Asbestos Floor Tile – What’s The Big Deal?
Asbestos Floor Tile – What’s The Big Deal?
What’s the big deal with asbestos floor tile? Well there are some very serious health problems that can occur as a result of asbestos that you should fully understand in order to protect yourself and family members. If your house was built between the 1950s and the 1980s, asbestos floor tile may of been the best option for your home. Today, we know that this type of tile can cause a host of health problems when it starts to break down and is inhaled into our bodies.
Asbestos floor tile is of course made from asbestos with is a fibrous mineral that is fire resistant and have good strength and flexibility. It can be easily used in the manufacturing process which made it an idea substance to use. Of course when it was being used heavily in the production process no one was aware of how hazardous this material could be. Workers soon began to develop lung related illnesses which prompted studies on asbestos. These studies later proved just how much of a hazard asbestos was to our bodies causing such diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Because of asbestos fire retardant properties it was widely used in insulation. In fact, most people think of asbestos in the home as being isolated to insulation for furnaces. It was widely used for that purpose of course but that is just one of it’s many uses. In the home you may find asbestos material not only in duct and furnace insulation but in various gaskets, roofing, siding, ceilings and walls and of course asbestos floor tile. Remember that old ironing board cover that you could put a hot iron on without burning. There’s a good chance that it had asbestos woven into the fabric.
This article is not meant to caused panic or to scare you into thinking that you need to immediately remove all asbestos containing material from your home. In fact, most asbestos containing material caused no threat if they remain intake. The problem is when asbestos floor tile and other asbestos containing material start to break down. When the material is damaged the microscopic fibers are released into the air where they are easily inhaled into the lungs. Once there they can caused a host of health problems including mesothelioma. We often here of safe levels when being exposed to different toxins. With asbestos there are none. Inhaling these fibers should be avoided at all cost period.
If you are the do it yourself type you maybe thinking of attempting the project of removing asbestos floor tile and other asbestos containing material from your home. You will be well advised not to try it. Not only can you caused great harm to yourself if you’re not extremely cautious and know what you’re doing, but you can also put your family in harms way. As mentioned earlier, asbestos fibers are microscopic and once released into the air they are easily inhaled into the lungs. In fact, in most states it’s illegal for you to remove asbestos floor tile unless you are a fully trained and licensed asbestos abatement professional. There are kits available for you to take a sample of the material you suspect of containing asbestos and then sending it off to a lab to have analyzed, but that is a far as you should go yourself. It’s just not worth the possible health risk.
Asbestos floor tile doesn’t posed any harm as long as it remains undamaged. It’s when these tiles become broken and brittle that they released their asbestos fibers into the air. Some do it your-selfers have placed new flooring over asbestos floor tile to save the time and money in having it removed. This isn’t a safe practice. Remember that we are talking about microscopic fibers here that can’t be easily seen with the naked eye. If the asbestos floor tile is damaged in the process of laying over a new floor your health is at risk. Asbestos floor tile in the home is a big deal; especially if it’s damaged. Do yourself a favor and contact a licensed asbestos abatement professional for proper advice on keeping you and your family safe.
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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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What You Need to Know About Asbestos Floor Tiles
If you have never had to deal with any sort of asbestos it can be a real worry. We hear all the time about how awful asbestos is and how it can give you asbestosis. Although it can be a very dangerous substance you don’t need to over worry about it too much if you find it in your home. The reason asbestos has been used in the manufacture of floor tiles is because it’s a very practical material in terms of being able to resist fire along with some other things.
With asbestos flooring you should know that there are basically two states it can be in. Either is can be non-friable which is where it is in a safe form and you don’t need to worry about it. Whereas if it’s friable it means that the spores of the asbestos can get into the air and therefore into your lungs.
Luckily if you do decide you want to get rid of your asbestos flooring tiles, it’s a pretty easy job that can be done by specialist contractors. You should never attempt the removal yourself because safety gear needs to be worn such as goggles and respirator. The tiles can then be taken away in large bits and you should never try to saw or drill it because the asbestos can then get into the air.
Some people might think that it’s too expensive to have the tiles removed professionally but this is not one expense you should try to cut out. In many places it’s against the law to attempt the removal yourself and also the asbestos needs to be disposed of correctly and cannot simply be placed into the garbage. Instead the asbestos is placed into a good air-tight container which is then clearly marked so that people know what is inside.
Although asbestos can be perfectly safe if allowed to sit where it is undisturbed, it can be very dangerous if you start to poke about with it. This is why if you want to do any sort of home remodelling you should either stay well away from any asbestos in your home or you should have it professionally removed by a contractor. Many people have contracted asbestosis because of exposure to asbestos and this is why so many lawyers specialise in asbestos cases. If you have found out that you are suffering from this condition it is well worth contacting a local lawyer that deals with such cases because there is a good chance you will be able to claim for compensation.
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