When it comes to asbestos removal, an asbestos abatement company can handle, remove, and dispose of it. They can safely handle the material following set out regulations. But what is the asbestos removal process, and how does it work.
The Importance of Hiring a Professional
As a building owner, there are regulations with product bans in place regarding asbestos. Therefore, it is essential to contact an asbestos abatement company to remove broken or damaged building materials. The contractor will come and assess the concern to perform an encapsulation for removing the asbestos. If you suspect asbestos is present, they will inspect the area and takes samples to test them. If it’s identified, they will recommend the following steps:
Handling and Removing Asbestos
Luckily, there is a safe way that contractors remove asbestos using the proper certifications. In addition, they are trained to follow the federal and state laws according to the EPA requirements. Therefore, it is a safe yet legal removal with asbestos abatement, and we do not recommend the DIY guides available online.
The professional can recommend either an abatement or encapsulation, depending on the asbestos condition. When doing encapsulation, the technician coats the asbestos with a sealant. During this process, the coating seals the fibers preventing them from becoming airborne.
When the damage is severe, it will need to be eradicated. Hence, the building’s HVAC unit is turned off, and all vents are sealed to prevent the fibers from circulating around. The work areas are sealed off using thick plastic sheeting.
The specialists work with wet cleanup tools using a HEPA filter vacuum system to clean the whole workplace. All materials they placed in clearly marked sealed tight containers in a hazardous bin. The crew will wear full-face mask respirators with overalls to remove the material.
Once they are finished, they follow decontamination protocols like containing soiled clothes. Then, they will shower, change clothes, and safely dispose of the materials as per the state and federal laws.
Asbestos Disposal
After the removal, the abatement specialist will take the asbestos to a certified landfill that receives the waste. They will hand over the damp encased asbestos in air-tight bags when transported and disposed of.
At the waste site, the packaging is then buried. So now one question remains. Is asbestos recyclable? In some cases, yes, using very high heat, converting it back into silicate glass. The process makes the material non-hazardous. But a lot of research still needs to be done on recycling asbestos.
Final Thoughts
Before moving forward with asbestos abatement, do your research to find the right company. While you can get multiple bids from different companies, the important thing is to find one that provides you with a written work plan. The plan needs to provide you with all the procedures taken to clean up your area. If you need to have old asbestos material removed, contact an asbestos professional today to ensure proper removal and disposal of the material.
