In many aspects, you might think that you are saving money by clearing asbestos on your own or with your team. As this might be a seemingly attractive idea, it is also undeniable that there are more risks involved. This proves that it is always a sound decision to hire an asbestos abatement company. They are the true experts who would be able to follow proper procedures in clearing asbestos off commercial or residential establishments.
Why is it important to ensure that asbestos abatement is handled by experts?
Asbestos is a toxic substance that was part of most building materials. This was because of the heat-resistant properties that prevent the spread of fires. This made it very attractive to use in construction. Despite the ideal properties of asbestos, it was also realized that over time, it breaks down and turns out to be a health hazard. As such, clearing old buildings of asbestos had become an essential activity for owners of these structures. This is to ensure that current or future occupants would be safe within the establishment.
Asbestos exposure could be defined by inhaling or ingesting it. Its fibers are microscopic that makes them difficult to avoid. Such could cause cancer or pleural plaques that continue to affect thousands of people. This could also mean deaths if asbestos is improperly handled. Hence, the clearing activity in an establishment must be done by experts. They had the relevant training in protecting themselves and others during abatement. At the same time, they follow all federal and state guidelines and recommendations for testing and removal.
How do you hire an asbestos abatement company?
This is a requirement for commercial structures. It was made part of their requirements to obtain licenses, hence, would have to ensure that their building or establishment is free from asbestos. It would be good to highlight that this is not the same requirement for residential properties. However, such practice is strongly recommended. As such, it would be very important that the right team of experts is hired to complete the job.
Validate the qualifications of the company. You need to know that the company you will hire is an expert in the industry. You can ask them for their qualifications and get them verified through thorough checks. More importantly, it also ensures that the building is fully clear of asbestos after the activity.
Identify the kind of work they will do for you. There are classifications of asbestos abatement that are being done by companies. It is essential for you to know what they are and be given the options on what kind of service that needs to be done. They may discuss scopes of work like the following:
Class I – this work involves activities that clears the area with surface-level asbestos materials. This could be for minimal clearing and may be applicable for areas that are still relatively new and do not necessarily contain so much asbestos as you thought they did.
Class II – this type of work is relatively more rigorous than the first. This activity will include the removal of non-thermal materials that also contain asbestos. This could be on roofing shingles, construction mastics, and the like.
Class III – this involves more extensive repair and maintenance activities to remove materials that contain asbestos. This may mean serious disturbance of the structure to ensure that it is free of the substance. At best, you should also expect that top practice of health and safety protocols are in place.
Make sure that they can walk you through their process. The best way to display their level of expertise is how effectively the company representative can walk you through their process. In as much as you are not of the same level of expertise, they should be able to make details digestible for you. This means making you understand how the plan is to generally work and how each phase unfolds. By such, you can be assured that they are doing their part safely and efficiently, as well.
A reliable company ensures that they conduct proper testing of asbestos in the area. This is one of the aspects of asbestos abatement that could turn out to be costly. However, this guarantees that you can save more if the company you will hire follows the procedures and protocols.
Asbestos testing is done by independent laboratories that a credible company partners with. They ensure that they get to the bottom of the problem by getting the testing right. In doing so, there will be higher accuracy in identifying the right approach to clear your property of asbestos.
If we do the math, hiring an asbestos abatement company would sound costly at the surface. This concern would be common these days especially with the rise of many do-it-yourself materials on the internet. You might be tempted to look up videos or read materials that talk about easy solutions to get the task done. However, doing this puts so much more at risk.
You are risking several things if you revert to doing things on your own:
the possibility of re-work if there is still asbestos
putting yourself and others at risk if the activities are not done properly
spending more for the 2 aforementioned consequences
If you think about it, hiring true asbestos experts is your best bet to pass federal and state requirements. As such, this puts so much value on getting a certified team that can do the work for you. Based on your project needs, MEC offers limited and comprehensive sampling for minor and major renovations and demolitions. Our services include asbestos inspections, asbestos air testing, all the way through the completion of asbestos removal projects.
With over 25 years in the industry, we know the people to call when projects get complicated. We offer a variety of asbestos testing and consultation services for public and private sector clients. Whether it’s a commercial or industrial building or a construction project, our licensed inspectors will create an easy-to-understand report of their findings. From there, we develop an abatement plan that will safely remove the asbestos and keep your project on track. Give us a call today!
