The presence of asbestos in your home is harmful to your health. When such a presence is suspected, professional help must be sought because it is extremely unsafe to handle asbestos without proper gears and equipment. Asbestos, when inhaled, can cause serious damage to your organs, especially your lungs.
People who were highly exposed to asbestos have developed untreatable respiratory diseases, such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Given that there is no cure available yet, patients are only treated to alleviate the symptoms. Hence, it is important to protect yourself and your family from potential exposure. Understanding what friable and non-friable asbestos is will help you in doing so.
Friable asbestos is the most dangerous form of asbestos due to its ability to easily mix with air and become airborne. By definition, friable or loose-fill asbestos refers to any material that contains the asbestos substance and can be pulverised, crumbled or reduced to powder form simply by using the pressure of a human hand [1]. This type of asbestos is the raw material used in insulation. When it becomes damaged, it can easily discharge asbestos fibres into the air and contaminate your environment.
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Asbestos was used to manufacture industrial, commercial and residential products because of its strength and resistance. It was widely available and cheap, that’s why it became widespread. Friable asbestos was initially used to protect homes and buildings in the 1800s. Fireproofing, insulation and soundproofing are just some of its general uses.
In Australia, asbestos cement materials were first manufactured in the 1920s, and they were used to build homes and buildings. More importantly, these asbestos-containing materials became the main commodity for construction from the 1940s to the 1980s. If your home was built in the 1980s or before that, some friable asbestos may still be present in your home today. In this case, you need to inspect your home for loose-fill insulation, spray-on insulation, low-density asbestos fibreboard, pipe lagging and so on. If you suspect such materials in your home, never hesitate to contact a
professional asbestos removal service.
The major issue with asbestos is that it cannot be easily detected using your senses. It is practically invisible to the naked eye. Thus, if your home is older, it may have already been contaminated without your knowledge. To determine whether there’s asbestos in your place, you should hire licensed professionals to conduct an inspection. Asbestos experts have the necessary tools to detect the presence of this harmful substance. They are equipped to take samples and have them tested in a laboratory.
Non-friable asbestos is any material containing asbestos that cannot be crumbled under pressure. This is the bonded form of asbestos that is mixed with other materials, such as cement, vinyl or resin.
Unfortunately, even the non-friable form of asbestos can become friable when damaged, wethered or degraded. Moreover, if sawn, drilled and sanded, non-friable asbestos releases its fibres into the air and becomes health-threatening. Here are some other characteristics of non-friable asbestos.
Due to its bonded form, non-friable asbestos is considered harmless. This is because the fibres are sealed, tightly bound and mixed with other materials, thereby making them resistant to damage and abrasion. As long as the material is intact and in good condition, it won’t release toxic fibres into the air. Moreover, it does not easily break with force so it poses a lower health risk.
Even if non-friable asbestos is harmless, it still should be treated with absolute caution. Most people are not aware of the presence of asbestos in their homes until they decide to renovate or demolish them [2]. In such a case, asbestos-containing materials could be cut, broken or sawn. When this happens, the materials are disturbed, and the non-friable asbestos easily transitions into a friable state.
Additionally, non-friable asbestos materials can deteriorate over time. Water damage, physical impact and ageing can all contribute to its friability. This means that there is no guarantee that your home will not be exposed to asbestos, even if what you have is non-friable asbestos.
Many materials in your home could contain non-friable asbestos. You could find asbestos in your roof sheeting, fencing, fibre cement wall sheeting and ceiling, vinyl floor tiles, water pipes, gutters, downpipes and backing sheets.
When asbestos is present in your home, safe and effective removal is necessary, and a professional must do that. DIY removal of asbestos is dangerous and not recommended. Getting expert help ensures that your family won’t be at risk of any exposure.
Are you looking for a professional asbestos removal service? Testing and removal services are now widely available to help you secure your home and prevent asbestos exposure. If you want an asbestos removalist that can deliver premium quality service, contact us at Fast Asbestos Removal. We specialise in handling asbestos in the safest way possible. With years of experience in providing professional help, you are guaranteed efficient and effective asbestos removal in the Sydney area.
Protect your family with safe asbestos removal. Get a free quote now!
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