When you discover asbestos in your home or business, taking action immediately is crucial to protect your health. As a known carcinogen, asbestos can affect your respiratory system with potentially deadly consequences.
However, you might be wondering – how long does the asbestos removal process take? How does it work? We answer your questions here.
What Is Asbestos Abatement?
Asbestos abatement is the process of removing asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) from a property. The guidelines for asbestos removal were developed by the EPA, OSHA, and other governmental agencies to curtail the release of asbestos fibers. These rules are designed to minimize the risk of asbestos exposure during the removal process.
How Long Does It Take to Remove Asbestos?
Asbestos abatement takes varying amounts of time based on the property type, the material being removed, and how much asbestos there is. When you speak to an asbestos abatement team, they should be able to provide you with an estimate once they have examined your property.
For example, if you own a small home with asbestos in the popcorn ceiling, the abatement will be less intensive than removing cement that contains asbestos from gutters, water tanks and roof tiles in a large business.
The Asbestos Abatement Procedure
Prior to actually removing the asbestos in your property, it’s a good idea to get the materials that you suspect to have asbestos tested. While some asbestos abatement teams offer identification and abatement services, many only specialize in one of the two processes.
Once you’ve had the ACMs in your property identified, the process of abatement would work much like so:
Step 1: Project Strategy
Once you’ve contacted an asbestos abatement specialist, they will evaluate your site, the amount of materials found on the site, and create a comprehensive strategy to address the asbestos on your property. Your local, state and federal regulations will all be taken into consideration while they create your abatement strategy. This plan should include removal methods, expected timeline, and other key details for transparency.
Step 2: Site Demarcation
After a plan is formed and agreed upon, your asbestos removal team will demarcate where the work site will be located on your property. This ensures that all occupants are removed from the hazardous work site until the removal is complete.
Step 3: Work Area Setup & Isolation
Prior to beginning work, your asbestos abatement team will contain the work site. Site containment may involve using plastic sheeting, duct tape, and establishing negative air pressure with HEPA-filtered ventilation systems to seal off the area. By completely isolating the asbestos, they can ensure those pesky fibers don’t spread any further and eliminate your exposure risk.
Step 4: Material Removal
Now that the work site has been cleared of occupants, completely contained, and a plan is in place, your asbestos abatement will begin.
Depending on the ACMs, your team will begin removing and encapsulating the asbestos. Encapsulation ensures that asbestos fibers are sealed permanently to prevent airborne risk, while removal completely eliminates the materials and fibers from your property.
Step 5: Site Cleanup & Clearance
Once the removal process is complete, the abatement team will be responsible for cleaning and decontaminating the work site. Typically, cleanup involves using specialized HEPA vacuum cleaners and wet wiping techniques to clear away potential leftover asbestos fibers. Your team will also decontaminate themselves and dispose of any removed ACMs properly.
After the site is cleared, a final inspection is scheduled for air quality testing to ensure that asbestos levels are safe. If the inspection clears, then the area is clear to be reoccupied.
Who Performs Asbestos Abatement?
Asbestos abatement should only be performed by licensed, certified asbestos abatement professionals. These specialists are trained in safely identifying, handling, and removing asbestos-containing materials, following strict regulatory and safety guidelines.
Don’t ever try to remove asbestos by yourself! Asbestos is extremely hazardous to your lung health, and even just a brief exposure can drastically increase your risk for mesothelioma and other cancers.
Where Is Asbestos Found?
In 1989, the EPA banned all new uses of asbestos. However, prior to 1989, asbestos was used in a wide variety of building materials for its fire-resistant properties. Asbestos was added en masse to items like building insulation, roof and floor tiles, stucco, electrical outlets and more to add durability and heat resistance.
It’s still found commonly in buildings and properties built prior to 1989, and becomes an exposure risk when it begins to deteriorate and crumble, adding asbestos dust and fibers to the air. Asbestos can be found in both residential and commercial properties, along with government buildings and more.
Gold Standard Asbestos Abatement in Colorado
If you’re located in Colorado, Mile High Environmental Services offers premiere asbestos removal services. Our service area includes Denver, Boulder, and the surrounding regions.
We’ve served all types of clients for asbestos abatement, from military bases to schools and private homes. We’re your local team of experts with the experience in health hazard removal that you can trust. Contact us to get your asbestos abatement estimation today.
