For property owners, the possibility that there’s asbestos hiding somewhere in their property is often a concern. Asbestos is invisible and difficult to detect, which is why the presence/absence asbestos test is so essential.
At Consultex Labs, this is one of the many services we offer to arm Kiwi property owners with the information they need to stay safe.
In this post, we’re covering everything there is to know about presence/absence asbestos testing. Read on to explore the dangers of asbestos itself to the importance of testing and the right time to do it.
Why is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that was used widely in the construction industry around the world before the 1990s. It was a common choice for fireproofing, insulation, and soundproofing before the link between certain health conditions and asbestos exposure was discovered. From there, it became clear that this material should be heavily restricted.
Unfortunately, many properties built before the asbestos shutdown in 1990 might have asbestos in them. While asbestos isn’t generally dangerous in its static state, the real danger comes when an asbestos-containing material (ACM) is drilled through, cut, or otherwise disturbed.
The small fibres of asbestos flake away from the site, these can make their way into the lungs and cause a lot of damage. The fibres irritate the lining of the lung, and long-term exposure can lead to all sorts of adverse health effects.
Health Effects from Long-Term Asbestos Exposure
There are many negative health effects that have been tied to long-term asbestos exposure over the years. The most common ones focus on the respiratory area and are as follows:
Lung cancer. When caused by asbestos, the cancer develops in the lung tissue, causing abnormal growths that can affect breathing and spread to other areas of the body.
Mesothelioma. While it can be caused by other things, asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma. This is a specific type of cancer, which usually turns up fifteen or more years post-exposure. Late-stage mesothelioma can come with the unfortunate prognosis of 12 to 16 months left to live.
Asbestosis. This is a chronic lung condition caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres. The scarring of the inner lung lining causes significant shortness of breath. The severity of this condition can change depending on how much someone was exposed to asbestos.
In almost all cases, health complications arising from asbestos exposure don’t appear until many years after the initial exposure. It’s very difficult to determine whether you’ve been exposed to asbestos during construction or renovation works, which is why professional asbestos surveyors and removers wear such comprehensive protective equipment.
This is also why presence/absence asbestos testing is so important. Determining whether asbestos is in a given material allows professionals to plan their removal to minimise any possible exposure. Understanding the type and amount of asbestos is also important, which we can do with specific asbestos identification tests.
What is a Presence/Absence Asbestos Test?
A presence/absence asbestos test is exactly what it sounds like, a test to determine whether asbestos is present or not. Most often, asbestos won’t be found in its raw mineral form.
Instead, it will be incorporated into gib, insulation, or another building material to create what’s known as an asbestos-containing material (ACM).
According to WorkSafe, some of the most common asbestos-containing materials in New Zealand include:
- Bulk loose-fill insulation
- ‘Jiffy bag’ products used for sound insulation
- Sprayed industrial coatings for fireproofing
- Thermal insulation (especially for pipes and boilers)
- Electrical insulation
- Fireproof textiles
- Soil on old work sites
A presence/absence asbestos test uses a sample of a potential ACM. Lab technicians like the ones at Consultex Labs will carefully analyse the sample under a microscope, looking for signs of incorporated asbestos fibres.
An asbestos presence/absence test doesn’t offer further recommendations. It’s a simple positive or negative result, giving professional removers and property owners the information they need to begin planning the safe removal of the ACMs.
Order a Presence/Absence Asbestos Test
According to the Healthy Homes Act, “building owners and employers are legally required to know the location and condition of any asbestos-containing materials”. This is in response to the 2019 Amendment of the Residential Tenancy Act, which says that asbestos is a contaminant that must be contained or managed.
If asbestos is likely to be disturbed in any way, then it needs to be identified with a presence/absence test and removed. With all this in mind, there are several situations where we’d recommend choosing a presence/absence test.
- You’ve acquired a new property and have no records of existing asbestos surveys.
- You’re an employer moving into a new workspace with no existing asbestos surveys on file.
- You’re a property owner planning on doing renovations or repairs on a house built before 1995.
- You’re suspicious that you might have asbestos on your property and want to be sure you’re safe.
When in doubt, you can always get in touch with the team at Consultex Labs, and we’ll happily let you know if we recommend a test in your case or not.
Choose Consultex Labs for your asbestos testing needs.
We offer same-day service and competitive rates, as well as access to highly-qualified analysts. Our lab technicians are IANZ-accredited and able to quickly turn around your presence/absence test so you can prepare your next steps as fast as possible.
Send in your sample today, or get in touch with our team to arrange a same-day pickup.