Asbestos Abatement Gallery

Contrary to popular belief, not all asbestos is hazardous. When asbestos-containing materials (ACM) are structurally intact, they are generally not hazardous as their fibers aren’t available for inhalation. However, when the fibers are damaged, they are rendered friable. The official definition for friable materials is that which is able to be crushed or destroyed by the pressure of a human hand. If any asbestos-containing material is in this condition, it is potentially hazardous and needs to be abated.
 

Asbestos is unlike many other toxins in that the fibers remain in a person’s system once they are inhaled or ingested. Over time, these microscopic fibers can change tissues on a cellular level. When asbestos-containing material is damaged or disturbed, it becomes airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs, causing significant health problems. Major health effects include asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
 

Many building materials contain asbestos, such as the following:

• Sprayed fire retardant used in fire protection
• Insulating boards used for fire protection and thermal insulation
• Sprayed/loose packed asbestos used for fire breaks in ceiling voids
• Sprayed coatings and laggings (pipe insulation)
• Asbestos cement products (roofing and wall cladding, transite siding)
• Textured coatings, such as ceiling and wall textures and acoustical support
• Flooring, such as floor tile and mastic, sheet linoleum and leveling compounds
• Thermal System Insulation (pipe and boiler insulation)
• Ceiling tiles