What is asbestos
Asbestos, a naturally-occurring silicate mineral, was once
known as the ‘miracle mineral’ because of its fire-retardant
properties.
During the Industrial Revolution, asbestos
mining and manufacturing boomed, particularly due to its
use as insulation.
Asbestos products later extended to
items like bricks, fire-retardant coatings, concrete, pipes,
fireplace cement, heat-, fire- and acid-resistant gaskets,
fireproof wallboards, flooring, roofing, lawn furniture and
wallboard compounds.
In the early 1900s, links between human exposure to
asbestos and serious health problems were discovered. In
the 1930s, the United Kingdom made a law that required
ventilation in asbestos production areas, and officially
recognised asbestosis as a work-related disease.
America followed with similar laws approximately 10 years later. In
1960, New Zealand’s then Department of Health announced
that “there is some statistical evidence for an increased
incidence in bronchogenic carcinoma” related to asbestos.
Where you can find asbestosTypically in pre 1990’s era homes.
Asbestos can be present in:
Exterior cladding (Weatherboards and panels)
Gable Ends
Baseboards
Soffits and Ceilings
Packers
Stipple / Popcorn Ceiling (A-Class Friable)
Vinyl (Paper Backing and Laminate)
Inside Fireplaces, Flues, Hot Water Cylinders pre 1990
Pipe Lagging (A-Class Friable)
Roofing (Super 6/8, Decramastic Tile)
Gutters
How can I identify asbestos? Short Answer, have it tested.
Ceilings: It is impossible to tell without lab testing.
Vinyl: Flaky Paper Backing is a sure sign. If that is not present, the vinyl must be tested.
Roofing: Any Super 6 / Super 8 is asbestos. Decramastic can be impossible to tell without testing.
Cladding/Soffits: If the board is NOT layered, fibers are visible, or there is a honey-comb like pattern on the back – these are almost certain signs of asbestos cement board (but not definite). Note this does not rule out items that don’t have these features.
How do I test for asbestos?Hire an asbestos testing company – usually different from the removal company due to conflicts of interest. Tell them Breathe Easy referred you.
https://blubeezproducts.com/
https://www.facebook.com/asenvironmental/
Alternatively, collect a small sample in a zip-lock bag whilst wearing gloves and a dust mask.
In Auckland, drop it off to PROLABS
Unit 13/22A Kalmia Street, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051
Cost: Approx $75+ per test.
Types of asbestos
How bad is asbestos for health?Laboratory studies and studies of asbestos workers show us that asbestos can make you sick.
If you breathe asbestos fibers, you may increase the risk of several serious diseases, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Asbestos exposure may increase your risk for cancers of the digestive system, including colon cancer.
How much asbestos is dangerous?No amount of asbestos is considered safe. Products that contain greater than 1 percent of asbestos minerals are considered to be asbestos-containing.
The more asbestos you are exposed to, the more likely you are to get an asbestos disease. Asbestosis and lung cancer are dose-related diseases. Dose-related means the more asbestos you breathe, the more likely you are to get sick.
The one asbestos disease that is different is mesothelioma. Very small amounts of asbestos can give you mesothelioma. Asbestos workers’ families have gotten mesothelioma from the dust the workers brought home on their clothes.
How long does it take to get sick from asbestos?All of the asbestos diseases have a latency period. The latency period is the gap between the time you breathe asbestos and the time you start to feel sick. The latency period for asbestos diseases is between 10 to 40 years. You will not feel sick during the latency period. If you get an asbestos disease, you will begin to feel sick after the latency period.
Not everyone exposed to asbestos gets an asbestos disease. However, anyone exposed to asbestos has a higher risk of getting an asbestos disease. All of the asbestos diseases are difficult to treat. Most are impossible to cure. Stopping asbestos fibers from ever entering your lungs is important. The only cure for most asbestos diseases is to prevent them.
Can I remove asbestos myself?The short answer is yes. A homeowner may remove as much B-Class (Non Friable) asbestos as they wish, as long as they do it themselves and do not engage any contractors or trades-people to remove, replace or repair or build on the affected area.
If contractors / trades-people are required, a licensed asbestos assessor must be used to provide clearance certification, and WorkSafe must be notified prior to removal. It is strongly advised to have a licensed, trained removalist do this work to prevent cross contamination.
No amount of A-Class (Friable: Ceilings/Vinyl) can be removed without an approved contractor.
Note: It is practically impossible for a home owner to cheaply dispose of asbestos correctly. This requires expensive skip bins and hazard management fees. Breathe Easy provides a cheap service to collect and dispose of pre-removed asbestos. LINK HERE
How can I dispose of asbestos?Do NOT burn it! Asbestos will not burn. This will contaminate your entire property and probably the neighbours.
Do NOT attempt to bury or fly tip, as tempting as this may be the fines are upwards of $20,000.00 NZD for an individual and $500,000 for a business if caught.
Most asbestos-accepting tips do NOT accept drop offs from public. A removalist/dumping license is generally required, along with the use of a tipper truck.
Companies such as Waste Management, and many Bin Hire companies will accept asbestos on negotiation. But charge $$$ for bin drop off, hire, bin collection and per tonne dumping.
Breathe Easy is MUCH cheaper.
LINK HERE
The difference between Class A and Class B asbestos removalWhen you talk to an asbestos removal company, they may refer to the removal of asbestos as: ‘class A’ or ‘class B’ – which refers to the type of asbestos and how much can be removed.
Those with a class A removal license can remove:
Any amount of friable asbestos or ACM (a material that is easily reduced to a powder, easily airborne. Commonly vinyl and ceiling textures )
Any amount of non-friable asbestos or ACM (solid materials such as cement board, fencing, roofing)
Any amount of ACD (Asbestos Contaminated Dust)
Those with a class B removal license can remove:
Any amount of non-friable asbestos or ACM
ACD that is linked to the removal of any amount of non-friable asbestos or ACM
Breathe Easy has access to both A&B removal licenses and supervisors.