Asbestos Testing – Instances of Frequent Vulnerability

DIY home repairs, removing and replacing pipes, and drilling into walls all pose risks of exposing residents to asbestos. The following examples illustrate how common household asbestos hazards might manifest in real life.

Alterations to the Roof of the Attic

John discovered masses of brown pebble-like insulation while repairing the attic of his 1960s home. To cut down on heating costs during the colder months, he chose to instal new fibreglass insulation in its place. He installed the new insulation after sweeping the old into trash bags.

John had no notion that the vermiculite insulation in his attic contained asbestos. He released asbestos fibres into the air by upsetting the material. If John had known the insulation contained asbestos, he would not have disturbed it.

Auto Shop Debris in the Garage

Ralph enjoys spending time with his 1965 Stingray Corvette. Ralph wanted to change his squeaking brakes in the comfort of his own garage. When he took off the back tyres, he noticed the brake drums were caked with dirt. He pounded on the walls with a hammer and used an air compressor to clear away the dust.

Toxic asbestos fibres may be released into the air when compressed air is used to clean certain brake parts. It would have been better if Ralph had either taken his car in for service or carefully cleaned the brake drums with a damp cloth.

When Drywall Contains Asbestos and the Drill Bit Hits It

Erica was thrilled to win a painting at a silent auction and immediately plann to display it in her home. She took meticulous measurements and used a drill to set up drywall anchors to secure the painting. Due to the painting’s uneven surface, more holes had to be drill before it could be hung correctly.

She was completely unaware that the drywall in her home contained asbestos. Asbestos fibres from the drywall leaked into her home when she bored a hole to hang a picture. Asbestos was present in Erica’s walls, and she should have known better than to disturb it.

How to Take Up Vinyl Floor Tiles

Herman recently bought a run-down 1950s house in his hometown and began remodelling the existing master bathroom. Starting with the vinyl floor tile, he took them all up. With a scraper, he got rid of the old tiles before setting up the new ones.

In the 1950s, asbestos was a frequent component in vinyl floor tiles. Removing the old flooring with a scraper can release harmful asbestos fibres. Herman ought to have laid the new tile directly on top of the old one.

The Disposal of Popcorn Ceilings

Janine chose to remove the popcorn texture off her ceilings and replace it with a smooth coat of paint since she was sick of looking at the rough surface. She donned her goggles and a mask to keep out the dust, then retrieved her stepladder. She scraped and sanded and painted and painted some more before declaring victory.

Asbestos is often hidden in texture ceiling finishes such as popcorn ceilings. When Janine scraped off the popcorn finish, tiny asbestos fibers were discharged and were able to readily penetrate her dust mask. She should have contacted a company that specializes in the safe removal of asbestos.

Hiring expert asbestos testing south wales services is the safest choice but can be somewhat costly. Homeowners can scrape off a sample and conduct their own testing using a store-bought kit before deciding to remove the entire popcorn surface. Even if only a tiny sample needs to be remove for testing, safety equipment like goggles and a N95 respirator should be worn at all times.

Modifying Pipe Insulation

Brent discovered the insulation around some of the hot water pipes in the basement of his late-1800s Victorian home was beginning to deteriorate while performing some maintenance. In order to preserve the insulation’s thermal performance, he used a utility knife to remove the old material and then installed new fiberglass insulation.

Asbestos insulation is commonplace around older plumbing systems, which Brent should have known. Cutting the damaged material released even more fibres into the air, which may have already constituted an exposure risk before he began the project. Instead of trying to do it alone, Brent should have contacted an asbestos encapsulation professional to help him cover up the asbestos insulation.