Asbestos

Asbestos can be described as a “supermineral.” Its remarkable physical properties have contributed to its use in a number of building products. However, its amazing properties are diminished by its health risk. Airborne fibers of a certain size (not too big and not too small) can lodge in the lungs and slowly cause a number of different diseases over time. Diseases can occur in 3-5 years from very severe exposures although it is much more common for symptoms of the disease to occur over 15 or more years from the exposure.

Asbestos can generally categorized into the following types:

  • High risk materials that are readily identifiable based on appearance without testing (e.g. duct insulation, pipe insulation, heat/light shielding)
  • Potential high risk materials that should be tested (pipe insulation installed after the early 1960s)
  • Potential low to medium risk materials that are probably asbestos (e.g. cement shingles, 9×9 floor tile)
  • Potential asbestos materials that can be low to high risk depending on use and circumstances (e.g. sash window glazing)
  • Asbestos vermiculite containing materials that can be low to high risk depending on use and circumstances
  • Low risk materials that may contain asbestos (foundation window putty, roof flashing, door caulk)
Floor tile may be the most common form of asbestos in the home.

Repair, Encapsulate, Remove Asbestos or Leave it Alone?

How asbestos is managed in the home depends on the material involved, the condition, disturbance or risk of disturbance and comfort level of the homeowner. Fortunately there are very few forms of asbestos found in homes that require some action even when in good condition.

How asbestos should be managed is specific to the material type and situation. Many forms of asbestos are best left in place until a renovation requires removal. 

Damaged asbestos pipe insulation often doesn’t need full removal because patch-and-repair methods can make it safe. Infrared thermography helps identify weak spots and later confirms that repairs are effective.

You may have heard that it is safer to leave asbestos in place because sometimes asbestos air levels are higher after abatement. This erroneous belief originated from early USEPA studies when asbestos abatement was in its infancy. This may have been a result of the background levels from installation or previous improper removals rather than the removal being studied. Abatement methods are generally well-established and safe.

Even when initial air clearance sampling fails, it is not difficult with additional cleaning and air-scrubbing to get airborne levels back to within safe limits.

Ultimately, the decision to remove asbestos is driven by health concerns associated with the building residents or workers that will potentially be contacting the asbestos. In addition, sometimes asbestos removal becomes a peace-of-mind decision.

Tri-Tech offers the following asbestos-related services:

  • Home pre-acquisition inspection and testing (may include only visual observations or testing of materials)
  • Inspection and testing for building renovation or demolition
  • Do-it-yourself sample collection and mail-in/drop off service for small projects involving lower risk materials (e.g. floor tile)
  • Baseline air testing to assess air quality when high-risk unpainted asbestos is present in the home (e.g. acoustical soft plaster or drop ceiling panels)
  • Air monitoring to assess impact to air quality after asbestos was suspected or known to be removed improperly
  • Abatement visual and air monitoring clearance (determines that abatement was adequate and no asbestos dust/debris or unsafe air conditions remain)
  • Asbestos survey for home demolition
  • Asbestos testing of vermiculite insulation for insulation projects
  • Commercial limited scope DIY testing for contractors
  • Asbestos awareness training for schools and businesses
  • Infra-red thermography for asbestos thermal insulation repair project

ASBESTOS TESTING (CLEAN AIR CERTIFICATE)

We provide testing services for what is commonly referred to by flooring installers as a “Clean Air Certificate.”

How does asbestos testing work?

For bulk (sold) materials, a piece is submitted to a laboratory where it may be prepped as necessary (e.g. ashed/dissolved) and then the fibers are viewed under a microscope. 

For air samples, air is filtered through a sample cartridge. The pump is calibrated so that a known volume of air is filtered. The filter is dissolved in the laboratory and placed on a microscope slide where the fibers are counted and converted to an air concentration. More about asbestos air testing. 

Need Asbestos Testing?

Contact us