Why You Need Certified Asbestos Testing
Thinner than human hair, asbestos fibers were commonly used in the construction of buildings before the 1980s as an insulator. But it’s now commonly known that asbestos fibers, when inhaled, can lead to lung diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. If your home or business is based in an older building and you’re planning on renovating, there may be asbestos sealed away that could be exposed to the air during construction. Before you start any kind of construction process on your home or building, you should consider hiring a contractor to perform asbestos testing in St. Louis so you can see if asbestos removal is necessary.
Where is Asbestos Found
If you want to test the structures in your home that could contain asbestos, you must first locate where asbestos is most likely to be found. Asbestos can be found in a variety of common structures found in older buildings including but not limited to:
- Popcorn ceilings
- Vinyl tile flooring
- Covering for pipes
- Wall insulation
- Roofing tiles
Knowing where to find asbestos is something that can be handled by a professional company that specializes in certified asbestos testing. In many cases, it is actually required before construction on certain businesses. Although asbestos can be found in certain structures, it’s mainly harmless when it’s sealed away in those structures. However, the dangers of asbestos become significant when demolition or disturbance exposes the fibers, which can be inhaled and lead to serious health issues like lung cancer, mesothelioma, or asbestosis.That’s why testing is a step you should take before construction just to make sure no removal has to take place beforehand. Certified asbestos testing can tell you the percentage of asbestos in a structure and what job should take place to limit the threat of said asbestos.
The Certified Asbestos Testing Method
- Inspection: When a certified asbestos testing company arrives at your building, they will identify the places in your building that could potentially contain asbestos. They’ll typically use floor plans to locate the areas where asbestos is likely to be found.
- Sampling: Samples are taken from the surface of all the structures suspected to contain asbestos. The samples are tested at an accredited lab to determine if the percentage of asbestos contained on each surface is dangerous.
- After removal, air testing takes place: Samples are taken from the air after asbestos abatement or removal occurs to make sure there are no dangerous fibers floating in the air. This is done to make sure all asbestos fibers that could be potentially breathed in have been completely removed.
Read About - Our Guide to Asbestos Testing & Why You Need It
Certified Asbestos Testing Professionals in St Louis
Certified asbestos testing is not something that should be taken lightly. If you plan on any kind of construction project in your home or building, you want to make sure you do so without risk of asbestos exposure.
ABC Environmental Contracting Services offers both asbestos testing and the option to remove the asbestos that has been detected. To learn more about the services we offer and how to get a free estimate,
contact ABC Environmental Contracting Services at 314-833-8642.
