Steps To Expect From The Asbestos Removal Process
Posted on: 12 September 2019
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Although the utilisation of asbestos in construction projects has drastically plummeted in the past few decades, the unfortunate reality is there are still residences in Australia that contain this harmful substance. You could have lived in your property for several years now and, unbeknownst to you, there is asbestos lurking in your home! A presumption that some homeowners make is that all they need to do is inspect their walls for this substance but this is not only wrong, but it is also inadvisable to tinker with any exposed asbestos. The most you can do is either make an educated guess using the age of your home or outrightly hire construction contractors to establish if the material is indeed present. If your home does have this toxic substance, here are the steps that you can expect from the asbestos removal process.
Step 1: Residential assessment
If you do believe your house contains asbestos or if the contractors have found signs of it in one part of your home, a thorough survey is warranted for the entire property. An amateur should never perform this assessment since you stand the chance of disturbing the friable fibres and potentially tracking it into other rooms. Instead, the contractors will encapsulate all areas where the material is present as a means to identify how extensive the contamination is. At this point, you will be advised to evacuate the premises and seek temporary accommodation during the asbestos removal project.
Step 2: Elimination of the asbestos
After all contaminated areas are identified, it is time for the contractors to get to the asbestos removal phase. Before any work begins, the contractors will wear their personal protective equipment. This is followed by the installation of plastic sheeting to separate the contaminated areas from spreading asbestos to other parts of the home. A specialised vacuum is then set up to suck in any fibres that will become airborne. All asbestos found in the home is then extracted and placed in specialised bags to prevent it from spreading accidentally.
Step 3: Disposal of the asbestos
Another reason why an amateur should never carry out asbestos removal is to ensure that all the toxic material is eliminated correctly. Moreover, this does not merely mean ensuring that all the particles are removed from the home. Once the contractors have packed the contaminants, they will leave with them and ensure they are disposed of through the proper channels. In addition to this, an exhaustive cleanup is carried out to ensure that there will not be any fibres lingering in the home. It is also recommended to schedule a supplementary inspection post-removal just to be on the safe side.
For more information on asbestos removal, consult a resource in your area.