What is asbestos?
Asbestos is an amazing building material that has been used for thousands of years. The name "asbestos" comes from the Greek word for indestructible. Asbestos adds strength to building materials, use high insulation value, is fire-proof, and is not subject to chemical or water degradation.
Asbestos has been used in everything from concrete and flooring to paint and roofing. In fact, there are few building materials that weren't enhjanced by the addition of asbestos at some point.
Asbestos is a serious health risk
Unfortunately, this mineral has a microscopic crystalline structure. The shape of the asbestos crystals allows them to lodge in the lungs, where they cause many kinds of lung-related health problems. Because the crystals are so very fine, you may not even realize you’re breathing them in. And once you've been exposed, development of asbestos disease can take decades.
Since about 1980, the use of asbestos in building materials has been regulated, but older buildings and homes are virtually guaranteed to have some products that contain asbestos.
Asbestos has had numerous uses
More Asbestos Information
The products listed below are among many that may require asbestos abatement procedures:
- Flooring: asbestos tile and sheet flooring products such as linoleum.
- Exterior siding: flat panels, spray-on products, and many others.
- Asbestos roof materials: both asbestos shingles and felt underlayment products
- Plumbing: asbestos pipe insulation.
- Heating and cooling: asbestos insulation on duct work, gaskets, & boilers.
- Window and door caulking.
- Cement: asbestos cement added to concrete mixtures.
- Textures: ceiling textures, paint textures, stucco, and plaster (including swimming pool plaster).
- Fireproofing: fire-fighting fabrics and spray-on fireproofing materials.
Many of these products remain in older buildings and homes today. The danger occurs when the material degrades or is disturbed by cutting or demolition. Our comprehensive asbestos testing will provide you with the information you need to avoid unwanted asbestos exposure.
Comprehensive Risk Services understands safe asbestos removal
If your home or office has or may have asbestos containing materials on site, please call Comprehensive Risk Services. We developed our asbestos removal procedures in hospitals settings, where we had to meet the highest safety standards. We’ll live up to those standards when it comes time to help with your asbestos abatement project.
