Is It Better to Remove Asbestos or Leave It?

6/3/2020 (Permalink)

Do You Think Asbestos is an Issue in Your Business or Home? Call SERVPRO Today!

SERVPRO Technicians Have the Knowledge to Perform Asbestos Abatement in Your El Centro Home

Asbestos was widely used in homes and commercial properties from the 1930s until the 1970s. If your structure got built during that time frame, chances are good; there may be asbestos-containing elements in various places unless a previous professional abatement has occurred. The general rule from the EPA is to leave any materials that contain asbestos alone unless you are making upgrades to your home that have the potential to disturb the asbestos or otherwise release it into the air. 

Can SERVPRO Perform Asbestos Abatement Safely?

One of the most common scenarios for needing asbestos abatement in an El Centro home is the updating of a room in an older home. Asbestos can be present in

• Vintage floor tiles and adhesives
• Older sheetrock
• In the duct and pipe insulation
• Old insulation such as Vermiculite 

The Abatement Process Requires Detailed Attention 

People frequently use encapsulants to seal the asbestos, but these applications only work as long as the seal holds, and eventually, it may need removal. The technicians contain an area with asbestos before the removal process begins to inhibit the potential for any cross-contamination from occurring. Standard methods of containment are:

• The use of polyethylene film sealed with duct tape around the work site
• Negative air pressure machines fitted with HEPA filters to capture and port away any airborne particulate during the abatement while delivering fresh air into the work area
• Sealing off of vents in the room

Can a Vacuum with HEPA Filtration Remove Asbestos?

SERVPRO technicians have both handheld and larger-sized vacuums with HEPA filtration to clean up debris and trap particles as diverse as soot and dried mold colonies. They are not safe for the removal of asbestos. It requires a specialized class H vacuum designed for cleaning up during and after the removal of the asbestos materials.

Safety First During the Abatement of Asbestos

When SERVPRO handles the removal of asbestos, they prioritize safety for all and follow the law. The chief hazard in asbestos is the mineral Chrysotile, a fibrous substance that can be harmful when it becomes airborne and gets aspirated or ingested. For this reason, along with containment, the techs wear head-to-toe PPE gear, including respirators.

There are different methods for handling removal, and it depends on whether the asbestos is friable or non-friable. If it can crumble easily and visibly white and powdery, it is friable. Non-friable asbestos is within other materials, and unless cut, sanded, or sawed, it does not tend to become airborne.

Replacement and Repair of Removed Building Materials

When asbestos-containing things get removed from a home, there are often needed repairs. With their general contractor license #CSLB: 978462, SERVPRO can go directly from the abatement process into any needed reconstruction to ensure the home gets returned to its preloss condition and is ready for safe habitation. 

SERVPRO of El Centro / Salton City at (760) 337-5858 can handle the safe asbestos abatement in your home. Our technicians have extensive training in the mitigation and disposal of biohazard materials, call today.

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