How to Identify 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.

Common Asbestos Products in the Home

I intend to discuss the different types of asbestos products and where they may be found in residential properties. It should be considered that in the UK, housing stock still has a large amount of asbestos products present throughout. From textured coatings to cement boiler flues to floor tiles. The HSE recently suggested over 2.4 million homes contained some asbestos products.

On the legal and duty of care issues, it should be pointed out that until proved otherwise all suspect materials should be considered to be asbestos. When any works to a building or part thereof, are to be carried out, a refurbishment or demolition survey is a legal requirement. This survey should identify all asbestos containing materials present and recommend any further action to be taken.

Asbestos Insulation Board. 

This material was mainly used in fire protection, such as in heater cupboards, but is also commonly found in ceiling tiles, partition walls and fireproof panels for fire doors. It can be difficult to spot this type of asbestos as it can look very much like "ordinary" ceiling tiles and partitioning or plasterboard. This is also a highly dangerous material as when broken or disturbed it can easily release fibres. The HSE will allow only very minor works to be carried out to this material. But it is recommended that only license contractors work with this material.

Loose fill asbestos insulation. 

This material was used to insulate in between cavity walls, floorboards and lofts. This material is usually pure asbestos and maybe grey or whitish in colour. It is a fluffy type of material. A large volume of fibres can be released when disturbed and work on this material is by licensed contractors only.

Asbestos cement products. 

This material was used in anything from roofing sheets, guttering and downpipes. Boiler flues and wall cladding. The asbestos has been mixed with cement which does help to prevent dispersal of fibres. A common use was as garage roofs. You do not need a licensed asbestos contractor to work with asbestos cement products as long as you do not exceed control limits. A risk assessment will highlight if the works are likely to exceed the control limits.

Textured coatings. 

This is usually a decorative paint or plaster finish and can be commonly know as "Artex". More often than not these materials will also have been painted over. The danger can be limited as the material is contained but easy release is achieved if sanded down. This must be avoided. Textured coatings have in the past also been applied over the top of asbestos insulation board. Therefore care must still be taken when dealing with this material. You do not need to be a licensed asbestos contractor to work with these materials. You will however need to erect a two stage airlock, and use negative pressure unit as well as the correct PPE.

Floor tiles, toilet cisterns and textiles. 

Vinyl floor tiles can have an asbestos content and can be found under carpet. Composite asbestos products have included toilet cisterns and seats, window sills and bath panels. For the tiles and composite products it may be a question of how long they have been in situ as to whether they contain asbestos. Asbestos textiles can be found behind older fuse boxes.

Asbestos spray coatings. 

This material is found on the underside of ceilings and floors, as fire protection to steelwork and concrete. Considered as one of the most dangerous of the asbestos materials due to the high volume of fibres that can be released when disturbed. Only licensed asbestos contractors may work with this product.

This list is not comprehensive but does cover some of the main products that you may find. It should always be remembered that asbestos was still being used in building products up to the year 2000. If the material is suspect, you must treat it as asbestos. You cannot determine if a product has asbestos content by a visual inspection. The sample must be viewed in a laboratory

asbestos is a miracle mineral

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral, known to Greeks as "miracle mineral" due to its durability, flexibility, and resistance to heat and chemical damages. Asbestos is composed of long and thin fibers that become airborne when damaged and disturbed. In the United States, the mineral is used in numerous industries and about 3,000 commercial products including: vinyl tiles, caulk, roofing and ceiling tiles, brakes shores, textiles, insulation, cement, and many more. It is used as fireproofing and insulating material in factories, schools, homes, and ships.

What are the Types of Cancer Caused by Asbestos?

Despite the many uses of asbestos, it is now considered as hazardous to public health. Studies have finally found out heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos causes several serious illnesses to people.

Mesothelioma. This is a rare type of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Even though the incidence rate has decreased in recent years, about 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed every year in the US.

There are three types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs and considered as the most common. Peritoneal and pericardial esothelioma affect the membrane that surrounds the abdominal cavity and the heart, respectively.

The prognosis is poor because condition is often diagnosed in the advanced stages; mainly because symptoms are typically late to appear. There is no cure but different treatment options are available.

Lung Cancer. This disease is not directly linked to asbestos exposure; but the risk gets higher when combined with smoking.

Laryngeal Cancer. There is some evidence that links asbestos as cause of cancer of the larynx (or voice box).

Kidney Cancer. Many studies have shown that asbestos may also cause this type of cancer.

Other cancerous illnesses include: colon, intestinal, esophageal, and gallbladder.

Who is at Risk for Asbestos-Related Cancer?

People who are exposed to asbestos are holding high-risk occupations like: construction and demolition, shipbuilding and shipyard work, drywall removal and installation, auto brake repair, firefighting, and fireproofing.

Asbestos is not harmful when still whole and intact. When disturbed and damaged, it releases microscopic fibers into air. When inhaled or ingested by humans, these fibers get lodged in the tissues and cause inflammation that can lead to malignant tumor.

Asbestos Insulation is fibrous mineral

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.

Asbestos is a widely used

Asbestos is a widely used material for building construction, but its microscopic fibers are hazardous to human health. Asbestos exposure has been associated with several diseases of the lungs, including a rare form of lung cancer. Since 1992, the Texas Department of Health has legally regulated asbestos-containing materials, and their removal.

Scope of laws

The Texas asbestos laws apply to "all buildings which are subject to public occupancy, or to which the general public has access," as well as to all individuals involved in work that may disturb or remove asbestos-containing building material (ACBM).

Prior notification by building owners

Building proprietors must inform, in writing or documented oral communication, anyone performing maintenance or demolition work of the presence and location of asbestos-containing materials before starting any asbestos-related building work.

Licensing requirements

Individuals engaged in asbestos-related work must be officially licensed by the state. The law also requires any licensed worker to keep his license on his person while performing asbestos-related work, and to display it on request to employers or officials from the Texas State Department of Health.

Exclusion for private residences and apartment buildings

Private residences and apartment buildings with four or fewer units are excluded from state asbestos rules.

Right of inspection and investigation

The Texas Department of Health retains the right to inspect or investigate any individual working on asbestos-abatement projects. State inspectors are not required to give advance notice or get the permission of workers at an asbestos site.

Abatement practices and procedures

Certain practices are established for asbestos-abatement work. Asbestos-contaminated areas must be separated by "impermeable barriers" and all openings to adjacent areas be sealed. Movable objects must be removed to a separate area. A sealed, secure worker decontamination room, "consisting of a clean room, shower room, and equipment room" is to be constructed. Prior to being removed from the site, extracted ACBM must be wetted and fully encapsulated to prevent any possible escape of asbestos fibers..

How to Diagnose Asbestos Poisoning

A number of people exhibit symptoms of asbestos poisoning or its deadly cousin, mesothelioma, after years of working in manufacturing jobs or careers dealing with various forms of friable asbestos. Although it is a natural mineral fiber, breathing in the tiny particles from asbestos dust results in the fibers adhering to the lining of the lungs and greatly increases the risk of lung disease and cancer. Mesothelioma is the name given to malignant cancers started by asbestos poisoning,

Instructions

Search your job history for repeated exposure to friable asbestos. For asbestos to be a poison, it must be in a breathable form. Friable asbestos easily crumbles and the tiny featherweight particles quickly disperse in the air. Some examples of friable asbestos are blown-in insulation around pipes, acoustical ceiling panels and wallboard and joint compound manufactured before 1978. Although now banned in this form, many homes still contain this dangerous textile.

Compare your symptoms to your work history if you suffered exposure to friable insulation on an ongoing basis. Keep in mind that you may not suffer the ill side effects for many years.

Consider asbestos disease as an explanation for medical symptoms that include difficulty drawing a full breath or exhaling fully, along with a chronic cough. This is a common first symptom of asbestos poisoning but since it also mimics many other respiratory diseases, it may go undiagnosed until other symptoms appear.

Pay attention if others mention that you sound a little hoarse. In the early stages the hoarseness may come and go but it will gradually worsen if the cause is asbestos poisoning.

Suspect asbestos poisoning if the above symptoms appear within 20 years of prolonged exposure to friable asbestos and medications for respiratory infections and flu symptoms have not cleared up the problem. In addition, coughing up blood, weight loss or chest pain, suggests the asbestos disease may have developed into mesothelioma.

Schedule an appointment with a physician who is familiar with testing for asbestos poisoning and the cancers related to the disease. The doctor will record your work history and will order pulmonary function tests as well as chest x-rays. If he suspects an asbestos disease or mesothelioma, he will likely order a Computerized Tomography Scan (CT scan) to make an accurate diagnosis.

Renovating Your Home For Asbestos

Older homes are known for being full of personality as well as good memories. If you choose to live in an older home, it can be a great investment. However, one problem with older houses is that they may have been built using asbestos-containing products. If you suspect that your home contains asbestos, it is very important to renovate your home to remove the toxin while still keeping you and your loved ones safe in the process.

First, it is important to know where asbestos might be present in your home. Asbestos became very popular during the Industrial Revolution because of its insulating properties. As a member of the silicate mineral property, asbestos is resistant to heat, flame, chemicals, electricity, and biodegradation. Additionally, asbestos itself has the useful characteristics of high tensile strength and flexibility, which means that it is easily added to a variety of different materials.

Thus, the construction industry embraced asbestos. For a time, it was added to vinyl flooring, insulation, ceiling tiles, roof tiles, and roofing tar, among many other things. Therefore, it could be present virtually all around you. If you suspect that there is asbestos in your home, you should call a certified asbestos inspector. Don't try to examine the substance yourself, as you may expose yourself to the carcinogen.

Asbestos can be divided into two categories, friable and non-friable. Friable asbestos is able to flake into microscopic particles, and non-friable asbestos cannot. Asbestos is only dangerous when it is in the friable form. This type of asbestos is able to become airborne, where you can ingest or inhale it. Once the fibers are in your body, they can become lodged in your tissues. Your body is unable to break down and process asbestos, so it often makes nodules around the fibers. These can contribute to scarring or the nodules can turn into cancerous tumors.

If there is indeed asbestos in your home, professional asbestos renovators have several options to protect you and your loved ones. If the asbestos is friable, they can either remove it, or paint special lacquers over the material to block the release of the fibers. During this process, the renovators must have special ventilating units in place so that the airborne particles are not spread throughout your home.

When you inhale asbestos fibers, it can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. If you or someone you love has developed mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure

Friable Asbestos: The Real Culprit Behind Your Symptoms

In any discussion concerning asbestos and the physical symptoms that can be developed from it we need to understand what is mean't by the term friable. Asbestos is said to be "friable" when it is dry it can be crushed or pulverized thus reducing the mineral into a powderized state. The real danger that occurs when asbestos is crushed is that it can easily become air born. Once the tiny fibers of asbestos are air born they can be inhaled into the lungs and once in the lungs the whole chain of events begins to unfold which can lead to scarring, asbestosis and even mesothelioma.

What are some examples of friable asbestos?

Some common examples of friable asbestos products would be acoustic ceiling tiles, many types of plaster and wall board, sprayed on insulation on boilder pipes, insulation inside of boilers, insulation inside of hotwater heaters and many more. These items can all be pulverized and reduced to a powder that can easily become air born. A good example of non-friable asbestos would be vinyl floor tiles and asbestos siding and some shingles. Floor tiling is a product that often contains asbestos but as long as it is not sawn, ground or sanded it remains incapsulated and consequently remains non-friable.

What should I do if I encounter a material that I suspect may contain friable asbestos?

The first thing that you should do if you suspect the presence of asbestos is to have a sample of the product tested at an EPA approved asbestos lab. Once you have sent in your sample and it has been found to contain asbestos you should then use this same site to locate a professional asbestos abatement company. This is no job for the unlearned or naive. Once a material is determined to be friable it is labeled as regulated asbestos containing material (RACM). The safest way to deal with it is to let the professionals handle the removal. The cost of inhaling friable asbestos fibers is too high to take chances with your health. It is worth a little extra money to avoid serious asbestos symptoms.