How Professionals Contain Asbestos to Prevent Spread During Removal
Posted in Asbestos Removal, on December 19, 2024
Asbestos is one of the most hazardous materials that can inhabit your home. The material is known for its fragility and toxicity, making it dangerous to remove on your own. In order to avoid the negative health impact of asbestos, you should call for a professional asbestos inspection. Professionals will be able to accurately determine whether your home contains asbestos or not and facilitate safe and effective removal if you do. At Canada’s Restoration Services, we have a specialized asbestos containment process in order to prevent the spread of asbestos fibres throughout your home. If you are concerned about asbestos in your home, contact us today for asbestos removal in Ottawa. Call our home restoration company today to book your service!
The Nature of Asbestos
Naturally, asbestos is a very fragile and fibrous substance. The reason asbestos is commonly found in older homes is because it was once popular for fireproofing, insulation, and various construction applications. However, as time went on, it was discovered that asbestos was highly toxic, especially when tiny fibres were inhaled.
Given the fragility of asbestos, it is crucial that you never touch or disturb it if you suspect it is lurking in your home. Touching asbestos can trigger the release of thousands of tiny airborne fibres that can poison the air of your home. Given the nature of asbestos, containment is an essential part of remediation. Professional asbestos removal teams have a particular process that needs to be followed in order to prevent the spread of asbestos fibres during removal. This is done to minimize the impact of the fibres on the restoration team and the property owners.
Health Impacts of Asbestos
The primary purpose of asbestos removal is to minimize the negative health impacts of the substance. Asbestos is known to cause diseases such as:
- Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibres, which become trapped in the lungs. Over time, these fibres cause scarring (fibrosis), making it harder to breathe and leading to symptoms like shortness of breath and persistent cough.
- Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the lung or abdominal lining caused by asbestos fibres lodging in these tissues. The fibres trigger inflammation and cellular damage, leading to cancer decades after exposure.
- Lung Cancer develops when asbestos fibres irritate and damage lung tissue, causing genetic mutations. Smoking dramatically increases the risk, with symptoms such as chest pain and persistent cough.
Containment Process for Asbestos Removal in Ottawa
In order to facilitate safe and effective asbestos removal while minimizing the spread of asbestos fibres, the remediation team has to create a plan, seal off the contaminated areas, remove asbestos and dispose of it safely.
Planning
Before asbestos removal is conducted, the remediation team will have to assess the space and the
asbestos site in order to plan their containment zone. They will also need to inspect what materials contain asbestos and whether or not it is friable, as this will also impact the containment strategy.
Creating Containment Zones
Once the removal site has been located, the team will begin setting up the containment zones. These are usually the areas where the asbestos will be removed. In order to protect the surrounding areas from asbestos fibres, heavy-duty plastic sheets are used to line doorways, walls, floors, and entry points to other parts of the home. This will ensure that the asbestos fibres remain contained in one part of the home.
Oftentimes, a negative air pressure system is also used. This consists of turning on a machine, similar to a vacuum, that draws asbestos fibres into the containment area rather than outwards towards other areas of the home.
Equipment
Your removal team will have professional-grade removal equipment and protective gear that will help trap and prevent the spread of asbestos fibres. Industrial-grade vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters are used to collect and trap asbestos fibres. Additionally, the members of the removal team are equipped with protective gear that will prevent them from carrying asbestos fibres out of the containment zone via their clothes.
Disposal of Asbestos
Once the asbestos fibres have been removed, your team will effectively contain them in bags and dispose of them as outlined by the Environmental Protection Act of Ontario. This will ensure that fibres cannot escape back into your home.
Opt for Safe Asbestos Removal with Canada’s Restoration Services
Asbestos containment is absolutely crucial in facilitating safe asbestos removal in Ottawa. Asbestos can be extremely fragile, and when disturbed, tiny fibres can spread throughout your home. This can be highly dangerous, given the toxicity of asbestos. This is why containing asbestos during removal is so crucial. If you suspect that you may have asbestos in your home, contact Canada’s Restoration Services for an asbestos inspection.
