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.