There's so much talk about asbestos, its dangers, and the need for making proper abatement, but most people don't bother about it until they suspect that their property may inhabit these dangerous fibers. If you are one of those people who have an older property and just had an asbestos inspection, you may be wondering what's next for your home. What will the abatement process entail and what's your role throughout the process? This article will look into the abatement process, and the procedures are involved in ensuring that your home is safe from this hazardous material.

Professional inspection

If you just checked out some articles online about how to check for asbestos, this does not count as a proper inspection. A certified inspector that is recognized by the state must come in, take samples of building materials from various areas in your home, and test them in the laboratory. They will also check the state of the asbestos-containing materials to determine whether they pose a danger to the home's occupants. Once the materials test positive for asbestos and the inspector establishes that the fibers are already exposed to the air, the material has to be removed.

Demarcation of the site

Before the local asbestos removal project starts, the removal experts will demarcate your home as a dangerous site. Your family, kids and pets will not be allowed into the property during the removal process. This is in your best interest as the fibers can cause severe respiratory problems when inhaled. The inspector and other workers on the site will be wearing protective nose and face masks and specialized gear to avoid exposure to the hazardous materials.

Besides this, the inspector may also take measures to ensure that the fibers don't move to other rooms in the home. So they may shut off the heating and cooling system to avoid air circulation or fibers getting trapped in your HVAC ducts.

Waste management and cleaning

During the removal process, proper waste management practices will be exercised to ensure minimal exposure of the fibers. For example, the workers will be trained on how to handle the waste and to avoid breaking the asbestos-containing materials into small pieces as this will release the fibers. Additionally, asbestos waste should be collected in sealable plastic containers for proper disposal. The workers will then clean the home with mops and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuums to ensure that no asbestos fibers are left on the property.

After the abatement process, it is essential to have an inspector come in for another inspection so that they can confirm that there is no more asbestos in your home.