News

Is Asbestos in my Home?

 

How can we identify Asbestos at home?

In the event your home was built before 1999; there is a great possibility for it to have asbestos in it. Regrettably, asbestos fibres are so tiny that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. Consequently, the only way to spot or discover whether your house possesses asbestos is to check out for possible places where asbestos was used and then discuss with a licensed inspector to examine it.

It should be noted that asbestos in roofing and tiles etc. is not hazardous as such. It could potentially turn out to be unsafe with time when the asbestos fibres get loose and become airborne. Aside from natural decay, human interventions like drilling, breaking, renovation and other work can likewise disturb asbestos while release it into the air. Consequently, from an inactive stage, the asbestos turns out to be an active risk. The most bothersome part is that we may not even know it was released.

 

Likely areas where you can discover asbestos in your house are:

Insulation: vermiculite insulation, Batt insulation, wall insulation
Exteriors: corrugated roof, tile roof, window putty, shingles
Interiors and flooring: asbestos flooring, textured paint, sound proofing material, acoustic finishes
Wiring and appliances: switchboard panels, wiring insulation, freezers, fuse boxes, toasters, dryers, range hoods, dishwashers etc.
Heating and boiling: wall gaskets, duct lining, heating surface covering, door gaskets, coal/wood oven, lining
Others: clutches, brake linings (cars), patching compounds, gaskets

 

When and how to examine your house for Asbestos?

Asbestos that is mixed with other material or packed in casings is safe. The presence of asbestos at home is fine until the basis of the material wears out, malfunctions or is tampered with. It is in this state that the real risk lies. Therefore, you must ensure that the asbestos in your house is tested if:

• Your house was built before 1999

• You can observe visible wear and tear at areas where asbestos is used (piping, roofing, etc.)

• You prepare to carry out any renovation, which will necessitate demolishing or disturbing locations where there is likelihood of asbestos being utilised (such as fire place, tiles, paints, etc.)

• You suspect there is asbestos in your home, and would like to be certain.

• You plan to purchase a new house built before 1999, and would like to confirm if it is free of asbestos
Should any of the above be true, you must not lay hands on anything suspicious yourself. The next step is to consult a licensed asbestos-inspector for proper inspection, sampling and analysing of likely locations of asbestos usage.

 

Asbestos tests

If on the account of the points listed above, you are doubtful of the presence of asbestos but still wish to test, then call a professional asbestos inspector. They will take a sample of the suspicious material, and likewise advise you on the necessary safety measures while it is done, like removing furniture among others. The small sample is then tested in the laboratory for the presence of asbestos. These tests have to be carried out in the approved laboratories by authorities.

 

What if Asbestos has been confirmed in your home?

Should the test be positive, according to the condition of the product/location, you need to decide on what to do. Should the sampled product be fine and in good working state – it is better to let it remain as it is. However if the area is broken or degrading, you need to take steps to ensure it is removed immediately. The process of removal is a specialised one, and must not be carried out by yourself.

 

 

 

Property Company fined £460k after fatal fire.

 

A property company responsible for managing a retirement home has been ordered to pay a massive fine of £360,000 plus a further £100,000 in costs following a fire which led to the death of an elderly resident.

 

The fine represents one of the largest ever handed out for fire safety offences in the UK. FirstPort Limited, formerly Peverel Management Services, was prosecuted by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service following the blaze at Gibson Court, which occurred in 2011. The company pleaded guilty in July last year to four offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These included: a failure to make a proper fire risk assessment of the building, a failure to take general fire precautions, a failure to maintain fire precautions including fire barriers in the roof space and, a failure to properly train staff in carrying out fire risk assessments and following emergency procedures.

 

If you run a commercially used building (including agricultural) you must have an appropriate Fire Risk Assessment in place. 

 

For further help and advice please contact Robert Pardoe

07977 228648

robert@pardoeslandandproperty.co.uk

 

 

Are you up to date with Asbestos Legislation...

 

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR'12) affect every commercial building in the UK; including agricultural.

 

If you own or manage commercial or agricultural buildings you must ensure that a number of actions are carried out.  Every building by law has a Duty Manager, even if no one is apponted the law will make the assumtion.  If you are the owner/licensee/agent it may well be you!

 

The law also assumes that all materials do contain asbestos  unless you know to the contrary.  The only way to know is to have a sample analised. 

 

What do you need?

  • Asbestos Survey
  • Asbestos Management Plan
  • Assess what remidial work needs to be carried out.
  • Action the above.

These need to be carried out by a competent (P402 Qualified) and experianced surveyor.

 

Please contact Robert for a chat about Asbestos 07977 228648 robert@pardoeslandandproperty.co.uk

 

 

Check back here regularly to find out what's going on at Pardoes Land and Property.

News title

Description of news story

Print | Sitemap
© Pardoes Land and Property