Installing Plumbing, Electrical Wiring and Other Services

Posted on: 10 December 2020

If you recently inherited your grandparent's property and you suspect that part of it is built with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), you should consider engaging an abatement company. Asbestos is carcinogenic and can take years for symptoms to manifest. A licensed asbestos abatement company has the expertise to remove every bit of the dangerous material and make your home a haven. That said, service providers must take specific steps to guarantee the safe removal of asbestos from a property.

Survey

The first step in asbestos abatement is a survey, which allows a removal company to identify the type of asbestos present in your property and its location. Two types of assessments are conducted in this regard. The first one is a management survey, which helps determine the presence of asbestos in a building. It is only slightly invasive and is conducted on properties suspected to have minimal asbestos-containing material. Asbestos abatement companies follow the first test with a refurbishment and demolition survey. It is a more invasive type of review, which involves inspection of all suspected ACMs. The inspection process is rather destructive and designed to provide access to difficult-to-reach areas. The two surveys guarantee that no asbestos fibres remain in a building once the removal process is complete.

Containment

Once an asbestos abatement company has identified the type and location of ACMs, the next step entails containing the material. It is meant to prevent the spread of asbestos fibres to the atmosphere or other parts of a building during removal. Therefore, containment involves sealing off the suspected site from the outside with special plastic sheeting. If there is an air conditioning system in a home, the vents must also be sealed. Most importantly, sealing an HVAC system prevents asbestos fibres from settling inside the ducts and blowing out once an air conditioning becomes operational.

Decontamination

This is the last step of the abatement process is a mandatory requirement once all asbestos is removed. Decontamination involves cleaning every surface in a home, even if it was sealed before asbestos removal. Abatement companies must use the industry-recommended high-efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) vacuum to ensure that the decontamination process is full-proof. The vacuum cleaners are equipped with special filters designed to pick up any lingering microscopic asbestos fibres. At times, decontamination involves testing the soil around a property, especially if there was some demolition. The report reveals the presence or lack of asbestos around a site. 

For more information, contact an asbestos removal service.