Now that you know you have asbestos how do you get rid of it. In a lot of cases if the asbestos is not damaged there is no need to remove it. Asbestos is still found in many buildings still accomplishing its original purpose. As long as it is not damaged, asbestos fibers are not being released; examples are floor tile and house siding. If the asbestos is damaged or you wish to remove it, state regulations may require removal by a certified asbestos contractor.
First you must determine the extent of asbestos contamination. To prevent a conflict of interest, this should not be done by the abatement contractor. Samples are taken of all suspect materials and a scope of work will be generated from this assessment. This scope will determine exactly what will be removed and how.
Asbestos removal normally is accomplished in the following steps:
Containment
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The area to be cleaned is contained using
framing and polyethylene plastic sheeting.
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Negative Air Machines with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters pull air from the enclosed area creating negative air pressure inside the enclosure. In case of a leak, air is pulled into the containment area instead of being released from it.
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A series of baffles is built to allow entrance to the containment and to provide a decontamination area for workers.
Demolition
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Drywall, floor tile, ceiling applications (whatever the asbestos containing material might be) is removed in the containment. The major focus is minimizing fiber released into the air.
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Asbestos containing material is kept wet before, during and after demolition.
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All asbestos containing materials are bagged for disposal in accordance with state and federal regulations.
Fine Cleaning
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All surfaces in the work area are HEPA vacuumed.
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All surfaces are wiped down with wet rags.
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Once the air quality monitor has verified that asbestos levels are below acceptable levels, all polyethylene plastic is removed and disposed of and all construction materials are removed.
Every asbestos project is different. Sometimes the work is completed in phases; other times it is completed in one massive project.
Large scale project
