Using asbestos in construction has been illegal for over 40 years, yet it still lingers today. This is because you still find the material in buildings built before 2000. These materials range from roofing products, ceilings, walls, insulation, and other finishes.
For this reason, it helps to have a commercial construction company come in and do an asbestos abatement if you live in an old building. Why? As asbestos exposure is dangerous. But how is it harmful, and how do contractors handle asbestos removal?
Carcinogen Exposure is Very Dangerous
When commercial contractors do an asbestos abatement and find it present, the removal is a delicate process. Yet, the first step is to inspect to see if the material is asbestos. They also need to determine the level of hazards.
Still, even if you have asbestos present, it does not mean you must remove it when undisturbed and intact. You can still keep it in place without risking the environment. But, if the risk is present or impacts a demolition, contractors prepare the site beforehand to remove the toxic substances.
The crucial thing is to hire an experienced contractor if you suspect asbestos is present on the property. But, first, you need to contact a firm to send you a licensed inspector to come and test the material.
With the test, the inspector informs you if the asbestos is present and provides you with a written evaluation of the mineral foundation. On the assessment, you will see the extent of the asbestos presence with a recommendation to handle the mitigation.
The best is to use a hygiene firm independent of your abatement contractor. If asbestos is present, the inspector will start with an abatement work plan to get bids from qualified asbestos abatement contractors.
Finding an experienced asbestos abatement company certified to handle the process is essential. Furthermore, the contractor needs to know the federal laws of the state to address the abatement correctly, and they must have a license to prove it.
The Asbestos Abatement Process
The asbestos abatement contractor will study the plan provided by the industrial hygienist. The project presented will include all the details of how the area will be treated. This will consist of the preparation stage through to the cleanup.
So, the work plan needs state details with federal laws, and the abatement contractors must abide by these rules. Then, once the project is set in place. The contractor marks all the hazardous zones to inform all building occupants that they must leave that area until the mitigation and the clearance test are completed.
The contractor will set up a regulated work area. They will seal all air ducts, disable the HVAC systems, and other areas that need to be treated are securely closed with thick plastic sheets. Included in the setup is air pressure with filtration systems. Finally, the asbestos abatement inspector will inspect the area to see if preparations follow the safety laws before the asbestos removal can start.
To remove the asbestos, contractors will use water and hand tools to do repairs or remove it. During the asbestos removal process, contractors wear protective clothing and use respirators to not inhale the minerals, becoming airborne. The contractor will place the asbestos into unique waste bags for disposal and seal them to remove through a decontamination unit with a protective lining.
A decontamination chamber will be in the work area with a shower to use when exiting the site. Whether you use a commercial demolition contractor, they follow the same procedures. Furthermore, high-efficiency particulate air vacuuming is used with filtration to remove asbestos.
The HEPA helps minimize the fibers' dispersing when working and cleaning surfaces. After all the work is completed, the final cleaning is done. All work surfaces are thoroughly cleaned using water with HEPA filtration. Finally, the industrial hygiene inspector will perform another inspection by taking an air sample to conduct a clearance.
The work area air filtration and barriers remain until the inspector certifies the sample tested. The work area must meet the criteria for clearing the site per the abatement work plan.
The Post Cleanup Starts
Only after clearance is given by the asbestos abatement inspector, the containment barriers will be removed. Then, the work area is again cleaned using the HEPA vacuum. When the final cleaning is done, you receive a report from the contractor that contains all the waste shipment records, site logs, copies of licenses, and permits.
You must receive a report from the industrial hygiene inspector that includes copies of their inspection results and the laboratory analysis. You must keep these records to comply with the environmental regulation if asked.
Final Thoughts
When you look at your old building, you would like to start a new project to have it demolished. The demolition contractor must provide you with an asbestos abatement service to test if the mineral is present in the construction. It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of others using the building. As you can see, asbestos is dangerous. It needs to be handled by professionals when the time comes to have the structure repaired or even removed.
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