Asbestos removal, or asbestos abatement, is a process that involves the removal of the toxic material carefully and getting rid of it safely. Asbestos exposure can cause many serious health issues; therefore, it should be done only by professionals. You may love to do many DIY projects in your residential and commercial buildings, but asbestos removal shouldn’t be one of them definitely. This involves special equipment, thorough diagnosis and safe disposal techniques.
Reasons for asbestos abatement
Why is asbestos removal considered an important step in all civil construction activities? Why is it necessary to remove asbestos before you demolish or renovate a particular structure? The only answer to all these questions is that asbestos is a toxic material. Prolonged asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and other serious ailments.
Needs to be removed with care
Unlike other types of materials, asbestos cannot be disposed of easily. If professionals are not involved in this process, it can lead to incomplete removal of asbestos. So, there is still a risk of getting exposed to asbestos, if you have not hired an expert for the job. When asbestos is not removed completely, the small fibers of the material may still be airborne.
Inhalation of these fibers can lead to several respiratory ailments. When they enter the human system, these fibers can cause blockages in the internal lining of the heart, abdomen, or lungs. In some rare cases, exposure to asbestos and asbestos fibers can also lead to death.
Hence, it needs to be removed with utmost care to ensure that the smallest fibers are completely removed. Professional asbestos abatement Vancouver companies follow all the regulations, wear protective gear and use advanced equipment to get rid of asbestos. This way, you can be doubly sure that your structure is free from the smallest trace of asbestos.
Identifying asbestos in buildings
The most important step in the safe removal of asbestos from buildings is identifying the presence of this toxic material. Though the regulation of different countries bans the use of asbestos in new buildings, you can still find asbestos in most buildings built before 1980. The most challenging process in this step is that asbestos fibers are very small and aren’t visible to the naked eye. So, when you try removing asbestos without proper training, you may not even notice these fibers spreading in the air. Airborne asbestos fibers, when inhaled, can cause many health issues.
Some of the common building materials where you can find asbestos are:
Tiles on the ceiling and vinyl floors
- Sidings
- Concrete materials
- Shingles of the roof
- Plasters
- Millboards
- Cement sheeting
- Caulking
- Wiring
Asbestos is a good thermal insulator, which is why it was used in many old buildings. However, prolonged exposure to this toxic material leads to severe health issues in those involved closely in constructing these buildings. So, it is always recommended to hire a professional asbestos removal Vancouver company to identify the danger spots closely, and remove asbestos carefully, before disposing of it safely.
