Asbestos testing

Health problems caused by asbestos exposure are alarming especially since many individuals may be unaware that they’re exposed to this kind of substance and its risks — it can cause several serious and permanent lung diseases.

Asbestos is a commonly used chemical in the manufacture of home materials such as tiles, pipes, roofing, boilers, fireplaces, etc. It was widely used a few decades ago because of its availability, affordability, and other physical properties such as insulation, tensile strength, and heat and chemical resistance. Asbestos, when in good condition, is not harmful; it only becomes hazardous when it gets damaged and asbestos fibres are inhaled by humans.

When to check for asbestos

• Find out when your house was built — asbestos was abundantly used between 1920 and 1990.
• Check for structural damage such as cracks and chips on floors, walls, pipes, furnaces, sheetings, etc.
• Home renovation or repair work can lead to damaged asbestos-containing materials. If you had any work done in the house, check anything that might have been damaged.
• Natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods can cause damage to asbestos-containing materials as well.

How to check for asbestos

Presence of asbestos cannot be checked by visual inspection; only chemical testing such as Polarised Light Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy can do this. It is best to hire authorised asbestos testers for the job because they are trained by certified testing authorities (such as Safework Australia and NATA). Typically, their expertise covers proper collection, transportation, and testing of asbestos samples. If your property is positive for asbestos, make sure that the persons who have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials are medically examined for asbestosis.

Do’s and don’ts in asbestos testing and removal

• Make sure that the place is well-ventilated and the specialists are wearing protective gear to avoid the inhalation of asbestos fibres. It’s best to have the job done quickly to minimise the amount of time that they’re exposed to the substance.
• Do not use abrasive or power tools as these can worsen the damage and increase asbestos fibres in the air.
• Unless otherwise indicated, keep asbestos wet when working with it in order to prevent particles from floating in the air.

You can find qualified experts at ServiceSeeking.com.au to perform asbestos testing. Check out the site’s list of the best asbestos testing services across Australia.