Don’t try to remove asbestos insulation by yourself

Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral with very remarkable qualities: it can effectively resist heat, steam, and fire. These qualities make asbestos an ideal material for insulation, which were used to line roofs, ceilings, attics, and walls of both houses and buildings. The type of insulation was widely used in residential, public, and commercial buildings before the 1980's.

Despite its excellent qualities that made it an ideal ingredient for construction materials, asbestos is highly hazardous to both the health of humans and animals. Asbestos consists of several silicate minerals that can be separated into fibers and particles easily. When inhaled and ingested, these particles and fibers can cause a variety of pulmonary diseases, including asbestos poisoning (a scarring of the lung tissues caused by sharp asbestos fibers and will cause chest pains, shortness of breath, and dry coughing), mesothelioma (a cancer unique to asbestos exposure-and an extremely fatal one), and several kinds of cancer that will affect the lungs, stomach, larynx, esophagus, and even the kidneys.

Asbestos insulation is a problem that plagues a lot of homeowners and property owners. Action should be immediately taken, because the risks of the diseases mentioned above will increase when exposure is prolonged. How will you know if your insulation uses asbestos? Here are a few things to watch out for:

• It is important for you to know the exact date when the house or building you are living in is constructed. If it was built before the 1960's, there is a high chance that the insulation material lining the walls, attic, and roofs.

• Check if the insulation used in your house or building is of the loose or batted type. These kinds of insulation material will look life fluffy, grayish clumps of fibers and they are often found between the rafters.

• If your home has a lot of old pipes, check if they are covered with a blanket-like material in the elbow joints and valves-these are insulation materials that contain asbestos. There are also asbestos insulation materials that look like cardboard coverings-and this was especially popular in steam heating pipes manufactured in the 1910's to the 1980's.

If you suspect that the insulation materials in your home or building contain asbestos, you should treat them as though they really contain asbestos. This means avoiding contact or exposure to them, and immediately calling a professional asbestos remover to inspect them. Asbestos can only be positively identified by using polarizing light microscopy, which can be found in laboratories certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

You should not try to remove asbestos insulation by yourself, even if you wear something over your nose to provide protection from inhaling the fibers. Licensed professionals use special masks and gloves to handle the asbestos materials, and they possess the technical knowledge to safely extract these materials from your home. They also use special equipment to isolate and seal off the infected area, and initiate decontamination once the job is done.

How to Remove Asbestos Insulation From the Pipes

Years after researchers revealed asbestos to be life-threatening, knowing how to remove asbestos insulation from pipes remains a sought-after skill. Asbestos insulates pipes and ceilings in older homes and buildings and requires careful, cautious removal. Ideally, the work should be done by a professional, but individuals who follow strict rules and safety procedures can also remove asbestos insulation from pipes.

Preparation and Removal of Asbestos Insulation from Pipes

Remove all furniture. Close and seal windows and vents. Turn off all heating or air-conditioning units. Shut off electrical power. Use an outside circuit if lighting is needed. Detach any light fixtures and wrap exposed wires with electrical tape. Post warning signs to ward off onlookers or unexpected visitors. These steps will help minimize exposure and asbestos contamination, according to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

Build the containment area around the asbestos-insulated pipes by attaching the plastic sheeting to the floors and walls with duct tape. Allow plenty of overlap (6 to 12 inches). Seal all seams with duct tape. Lay a second layer of plastic on the floor. Overlap the sheets but do not seal them with tape.

Build an air lock (or isolation area) between the containment area and the other parts of the house or building to serve as a decontamination area where workers can get out of their contaminated coveralls and dispose of them properly. Use an adjacent room as the airlock, being sure to cover the entryway with two sheets of plastic with slits down the middle to serve as a "door."

Mix a few drops of the detergent with a few gallons of water in the tank sprayer. Soak the asbestos with the detergent and water, allowing the solution to penetrate the surface completely. Wait about 20 minutes and scrape off some of the material to check for saturation. Spray the area again if the solution has not thoroughly soaked the asbestos, advises the Utah DEQ.

Scrape the asbestos into approved disposal bags with a putty knife. Ensure that it is thoroughly damp. Spread the encapsulant over the pipe surfaces that the asbestos covered to seal them, preventing further contamination from residual asbestos.

Zip up the containment bags and seal them with duct tape. Seal large amounts of asbestos (and the plastic sheeting, when finished) inside 55-gallon drums. Mark all containers or bags as containing asbestos. Spray the plastic sheets in the containment area. Remove the plastic, starting at the point furthest from the exit. Bag and seal the plastic. Spray yourself inside the airlock. Spray the airlock walls. Remove your coveralls and equipment, starting with your boots. Bag and seal your workclothes and the remaining plastic.