If you are concerned because you don’t know whether or not your home contains asbestos-containing products, the process of asbestos testing will be an important topic of conversation for you. Throughout much of the twentieth century asbestos was used in the manufacture of thousands of industrial and building products. When asbestos fibers from these products are released into the environment it can become extremely dangerous for anyone that breathes these fibers into their lungs. Therefore, whenever asbestos is suspected to be present in any home building materials it is important to test those products for the presence of asbestos, either by hiring a professional asbestos abatement contractor or buying a kit to perform your own asbestos testing.
The people that are most at risk of developing serious health problems from asbestos inhalation work in an industry that deals with asbestos such as mining, ship building, building demolition, roofers, carpet installers, asbestos removal companies, and other industries. However, some people are exposed in their own homes, office buildings they work in, or school buildings they teach or take classes in. This means that asbestos testing is important whenever you suspect the presence of asbestos in your home. However, just because there are asbestos-containing building materials in the building you live or work in doesn’t mean you will be exposed to asbestos. Asbestos exposure only occurs when the microscopic asbestos particles become airborne due to damage, decay, or disturbance of those materials.
Even though asbestos was banned in the 1980s and its use was restricted, it still exists in homes and other buildings that were built prior to this time. Some countries still allow its use, but the United States has strict restrictions that prevent its usage in building materials. Asbestos occurs in nature and most people around the world inhale a small amount of its microscopic fibers on a daily basis. However, in most cases the amounts inhaled are too small to cause health problems.
If you live in or are buying an older home, the chances are very good that there are some building materials in that home that contain asbestos. If this is true, asbestos testing should be carried out immediately. So exactly what does the job of asbestos testing involve? There are certain steps that must be performed when testing for asbestos in order for you to remain safe. The first thing that must be done is to identify possible asbestos-containing products in your home. Asbestos, as far as home construction is concerned, was most commonly used in products such as cement roofs, siding, insulation around pipes, boilers, and electrical wiring, popcorn ceilings, suspended ceiling tiles, floor tiles and linoleum flooring (including the adhesives used when installing the floors), sprayed-on textured coatings on walls or ceilings, attic insulation, and many others. If you don’t feel confident about your ability to identify possible asbestos-containing products, you should hire an abatement contractor to inspect your home.
Asbestos Testing and Inspections
Once you have identified any building products that are potentially hazardous, samples of those products must be taken and sent to a lab for asbestos testing. Most people decide not to do their own asbestos testing and simply hire a contractor to perform the inspection. However, asbestos testing kits are available at many larger home centers and make it possible for homeowners to do their own test for asbestos. The test is a relatively simple process that involves removing samples, sealing them in bags, and then sending them to a lab for further analysis.
Asbestos Testing and Taking Samples
After you have identified possible asbestos-containing materials the next step is to take samples. Each different product requires its own sample. And if the materials cover a large area, it is best to take two or three samples from different locations. This is most commonly necessary when you have a large popcorn ceiling or other large areas that may contain asbestos. If you decide to do the asbestos testing yourself, without professional assistance, there are a few safety steps that must be adhered to. First, always wear a protective mask or breathing apparatus that will prevent the inhalation of any asbestos fibers should they become airborne. Next, whenever removing samples, be sure to keep the materials wet at all times. As you are removing samples of the questionable materials by cutting or scraping, you will be spraying a mixture of water and detergent onto the materials to keep them wet. As long as you keep the materials wet enough, no asbestos fibers will be released into the environment.
Once you have removed a sample it should be placed into a plastic bag and sealed completely. Each sample is placed in its own separate bag and labeled according to what it is and where it was located in your home. You will also want to place your name, address, and phone number on the label. Once all of the samples are taken, they are placed into a box and mailed to a lab as specified in the instructions that came with the asbestos testing kit. That’s it – your asbestos testing is done. At this point it’s just a matter of waiting a few days to get the results.
The lab must examine the materials under a microscope to make a determination as to whether or not the samples contain asbestos. When you get the results from the lab, they will either tell you that you have asbestos products in your home or you don’t. If the asbestos testing reveals no asbestos products, you can feel safe, knowing that no further steps need to be taken. However, if asbestos is found in your home you will be faced with several options. You can either leave the asbestos-containing materials alone, spray a sealant on them to prevent the escape of its fibers, or perform asbestos removal.
Normally, if the asbestos materials are still in good shape, and there is no risk that any fibers will become airborne, they can be safely left alone and undisturbed. Of course, if you want to remodel your home and the asbestos products must be removed to do that, you will probably need to have the products removed. However, this is not always the case. For example, if your kitchen floor has asbestos floor tiles, you may be able to simply install a new floor over the old one, essentially sealing the old one up and preventing the escape of any hazardous asbestos fibers. If the materials that contain asbestos are in bad shape, and pose the risk of releasing fibers into the air, they need to be removed or encapsulated. Encapsulation occurs by spraying a sealant over the materials to prevent any asbestos particles or dust from escaping. However, this is a temporary measure. The only permanent solution is to do a complete asbestos removal job. But the final determination is based upon asbestos testing.