Asbestos
Before Asbestos fibres were banned due to the significant health risks related to them, they were commonly used within the construction industry for insulation, roofing, flooring and sprayed on walls and ceilings. Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibre, of which there are three. They are blue, brown and white. Your property must be checked for Asbestos before moving in.
Our team are expertly trained to identify materials which could contain Asbestos. They are commonly found in properties which were built before the year 2000. If a member of our team identifies any material which could potentially obtain Asbestos, they will advise you to have specialist testing or, if there is a significant concern for its presence, a removal as it can be detrimental to the health of the property’s occupants.
If we suspect Asbestos is present, we may recommend specialist testing, or removal if we consider the risk to you and your family’s health is great enough.
The Health Risk Of Asbestos
Asbestos can be found in materials such as roof materials, insulation, textured coatings and sheet materials. Although it tends not to be a problem unless disturbed and becomes airborne, it should always be expected to be disturbed to protect the health of the property’s occupants, in this case, it is best to be overly cautious.
Asbestos fibres can be found in many materials, and it takes a very minor movement for them to become disturbed and dangerous, therefore it is strongly encouraged that if you suspect that your property contains Asbestos fibres, you do not attempt to investigate this yourself but have a specialist assess the building and implement necessary precautions.
Exposure to airborne asbestos can cause:
- Non-malignant pleural disease
- Asbestosis
- Asbestos-related lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
Exposure to airborne Asbestos can show immediately or take years to show, and this will tend to come to show as severe lung problems.
How Can A Chartered Surveyor Help?
Our expert surveyors can provide expert knowledge of where you can expect to discover Asbestos and what steps to take regarding the removal of the fibres, should you find them in the property you are looking at buying.
Assure that before carrying out any development work on your property, you discuss this with one of our expert surveyors. As well as this, it is advised that you hire a removal contractor who is specifically qualified in Asbestos awareness. This will ensure that the work which is done, is done safely and will protect the occupants of the property from any health risks.
How To Deal With Asbestos
It is strongly advised that you do not take it upon yourself to remove Asbestos unless you are a trained professional in handling the substance. If you believe you have Asbestos in your home or suspect it could be present in a home you want to buy, it is best to hire a licensed Asbestos contractor to check and safely remove the fibres.
Although the presence of Asbestos is best removed, if there is a significantly low chance of the fibres being disturbed, it can be better to leave them be and avoid the risk of making the Asbestos unnecessarily airborne through removal.
One method of removal for Asbestos fibres is encapsulation. This method involves sealing the surface of the materials which contain the Asbestos fibres. This traps the fibres, preventing them from becoming airborne and allowing them to continue to safely deteriorate.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the presence of asbestos within your home or office, please feel free to contact our team of Chartered Surveyors today. Simply use the form below to contact us now.