asbestos in buildings

Where can you find asbestos in buildings, what are the risks, and what can you do about it?

The risks of asbestos exposure from students and staff in old schools and public buildings is a real one as many school buildings are known to contain these toxic substances. Old vinyl floor coverings containing asbestos should be removed from buildings and from schools due to the health dangers.

In my own professional experience in my town, and in other towns across the world Asbestos can be found in many old buildings, mostly in roofs, kitchens, walls and floor coverings. Exposure to asbestos can cause serious health problems, and is associated with mesothelioma and asbestosis. These respiratory diseases are caused by inhaling asbestos fibres. The biggest risks come from those exposed the longest amount of time to the substance. 75% of those diagnosed with mesothelioma die within 1 year. To reduce the risks it is most important to reduce exposure, and have exposed asbestos removed immediately.

Some important tips we have learnt over the years are firstly:

If you have worked in the building industry you should see a doctor regularly for health checks and mention you may have been exposed to asbestos. Secondly, if you suffer from any of the symptoms such as constant coughing, shortness of breath, or blood in your mucus, contact a doctor immediately.

Medical symptoms may not be asbestos related, but the sooner you consult a doctor, the more chance you have of identifying the illness. Even if not ill, if you have any suspicion your building or property contains fibrous suspect material you should contact a licensed professional. What should you look for to identify the hazard? If the building was constructed any time in the 1940's to 1980's there is a likelihood it may contain fire retardant dust containing asbestos.

What can you do to identify the risks in your local buildings or property? Some cities have investigated, including setting up features such as an official Schools Asbestos Register, a report to see which schools are affected by Asbestos. This can be helpful to parents and students, and when applied in Sydney, Parramatta, Bondi and Bankstown it was successfully used to show some state schools still had the floor coverings containing the toxic building material asbestos.

Old vinyl floors are a feature of many local schools. Originally used for their fire proofing qualities for several decades in the building industry, only now is a lot of asbestos being discovered in buildings during demolition, and can have very great health dangers with exposure, especially during removal. A common attitude shared is that the floor coverings are a remnant of the past, and once the flooring is damaged, it is increasing the risk of asbestos being released.

Current scientific and medical evidence has shown it is safe to be in a building that contains asbestos, so long as it is not damaged or disturbed. That is a big risk if you ask me. General building degradation, lack of reporting and documentation of actual exposure, earthquakes, accidents, purposeful destruction could all cause the building to breach the safe levels according to your local state building code, such as the one we follow in Sydney and New South Wales.

There are no excuses for asbestos backed flooring to still be present in our school buildings.

A register made public by your local state government can be used to list confirmed and presumed cases of asbestos in schools. Personally I think it is a great idea, and you may wish to lobby your council for the same. We now have rigorous processes in place to manage asbestos in our schools and these registers will help inform parents, staff and the public about what is being done in their local area.

Too often the response of some people had been to simply tape over ripped floor coverings.

A permanent fix is needed to treat this problem of the removal and safe replacement of the floor covering. Now that asbestos roofs have finally started to be replaced, buildings and that conduction demolition need to make a concerted effort to eliminate asbestos backed vinyl floor covering, an issue that does not get enough attention, but poses a real health risk. It is important that we complete the job of removing and replacing all floor coverings containing asbestos in Sydney and the rest of the country, and in other countries, to make our buildings, schools and public spaces safe for children and all residents.

The safety of children and their teachers is paramount, so this job must be a priority.

If your city does not have fee state schools asbestos register available online from the government we suggest all Australians (and those abroad) to lobby their local representative to put such measures in place.

asbestos in plaster

Many people often ask the question, "Is there asbestos in plaster?", as this is a very real threat. You may have widely heard that asbestos is mixed into plaster and this leaves one slightly concerned about asbestos in plaster in our own homes. Asbestos is a toxic mineral, and prolonged asbestos exposure can lead to a lot of dangers. The embedding of asbestos in the body for a long period of time can lead to some serious diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma. 

Asbestos is a mineral that has been in use for about two centuries now and its presence can be found in around three to five thousand different types of products. Many manufacturing industries have used asbestos as a component for their products, and many home appliances contain traces of this mineral as well. 

Every home has plaster in it, and till the 1980's asbestos in homes construction was the norm. This proved to be highly risky as it implied that an individual inhaled the asbestos for hours at a stretch, every single day of his life. In the long run this would prove to be very harmful for the human body. It was medically known that if, asbestos is inhaled or ingested in the body, it becomes embedded in the tissues. And since the mineral is toxic in nature, this was not a very pleasant observation. 

Inhalation of the needle like fibers of asbestos also results in the asbestos getting lined along the lungs, and the inflammation caused by these fibers lead to a lot of serious diseases for the individual. Hence, asbestos in plaster walls was met with a lot of disbelief and surprise, not to mention concern for the safety and well-being of the people living in a home. 

Properties and Uses of Asbestos 

Asbestos is quite a unique mineral, and its properties have made it possible to include asbestos in the manufacturing of many different kinds of products. Asbestos is highly resistant to high temperatures, extreme weather conditions and wear and tear. This was the primary reason why asbestos in plaster ceilings and walls was quite common. Asbestos can also be spun and woven into a variety of forms as the crystals of the mineral are very long, silky and flexible. 

The uses of asbestos have been equally varied, owing to its incredibly flexible properties. The ancient Greeks used asbestos by weaving it into oil lamp wicks, tablecloths and funeral shrouds. At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution it was used as an insulator for various engines, boilers and industrial pipes. 

Pretty soon asbestos in plaster became popular because it acted as a great insulator against sound and fire. A lot of office buildings, public buildings and schools made use of asbestos in plaster to make the walls and ceilings stronger and more resistant to extreme conditions of heat and to prevent sound from passing through. 

Recognizing of Risks 

As more and more people started learning about the asbestos health effects and its potential dangers, the use of asbestos in plaster became less and less common. The health risks involved with the mineral induced many people to turn their backs on the product's presence in many appliances, and since the 1980's the use of asbestos in plaster became incredibly diminished. Very few products using asbestos were manufactured as a result, and any products that did contain asbestos were subject to the Hazardous Products Act, which regulated and monitored the levels of asbestos in plaster and other products. Some products though, like brake linings and clutch facings, still use asbestos as they are unable to work properly with substitute. 

It is very difficult to simply look at a building now and ascertain if it contains asbestos in plaster. But as a rule of thumb, any building that was built before the 80's, will most certainly contain some traces of asbestos in them. This cannot be solved unless the building itself is demolished. For safety precautions though, one can find and seal off the areas in the walls and ceilings from where the asbestos dust could escape. Getting a contractor to do this job in your home is highly advisable.

Asbestos in drywall

Asbestos in drywall is the most significant issue to affect the real estate industry since asbestos. About a month ago, I began fielding calls from several regional lenders concerned about their exposure to Chinese drywall. These lenders, pinched by the broader market conditions - foreclosures and depressed real estate values - worry that Asbestos in drywall will be a hurdle as they try to clear their books of foreclosed homes.

The vast majority of the banks with whom I spoke are already experiencing Chinese sheetrock losses. Some described attempting to "unload" homes with Chinese sheetrock in order to clear their books. Others are seeing offers submitted well below asking price. The potential buyers are justifying their offer by the fact that the home may contain toxic drywall.

The first group, the banks who have unloaded these properties, are now concerned about their liability. Knowing that these homes were affected by Chinese drywall, or suspecting it at the very least, these banks are now concerned that they may be sued in the future.

The second group - banks who are collecting offers on their homes that are far below market value - are worried that the stigma, fear, and uncertainty surrounding Chinese sheetrock will inhibit their ability to sell the homes that they have foreclosed on.

Of course, some banks are concerned about both their liability and the effect that the toxic drywall stigma has on offer prices. All three groups have been excited to learn that there is a Asbestos in drywall testing protocol that is guaranteed and insurable. The insurance that can be obtained with a negative test for toxic drywall relinquishes the bank from liability and gives potential buyers the confidence to consider the home without the uncertainty and fear relating to Asbestos in drywall problems.

Although none of the banks with whom I have worked have decided to go as far as to have all of their homes tested, several are paying for the testing or reimbursing potential buyers for the testing. In order for this to happen, however, buyers must request that the home be tested as part of the offer. A typical home inspection does not fully address Asbestos in drywall problems and the offer should contain language and clauses that specifically request an insurable Chinese sheetrock testing protocol.

The preferred method for reimbursement - preferred by both buyers and sellers (banks) - is to pay for the inspection costs at closing. These fees are essentially added to the closing costs portion of closing. Then, a seller can reimburse a buyer through seller's closing costs contributions. This way, neither party must pay out of pocket. Some buyers have also been successful in asking their lender to fund the insurance policy that is obtainable with a negative test result. Similar to title insurance, the insurance premium can also be accounted for as closing costs.

These tests can typically be turned around within 10 days to meet the contingency requirements of most lenders. As soon as a ratified contract is obtained, the buyers should notify the company they have chosen to inspect the home for Asbestos in drywall so that adequate time is given to sample the home and analyze the samples.

asbestos siding

It was standard practice to use asbestos in homes that were built back in the 19th and 20th centuries and while most people realize the risk of asbestos inside their older homes, what they may not realize is that it was also commonly used in home siding as well. It wasn't until the 1980's when the experts started to suspect that home siding could also pose a serious health risk to home owners.

If you suspect your older home may have asbestos in the siding here are some suggestions to help you identify any problems.

The deed to your home can provide valuable information on when the home was built. If your home was built before 1978 there is a good chance that asbestos was part of the original building materials used to build your home. If the outside of your home still has the original siding you will need to check for damage, if no damage is present it is recommended to leave it in place until you can contact an expert or you run the risk of asbestos exposure.

You should inspect your siding for manufacture information printing, if there is a manufacture code it is unlikely that your siding contains asbestos. It wasn't until after 1980 when manufactures started coding their siding and asbestos was already removed from the manufacturing process. However if your siding has several layers of paint you will need to have a professional take a look at it to determine if the original paint to determine if it contains asbestos.

Siding that looks like roof shingles were common before 1980, and asbestos was often used in the manufacturing. Check the back of the siding for appearances of tar paper, or the front may have a sandy textured or grainy appearance which is an indicator of asbestos.

A lot of manufactures also produced a wood grain texture to simulate cedar. These shingles were usually about 12 to 24 inches and the bottom often had a wavy pattern, although it was just the most popular there were still other patterns produced.

After you have done your own inspection and determined that there is a possibility of asbestos or if you are unsure, you should consult a professional. Manufacturers used to make products from asbestos that actually resembled asbestos-free products which can be confusing to the armature eye.

There are several reputable labs that you can send a sample of your siding to, this is the best way to determine if asbestos is present. Even if you think your siding is ok you should have a sample tested if your home was built before 1980 to ensure your family's health and well-being. Asbestos exposure is the direct cause of mesothelioma cancer.

Asbestos Tiles

Asbestos is currently a regulated material, because studies and scientific research have proved that it is a cause of several forms of cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestos poisoning. These illnesses do not show up right after the exposure to asbestos-they have a remarkably long latency period. However, constant and prolonged exposure to asbestos will cause its tiny fibers and particles to accumulate in the lungs. These asbestos fibers are particularly sharp-they can easily puncture and penetrate the sensitive lung tissues. The most serious illness that one can contract because of asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that have claimed thousands of lives.

It was only in the 1960's that the fatal mesothelioma was linked to asbestos inhalation and ingestion. It took several years before a government agency imposed restrictions about the use of asbestos-and the mineral has been used in construction materials such as floor tiles. Only laboratory testing will prove the presence of asbestos, but these tiles that contain this mineral share specific characteristics. Here are a few ways to determine whether the tiles in your home contain hazardous asbestos fibers:

• If your tiles are colored black, gray, brown, or gray brown, there is a high chance that they contain asbestos. Asphalt and vinyl tiles that come in these colors are infused with asbestos fibers. Between these two kinds of tiles, the asphalt variety has the highest concentration of asbestos fibers, mainly because they used asphalt as the primary ingredient.
• It is important to determine the age of the flooring. You might want to be especially wary of this when you bought an older home. Because the presence of asbestos drives down the price of the home, the former owners might have removed all the insulation because this is one of the main usages of asbestos fibers. They might have overlooked the replacement of floor tiles. Asbestos was widely used in floor tiles, especially in the ones manufactured between 1920 and 1960. Older vinyl and asphalt flooring are made with asbestos-and these types of floor tiles usually come in nine-inch squares and are generally thicker than newer floor tiles.
• Aside from vinyl and asphalt tiles, sheet linoleum-especially those manufactured before the 1980's-is also known to contain asbestos. Sheet linoleum is attached to the concrete floor by an adhesive, which also contains this hazardous material. If the house you are living in right now is constructed in the decades mentioned above and all the flooring is original, you and your family might be at risk of asbestos exposure.
• If you suspect that your tiles contain asbestos, do not try to remove it by yourself-even to extract a small sample to send to a testing laboratory. Contact a licensed asbestos removal company so they can inspect your tiles. Sawing, scraping, or cutting through the floor tiles might release asbestos fibers into the air if you do it by yourself. Professional asbestos removers have the technical knowledge and equipment to perform the job properly.

Asbestos pipe insulation

Asbestos pipe insulation will keep your pipes from losing heat between your faucets, appliances, and hot water heater. Having your pipes insulated will make sure that you do not lose heat through them causing you to spend more money on utilities and creating condensation that could lead to mold and rotting wood.

You can take care of both of these situations with Asbestos pipe insulation. This can save you money on utilities and costly repairs in the future. You should check the insulation if you live in an older house, a lot of it was asbestos. You will have to remove it and dispose of it properly because of the health risk of asbestos. You can also cover the old insulation with Asbestos pipe insulation if you don't want to worry with removing it.

Many do it yourself stores will carry it. There is a type of Asbestos pipe insulation that comes pre-fit for pipes that slips over them and has a self adhesive piece that glues it together. This can be a lot easier to install than wrapping the pipes.

Another problem with uninsulated pipes is having them freeze. The pipes that you should be sure to check are around an exterior wall. These are the ones that will be most likely to freeze and then burst. Often a busted pipe can go unnoticed until a high utility bill comes in and you look for the reasons behind it.

So you can see there are many reasons why you should check and make sure that you have Asbestos pipe insulation installed. You will not only be saving money but you will be saving the environment. There are many tax benefits that you can take advantage of by winterizing your home and becoming more green. By installing Asbestos pipe insulation you can squash those high utility bills and make your home more efficient.