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, the best option is to install new flooring over it rather than to replace it.
Always call in trained asbestos professionals for large clean-ups of asbestos damaged areas. They will use a special HEPA vacuum cleaner that will not disburse asbestos fibers into the air.
Only qualified professionals trained in handling asbestos should carry out all removal and repair of asbestos materials.
Authorities strongly recommend that trained asbestos consulting professionals undertake all asbestos testing.
If any asbestos materials in your home are damaged or if you anticipate that materials containing asbestos will be disturbed by repairs or remodeling, you must employ the services of qualified asbestos testing or consulting contractors. Only qualified asbestos testing professionals should take material samples for analysis. If asbestos testing is done incorrectly, it may lead to the release of asbestos fibers and an increased health risk to you and your family.
You will also need professional asbestos consulting services to determine whether the asbestos in your home presents a health problem or not. There are two methods of dealing with an asbestos problem: you can have the material removed or you can have the problem repaired. One of the functions of a qualified asbestos consulting contractor is to recommend the best course of action to correct your specific asbestos problem.
Repairing an asbestos problem may involve sealing the asbestos material. This is known as encapsulation' and requires applying a sealant to the asbestos material. The sealant may hold the asbestos fibers together or it may coat the asbestos material to prevent asbestos fibers from being released into the air. Another method of repairing asbestos problems is called enclosure'. It refers to the use of some kind of cover over the area to prevent the release of asbestos fibers. Only certified and trained professionals should undertake reparation of asbestos material.
If unsure about which asbestos correction method is best for your problem, you should consult an asbestos consulting professional. In most cases, the asbestos consulting contractors you hire will recommend repair rather than removal of damaged asbestos materials. This is a good thing, because repair is usually the cheaper of the two options. The fact is that removal involves a higher risk of asbestos fiber release and should only be done when absolutely necessary (if asbestos material is damaged beyond repair) or when required by state or local regulations. However, if you are embarking on a major home remodeling project that will affect asbestos material, your asbestos consulting firm will probably recommend removal. Like asbestos repair, asbestos removal should be entrusted to qualified asbestos professionals.
Asbestos consulting and testing professionals will inspect your home and take samples of material suspected of containing asbestos or known to contain asbestos. They test the samples, determine sources of asbestos damage and potential contamination, and provide recommendations for correction. Asbestos consulting firms will also tell you what type of professional is best qualified to carry out the recommended correction process. Asbestos testing is also essential if you are planning to purchase a building, particularly if it is an older building that you plan to remodel. Below are some guidelines to help you hire qualified asbestos consulting or asbestos testing contractors:
Only interview accredited asbestos consulting contractors. Don't take their word for it, but make sure to carefully check their credentials. Accreditation is required by law in some states. Ask asbestos testing / consulting contractors or firms to provide documentation showing that they have completed any federal or state-approved training.
Interview at least three different professional companies or contractors.
Insist that all personnel working in your home provide proof of training and licensing in asbestos work.
Request references from at least three previous clients, and contact them to see if they were satisfied with the asbestos consulting or testing work done by the prospective contractor.
Look out for any misleading claims that may be made by asbestos consulting contractors who may recommend that you replace asbestos materials or advise you to remove these materials unnecessarily. Keep away from firms that offer combined asbestos testing, asbestos consulting, and asbestos correction services, and do not hire an asbestos testing contractor who is connected with an asbestos correction company. It is much better to use two different companies (one for consultation / testing and one for abatement / correction) to avoid any conflict of interest.
Make sure that the professional asbestos consulting contractor's investigation will include both a visual examination and thorough asbestos testing of samples. If asbestos is present, the contractor should present a written assessment outlining its location, the extent of damage (if any) and his / her recommendations for correction.
Remember to state in the written agreement that the asbestos testing contractor, if hired, undertakes to make frequent visits to your home (if that is the work site) to monitor asbestos abatement work, making sure contractors are applying proper procedures. Ideally, an asbestos consulting professional should also perform clearance testing after the correction project is completed.
Contact the Better Business Bureau, the local air pollution authorities and the agency responsible for workers' safety in your area to find out if any legal actions are, or have been, filed against the asbestos consulting professional or company.
Be sure to check the expiry date on the certification or license of the asbestos consulting contractor.
Check that the contractor or company carries insurance with specific coverage for asbestos.
Make sure to find out the extent of asbestos work experience (how many years) the contractor has. Enquire whether he or she has handled similar situations in the past.
Ask to see a sample contract and a sample final asbestos testing or asbestos consulting report.
The asbestos consulting contractor or company should provide you with a written time schedule of services to be rendered, including start and completion dates.
Compare the cost estimates provided by the contractors interviewed.
Although, in most cases, private residential dwellings are not covered by the asbestos regulations that apply to public buildings and schools, it is still critically important that asbestos professionals apply the same safety procedures and industry regulations described in the course of federal or state-approved training to the asbestos work undertaken in private homes. Try to make sure you hire an asbestos consulting contractor whom you can trust to do so.
Remember, authorities strongly recommend that you hire qualified asbestos professionals for all testing, repair or removal of materials containing asbestos. It is far less hazardous to leave asbestos materials alone than to handle them incorrectly