Monday, July 23, 2012

Home Inspections and Possible Asbestos Findings

We are happy to share the following article with you written by our blog guest Faith Franz.

As the public becomes more informed about the dangers of asbestos in their homes, inspection companies are receiving an increasing number of requests for asbestos assessments. These inspections help homeowners identify which parts of their house contain asbestos and which asbestos products require immediate attention.

Inspectors will typically spend several hours examining a home for older construction materials. They primarily need to look for materials that date back to before the 1980s. These materials are most likely to contain asbestos, since they were made before asbestos regulations were enforced. Some of the most frequently contaminated materials include:

• Insulation
• Tiles
• Cement
• Shingles
• Paint

If inspectors come across a material that may contain asbestos, they will take pictures of the area and pull a sample for further inspection. Inspectors should always adhere to safety measures and wear appropriate safety gear while taking samples of potentially asbestos-containing products.

The inspection company does not analyze these materials on their own. Instead, they send them to an accredited laboratory. The laboratory will determine what kind of asbestos is in the product and how high the asbestos content is. They will typically return results to the inspectors within 48 hours.

Asbestos Findings

Asbestos inspections can have several results. Asbestos-containing materials can be categorized as either “friable” or “non-friable.” The non-friable asbestos products are not a health danger. Inspectors should make the homeowner aware that the product contains asbestos and recommend an asbestos label, but they do not need to recommend any abatement procedures if the homeowner does not plan to handle or disturb the material in the future.

However, friable asbestos does pose exposure risks. These products require immediate attention. In some cases, encapsulation is sufficient to prevent the fibers from entering the air. In other cases an abatement company will need to come remove the material. Unless the inspector is also licensed in asbestos abatement, they should leave this to another asbestos professional.

Inspectors will include this information and their recommendations for handling on their survey report. Homeowners should also keep a copy of the inspection results for their own records.

Author bio: Faith Franz researches and writes about health-related issues for The Mesothelioma Center. One of her focuses is living with asbestos cancer.

16 comments:

  1. Hi,
    Thanks for the effort you go through by posting your blog. Any ways I just want to ask if is there any possibilities that you could help, give some more precise tips about how .
    I don’t have any idea about mold removal is it safe to do it myself with all of the proper equipments? Still I want to try it for me to save money. I was like looking for Asbestos removal in Toronto to do the job. Still i don’t know eventually if how would it cost me or save more money than to do it my self.


    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Randzy,
    If you are going to be removing materials,remodeling getting rid of that old popcorn ceiling or any of renovations. It's very wise to have it checked out first. Call an asbestos consultant, asked to have a sample taken and have them tested to a certified lab to see whether they contain asbestos or not. If they do,you need to follow certain protective practices in the removal of the product. I've heard about http://asbestosremovalchicagoil.com/ they seemed to be experienced, trained and certified services.

    ReplyDelete
  3. A good post, and I would consider also asking about the safety steps that go into the job, not just the price quoted. This site seems to have some good info.Remember as a homeowner do as much research as you possibly can! When looking for the right contractor.Click Here For a FREE Estimate Asbestos Removal in San Diego

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  4. I would like to thank you Faith Franz for sharing such a useful information of with us. Asbestos Findings is a most important thing while inspecting a home. I have just hired a JAMBR inspections to get my new home inspected by an expert and I think we can do this with an expert.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  6. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  9. Asbestos inspections are very useful to avoid health hazard by asbestos. You have to work safely with asbestos by following proper precautions.

    Regard
    Arnold Brame
    Health and Safety Training UK.

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  13. Around 1940's asbestos was widely used for constructions because of its versatility and durable but we all know the danger that it bring better consult a specialist asbestos inspection if you are suspicious to areas of your house contaminated with asbestos.

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