A natural silicate material, asbestos was a popular building material in the 1970s and 1980s due to its exceptional insulating properties. Since then, the use of asbestos has reduced drastically due to studies that have found that the material can lead to numerous deadly diseases.
Long periods of exposure to asbestos can result in developing pulmonary fibrosis, asbestosis, pleural plaques and cardiovascular diseases. Asbestos is also a known carcinogen as well. Here are the 5 tell-tale signs that you could use to determine the presence of asbestos containing materials (ACM).
Older Buildings
Since asbestos was not acknowledged as a harmful material in the past, most buildings that were built before the 1980s may contain materials with high asbestos content. Since there is the possibility of being exposed to asbestos when building materials get damaged, it is vital to get your establishment or property tested for asbestos and replace material that is suspected to contain asbestos. Here are some of the common places where asbestos is found.
- Floor tiles
- Pipe cement
- Roof shingles
- Siding
- Ceiling tiles
Corrugated Roofs
Sold between the 1920s to late 1970s, many roof shingles made during this period have high asbestos content in them. Cement roof shingles usually contain a high content of Chrysotile, which is the white form of asbestos.
Vinyl Flooring
In the past, vinyl flooring was mostly made of asbestos. The possibility of your flooring to be made of asbestos is even greater if it was installed between the 1950s and 1986, where the use of asbestos was widespread.
Water Tanks
The asbestos content found in cement water tanks is usually around 5-10%. Since the tank is used to contain the water used in the building or household, it might be time to take the extra precaution in replacing your water tank to avoid contamination. Get your water tank tested for asbestos and replace them if they do contain the toxic material.
Cement Sheets
In older buildings, there is a high chance that the cement sheets contain asbestos. Some examples of areas where these cement sheets are used include cover traps, light bases and vent covers. Hiring asbestos inspection services can help you in determining whether these sheets contain asbestos.
How to Test For Asbestos?
For older houses and buildings, there usually isn’t labelling to confirm if it contains asbestos or not. In order to test for asbestos, microscopic testing of the material is required to confirm the presence of the material. Since asbestos is a highly toxic material, we strongly advise that you leave the job of asbestos testing to the trained professionals.
If you’re looking for asbestos inspection for your business or home, look no further! Iris Environmental laboratories provide asbestos inspections that are conducted by certified trained professionals. All samples from our inspections are also analyzed at our Certified Laboratory facility under the Environmental Standard criteria. Receive personalized and professional service as we conduct our business on a one on one basis. Call now at 1800-908-6679 to find out more on our asbestos inspection services or fill up our online form to be contacted by our consultants.