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When you begin a demolition project, you might have some concerns about asbestos and airborne chemicals that could become a problem for your breathing. To understand the seriousness of this in more depth, contact your city inspector to find out more about the materials that were used to build the structure you are gearing up to tear down.
What Procedures Do Licensed Professionals Use?
Licensed professionals work by the book, this means that everything they learned to become a licensed professional should be applied to the project. This is guaranteed, but if the individual has any respect for the work they are doing, they will stick to the book. To learn more information about asbestos removal and what they entail, contact a local city representative for the laws in your area.
Safely Removing Asbestos From Your Home or Apartment Building
While asbestos used to be a popular building material for its strength, affordability, and versatility. It is often found in old insulation, flooring, and even drywall; it has since been shown to be unsafe. It becomes unsafe as soon as it has been disturbed or damaged. This allows the small fibres to escape the material and become airborne, where it is inhaled and embeds itself in the lining of the lungs. Asbestos can cause long-term damages to the lungs and respiratory system. In order to renovate or remodel an apartment building or home safely, the asbestos containing building materials must be removed.
Can You Remove Asbestos Yourself?
Asbestos is a dangerous material that can lead to lung disease and other health concerns; therefore, it is not safe or legal to remove it yourself. Companies and their employees are fully trained in how to safely remove it, along with how to dress in the appropriate safety wear. They are certified in how to do each step of the process, including preparing the space and removing it, along with cleaning the area afterward to make it safe for occupation.
Removing and Disposing of Asbestos
Once you have located asbestos within your home or apartment, it is important to ensure that it is not disturbed. It can remain intact for many years if there are no planned renovations or remodels planned; however once it is disturbed, moved, or damaged, it will need to be removed completely before the space can be occupied. In order to have it safely removed, an asbestos removal company must be located, as they are trained and certified in the safety measures required and have been licensed to do so.
Before Removing The Material
Before removing the material, they will seal off the surrounding area, and create a reverse vacuum to ensure that the material remains contained within the protective plastic or tarping of the area. Full protective clothing and coveralls that are sealed around the body, as well as respiratory protection with masks or respirators, will be used to ensure the employees do not breathe in any of the small particles or fibres from the asbestos. Once it has been disturbed, it will need to be removed quickly, so it is sprayed with water to keep the dust or particles from becoming airborne. The materials are then bagged, and each bag is sealed and placed into a second bag that is also sealed. Each bag is removed from the premises and disposed of according to local regulations, ensuring it remains away from all water supplies and will not damage the environment.
Clearing And Closing Out The Area
Once the area is clear of all materials containing asbestos, it will be unsealed and the materials that were used to create the reverse vacuum in the space will be removed. The tarping or plastic sheeting that was used to keep the space closed off will be sealed into bags and disposed of with the rest of the removed materials.
