Why You Need a Designated Substance Survey Before Removing Asbestos Tiles

There probably aren’t too many people out there who haven’t heard of the risks of asbestos exposure today.  Asbestos is a material that was used an awful lot from the 50’s all the way until the 80’s in some places.  It is very resistant to heat and fire and made a great insulator for many homes and businesses.

The problem with asbestos is that it is made up of long, thin fibers that can be released into the air as they get older and break off.  And the issue with the fibers being released is that the vast majority of them are too small for the naked eye to see.

The Risks

When these tiny fibers are breathed in, they become embedded into your lungs and over time can cause lung diseases such as cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.  These diseases may take decades to develop, but once they do they are incurable and quite often fatal.

The Designated Substance Survey

One of the places asbestos is found in residential homes is tiles.  Both floor and ceiling tiles may contain asbestos, and it is always a good idea to have a designated substance survey performed before you consider removing asbestos tiles.  A designated substance survey from an asbestos abatement expert helps determine if there is indeed asbestos in the tiles and just how dangerous it will be to remove them.

If the tiles do not contain asbestos you can carry on with the removal and all will be well.  However, if a designated substance survey shows that the tiles do contain asbestos, extra precautions must be taken.  It’s important not to disturb materials too much if they contain asbestos.  By disturbing materials containing asbestos, you risk releasing the fibres into the air and anyone working on site is now at risk of exposure.

When you get the results of the designated substance survey, the most important thing to do is to heed this advice seriously.  Let the asbestos removal experts do the job if your situation is too dangerous.

It’s Your Health

It is often tough to justify an expense when there is no immediate risk or consequence associated with not spending the money.  Exposure to tiles that contain asbestos won’t cause problems immediately, but it really can have harmful effects on you and your construction crew down the road.  If you suspect there might be asbestos tiles on your site, take precautions and have a designated substance survey performed.  Contact the team at FERRO Canada today and we can tell you how to proceed.