The Procedure For Removing Asbestos Flooring
Removing asbestos flooring where you live may or may not only be a project for an authorized licensed contractors. Check all the local and state laws concerning the handling of asbestos handling materials where you live. This article attempts to give the average homeowner and idea of what is involved in the process of removing asbestos flooring and is not considered proper training of the process.
Removing asbestos flooring is a potentially dangerous process and all safety precautions should be followed. The work area should be restricted to only those who are to perform the job and the area should be quarantined from the rest of the house or building. The working area should be sealed off with tape and all doors and windows should be closed. Also make sure there is adequate lighting to view the flooring while wearing safety glasses.
When removing asbestos flooring signs should be placed at every entrance to the work area to warn others that a safety hazard is present and do not enter the area. Consult with an EPA agency as to the proper vacuuming equipment and waste container to be used but some of the other tools that are used is hammers, knives & scrapers, shovels, sprayers to wet down the flooring and rags. The proper wetting agent is very important in preventing the asbestos fibers from being released into the atmosphere. Equipment for your personal safety includes, disposable overalls with hood, non-laced boots, safety goggles and the proper breathing apparatus. The asbestos worker places himself right into the thick of a potential dangerous situation so the proper equipment is paramount to his or her safety. Asbestos does harm to the body by entering the lungs so the proper breathing apparatus can’t be stress enough. It’s not enough to get a breathing mask from your local hardware store. Do some research on the proper breathing apparatus for removing asbestos flooring and you’ll quickly discover that it’s not an item found in Home Depot.
After all safety and protective gear requirements has been met the worker is now ready to get to the job at hand of removing the asbestos flooring. The scraper is used by placing in between the joints in the tile and gently lifting them. For tiles that are not loose enough to be pried with a hammer is used to gently tap the scraper. If removing asbestos flooring in a rather large area and shovel is used to remove the tile. Safety in not breaking the tile should always be used. The wetting solution should be used around and under the tiles while lifting to suppress any dust present. Wet and scrape up any adhesive that was used to hold the flooring in place. If necessary a solvent can be used in this process for removal. The tile, adhesive and all debris is then placed into the proper waste container.
When removing asbestos flooring sanding is never an options. As stated earlier, asbestos is harmful once it becomes airborne and enter the lungs so sanding is never done. If only removing a small area of the flooring cleaning can be accomplished with the used of wet rags but when removing a large area the proper vacuuming equipment must be used. Once the cleaning has been done to the floor area the equipment has to also be clean with the use of wet rags. Once complete the rags are now waste material and should be placed into the proper container and sealed. Once the asbestos is contained it’s now time for the worker to clean him or herself up. Patting off clothing with damp rags ensure that fibers will not be disturbed. Do not rub. Two workers can help each other by peeling the overalls off, pulling them inside out and putting them into the proper waste container. Last but not least the respirator can be remove. If it’s disposable place it into the waste container with everything else and seal. Otherwise follow instructions for cleaning the respirator.
As you can see removing asbestos flooring can be a dangerous job that shouldn’t be taken on by someone without the proper equipment and training. Check with your local and state regulating agencies as well as the EPA before considering the job. They can put you in contact with a licensed contractors who can safely perform the job of removing asbestos flooring.
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Is It Safe To Remove Asbestos Floor Tiles?
Just what is asbestos and why does it cause so many problems? In homes it’s mainly found in houses built prior to 1978. It has excellent insulation qualities and is heat and chemical resistant. The downside of it is that it has very small fibers that if inhaled can cause diseases and cancer. Mesothelioma is a disease of the membrane which surrounds the lungs and abdominal cavities and is caused from inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers. That’s why extreme caution must be taken before performing the task of asbestos tile removal.
Older floor tile that was made from vinyl contains asbestos and can be very dangerous to handle. The conditioning of the tile must be inspected to see what kind of shape it’s in. If it’s brittle and can be broken or crush from the pressure of your hand you have a problem. These are the types of tiles that can potentially release thier dangerous fibers when handled.
If you’re thinking about an asbestos tile removal job on your own just know that it’s not going to be an easy task and you should consider letting a professional handle the job for you. For starters it is imperative that you wear protective gear and protect your eyes and lungs with the proper breathing apparatus and glasses. Though this gear is mandatory for your own safety it does make the job harder if you don’t already have the proper experience in removing asbestos material. The removal of asbesots material is done in whole pieces to insure that the fibers stay intact as much as possible and with the limited vision and breathing that results from wearing the safety gear the job gets that much harder.
If you’re still thinking about tackling this dangerous job on your own check with your state licensing board to see if you’re permitted to do the job and what safety suggestions they can give you. You will find that most states only allow licensed contractors who have taken the required educational courses to do the job. When these guys come on the scene they will separate the area with the asbestos material from the rest of the house by putting up a protective plastic barrier. Then they will go to work insuring that any asbestos material that is loose or broken cannot release it’s particles into the atmosphere. That’s an extremely important process that insures you or your family want breath in asbestos fibers which has the potential of causing Mesothelioma.
Asbestos tile removal is a necessary but dangerous business. The professionals know how to handle this material and take no short cuts in handling it. Once the tile has been removed from your home it’s placed in special containers and marked clearly with a danger warning sign for all concerned to see but the job still isn’t completed at this stage. This harmful material has to be properly disposed of and can’t be dumped anywhere. It has to be transported to special EPA approved landfills and buried properly. There are several documents required in the process to make sure the dangerous asbestos is handled properly and isn’t released into the atmosphere.
As you can see asbestos tile removal is a serious business that shouldn’t be tackled by someone not trained in it’s safe removal process. If handled incorrectly it can cause harm to you as well as others in the form of lung disease, cancer and Mesothelioma. If your state doesn’t allow you to do it then don’t try it. Your state is only protecting you, your loved ones and your surrounding community.
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Asbestos Floor Tiles Removal Process
The asbestos floor tiles removal process is not an easy one and shouldn’t be attempted by any one. Asbestos is a mineral that has excellent fire retardant properties and was once widely used in several manufacturing processing including the production of floor tiles. The problem is when these asbestos products start to break down. Their small fibers are easily released into the air and are equally easy to inhaled into the lungs. Once in the lungs these fibers can cause all sorts of health problems including asbestosis and mesothelioma. Thus the asbestos floor tiles removal process is a tricky if not dangerous project to take on.
The first thing to do is a thorough inspection and look for any loose or brittle tiles. It’s extremely important to make sure the tile is in a non-friable state. In this state, when hand pressure is applied, the asbestos containing tile cannot be reduced to dust. In the asbestos floor tiles removal process even a non-friable tile cannot become dangerous if it’s damage because the result could be fibers released into the air.
Safety cannot be over stressed when removing asbestos floor tiles. The protective gear that’s absolutely necessary makes the job that much harder. Safety glasses and an approved respirator are paramount for your well being but they may also cut down on your vision and of course your normal breathing pattern. Asbestos floor tiles removal is done in whole pieces so even though you’re wearing safety gear grinding or otherwise disturbing the tile can result in asbestos being released into the atmosphere.
So hazardous is the asbestos floor tiles removal process that in most states only licensed, trained workers can carry out the process. You don’t want to release asbestos fibers in your home and your state maybe equally concern about the possible release of these fibers outside of your home which can potentially harm your neighbors as well. In fact, when a trained contractor come into your home, before starting the process he will carefully isolate the work area with plastic sheeting and possibly wet down the tiles to prevent fibers from moving freely into the air. This is for their safety as well as yours. Once the tiles are removed they are placed in special containers and clearly marked so the contents can be easily identified.
The whole asbestos tiles removal process is strictly regulated by the Environment Protection Agency. In fact, once the job is completed and the tiles have been containerized, sealed and properly marked the next step is to transport them to an EAP approved landfill. Once their and series of processes occur insuring all safety steps have been followed and the proper paper work has been completed. If any of these steps are avoided or not properly carried out your can possibly face serious penalties and or fines.
Check with you local authorities for more information on the asbestos floor tiles removal process in your state.
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Posted by asbestos - March 7, 2011 at 5:02 pm
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