Asbestos was widely used in construction until 1989, when its use was banned. Even though asbestos-containing materials have since been outlawed, many buildings still contain some as hazardous if disturbed. Airborne asbestos fibres may pose severe health hazards.
So if your renovation plans could disturb any building materials that contain asbestos, testing should be undertaken first. But at what cost? To know about asbestos testing rates Adelaide, click here.
Costs
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate that can lead to serious lung conditions like Mesothelioma and Pulmonary Fibrosis. Formerly used widely as construction material due to its exceptional insulation properties and undeniable durability, asbestos has since been banned from use in homes and buildings across the globe – however older properties still contain asbestos-containing material and testing for asbestos is essential to ensure your family’s wellbeing.
Cost of Home Inspection varies with home type and location; large houses tend to cost more due to having to reach all areas for testing of materials (including difficult-to-reach places such as textured ceilings).
An asbestos management survey typically costs $200-$800. This type of inspection goes beyond visual examination to sample all materials that could contain asbestos in order to ensure the health and safety of everyone within the building. These types of surveys should typically be carried out prior to renovation or demolition work commencing so as to guarantee everyone in it their rightful share of protection from toxic dust.
Samples
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate that was widely used as building material in older homes due to its insulating and fireproofing capabilities. Although now banned, your home may still contain asbestos. Unfortunately, when this material ages or becomes damaged it releases carcinogenic fibres into the air which may cause lung diseases like mesothelioma or pulmonary fibrosis in people breathing them in.
An asbestos inspector uses a portable sporing sampling device to collect small samples from suspicious material. Once collected, these spores will be tested by an accredited laboratory to ascertain the presence of asbestos spores present. A trained technician will dampen the area where testing will take place so as to avoid creating dust during testing – helping protect other areas within your home or business from contamination – before placing the collected spores in a special cassette for analysis. To know about asbestos testing rates Adelaide, click here.
Time
Asbestos can be found in numerous building materials, such as floor tiles, asbestos cement, wallboard insulation and pipe wrap. It was widely used until its ban in 1980. While asbestos poses no immediate health threats in its undisturbed state, any disturbance can release fibres into the air that are then inhaled, leading to serious respiratory health complications and even fatalities.
Testing involves collecting samples of suspect material and sending them for analysis by a laboratory that adheres to stringent international regulations for accuracy and reliability – this typically takes three to ten days.
Once your survey is complete, once abatement services have completed their inspection you may choose to have affected materials either encapsulated or removed by them for optimal safety – usually the more suitable solution; but to be on the safe side always have your area reinspected after removal is completed to make sure everything was handled as planned.
Labs
Inspectors will collect samples of asbestos-containing material and submit them for testing at an accredited lab, where specialists will ascertain whether it contains friable or non-friable asbestos before reporting their findings back to investigators. It is vital to use an accredited and certified lab as per New York State Public Health Law which mandates any political subdivision conducting laboratory examinations on solid waste, air and emissions pollution or hazardous materials use an ELABP lab approved laboratory for analysis purposes. To know about asbestos testing rates Adelaide, click here.
As asbestos cannot be detected through sight or smell alone, testing for it is vital. Breathing asbestos fibres may lead to mesothelioma or other respiratory ailments; asbestos-laden vinyl flooring, popcorn ceilings, pipe cement sections, wallboards roof tiles or flashing, thermal insulation around water heaters/boilers as well as thermal protection panels are common sources. Vermiculite attic insulation must also be tested to be safely removed.