however.
If you discover asbestos-containing material that is only slightly damaged, try to reduce access to the area and limit activities that could cause further damage to the material. Do not touch or tamper with material containing asbestos.
You should know whether asbestos materials are present in your house, and where. This is particularly important if you are planning to remodel your home.
To avoid disbursing asbestos fibers in the air, never sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos. Use a wet mop instead.
Do not try to fix or repair asbestos products, and never saw, sand, or drill holes in such products or materials.
Do not try to strip or sand asbestos flooring or its adhesive backing. To renew asbestos flooring,

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