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Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made up of fine fibers tightly bound together. Due to its high strength, asbestos was commonly used in the past to produce materials for insulation, fire resistance, and other construction products. Unfortunately, asbestos poses a serious health risk when its fibers break loose and become airborne, as inhaling them can cause scarring of the lung tissue (mesothelioma) and even lead to lung cancer. While you can check for signs of asbestos yourself, testing should be done by professionals with specialized equipment. If asbestos is detected, it is recommended to hire a contractor to repair or remove asbestos-containing materials to ensure the safety of those in the building.
Steps
Check for signs of asbestos
Determine the age of the building. Asbestos was widely used between 1920 and 1989, after which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began regulating asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos can often be found in construction materials, but it was also present in gas heaters, hairdryers, some clothing, and brake pads.
- Wall panels, floors, pipes, textured paints, insulation, fireproof materials, electrical wires, and even chalkboard materials made between 1920 and 1989 may contain asbestos. If the building was constructed during this period, there is a high likelihood that some materials used in the building contain asbestos.
- Some materials produced today also contain asbestos. These items will be clearly labeled to indicate their content.
Look for signs indicating asbestos-containing materials. You cannot identify asbestos-containing materials by sight alone. Instead, look for warning signs that indicate the building materials are deteriorating. Asbestos is not harmful when it is intact, but when it starts to degrade, the fibers can become airborne and hazardous. Check for signs of materials that are old, damaged, or rotting.
- Look for crumbling pipes, soundproofing materials, walls, roofing tiles, vinyl flooring, fireplace insulation pads, and other old materials that have been in place since construction as potential indicators.
- Check for cracks, areas where dust is spreading, and places where materials seem to be deteriorating or decaying.
Decide whether to test the suspected area. If you don't see signs of deterioration in the building materials, you probably don't need to test, as asbestos is only dangerous when it begins to release fibers into the air. However, if you observe signs of material degradation or simply want to be cautious, you should hire an expert (someone trained in asbestos testing and handling) to examine the suspected area.
- Another scenario where testing should be done is if you plan to carry out construction work or replace old materials. Even if materials are in good condition, they may release fibers during construction, dispersing asbestos into the air.
- While you can purchase equipment to test for asbestos, it is not advisable to do this yourself. You should allow someone who is trained in handling asbestos-containing materials to conduct the testing, so as not to pose a health risk to those living in the building. If you are untrained, you may accidentally disturb the asbestos fibers and expose yourself or others to danger.
Test the suspected area
Hire a contractor to test the materials. Contact an EPA-certified contractor who is trained and licensed in asbestos handling to analyze the suspected materials and prepare the necessary documentation according to EPA requirements. If you need to take samples yourself, you will still need to send them to an EPA-certified laboratory for analysis and provide them with protective gear used during sampling for disposal according to procedures.
- The EPA provides a list of certified contractors by state at http://www2.epa.gov/asbestos/state-asbestos-contacts.
- Federal law does not require hiring a certified expert to test for asbestos in private homes or townhouses, but some states do have this requirement.
- If you wish to join a professional asbestos training program, contact your state's health department or local EPA office for more information.
Prepare the area for testing. Asbestos testing may disturb materials and pose potential hazards, so precautionary measures should be taken to ensure the safety of everyone before the contractor begins testing. Steps to prepare the building include:
- Turn off all air conditioners, fans, and ventilation systems to prevent asbestos from spreading.
- Plan to seal off the area; do not allow anyone to enter the room while samples are being taken.
- If the testing is being conducted indoors, ensure everyone leaves the house during the test.
Understanding the testing process. When you hire a contractor to test for asbestos in your home, they will follow a certain procedure to ensure maximum safety. Anyone in the room during the test should wear protective gear, including gloves, boots, disposable clothing after sampling, and a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter mask. The contractor may use the following testing methods:
- Place a plastic sheet under the sampling area and secure it with tape.
- Spray water on the test area to prevent mineral fibers from dispersing into the air.
- Use tools to cut a sample from the test location.
- The small sample containing asbestos will be placed in a sealed container to be sent to the laboratory.
- The sampling area is covered with plastic sheeting, drywall, or tape to prevent fiber dispersal.
- Any contaminated protective clothing will be placed in a sealed container for disposal according to proper procedures.
Waiting for test results. The material sample should be sent to an accredited asbestos laboratory under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. A list of approved labs is available at http://www.nist.gov/. If the test result is positive for asbestos, you will need to repair or remove the asbestos-containing material from the building.
Handling Asbestos
Repairing damaged asbestos-containing materials. To fix asbestos materials, you typically need to seal or encapsulate the area to prevent fiber release into the air. Given the presence of such hazardous carcinogens, it may seem strange to repair instead of remove, but repairing is actually the safest option. Removal often causes more material to break apart, creating greater health risks, while repairing and isolating asbestos allows you to coexist with it safely.
- You should hire a specialist to ensure the work is done properly. They will usually apply a sealing agent or specialized material to cover the area, preventing it from breaking apart. Consider laying new flooring over the asbestos floor to prevent fibers from dispersing into the air.
- Repairing is cheaper than replacement and is often the best choice. However, if the material is severely damaged and will need to be replaced eventually, it's better to remove it. Using sealants or encapsulants will make future removal more difficult.
Living safely with asbestos-containing materials. After repairs, you must still take precautions when living in an area with asbestos materials. Be careful around suspect materials to avoid disturbing them and releasing fibers into the air. Follow these safety measures to live safely with asbestos:
- Minimize time spent in areas with asbestos. For example, if basement walls contain asbestos, avoid spending unnecessary time there.
- Do not saw, scrape, sand, drill, or damage asbestos materials, even after sealing them.
- Avoid using abrasive cleaning tools on asbestos-containing materials.
- Do not vacuum or sweep debris from floors suspected to contain asbestos.
- If further damage occurs, hire a professional to repair it.
Consider removing asbestos. If you prefer not to keep asbestos-containing materials in your home, you may opt for removal rather than repair. Hire a contractor trained by the EPA. The removal process is more hazardous than repair, and if not done properly, it can pose serious health risks to those in the household.
