Asbestos removal Auckland trained and experienced SiteSafe technicians perform asbestos cleaning jobs large and small, in commercial and industrial. The removal and disposal of asbestos are important for human health, which over the years has paid the price for the diffusion of this material. It is still present in many homes and in private and public buildings. And for this, it is important to know how to proceed correctly with the removal of asbestos.
Asbestos is a dangerous material, now banned since 1992, but still very widespread. It is a natural mineral, with a fibrous appearance, belonging to the silicate family. It is obtained by extraction and the Italian legislation with “asbestos” implies different groups of materials, which can be divided mainly into “amphiboles” and “serpentine”.
Before starting the great process of dismantling asbestos, this was widely used for its properties of fire resistance, thermal and acoustic insulation, easy workability, and low cost.
The danger of asbestos lies in its friability, as it is composed of very small fibers that can be inhaled by humans and cause serious respiratory diseases, even leading to death.
What is asbestos, why is it dangerous and must be disposed of
Precisely due to a large number of deaths due to this material, today the disposal of asbestos takes on really great importance, especially in public buildings.
Where can asbestos be found in homes?
Before the 1992 law came into force, asbestos was used extensively in construction, including for the construction of our homes. Today, asbestos has already been disposed of in many buildings built before that date, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
Asbestos may be present in our homes at different points of the structure. In fact, due to its insulating properties, it was used to insulate and cover walls, ceilings, and floors. The panels had excellent structural properties and therefore we’re very much used also to build partitions or walls. It was also used to insulate wood stoves or parts of electrical or plumbing systems.
where asbestos is found in homes
Asbestos was also a material chosen for external coatings, to create fences or small structures such as sheds, boxes, and garages or kennels for animals. Panels were widespread for covering roofs, while in industrial buildings it was suitable for fire retardant power, and therefore it was customary to spray it on beams and various components of the structure. Furthermore, asbestos was mixed with other materials and therefore traces of it can also be found in fabrics, plastic materials, or packaging.
The removal and disposal of asbestos are important for human health, which over the years has paid the price for the diffusion of this material. It is still present also in many homes and in private and public buildings.
Is it mandatory to remove asbestos?
Municipal and health protection bodies do not carry out inspections in private buildings to check for the presence of asbestos. Therefore, the removal of asbestos in homes is the sole responsibility of the owners and the practices to be followed are different depending on whether it is friable or compact asbestos.
Removal and disposal of asbestos
If, on the other hand, the building is in a state of decay, the owner will have to ask a qualified technician for an inspection to assess the risks and if an intervention is necessary, then it will be mandatory to contact a specialized company for the disposal of the ‘asbestos.
How asbestos is removed and disposed of
The procedures for removing and disposing of asbestos are different depending on the type of asbestos and its conditions.
procedures for the removal and disposal of asbestos
In any case, the removal can only be carried out by specialized companies, according to one of the following procedures:
Encapsulation of asbestos. In the event that the asbestos is compact (for example present as asbestos slabs) and in good condition, it does not necessarily need to be removed, but it can be encapsulated by covering it with suitable materials. Asbestos is not removed from the building, so no waste is produced, but it will be necessary to provide for subsequent checks and any maintenance.
Asbestos confinement. This procedure involves installing a protective barrier that isolates asbestos from the rest of the building, in order to also resist shocks and prevent any asbestos fibers from spreading.
Removal of asbestos. In this case, for example, when removing eternity, the safest procedure is being chosen. Removing asbestos means removing the asbestos parts and replacing them with other materials. In this way, any kind of exposure is excluded, but a lot of toxic waste is produced. Therefore, the correct disposal of asbestos is also very important.
