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Asbestos Abatement
Rutledge Environmental introduces Asbestos Abatement to our list of services we provide for our customers.
Asbestos Facts:
- Extensively used in building construction from 1930s to the 1970s
- Linked to certain types of cancer
- Most commonly was used to insulate pipes and boilers (however also mixed with stucco, plaster, cement, wallboard, ceiling and floor tiles, acoustical tile, asphalt roofing shingles and tile, vinyl tiles, wallpapers, grouts and caulking compounds as a binder & fireproof material
- Should be treated cautiously
Rutledge Environmental will:
- Document via digital photography, the conditions before and after abatement
- Perform work using State Division for Air Quality Certified Technicians and Supervisors
In the mid-1970s, after exposure to asbestos was linked to certain types of cancer, the use of asbestos was discontinued in almost all building-related applications.
The findings regarding the health hazards of asbestos have generated a great deal of hysteria. Although such a reaction may be understandable, much of the panic over asbestos exposure is extreme. Asbestos is a material that should be treated cautiously; improper or hasty removal of asbestos can often cause more problems than leaving it alone.
Dangers of Asbestos
Asbestos is a generic name for a variety of strong and flexible mineral materials that are chemically inert, highly resistant to heat and virtually indestructible. Asbestos presents a health hazard when it is friable, that is, when it is crumbled or crushed into a powder. Microscopic fibers of asbestos have about the same density as cigarette smoke. When these fibers are released into the air, they can be easily inhaled and either swallowed or trapped in the lower part of the lungs.
Exposure to asbestos is associated with several serious health problems. Lung cancer is the most common and can take 15 to 20 years to develop after exposure. Asbestosis, or scarring of the lung tissue, also takes 15 to 20 years to appear. Asbestosis is rarely fatal; however, it is debilitating and can lead to fatal cases of pneumonia, flu or lung cancer.
Asbestos is also linked with a rare cancer, mesothelioma, which attacks the lining of the lungs and the abdomen. The latency period of this disease varies. In some cases, mesothelioma develops as soon as three years after exposure to asbestos, while in others it may take 30 to 40 years to appear. This disease is always fatal. Unlike other asbestos-related diseases, mesothelioma can be contracted from limited, low-level asbestos exposure.
The first step in dealing with asbestos is to have a certified inspector determine where it is located in your building and then to assess its condition. Asbestos is present, in one form or another, in most buildings built between 1930 and 1975. It also shows up in many older buildings that had been repaired or altered during this period. It most commonly was used to insulate pipes and boilers. However, asbestos was also often mixed in with stucco, plaster, cement, wallboard, ceiling and floor tiles, acoustical tile, asphalt roofing shingles and tile, vinyl tiles, fireproof textiles, wallpapers, grouts and caulking compounds as a binder and fireproofing material. Some materials are marked as containing asbestos, but if there is no obvious indication of asbestos, and the material is of an age and type that is likely to contain asbestos, assume that is does.
If necessary, the material can be lab-tested for the presence of asbestos. Contact the closest office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for more information on asbestos testing.
Once the inspector has identified the location of the asbestos in your building, the second step is to develop an abatement plan. Asbestos abatement refers to the process of removing or minimizing the health hazards of asbestos in a building through a number of prescribed actions including removal, enclosure, encapsulation or an operations and maintenance plan. Until recently, many experts recommended that all asbestos-containing materials be removed from buildings as a matter of course. Now the EPA and others suggest that the material can remain in place if the building is in good condition, provided there are no compelling reasons to remove it, such as a renovation project or plumbing alterations.
Removal
Asbestos abatement by removal means that asbestos-containing materials are totally removed from the building. A common example of this would be the removal of asbestos pipe wrapping and insulation from heating pipes. The most obvious advantage of this type of asbestos abatement is that once it is gone, the need for further monitoring or maintenance of the asbestos-containing materials is eliminated. The initial cost of complete abatement is usually high and the replacement of the asbestos with substitute materials performing the same function will be necessary. This will further add to the cost. Additionally, the asbestos must be properly removed so that the risk of asbestos exposure is minimized. If you elect to remove the asbestos, be sure that the removal is done properly and with an Asbestos Certified Contractor.
Before hiring an asbestos contractor, verify that the firm is licensed by your state or municipality to perform asbestos abatement projects. As with all building projects, you should carefully examine the contractor’s references. Be sure that the contract clearly states that the work will be done in accordance with all federal, state and local laws, and that the contractors are performing the work with equipment that complies with U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
The contractor should isolate the portion of your building where the asbestos removal is taking place with sheets of plastic, and provide self-contained showers and throwaway protective suits to prevent contamination of the workers. All asbestos-containing materials need to be bagged in plastic, and proper disposal must be arranged. It is against the law to dump asbestos-containing materials in general dumps or land-fills.
Do not, under any circumstances, remove asbestos yourself. Asbestos is highly dangerous when it is airborne. It is far more dangerous to remove asbestos improperly than to leave it alone, no matter what its condition.
Conclusion
Asbestos-related problems in older buildings should be addressed in a rational manner. Ignoring the potential problems of asbestos is irresponsible, but careless and hasty removal without proper safety precautions is also irresponsible, and can lead to even greater problems. The best course of action is to identify asbestos-containing materials in your building, ascertain their condition and then develop an abatement plan that addresses any hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions in a deliberate and responsible manner.
Rutledge Environmental is trained and certified in Asbestos Abatement removal. You can be assured that we will give you the best quality service in Asbestos Abatement, just as we have done with our other services.
Information for this article from:
New York Landmarks Conservancy
Common Bond Summer 1990 vol.6, no.3 pp.4-7
Call our office 800-493-1117 (toll free) or local 502-241-4100 to learn more.