Asbestos Floor Tiles: Identification And Safe Removal

Asbestos was a common construction material which is used in almost every public and commercial building constructed before the 80's in all over the world. The main attracting feature of asbestos is it’s high resistance to fire and so it is perfect thermal insulation. The rigidity and strength of asbestos made it very unique and also was added to floor tiles, concrete, vinyl materials in roof shingles, pipes, siding, wallboard, joint compounds, and adhesives.

5 Steps To Identify The Presence Of Asbestos In Floor Tiles

1. Identify the age of Floor:

Determine when the flooring was installed, the age of the building, years when remodeling was done, the year when the flooring was installed, consider the number of layers and layer materials.

2. General Floor Tile pattern and size:

Identify the tile pattern and size of it with the normal tiles without asbestos content. The dimensions and thickness of the floor tile which is not a reliable indicator of asbestos-content. The floor tiles contain asbestos which were manufactured with different types of thicknesses and dimensions like they differ in their sizes, patterns, shapes, and cutouts.

3.Dominant Floor Tile colors:

By identifying the tile colors in the floor, we can confirm the age of the floor tile, style of tile, and which company manufactured the tile.

4. Identify the brand of the floor, pattern name, manufacturing number, style:

If possible try to find extra floor tiles stored in an attic, basement, or garage. And also look for stampings or markings on the back of floor tiles or sheet flooring these all will help you to identify the brand and manufacturing number of floor tile.

5. Lab testing of flooring for asbestos content:

This is the crucial step to identify the asbestos content in the floor tile. In the case of any doubt in the asbestos in the tile, take a sample piece carefully by taking proper precautions to avoid asbestos-related diseases and proceed to a lab test immediately.

After identifying the presence of asbestos in the floor tile the next step is to remove it carefully. Some steps involving in floor tile contains asbestos.

1. Get proper asbestos removal training from any affiliated institution:

Asbestos removal needs more attention and has to be more careful during this process. Before removing process it is important to take a safety course in the asbestos removal or appoint an asbestos removal contractor with the approved certificate for safe removal.

1. Prepare the work area:

Remove all the movable objects from the work area to prevent any contamination of these objects and reduce clean-up time.

1. Remove the flooring:

Includes following steps

• Floor tile removal

• Floor sheeting removal

• Waste materials

• Adhesives

4. How to clean-up

Clean-up is important during removing asbestos-containing flooring tile. All dust and debris must be cleaned from the work area. Wipe down the entire work area with damp disposable towels or using vacuum cleaners.

5. Dispose of the waste

• Contact local waste hauler

• Contact licensed abatement contractor

• Take the waste to a landfill yourself

Follow these steps for identifying and removing asbestos without spreading asbestos fibers into the air can help to protect yourself and others from Asbestos-Related Diseases.

Olive Learning is a leading provider of compliance based eLearning courses for the UK and Ireland marketplace.