Asbestos is made of microscopic fibres that cannot be seen easily by the naked eye. In order to identify it, you need to know what materials to investigate, locate manufacturer labels, and always be certain to consult experts when in serious doubt.

On the outer layer of buildings, asbestos sheets were often linked together with aluminium runners. These runners were joined by small nails with no point at the end. On the inside, asbestos sheets were held together with plastic or wooden runners in the same way. If you become aware that the building in question is characterized by this design, then it is likely tainted by asbestos.

Ceiling tiles were another product that were often manufactured from asbestos, as well as fire-breaks, walls and doors, and structural steel columns. Older fire doors often contained an asbestos laced panel within the leaf and the material was also used as a header to fill the void between the top of the door frame and the ceiling as it is a highly heat resistant material, a very desirable trait when it comes to fire door construction.

Other tips on how to identify asbestos in your home or work environment include simply observing the surface patterns of the materials in question. Asbestos materials often have a pattern on the surface that appears to have shallow indentations or dimples covering the surface. Later materials have a more consistent and smooth finish. While becoming educated on the more obvious signs on asbestos exposure, the most certain method is to always have the site inspected by a licensed professional like Greenrock Ventures Ltd. Thus, the removal of asbestos is a common practice as the harmful effects are now widely observed and recognized. Because the material is so significantly dangerous to one’s health, one must take great care and enact the proper precautionary steps to defend against possible contamination or inhalation of asbestos fibres. Before any work can begin, however, one must be certain that their home or office contains asbestos in the first place. Unless the materials containing asbestos are clearly labeled, it can be tricky to identify them. Hence hiring a licensed asbestos surveyor who can test materials that you suspect contain asbestos may come as quite valuable in order to have one hundred percent confidence in your building’s containment or lack of asbestos. Testing for asbestos yourself is not recommended because of the risk of releasing asbestos fibres into the air while obtaining samples. If you choose not to have testing done, you should assume that the material does contain asbestos and treat it with all safety precautions such as:

  • Just leaving it alone. Unless the material is damaged or likely to be disturbed, any attempt to remove it increases the risk that asbestos will be released into the atmosphere
  • Encapsulate the material. Encapsulation is a method of sealing the surface of materials that contain asbestos to prevent fibres from becoming airborne.
  • Encapsulation is suitable if the material is in good condition and is not soft or crumbly, however it is not recommended for material that has begun to deteriorate.
  • Enclose the asbestos containing material. Covering involves putting an object over or around the asbestos containing material, such as a sleeve over asbestos pipe insulation or a new floor over tiles that could contain asbestos.

Before you begin working:

  • Clear the area where the asbestos is to be removed to reduce the risk of contaminating furniture, clothing and other items with asbestos fibres.
  • Cover anything that cannot be removed with thick polyethylene sheeting.
  • Isolate the area where work is to be done from the rest of the house by erecting a containment area and air lock of polyethylene sheeting.
  • Cover walls and floors in the area where asbestos is to be removed with polyethylene sheeting.
  • Post signs to alert visitors, family and friends of the work in process and the possible exposure risk.