What To Expect From An Asbestos Survey

What To Expect From An Asbestos Survey


Asbestos inspection and surveys are an easy and simple way to find out whether there is materials containing asbestos in your new home, or even existing home. Asbestos surveys are carried out by a number of companies in the UK, however you should ensure any company adheres to ISO 17020 accreditation and also UKAS accredited. This means you are getting the best in surveys and all asbestos in a home should be identified.

UKAS , or the United Kingdom Accreditation Service to give it, its full title ensures asbestos surveys are carried out in the best possible manner and provides a badge for companies once they are happy this is happening.

Asbestos surveys are broken into two kinds of survey - management and refurbishment/demolition. The former is to protect those living/ working in the area from the dangers of the material and involves managing the threat. The latter is if you are looking to refurbish the area, or demolish the property.

So, what happens during an asbestos survey?

Initially the surveyor will visit a home, or a premises and then walk through it. This is so they can identify the areas where asbestos may be most likely to reside, such as in ceilings, floor tiles, pipe runs and other areas. This allows them to take notes and then create a plan for how they are going to approach the whole procedure. They will also ask questions about your property, whether you know if there is asbestos, or whether there are areas that are hard to access.

The surveyor will then decide on how he is going to do his survey and may leave and then come back at a later time. The surveyor will then walk from room, to room surveying the material in each room for asbestos. You should give them access to seldom used areas, such as risers, the loft, basement area and outside, as well as allow them to lift carpets and tiles.

What the Surveyor Does

Surveyors often then take photos of the room, as well as materials they consider may be dangerous. They may also sketch the room and in this sketch point out areas they think there are suspect materials. The surveyor may then take samples of the materials they deem suspect and bring them away to analyse and assess them for risk.

When the survey is completed, the surveyor sends off these samples and will have to wait for these returned. This often takes a few days. Afterwards a report will then be issued with information of where asbestos has been found in the home. It will also indicate the level of risk involved with the particular form of asbestos, allowing you to decide on what should be done with the area.

As not all asbestos is dangerous, this may mean you can leave the asbestos based material and not have to worry about it. In other cases, it may mean that it needs to be taken care of by a professional asbestos surveyor.

How To Remove Asbestos Tiles

How To Remove Asbestos Tiles

Asbestos Removal Can Be Extremely Dangerous - If In Doubt You Should Seek Advice From A Licensed Asbestos Removal Company.

Until the 1970s, many floors had an element of asbestos in them, mainly due to the fact asbestos adds strength at a low cost. As you probably already know asbestos causes problems for lungs and breathing and so is now not allowed to be added to building materials.

However, there are still a number of areas of homes built in the past, which are full of asbestos. Asbestos tiles are still quite common, though removing them is also quite simple procedure. The biggest element is safety, aside from that it's a simple procedure.

Protection

Wear safety gear when dealing with asbestos. This should include goggles, gloves and a respirator, as well as clothing to cover the whole of your body and ensure that none of the dust can escape onto you.

Tools

You will need a utility knife, putty, amended water, plastic sheeting, bags for disposal and duct tape. Make sure these are all located together and so you don't have to leave the room and chance spreading asbestos elsewhere in the home.

Turn off all air conditioning, or anything that may spread asbestos elsewhere, such as fans. Remove all moveable objects from the room and then cover up windows and doors and vents. Seal all of these areas and outlets up with polythene and tape.

Removing the tiles

Wet the floor with the amended water as this helps soften the seal between the tile and the bonding agent. This is known as wet stripping and is the best way of removing asbestos. This is because the water will keep the asbestos fibres stuck to the tiles and prevent them getting into the air.

Use a hammer and putty knife to remove the asbestos, starting at the edge and working your way in. Never, drill or saw as this will mean asbestos fibres enter the air. To remove with the putty knife. Slip it under the tile and dislodge it with a little pressure. Do this for all the tiles in large, whole pieces to prevent dust getting into the air. When finished clean the area with a damp cloth and ensure none of the asbestos enters the air.

Disposal

Of course, asbestos has to be disposed of carefully. Place the waste into boxes and seal them up. If there is any smaller pieces of debris, gather them up and place them inside plastic bags, double bag them and then seal them up. These will have to be brought to a landfill to be disposed of in a special manner. Just leaving them out with the rubbish at the side of your home is not an option.

When this is done, now you must wash off all your equipment and make sure there is no asbestos left anywhere on them, as this can cause problems in the future. Finally, clean yourself off with a shower.

In some countries it is illegal to remove asbestos without a relevant course in the field. Of course, if you feel it's all too much, professional help is also a way to deal with such a procedure.

Getting Quotes For Asbestos Removal

If you decide that you need to use the services of professional asbestos removal companies, you are welcome to use Top Tradespeople's free service to compare several quotes from asbestos surveyors and asbestos removal services.

Asbestos Regulations

Asbestos Regulations


From the 1950s to the 1980s, asbestos was widely used in the building trade. This naturally occurring mineral was popular because of its resistance to heat, electricity and sound.

Today, we know much more about the affects of asbestos and the trade is governed by the Asbestos Regulations.

Different Types of Asbestos

There are basically three different types of asbestos, namely white asbestos, brown and blue asbestos. From 1985, the blue and brown forms were prohibited in the UK. White asbestos followed, with a ban put in place in 1999.

The asbestos regulations were introduced in 2006, banning all forms of asbestos. These regulations prohibit its importation, supply and use. The strict guidelines apply to new asbestos.

Asbestos Risks

The risks associated with asbestos, include:

Asbestosis (scarring of the lungs caused by minute asbestos fibres)
Lung cancer
Pleural thickening (asbestos fibres that have lodged in the membrane around the lungs, known as the pleura)
Mesothelioma (a malignant tumour of the pleura or lining of the abdominal cavity).
Many older buildings still contain asbestos, including hospitals, schools and homes that were built before the asbestos regulations came into force. Since the late 1980s, asbestos removal specialists have been drafted in to ensure the safety of public buildings.

If you already have asbestos in your home or property, don't worry!

As long as it is in good condition, it can remain in place. But you must continue to monitor the asbestos and maintain it to ensure that it is left undamaged.

Monitoring asbestos should not be done in a hap-hazard way. An asbestos survey should be carried out by an expert who will be able to locate and assess the asbestos. It will then be registered and a management plan will be put into place, and the asbestos will be monitored regularly. If you are doing renovations on the building, a more extensive asbestos survey should be carried out to make sure that the asbestos will not be affected.

Asbestos Removal

Given the risks associated with asbestos, you may wish to make sure that it is removed from your property altogether. An asbestos removal expert will know his asbestos regulations and will be able to help you safely remove asbestos from your home.

Under the regulations, asbestos removal must be carried out under a license that is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. There are only a few exceptions to this rule. An asbestos removal company will be able to advise you on your options. Remember, asbestos is still safe to use if it is undamaged. An asbestos survey will set your mind at ease and identify any problems.  As always, with any kind of tradespeople, remember to get at least three quotes for your asbestos removal services.

Disclaimer: Top Tradespeople accept no responsibility for the validity of this information. You should always seek expert advice on DIY, home improvement, building regulations and planning permission.