Asbestos Testing Grand Junction, COAspen Growth Enterprises |
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Asbestos Testing Grand Junction, COAspen Growth Enterprises |
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Asbestos Use In Homes and BuildingsAsbestos was commonly used in building materials up until the 1970’s, when the health and safety risks of asbestos began to be better understood. Asbestos was used due in large part to its fire-resistant quality, but the health risks if asbestos becomes broken down and airborne seemed to have outweighed its benefits for common use in building-related materials, and rules and regulations regarding asbestos use in building material product manufacturing have since been put into place by various regulatory agencies.
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The manufacturing of most asbestos-containing materials for building use was banned in the United States between the 1970’s and 1990’s after the health risks of its use in building material was discovered. This means that it is illegal for companies in the U.S. to manufacture products which contain asbestos that are intended to be used in the construction of buildings.
However, this does not mean that building materials which are used in the present-day building of homes and other structures contain absolutely no asbestos. While the manufacture of most products containing asbestos is illegal, the importing of asbestos-containing building materials is not. There are very few regulations surrounding these imported materials. Therefore, even homes built after the 1970’s are at risk for containing asbestos. In fact, asbestos is everywhere. If you were to walk into Home Depot today, you would find plenty of different items that contain at least some asbestos. Many common home materials contain asbestos; it's often found in drywall, popcorn ceilings, and behind vinyl flooring. Even if you're buying a newer home, don't assume there isn't asbestos present somewhere in the house. Asbestos was (and is) used in building materials due to the fact that its fibers are extremely strong and its properties make it resistant to heat and chemical damage, as well as insulate against electricity and generally make the product in which the asbestos is contained more durable. Due to these benefits, the material can still be found in products used in building-related materials, but the knowledge of its health risks have led to some regulations on its use being put into place. |
Regulation 8 has been put in place by the state of Colorado as a way to prevent asbestos containing materials from being disturbed in buildings and homes and becoming airborne, potentially leading to serious health concerns for those who live or work in the buildings. The guidelines set forth in Regulation 8 should be taken seriously by those working both professionally as contractors, and those who are performing work on their own homes. With the potential updates to Regulation 8, stricter rules may be coming and this is something that should be monitored as the proposed changes are looked at throughout the spring of 2020.
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