There are many products offered today for asbestos testing at home. Most don’t require any special equipment, are relatively inexpensive, and simplify the task of sampling the asbestos in your home. If this is your first time dealing with asbestos, you may feel overwhelmed with all the options available to you. Here are some suggestions for making the most out of your testing experiences.
Most labs offer a wide variety of sample materials for asbestos testing in your home. Asbestos testing kits essentially turn the work of collecting the samples into your own hands. This effectively saves you time and hands-on management of the process. However, even if you don’t ultimately call in a lab to test your samples, testing kits are still a great way to begin the process. Take the time to gather samples from all over your house: bathroom floor tiles, exterior trim, basement walls, attic insulation, and more.
You need to know whether asbestos is present in the materials that you’re testing. This is usually indicated on the asbestos survey report that you receive after the lab examines your materials. Based on the results, the lab will suggest whether they classify asbestos as dangerous, and if so, what kind of action should be taken. If you’ve done the right asbestos testing, you should know whether the material poses no immediate threat. However, sometimes there may be materials that contain asbestos and yet still have none of the health hazards that characterize the substance. In this instance, you’ll need to determine whether you need an asbestos inspection to be completed.
Before you begin the asbestos inspection process, there are many things to consider. First, you must identify whether the asbestos is located inside or outside the home. Different materials are broken down differently, and the effects will vary depending on where the asbestos is located.
For example, materials that are inside the home can be reached by children and pets, while materials that are outside can only be reached by trained professionals. Secondly, you must determine whether the materials pose a potential environmental threat. If you feel that there’s a risk, you must determine if the substance is in an area that will allow it to spread to other places or if it can be trapped before it spreads.
As stated above, when you start asbestos testing you need to know whether the material poses a risk. For this reason, you must consult an asbestos awareness professional. If you don’t already have one, you should contact one soon. While an asbestos testing professional can make sure that the materials you’re testing are safe, you’ll also want to work with someone who is certified in the testing of asbestos. A well-certified contractor will help you locate all sources of asbestos, and will conduct a visual asbestos inspection of your house to determine the overall safety of your home.
Once you find an asbestos testing laboratory, you’ll want to choose an accredited company to work with. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the one you choose has to be located in your state. You should also ask the company if they are licensed with the division of the EPA Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This information should be included on their website, along with all of their contact information. Environmental consultants inc also offer a list of accredited companies, along with their contact information.
