WHAT IS ASBESTOS?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material silicate. It is heat resistant, strong and flexible and can be woven into fabrics and used in building materials and insulations. Asbestos can be found in building construction prior to 1990. Asbestos fibres in the air are measured in fibres per cubic centimetre (f/cc). Occupation Exposure Limits (OELs) define a worker’s maximum permitted daily exposure to asbestos fibres.
WHERE IS ASBESTOS FOUND?
- Flooring
- Drywall Joint Compound
- Ceiling Texture / Tiles
- Exterior Siding / Cement Board
- Wall Plaster
- Window Caulking
- Boiler Insulation
- Pipe Insulation
- Roof Shingles / Felt
- Vermiculite Insulation
- Spray Applied Insulations
- Ducting Insulation
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH EFFECTS?
There are three main diseases from exposure to asbestos: asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. These diseases usually develop 10 – 25 years after exposure to asbestos. All are serious diseases and can be fatal.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
Asbestos assessments to determine presence and concentration of asbestos within building materials; conducted prior to renovation or demolition.
Asbestos abatement procedures and processes to remove the asbestos containing materials during renovation or demolition safety and effectively.
ASBESTOS ABATEMENT?
While asbestos might seem like a thing of the past, it is still very much an active building material used in Alberta. In fact, it might be present in your building.
Asbestos is not considered harmful unless the fibres are disturbed. Those fibres can be inhaled into the body, where they can stay for years and cause very serious asbestos-related diseases.
HOW DO ASBESTOS FIBRES BECOME AIRBORNE?
Renovation and demolition are the two most common ways that asbestos fibres are released into the air, though it’s not the only way asbestos-containing material can be disturbed.
SHOULD YOU TEST FOR ASBESTOS?
If you’re planning a renovation or demolition, one of the first things you should plan is a test to confirm whether or not asbestos is present in the location where you’re working.
Here is where Alberta Fire and Flood can help! We will take asbestos samples from suspect materials to a third party lab for testing before you begin demolition/construction.
WHAT IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR ASBESTOS?
If the samples test positive for asbestos, we will create a scope of work, estimate and work schedule for asbestos abatement. Once the plan is approved, our team of certified asbestos abatement specialists will get to work on your property. Asbestos is abated through the use of engineering controls and HEPA air filtration devices. Alberta Fire and Flood takes pride in following all applicable industry standards including but not limited to EPA, OSHA, OH&S and AHS.
HOW ARE YOU SURE THE ASBESTOS IS REMOVED AND MY PROPERTY AND PEOPLE ARE SAFE?
When the abatement is done, we still have one more very important step that we recommend: testing the work areas to make sure that all of the asbestos has been safely removed. Clearance testing is the only way to be certain that your property is safe for occupancy.
We utilize a third party certified independent hygienist (CIH) firm to obtain samples and submit them to a third-party lab for testing.
When the results come back clean, you can then safely and confidently occupy your property.
Asbestos can be serious if not properly abated, and we are here to help mitigate the situation. Please call Alberta Fire and Flood at 403.204.2259 to test for the potentially harmful presence of asbestos.