Asbestos removal is arguably one of the most stressful parts of a renovation or demolition, but once it’s over, you can breathe a real sigh of relief. You’ve done the hard yards with formal asbestos identification, you’ve hired the professionals, and the physical asbestos material is either isolated or removed from your property.
But before you can move on, there’s one more crucial step you need to take to ensure everyone on-site is safe: asbestos air monitoring. This is a legally necessary final step, and the only way to prove that the air is actually safe enough for you, your family, your tenants, or your workers to breathe.
Why is asbestos air monitoring necessary?
Asbestos isn’t dangerous because of its mere presence; it’s the fibres that you have to watch for. When asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are disturbed, they break down into tiny needles that are so light they can drift in the air. You can’t see them with the naked eye.
If these fibres are inhaled, they irritate the respiratory system and create a domino effect of lasting conditions that can permanently impact your health. Since the fibres can’t be seen or caught, they’re the genuinely dangerous part of any asbestos identification or removal process.
While any removalist will thoroughly inspect your property to make sure the bulk of the material is gone, it’s almost impossible to detect these fibres or dust that might have settled on high ledges.
Without scientific air testing, you are essentially guessing about the air quality. Asbestos air monitoring takes the guesswork out of the equation by drawing a specific volume of air through a filter and analysing it under a microscope to count every single fibre. This is a vital part of the 4-Stage Clearance Process.
Meet the 4-Stage Clearance Process
Aotearoa has a “Clearance Certificate”, which is the official document that declares a site is safe to reoccupy and continue working on. Under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, attaining this certificate requires you to cross the four stages:
- A preliminary check, which ensures the removal area is dry and all asbestos waste has been removed.
- A visual inspection, where you get a licensed assessor to check every surface for any visible debris or dust.
- Air monitoring, where pumps are set up to sample the air and determine if there is still any lingering asbestos.
- The final assessment, where we review all of the results and documentation to issue the Clearance Certificate.
Keep in mind that this process may change based on the results of the site’s asbestos identification. For Class A materials (friable, easily-disturbed asbestos), going through this entire process is mandatory. For Class B (non-friable) removals, air monitoring is not always a strict legal requirement, but it is always highly recommended to protect you and your people.
So, let’s hone in on that third step: asbestos air monitoring.
How does air monitoring work, and when do you need it?
One of the most important rules in the New Zealand regulations is that the person doing the air monitoring must be independent of the person doing the removal. This is why we offer services independent of your removalists.
When we conduct air monitoring, we’re looking for a concentration of less than 0.01 fibres per millilitre of air (f/ml). Across the world, this is the recognised standard. If a test comes back higher than 0.01 f/ml, the site has failed. This means the removalists must return, re-clean the entire area, and the monitoring must be repeated.
This might seem like a hassle, but it’s the only way to ensure the site isn’t a long-term health risk. Trust us; dealing with a failed test now is much better than dealing with the health consequences of exposure ten years down the line. Not to mention, it’s vital documentation for your property records if you’re selling, managing a commercial lease, or handing a site back to a construction crew.
When should you request asbestos air monitoring?
You need to hire an independent assessor on top of any asbestos identification and removal services, as it’s a standard part of a removal project. That said, there are some other times that you might want to check your air quality as you’re working, especially if you’re already aware of asbestos on the property.
Asbestos air monitoring is useful after an accidental disturbance, such as a contractor on-site drilling into an asbestos sheet. It’s also helpful during active work to ensure that containment bubbles are actually holding, rather than leaking dangerous fibres into the rest of the building.
Before and after demolition, asbestos air monitoring is vital to confirm that a site is clean and to provide you with peace of mind as work continues.
In the end, asbestos air monitoring might seem a touch paranoid to the uninitiated, but it’s more about precision. If you make air monitoring a non-negotiable part of your project, then you can be sure that “clean” really means “clean”.
Trust Consultex Environmental for top-class asbestos air monitoring.
We offer mobile asbestos identification and clearance services, acting independently of your removal team to ensure you have a clear pathway to your Clearance Certificate.
Our team is on hand to help you navigate your asbestos removal and clearance without placing anyone at risk. Get in touch for guidance on the management, processes, or equipment hire needed to safely get the job done.