Guide to Asbestos Inside the Home

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Before the mid-1980s, asbestos fibres were found in hundreds of different types of construction materials. A “very likely” scenario is that your property, which was built or modified prior to 1987, has goods that contain asbestos in some form.

Your property might have asbestos-containing materials if it was built or renovated between 1987 and 1990. If your home was constructed or renovated during this period, it is “likely” to contain some asbestos-containing materials. On the other hand, if your property was built or modified after 1990, it is “unlikely” that asbestos-containing materials would be found in the structure.

Among the many different items created from bonded asbestos cement were fibro sheeting (both flat and corrugated), flue pipes, water drainage, roofing shingles and guttering, vinyl sheet floor coverings, and even the backing for vinyl sheet ceiling tiles.

How to Determine If Your Home Has Asbestos

Simply glancing at a substance does not reveal whether it contains asbestos. A scientific examination of a sample can only confirm this.

If you suspect a material may contain asbestos, proceed with caution, and handle it as if it does until the presence of asbestos has been established. Asbestos becomes hazardous when disturbed, damaged, or deteriorated since asbestos fibres can be discharged into the surrounding environment.

To determine whether your home contains asbestos and whether it needs to be removed, you should have an asbestos assessment performed by a qualified asbestos contractor. If you don’t own your house, the first step should be to contact the owner or the property management. For additional information about hiring an asbestos specialist, speak with your state or territory’s occupational health and safety agency.

It is important to note that if you hire an asbestos specialist who is certified in asbestos removal in Perth, you should be covered by the professional’s insurance in the case of an accident. You may be able to save money by doing it yourself, but your house insurance may not cover the costs of removal or clean-up, which would be essential to prevent additional harm to human health.

Rules About Asbestos in the Home

The homeowner is responsible for removing asbestos from their property. Home upgrades can cause asbestos-containing materials to become disturbed, resulting in health and safety problems.

Asbestos poses a very significant health threat if any of the following conditions are met:

  • Renovating your home without first determining whether it contains asbestos
  • Not hiring asbestos professionals to make it safe or remove it
  • Working with asbestos material without receiving specialist training
  • Working with asbestos material without wearing the proper personal protective equipment and following safe practices, which may violate the law