Asbestos Testing Grand Junction, COAspen Growth Enterprises |
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When Should Asbestos Testing Be Performed?If you're planning on a home renovation project, it's a good idea to get your house tested for asbestos. Remember that in Colorado, Regulation 8 states that any contractor who removes at least thirty-two square feet of drywall from a home must get it tested for asbestos. This means that almost every single home renovation project requires asbestos testing. If you're living in an older building, it's a good idea to have asbestos testing done even when you're only making small repairs. Even simple maintenance work can disturb friable asbestos in older buildings, which can make it unsafe.
Additionally, it is a good idea to keep asbestos testing in mind when you are in the process of looking for a home to purchase. If you are seriously considering purchasing an older home, having an asbestos test done is generally a wise choice. While it is another upfront cost in the process of home buying, it is good to know what you are up against in terms of asbestos. That way, you can plan for the potential cost of also having asbestos abatement performed on the property should the test come back positive. The rules and regulations surrounding asbestos testing have been put into place so that homeowners can rest assured that if there is asbestos present in their homes, proper measures can be taken to ensure the safety of their families. |
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Should A Homeowner Attempt To Test For Asbestos Independently?
It is important to remember that you should not attempt to identify asbestos in your home on your own. Improperly collecting samples, for example, is one way that lead to a breakdown of the asbestos fibers and their release into the air of your home. Calling in a professional asbestos testing company is the safest way in which to properly test of asbestos in your home.
An asbestos testing company will be highly trained in how to deal with testing of areas for asbestos. When an asbestos testing company is called in to a building to conduct a test, they will take samples from each unique surface of an area that will be disturbed by remodeling activity, for example. They want to make sure that any area that will possibly be cut into or otherwise disrupted when a contractor is performing the necessary tasks of a remodel will not be releasing asbestos fibers into the air.
An asbestos testing company will be highly trained in how to deal with testing of areas for asbestos. When an asbestos testing company is called in to a building to conduct a test, they will take samples from each unique surface of an area that will be disturbed by remodeling activity, for example. They want to make sure that any area that will possibly be cut into or otherwise disrupted when a contractor is performing the necessary tasks of a remodel will not be releasing asbestos fibers into the air.
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How Are Samples Collected?
Each asbestos testing company will have its own operating procedures, but there are some common precautions that are taken while collecting samples to ensure that, if asbestos is present in the material being sampled, the fibers do not spread throughout the air of the home.
Occupants of the home should leave at the time that samples are being taken. In some cases, companies may block off the area form which the sample is being taken with plastic sheeting in order to further contain possible airborne fibers, as well as shutting down any cooling or heating elements in the home to prevent air circulation while the samples are being collected. The individuals collecting the samples will take measures to wear protective and easily disposed of clothing, including gloves and masks and will likely secure plastic sheeting below the area from which the sample is being taken.
The individual collecting the sample may wet the area with a fine mist of water which is done to help reduce the possibility of asbestos fibers becoming airborne when the sample is disturbed. A small piece of the material in question will be cut away and placed in an air-tight container. Afterward, the area that was sampled should be patched or repaired to prevent any further damage and possible asbestos fiber release.
If you suspect that there have already been asbestos fibers released into the air of your home, there is also an option to have air samples taken and tested as well. These samples are tested differently than solid samples and this involves analyzing the sample either for the concentration of fibers in the air, or for the specific types of fibers in the air sample.
Occupants of the home should leave at the time that samples are being taken. In some cases, companies may block off the area form which the sample is being taken with plastic sheeting in order to further contain possible airborne fibers, as well as shutting down any cooling or heating elements in the home to prevent air circulation while the samples are being collected. The individuals collecting the samples will take measures to wear protective and easily disposed of clothing, including gloves and masks and will likely secure plastic sheeting below the area from which the sample is being taken.
The individual collecting the sample may wet the area with a fine mist of water which is done to help reduce the possibility of asbestos fibers becoming airborne when the sample is disturbed. A small piece of the material in question will be cut away and placed in an air-tight container. Afterward, the area that was sampled should be patched or repaired to prevent any further damage and possible asbestos fiber release.
If you suspect that there have already been asbestos fibers released into the air of your home, there is also an option to have air samples taken and tested as well. These samples are tested differently than solid samples and this involves analyzing the sample either for the concentration of fibers in the air, or for the specific types of fibers in the air sample.
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How And Where Is Testing Performed?
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Once samples are collected from all surfaces in question, they are shipped to a lab for analysis. Grand Junction, CO does not have an asbestos testing lab, so all samples taken locally are shipped to a facility in Denver, CO for analysis to determine the presence of asbestos.
The only way for the presence of asbestos to be determined is by a trained professional using a specific type of microscope. Therefore, the samples must be sent to a lab which has these kinds of resources available. Different types of analysis are used for different types of samples – air, building materials, soil, and water all have different ways of being analyzed and a qualified lab will have the capabilities to analyze the samples provided to it in an effective way so that the lab is able to determine accurately whether or not asbestos is present in the sample that is provided. |
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Next Steps If The Sample Comes Back Positive
If you have had a sample of material from your home tested for asbestos, and the test comes back positive, there are additional steps to be taken to correct the problem.
Once you have determined the presence of asbestos in your home, you should immediately contact an asbestos abatement company in your area. These companies are highly trained, in the same way that asbestos testing companies are, in handling asbestos when it is present in building materials.
It is not recommended that homeowners attempt to clean up an asbestos spill on their own. An untrained person may think that all is required is to clear the dust particles from the immediate area and any other surfaces where the dust may have settled. However, significant spread of the asbestos particles could have happened in the process of the damage to the asbestos containing material, and those particles could have made their way into the air ducts of the home, further spreading anytime a cooling or heating element is activated. Professional asbestos abatement companies will have the knowledge, equipment, and trained staff to effectively clean up any contaminated areas to ensure that they are safe for your family.
Once you have determined the presence of asbestos in your home, you should immediately contact an asbestos abatement company in your area. These companies are highly trained, in the same way that asbestos testing companies are, in handling asbestos when it is present in building materials.
It is not recommended that homeowners attempt to clean up an asbestos spill on their own. An untrained person may think that all is required is to clear the dust particles from the immediate area and any other surfaces where the dust may have settled. However, significant spread of the asbestos particles could have happened in the process of the damage to the asbestos containing material, and those particles could have made their way into the air ducts of the home, further spreading anytime a cooling or heating element is activated. Professional asbestos abatement companies will have the knowledge, equipment, and trained staff to effectively clean up any contaminated areas to ensure that they are safe for your family.
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Aspen Growth is available for Asbestos Testing during normal business hours: 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday - Friday
