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Asbestos in Older Buildings

By July 26, 2018August 2nd, 2018Asbestos Information
Office building and parking lot

Most older buildings have asbestos-containing materials. The reality is, most people do not know this. Older commercial buildings were built using asbestos, as it was durable, cost-effective, and could withstand heat. This made it the perfect product for large building construction. If you do own a building, there is only one way to know for sure if it contains this dangerous material. Testing can be completed by a certified abatement professional. They will test your building and let you know the results as soon as possible. Check out an asbestos timeline to get a general idea of when it was used, how it became regulated and to what extent.

What if my building contains asbestos?

Asbestos could affect your entire business. Exposure could happen to you, your clients, and your employees. Asbestos is a small fiber and it can easily move from room to room on clothing or through the HVAC vents. If there is asbestos inside your older building, it will need to be removed by a professional. You should never try to remove asbestos from your building. As we said above, it can easily move throughout the building and the likelihood that you are able to remove it all is about zero. Professional asbestos abatement contractors use tools, equipment, and suits to ensure asbestos is safely removed.

What happens during asbestos removal?

Unfortunately, your business will need to be vacated for a small amount of time. This is needed to ensure the safe and complete removal of asbestos. The area will be completely closed off and asbestos abatement contractors will close off areas where the removal will start. Equipped with their suits and equipment they will begin removal processes. This process is quite extensive, as they are removing a dangerous mineral from your building. Once the asbestos has been removed, another asbestos inspection will be completed. When that inspection comes back as clear, you will be allowed to enter your business once again.

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