Asbestos Containing Materials FAQ
- 01. What is asbestos?
- The term asbestos describes six naturally occurring fibrous minerals found in certain types of rock formations. When processed asbestos is separated into very thin fibers that can be present in the air and are invisible to the naked eye.
- 02. Why is asbestos a problem?
- Asbestos when airborne and inhaled during the course of mining, manufacture and installation has often proven very harmful to human health. Asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems. If inhaled, asbestos fibers can cause diseases which disrupt the normal functioning of the lungs. Three specific diseases have been linked to Asbestos - asbestosis ( a fibrous scarring of the lungs), lung cancer and mesothelioma ( a cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity).
- 03. What are the uses of asbestos?
- Asbestos in buildings has been commonly used for thermal insulation, fireproofing and in various building materials such as floor covering, ceiling tile, cement pipe and sheeting, granular and corrugated paper wrap, acoustical and decorative treatments for ceilings and walls.
- 04. When is asbestos a problem?
- Asbestos-Containing-Materials can be hazardous when, due to damage, disturbance or deterioration over time, they release fibers into building air.
- 05. Can we avoid the release of asbestos fibers into the air?
- Special work practices can be considered like collecting residual dust, wet wiping, area isolation, the HEPA vacuuming and special cleaning techniques, which should supplement encapsulation and encasement.
- 06. What is asbestos abatement?
- It is a procedure to control fiber release from asbestos-containing materials in a building or to remove it entirely. This may involve removal, encapsulation, repair, enclosure, encasement and operations/maintenance programs.
- 07. Do you have to remove friable asbestos from a building?
- No, the EPA states that when asbestos is found in a building, very often it is better to manage it in-place rather than attempt removal.
- 08. Do you remove asbestos in homes or do you just do industrial removal?
- GLOBAL Encasement, Inc. is an advocate of the in-place management of hazardous materials. This means that instead of removal in most cases we recommend using an Encasement system to secure the material and stop it from contaminating indoor air quality. All of our products have been fully tested for this purpose and as an abatement method will save our customers up to 90% over removal, disposal, and repainting regardless of the size of the job.
- 09. Do you have a product that safely encases asbestos floor tile?
- We have two options to cover asbestos floor tile. First, our PolyEncase GE-50 is a fast setting, high performance aromatic polyurea, perfect for use on walk on surfaces and heavy traffic areas. The second option is the use of AsbestoSafe® TopCoat, if the old flooring will then be covered over with carpeting, wood flooring, tile or linoleum.
- 10. I have asbestos insulation around ductwork and/or a furnace in my basement, is your product appropriate for abatement in these areas?
- AsbestoSafe® and PrepLESS Primer™ have been fully tested for use over asbestos-containing materials. They are Class “A” Fire Rated which means they will not adversely affect the fire rating of your substrate and the products are classified non-combustible which means they are acceptable for use over furnaces, radiators, and other heat producing building components.