WHAT IS ASBESTOS?
Asbestos is the name given to various forms of naturally occurring, fibrous silicate minerals found in the earth.
Asbestos was used extensively in building materials up to the late 1980s because of its durability, fire resistance and insulating properties.
Materials containing firmly bound asbestos fibres include asbestos-cement products such as flat or corrugated products (fibro or AC sheeting), water or flue pipes, roof shingles, flexible building boards and imitation brick cladding. Other products containing firmly bound asbestos fibres include plaster patching compounds, textured paint, vinyl floor tiles and the backing of linoleum floor coverings.
Loosely-bound asbestos fibres may be found in older forms of insulation used in domestic heaters and stoves, and in ceiling insulation products. However, ceiling insulation products containing asbestos were more typically used in commercial buildings rather than homes.
Asbestos can be described as either friable or non-friable:
- When dry, friable asbestos can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure, or as a result of a work process it may become such that it can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure.
- When dry, non-friable asbestos cannot be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure.
While friable asbestos poses the most immediate health risk, the use of any form of asbestos is banned, making it illegal to manufacture, supply, transport, store, sell, install or reuse asbestos-containing materials or products.
ASBESTOS REMOVAL
As awareness increases about the serious health effects of asbestos, it has become obvious that this widespread use of asbestos in buildings is an enormous problem. For example, sprayed asbestos will deteriorate over time, and if uncontrolled will crumble and send fibres into the air where they could be breathed in by people in the surrounding area and even circulated around a building by air conditioning systems. The demolition of buildings with asbestos insulation or lagging has the potential for the release of asbestos fibre unless stringent precautions are taken.
Removal of asbestos eliminates the hazard, provided it is done with the best control procedures, by competent removal experts, under good supervision and a well informed workforce.
All Asbestos Removalists at De Construct Group are Licenced, Experienced and work under the strictest of OH&S guidelines to ensure the safety of everybody on and around site.
Prior to the commencement of removal, a Notification must be sent to WorkSafe, Risk Assesments must be completed aswell as Safe Work Method Statements.
All De Construct Asbestos Removalists follow strict procedures in relation to the removal of asbestos, ranging from their own Personal Protective Equipment to the correct EPA disposal procedure.
Asbestos is a very dangerous material and should always be attended to by a Licenced professional.