WHAT IF FRIABLE ASBESTOS IS PRESENT ON YOUR PROPERTY

 

WHAT TO DO FRIABLE ASBESTOS IS PRESENT ON YOUR PROPERTY

“Friable” Asbestos is the most dangerous form of Asbestos. The term Friable or Friability is a measurement of how likely an Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) will give off airborne fibres when disturbed. Typically highly Friable materials such as Spray Coating, Lagging or Pipe Insulation can be easily damaged and potentially give off a very large numbers of fibres when disturbed.

Asbestos fibres cannot be seen with the naked eye and are dangerous if inhaled. These minute rock fragments can be inhaled into the lungs and can do fatal damage over time. The most dangerous situation for homeowners is the discovery or disturbance of building materials containing Asbestos which are damaged and allow fibres into the surrounding air. Exposure to these microscopic fibres of Asbestos is the cause of 5000 fatalities this year alone.

If there is Friable Asbestos present on a property, It may be decades before any occupant or visitor becomes aware that they were exposed to the hazard.

WHERE COULD FRIABLE ASBESTOS BE FOUND ON YOUR PROPERTY?

Asbestos was utilised in a number of ways before its complete ban in 1999. Keeping our focus on building materials these are the most common friable materials in the UK:

  • Asbestos Insulating Board ceiling tiles and wall linings,

  • Thermal Insulation (to pipe work, tanks or spray coatings),

  • Some Exterior Cladding, soffits or external panels,

  • Badly damaged asbestos cement sheets, pipes and panels

  • Asbestos Paper to boarding or flooring materials

EMERGENCY STEPS TO TAKE WHEN DAMAGED BUILDING MATERIALS CONTAINING ASBESTOS ARE DISCOVERED:

  • Leave the immediate area and limit disturbance in the area,

  • Close all doors, windows and access points when leaving,

  • Keep everyone out of the suspect room or area - place signage to warn people,

  • Contact your Asbestos Consultant / Surveyor

  • Follow the advice received to the letter - It will help to ensure the safety of you and those around you.

TACKLING DAMAGED ASBESTOS MATERIALS INDOORS:

  • The first thing to do is have the material tested by a qualified asbestos surveying company,

  • If the material appears to be friable and an immediate risk to health carry out an air test,

  • Following confirmation of the material type from the surveyor arrange for an competent accredited asbestos removal contractor to view and price the required abatement works,

  • We always suggest you get 3 quotations for asbestos removal works where possible,

  • The removal contractor will then book the job, prepare the required documentation (ASB5, Risk Assessments, Method Statements, Training files and associated removal documentation)

  • Following the removal works you should always receive the following documents - 4 Stage Clearance including air tests, Hazardous Waste Consignment Notes, Supervisors signoff for completion of work and any other relevant documents such as reconnections certificates for electrical isolations or service disconnections.

Things NOT to do:

  • Do not re-enter areas you have closed off without the correct precautions in place,

  • Do not attempt to “Make Good” the areas in question - No brushing this will seriously disturb fibres and cause more contamination

  • DO NOT HOOVER the area - A standard Hepa Vac will not filter out asbestos fibres they are too small. It has to be an asbestos H-Vac unit for filtering out asbestos fibres. Using a standard H-Vac hoover will contaminate the full property and and seriously endanger those undertaking the hoovering. Asbestos H-Vac units are around 1000x more filtered than the standard home Hoover unit with an HEPA filter. If used the hoover will need to be removed as absestos waste.

If you aren’t sure about the state of the Asbestos in your home, call an Asbestos Consultant in to give you a definite answer. Once you’re sure that the Asbestos is friable or not, make a plan about how you will deal with it.

Our company works tirelessly to reduce peoples exposure to Asbestos. Our teams can assist with any of the following asbestos-related works -

DO YOU NEED ONE OF OUR OTHER ASBESTOS SERVICES? SEE BELOW

Asbestos Survey

Asbestos Removal

 
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