Friable Asbestos
What Is Friable Asbestos?
Friable asbestos contains loosely packed fibers and can be crushed easily. Examples of where friable asbestos can be found include insulation, pipe lagging, and fire blankets.
The reason why this is such a concern is the extremely dangerous nature of it. Friable asbestos can cause serious harm not only to your property but also the health of everyone in the vicinity. If this is in your home, this can include your friends and family. While commercial or industrial environments can put the health of your employees and the public at risk, which could lead to significant legal ramifications.
Where can friable asbestos be found?
Friable asbestos can be found during renovations, maintenance or demolition. It is commonly in the form of building materials such as insulation, concrete, and more. This is particularly the case in buildings built before the 1980’s.
Friable asbestos concerns
- Regular asbestos fibers can become airborne and cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, plural disease, and asbestosis.
- Asbestos fibers can become airborne through materials that are damaged or broken, drilled, sanded scraped, water blasted or even during demolition.
- Renovations can often cause asbestos to be released due to the usage of power tools
Dangers Of Friable Asbestos
Over long periods of time asbestos can even cause death
Increased Risk Of Lung Cancer
Asbestosis
Mesothelioma Cancer
Pleural Plaques
Chest Pains
Deformities
What’s The Difference Between Asbestos And Friable Asbestos?
Basically, friable asbestos can be crumbled easily and released into the air. Non-friable asbestos is more solid and has less of a chance of being inhaled and causing damage.
Friable asbestos
Friable Asbestos is more prone to damage and can be easily inhaled when airborne. Friable asbestos is more than 1% asbestos by weight. Examples of friable asbestos include thermal insulations, pipe lagging, sprayed coating and insulation boards.
Non-friable Asbestos
Non-Friable Asbestos is more resistant to damage and is therefore less likely to release harmful fibres into the air. This type of asbestos cannot be damaged and cannot be easily disturbed. Non-friable asbestos is most commonly found in vinyl floor tiles and cement sheets.
However, just because asbestos is non-friable, doesn’t mean it can become friable. If the material is disturbed or damaged, it is possible to become friable and distribute across the air.
Does My Property Have Friable Asbestos?
Was your property built before 1985?
If it was, there is a high chance that it contains asbestos. However, if your home was built afterwards, when the dangers of asbestos became widely known, there is a better chance that your property does not contain it.
However, if you are uncertain, it is vital for the sake of every residents’ health that you hire a professional asbestos testing service.
If you are planning to have a renovation in your property, it is essential that you have the materials tested. This is because any renovation can disturb the asbestos and release the particles into the air.
Our Friable Asbestos Removal Process
Our team of asbestos specialists remove asbestos as safely as possible. We wet the material and gently spray the surface with water. We then continue this process as we remove the bonded asbestos.
It is not recommended that you remove the asbestos yourself. Asbestos removal must be carried out by a professional, otherwise you can risk exposing yourself to the material.
HM Group meets the Workplace Health and Safety laws and regulations. At Hazardous Materials Group, our work is carried out carefully and all asbestos dust is cleaned from the property.
Safety First
At Hazardous Materials Group, our team of asbestos professionals will wear protective clothing and specialised masks. This allows us to safely handle the materials. We also take the following steps to ensure the asbestos is cleared from the area, so you aren’t exposed.
1. Our contractors seal any joining areas with duct tape. This prevents asbestos becoming airborne.
2. We wipe all exposed areas with a wet rag.
3. Our contractors will clean all the furniture and carpet thoroughly.
4. We clean hard surface areas.
5. Once the area has been tested, we then move onto removing the asbestos completely from your property.
Why Choose HM Group
Want to work with industry leaders in asbestos removal?
HM Group has 27+ years of experience and are A-class licenced and $20 million Public Liability Insured.
Our customers enjoy a wide range of specialist services, including:
safe removal and the disposal of friable asbestos and non-friable asbestos
Commercial Property Demolition
asbestos inspections and detection
preliminary testing
comprehensive quotes and planning
internal strip outs
disposal of waste in licensed facilities
If there has been any damage done to asbestos material in your property, there is a high probability that asbestos has been dislodged into the air and requires immediate attention.
Contact HM Group for a FREE quote TODAY. Hazardous Materials Group professionals are available 7 days a week.
We Are QLD WHS Compliant
It is a legal requirement for anyone handling asbestos to comply with the WHS legislation in QLD.
At HM Group, we ensure our staff all comply with the necessary requirements. Our team goes above and beyond to ensure the safety of every individual in the vicinity. We put everyone’s health and safety first. Our team does not cut corners to make the job cheaper, faster, or easier.
HM Group complies with all health and safety (AS/ NZS 4801) regulations.
When Can I Go Back To My Home?
One of the most common questions we get asked is how long it will take for the asbestos to settle and become safe to live in again.
The answer is that once the asbestos material is removed, it can take between 48 -72 hours to settle.
The asbestos specialists at Hazardous Materials Group are highly experienced with over 27 years of experience. During our planning stage, we will inform you of all the steps to come and any expectations to have.
Book Your Asbestos Inspection Today
Worried about the presence of asbestos in your building?
HM Group can inspect your residential, commercial, or industrial building for the presence of asbestos. Our team has 27+ years of experience and can create a detailed plan to minimise health risks and successfully remove any asbestos safely.
