Asbestos is a natural mineral consisting of thin and dense fibers. Because of its toughness, asbestos is usually used in the manufacture of insulation, fire retardant, and other construction materials. Unfortunately, discoveries have shown that asbestos poses a serious health risk when the fibers are loose and released into the air. The fiber that is inhaled when you breathe can cause scarring of the tissue that lines the lungs (mesothelioma), and even lung cancer. You can test for asbestos independently, but it is recommended that the test be carried out by a professional using certified specialized equipment, especially if you live in the US. If asbestos is present, hire a contractor to repair or clean asbestos-containing material to ensure the safety of people living in the building.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Checking for Signs of Asbestos
Step 1. Find out when the building was built
Asbestos was widely used in 1920-1989, after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to regulate materials containing asbestos. Asbestos is most commonly found in buildings, but is also present in gas heaters, hair dryers, some types of clothing and even vehicle brakes.
- Walls, floors, pipes, textured paint, insulation, fire retardant materials, pipes, electrical wiring, and even chalkboards made in 1920-1989 may contain asbestos. If the building was erected in 1920-1989, it is likely that the building has materials that contain asbestos.
- Some materials made today contain asbestos. Objects containing asbestos are labeled with a special label.
Step 2. Watch for signs of disturbed asbestos material
You can't tell if an object contains asbestos just by looking at it. Instead, look for signs that indicate the deteriorating condition of building materials. Asbestos is not dangerous if it is still in good condition, but when it starts to break down and the fibers are released in the air, it becomes toxic. Look for signs of older material that is worn or damaged.
- Watch for broken pipes, or insulation, walls, tiles, vinyl flooring, stove bases, and other more worn materials that have been in this building since its construction.
- Look for cracked, dusty areas where the material appears to be decaying.
Step 3. Decide whether to test the area
If you don't see any signs of deterioration in a construction, you probably shouldn't have it tested, as asbestos is only dangerous when released into the air. However, if you see any of the signs, or if you just want to ensure your safety, hire a certified professional to test and handle asbestos safely.
- In other cases, test the area if you plan to do new construction work, or replace old materials. Even materials that are still in good condition can be disturbed during the construction process and can release fibers into the air.
- While you can purchase equipment to perform your own asbestos test, it is not recommended that you try it yourself. Asbestos testing should be carried out by someone who has been through training and understands how to handle the material without causing health risks to building occupants. If you haven't been trained, you can end up irritating asbestos and inhaling it, or harming other people.
Part 2 of 3: Testing the Area
Step 1. Hire a contractor to do the testing
Contact a contractor who is EPA approved, trained and licensed to handle asbestos and analyze suspected particulate matter, and file any documents required by the EPA. If you will be collecting the samples yourself, you must still provide the samples for analysis by an EPA-certified laboratory, and provide the protective equipment you wore during collection for proper disposal.
- The EPA provides a list of certified contractors by state at
- Federal law does not require a separate family home to be tested for asbestos by an accredited professional, but some states do.
- If you are interested in joining an asbestos professional training program, contact your local or state health department, or regional EPA office for more information.
Step 2. Prepare the area to be tested
Because asbestos testing can interfere with the material and create a hazard, you should take some precautions to ensure everyone's safety before a certified contractor performs the test. Set up your building as follows:
- Turn off any air conditioning, fan, or ventilation systems that could circulate asbestos into the air.
- Make a plan to isolate the area; do not let people in and out while the area is being tested.
- If the test is being carried out indoors, ask everyone to leave the house at the time of the test.
Step 3. Understand the asbestos testing procedure
If you hire an EPA-certified contractor to come to your home to test for asbestos, there are a number of specific procedures that must be followed to maximize safety. Anyone in the room during the test must wear protective clothing and equipment, including protective gloves, boots, clothing that must be discarded after collecting samples, and a face mask with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. The contractor may use the following test methods:
- A plastic sheet will be placed under the area where the sample will be taken and secured with tape.
- The area to be tested is sprayed with water to prevent the fibers from being released into the air.
- A tool is used to split the test object and obtain a sample of the fibers in it.
- A small sample of material that may or may be positive for asbestos will be placed in an open-closed container for testing in the laboratory.
- The sampling area is covered with a plastic sheet, drywall, or tape to prevent the spread of suspected fibers.
- Protective clothing contaminated with the material should be placed in a closed container for proper disposal.
Step 4. Wait for the test results
Samples of the material must be sent to an asbestos analysis laboratory accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) at the National Institute of Standards and technology (NIST). A list of laboratories can be found at https://www.nist.gov/. If the sample tests positive for asbestos, decide whether you will repair the area or remove asbestos-containing material from your property.
Part 3 of 3: Dealing with Asbestos
Step 1. Fix the disturbed material
The repair process for asbestos-containing materials generally includes sealing or sealing the area to prevent the fibers from being released into the air. Repairing materials may sound like an odd decision given the presence of dangerous carcinogens, but it's actually the safest option. Disposing of materials tends to irritate them more and pose a greater health risk, while repairing materials that contain asbestos allows you to live with safe materials.
- Repairs should be carried out by a certified professional to ensure the procedure is carried out correctly. Usually a special sealing or covering material is used on the area to prevent it from continuing to decay. Floors containing asbestos may be covered with new flooring to prevent lint from entering the air.
- Repair costs less than disposal, and is usually the best option. However, if the material is damaged enough, and eventually needs to be thrown away, it's better to hurry up and throw it away. Using a sealing or covering material can make it difficult for you to dispose of the material later.
Step 2. Be careful with materials that contain asbestos
After repairs, you should still be careful around materials that contain asbestos. Be careful not to disturb the material and loosen the asbestos fibers. Take the following steps to be careful with asbestos:
- Minimize activities in areas that have asbestos. For example, if the walls in the basement contain asbestos, don't spend a lot of time there.
- Do not saw, sand, scrape, drill, or otherwise damage asbestos-containing materials, even after sealing materials have been used.
- Do not use abrasive cleaning agents on materials that have asbestos.
- Do not vacuum or sweep up debris on the floor that may contain asbestos.
- If the damage is more severe, ask a professional to fix it.
Step 3. Consider removing asbestos
If you'd rather not have asbestos-containing materials in your building, you're better off throwing them away. Hire a contractor who has been trained by the EPA. The disposal process is more dangerous than the repair process, and if done incorrectly can pose serious health risks to people using the building.
