Asbestos Abatement
Specific procedures must be followed to remove asbestos from homes and buildings. This is to prevent the building from being contaminated with asbestos. This procedure is known as asbestos abatement. It needs to be done by licensed contractors and it is highly recommended that untrained personnel do not undertake asbestos abatement on their own.
Specialized equipment is needed for asbestos abatement. Various safety steps also need to be taken. Every effort should be made to make a secure and airtight environment for this work. Certain necessary steps are required to remove asbestos from:
Heating and air conditioning ducts
- Special care needs to be taken to fully seal the building from any possible contamination from asbestos particles by spreading plastic sheets over the ducts and any spaces in the walls or floors to seal the floor and surrounding area.
- The use of a special HEPA-AIRE negative air vacuum, built specifically for asbestos abatement, to connect to the airtight space, which draws all air and airborne particles through a special filter.
- The special filters used in these machines must be disposed of in accordance with hazardous materials regulations.
For other areas
- A fine mist can be sprayed over an area suspected to contain asbestos. This helps to settle the dust.
- Contractors spray a special chemical, an encapsulant, over the area.
- Contractors wear special one-piece coveralls designed to keep the wearer from coming in contact with the asbestos. This suit covers the head, hands, body and feet of the worker.
- It’s important to have an airtight environment both for the area and for the worker.
Air-testing equipment is also used for asbestos abatement. It measures the amount of asbestos in the air before, during and after the asbestos procedure. Contractors are required to keep asbestos levels below a certain reading. These levels must also be certified as safe before the work area can be unsealed and people are allowed to safely enter.
All protective equipment must be disposed of according to the hazardous materials laws.
©2010 MesotheliomaHealth.org
Thank you for visiting this website which is created for the benefit of the general public. This website and its content are produced and sponsored by the law firm of James F. Early, LLC (James F. Early, Esq.). All of the information is intended as a resource available at no cost to people diagnosed with mesothelioma and their loved ones. Nonetheless, it may be considered attorney advertising. The content contained herein was not prepared by medical professionals and it is not intended, nor should it be considered, as a substitute for medical advice. The information provided on this website is intended as educational material, designed solely to support, and not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her healthcare professional. Additionally, neither visiting this website nor viewing its content is intended, and shall not be considered, to create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship can only be created by mutual agreement and consent of the prospective client and the attorney. Neither the transmission nor receipt of this website material creates an attorney-client relationship between sender and receiver. The material contained herein is general in nature and may not apply to your particular factual or legal circumstances. Online readers should not act on this information without seeking professional counsel and advice. All information on this website is provided as a resource for the convenience and benefit of visitors to this website and their families. No affiliation with or endorsement of: (1) this website by the persons, facilities or organizations listed herein; OR (2) such persons, facilities or organizations by this website, is intended, nor should it be inferred. In all cases and without exception, such visitors and their families, for their own particular situation, must perform their own investigation of the suitability and appropriateness of any such person, facility or organization.
Please read our disclaimer for more information.
