Asbestos in the Home: How to Check for Asbestos

Asbestos poisoning remains one of the biggest killers in the construction industry. So how do you know if your home is affected? Here’s what you need to know about asbestos in the home.

As a general rule of thumb, houses that were built before 1990 are likely to have been constructed with asbestos-containing materials. Many homes will also contain asbestos in old floor tiles, ceiling tiles, roof shingles and flashing, siding, pipe cement, and insulation around boilers, ducts pipes, sheeting and fireplaces. It’s also possible that houses after 1990 may contain traces of asbestos too.

Asbestos becomes a hazardous risk to humans when it becomes airborne. If certain materials in the home become damaged, asbestos fibres may be released into the air and become airborne. For example, if the original floor tiles in a home have asbestos mixed in and they become weathered over time, the crumbling tiles are now friable asbestos fibres and are released into the air as dust.

Asbestos transite pipes may also be a threat to your home. These are underground pipes transporting water to different parts of the home. Transite is an asbestos-containing cement material which can deteriorate over time. As the material deteriorates and crumbles, the asbestos fibres may be released inside the pipe into the drinking water supply for the home.

How to Check for Asbestos in Your Home

A visual assessment of your home is usually not sufficient in detecting any asbestos materials. According to Australian asbestos removal company GBAR Group, home owners should have a professional analyse and test any suspicious materials before construction commences. Hiring an expert asbestos technician to take these samples and assess your home can minimise the risk of asbestos exposure for you and anyone living in the house.

What to Do If You Find Asbestos in Your Home

Dealing with asbestos in the home really depends om where the asbestos is found, the conditions of the materials and whether or not it is Friable.

So, what is friable asbestos?

Friable asbestos is when the material can be easily crumbled, powdered and become airborne. This is incredibly fragile asbestos to dispose of as anyone is at risk of inhaling the air and the toxic fibres.

Non-Friable asbestos is tightly mixed in with other materials and cannot be made easily airborne unless the materials are sanded, cut or sawed.

There’s a chance that if the material is not damaged in any way or not yet deteriorating, the fibres haven’t been released and therefore won’t be dangerous at this time. However, it’s incredibly important to monitor such materials and have them assessed and evaluated by someone certified.

Sometimes asbestos-containing materials can be repaired rather than fully disposed of to prolong the longevity of the construction. For example, pipe insulation may be repaired rather than removed. Asbestos material that doesn’t pose a threat and is in a good condition can be isolated with a sturdy, airtight barrier.

Asbestos removal is the only permanent and reliable solution when it comes to keeping your home safe. Removal does pose a huge threat of fibre release when not done properly, so it’s important to get someone you can trust with removing the risk.