Known as a hazardous material in older homes and buildings today, asbestos was widely used in construction before the 1980s, particularly in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Ductwork installed throughout properties during this time may still contain harmful asbestos today. When moved or disturbed, asbestos can lead to serious long-term health risks, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Therefore, you must act fast when asbestos is present in ductwork.
In this blog, we will discuss how to detect and safely remove asbestos in ductwork with the help of the expert team at Consultex Labs. Whether you are a homeowner, building manager, builder or contractor, it is crucial to understand how to handle asbestos in ductwork. Read on to discover the steps you can take to keep your property safe from harmful asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
Why is there Asbestos in Ductwork?
Ductwork is used to transport air from HVAC equipment in homes and buildings.
From the 1920s until the late 1980s, asbestos was commonly used in ductwork due to its heat resistance, durability, soundproofing, and cost-effectiveness. However, over time, it became clear that this material posed serious health risks. Asbestos manufacturing, importation, and use were eventually banned in the 1990s in New Zealand.
Detrimental Health Risks
Many people are still at risk of breathing in asbestos fibres, especially if they work or live in older buildings constructed before the 90s. One serious health risk is mesothelioma, which is a direct result of inhaling harmful asbestos fibres over time.
This rare cancer grows from the lining around the lungs, heart, and other organs in the stomach. It typically starts at least 15 years after continuous exposure to asbestos. Early signs of mesothelioma are a persistent cough that won’t go away, chest pain, or unexplained weight loss. Awareness of any signs of asbestos in your property is crucial to prevent developing these damaging health risks.
Detecting and Removing Asbestos in Ductwork
If you are concerned about asbestos in your ductwork, there are three steps you can take to detect and safely remove it from your home or workplace.
Step One: Professional Testing & Sampling
Never perform an asbestos inspection yourself. For fibrous and non-fibrous asbestos detection, it is best to consult a professional team of asbestos surveyors, like Consultex Labs, who can visit your property. Our team will use the right equipment and wear the appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to thoroughly inspect and identify asbestos in your ductwork.
We provide independent asbestos testing and identification services for residential, commercial, and industrial sites. Our bulk sampling includes extracting a piece of the asbestos-containing material. We will also take air samples from your property using a membrane filter. The samples are safely transported to our approved asbestos laboratories in Auckland or Dunedin. We can then analyse the samples through fibre counting to determine whether and how much asbestos is present.
It is important to test and confirm. This is essential for surveying and creating a HAZMAT-approved asbestos management plan that outlines where asbestos is present on your property and how it will be managed.
Step Two: Laboratory Analysis
Our IANZ-accredited lab technicians analyse the samples collected from your property using microscopy techniques. We can provide same-day service in some cases.
Once we have confirmed the results of any asbestos in your ductwork, we can help you plan your next steps accordingly to safely manage the removal of asbestos from your home or business.
Step Three: Removing Asbestos
Managing asbestos removal properly is key to safeguarding your property. The process will depend on several factors, including the condition of the asbestos material, its accessibility, and whether work needs to be carried out on or near it.
Hiring a professional contractor is the safest way to help you manage asbestos removal. A dedicated asbestos removalist will be highly skilled and trained to remove and dispose of asbestos from your property. They will use the surveyor’s report to assess what work needs to be done and create an asbestos removal control plan (ARCP). This will outline the removal process, including the health and safety measures to be followed.
An asbestos assessor will ensure the asbestos removal work has been completed to the required health and safety standards. The assessor is usually an independent contractor from a different company.
Before removal work begins, the assessor will review the ARCP to ensure no further risks are present. Once the asbestos removal work has been completed, the assessor will inspect the site and collect air samples to test for asbestos fibres. They will then confirm that the property has been cleared of asbestos and is safe to re-enter.
Enhance The Safety of Your Property with Consultex Labs.
Contact our expert team at Consultex Labs to safely test for signs of asbestos in ductwork at your property. We can help keep you safe with thorough asbestos sampling and advise you on handling and removing asbestos from your home or business.