Methods Used For Asbestos Removal and Containment in Bathrooms

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Although most Australians do not pay much thought to asbestos, it should be an important concern to have if you live in a home that was built in the last century. Due to the various advantages that asbestos provided, such as resistance to fire, insulation properties and more, it was a common material used in construction. Thus, chances are it would be present in various aspects of you home such as flooring, walls, as a binding agent and more. One of the more common areas of older homes that would have an abundance of asbestos is the bathroom. If you are contemplating bathroom renovations or simply suspect that this compound is present in your home, it is best to seek asbestos removal services. Here are some of the different removal and containment methods that asbestos removal contractors can employ in your bathroom.

Water injection asbestos removal

This asbestos removal method is also referred to as the saturation method. With this procedure, the asbestos removal professionals will soak the areas containing asbestos with water. This type of procedure is popular for asbestos removal on flooring as it can cover a large expanse of space at a time. The asbestos contractors will soak the asbestos in the flooring by use of injector heads that are composed of both inlets and outlets. Once soaked through, the contractors can cut off the asbestos without risk of it becoming friable. After the process is complete, the injectors have to be disposed of since they will be contaminated through the direct contact with the asbestos.

Friable asbestos removal                                     

It is also known as the dry asbestos removal method. This removal method is best suited to bathrooms that contain any live wires or that have electrical conductors. Water cannot be used for such bathrooms, as it will increase the risk of electrocution to both the asbestos removal contractors as well as anyone who may be in close proximity to the bathroom. As such, the contractors will ensure that the room is fully enclosed with plastic sheeting. They will then use a decontaminant unit to eliminate the asbestos. All waste materials are then packaged securely for proper disposal.

Asbestos abatement

In the event that the asbestos is still intact, you may want to consider abatement as a containment measure. To decrease the risk of exposure to asbestos, the contractors will try to ensure that the asbestos does not come apart without having to remove it from its location. One of the containment measures used in abatement is encapsulation. This is whereby the contractors will bind the asbestos fibres using a sealant, hence preventing them from becoming friable. The second method that can be used is enclosure. This is whereby the asbestos is insulated by a cover thus preventing the risk of its fibres being released into the atmosphere.


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