Do you live in an older home? If it was built prior to 1980, asbestos-containing material could be present both inside and outside of your home. And the truth is, any home, regardless of when it was built, can have asbestos, as the materials used in various components of the house could contain asbestos fibers. Because asbestos exposure poses a tremendous health and safety risk, its presence in your home (or other building) must be detected and managed or eliminated as quickly as possible, especially if you are planning renovation projects in the future.
Since asbestos includes a family of abundant, naturally occurring, heat-resistant minerals, it was widely used to produce products for many industries, including building supplies. Here are some of the most common sources of asbestos products in the home:
- Attic and wall insulation
- Vinyl floor tiles and sheeting, and the adhesive used for installation
- Drywall and sheetrock
- Roofing and siding shingles
- Textured paint and patch compounds for walls and ceilings
- Asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets on floors/walls near wood-burning stoves
- Insulative asbestos blanket or tape covering hot water or steam piping
- Insulation and gaskets on doors of oil and coal furnaces
- Heat resistant fabrics
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognize asbestos as a health hazard and have set strict regulations around its management and removal. However, federal law does not require persons who inspect, repair, or remove asbestos-containing materials in detached single-family homes to be trained and accredited. But state and local regulations are often stricter in their requirements, and federal requirements are in place for other types of structures (commercial and government buildings, for example).
Regardless of the requirements in your location, for safety’s sake you will want to hire a trained and licensed professional to perform an asbestos inspection in your home and provide recommendations for either the safe removal or in-place management of the asbestos.
At Paragon Environmental, we are experts in asbestos mitigation for homes and businesses. We follow strict guidelines set forth by OSHA, EPA, and CDPHE. We are fully licensed and insured, and ready to help you through the asbestos management process with as little impact as possible to your family or coworkers. Give us a call at 303-529-1257 today!
