About Asbestos
Asbestos has been extensively used as a construction material, unfortunately the detrimental health risks were not identified quick enough. Fibres from asbestos may lead to fatal respiratory diseases.
Asbestos use was prohibited in 1999, if your home or property was built between 1930 - 1999 it is likely that your home or property may contain asbestos containing materials. Common places for asbestos to be used were;
- Walls
- Insulation
- Roofing
- Gutters and piping
- Flooring
- Boiler Rooms
- Garages
- Ceilings
As long as the material is in a good condition it is not harmful, it is only when the material has been broken, damaged or has deteriorated that potential danger may occur. This is what can trigger harmful airborne fibres to be released into the environment and present health risks.
Although there are several types of asbestos, the most commonly used types of asbestos include;
- Chrysotile (white asbestos) is an asbestos that is strong yet flexible in structure. It is commonly found in buildings, houses, and garages in the form of roof sheets, boiler flues, boiler gaskets/ropes, floor tiles, mastics, etc.
- Amosite (brown asbestos) is an asbestos material commonly found in buildings as a thermal insulation, sprayed coatings, wall/ceiling boarding, and with a mixture of Chrysotile in roof sheets.
- Crocidolite (blue asbestos) is an asbestos material commonly found in buildings as a thermal insulation, sprayed coatings, wall/ceiling boarding, and with a mixture of Chrysotile in roof sheets.