The mere thought that asbestos may exist in the building incites anxiety and unease as it is often recognised as a silent killer that frequently goes undiscovered. There is an extra obligation if you own the facility, as you can be held accountable for the effects of asbestos. The mineral's hazards have been well documented, and asbestos on roofs has been prohibited from being used in UK construction for over 20 years.
What Is Asbestos?
If you want to know what you could deal with, here is a beautiful place to start. Naturally occurring mineral materials with solid fibres, resistance to fire and electricity, resistance to chemical and thermal degradation, and potential for weaving and binding agent application are referred to as "asbestos."
There are two types of asbestos: Amphiboles, which include Amosite/Grunerite (brown) and Crocidolite (blue) asbestos, and Serpentine, composed of Chrysotile (white) asbestos. Three further varieties of Amphiboles are seldom mined since they are not used for commercial purposes: anthophyllite, actinolite, and tremolite. Because of how the fibres are formed and shaped, amphiboles are thought to be more deadly than serpentines.
Use Of Asbestos In Roof Materials
Asbestos was frequently used in roofing materials to increase fire resistance and longevity. Among the roofing materials containing asbestos are:
- They are frequently utilised as corrugated roofing panels or asbestos cement sheets.
- Applied beneath shingles to provide waterproofing is asphalt roofing felt.
- Asbestos is included in roof tiles and shingles to increase strength.
- Roofing sealants and matting materials, including asbestos, are used to endure high temperatures.
The Dangers To Your Health From Asbestos
When asbestos fibres are exposed into the air, they can be dangerous. The tiny fibres have the potential to become stuck in the lungs and other tissues, which can result in significant health disorders. Let's have a look at the health risks of asbestos exposure:
- Asbestosis: It is a breathing problem caused by lung tissue scarring.
- Mesothelioma: It is an uncommon cancer of the lining of the heart, abdomen, or lungs.
- Increased risk of lung cancer: The cancer is an alarming situation, particularly for smokers who have been with asbestos.
- Other Cancers: Laryngeal and ovarian cancers, for example.
Early identification and prevention are crucial since many illnesses can develop 10 to 50 years after exposure.
How To Recognise Asbestos In Your Roof?
It's not always easy to tell whether there is the presence of asbestos on the roof. These are a few signs:
- Age of the Building: Materials containing asbestos may exist in buildings constructed before the 1990s.
- Type of Roofing Material: Products more likely to contain asbestos include aged shingles and corrugated cement sheets.
- Visual Inspection: Although the texture of asbestos products may be fibrous, visual identification is unreliable.
- Professional Help: Employing a certified asbestos specialist capable of collecting samples and carrying out laboratory testing is crucial for a precise evaluation.
Safety Measures
There are a few things that you need to do if you think there may be asbestos on your roof:
- Don't Disturb It: Do not disturb the asbestos on your roof, but let it be there and call the experts. You need to be careful that it does not mix with the air.
- Professional Inspection: Work with a certified asbestos Survey in London to determine the danger. Regular Monitoring: Monitor for any deterioration in the roof's condition.
- Notify Contractors: Ensure everyone maintaining your roof knows that asbestos may exist.
Regulations And The Removal Of Asbestos
Many nations have laws restricting the handling and disposal of asbestos because of the health dangers involved:
- Professional Asbestos Removal: Only individuals with the necessary licenses should handle asbestos-containing items.
- Waste disposal: It must be done by the experts permitted by the government.
- Legal Compliance: Serious fines may be incurred for breaking the rules. Consult your local government for details on any applicable rules and regulations.
Asbestos Use In The Construction Industry
For millennia, asbestos has been utilised in candle wicks, clothes, ceramics, and even the preservation of corpses. However, because of its superior fire resistance and insulating qualities, it has only been widely utilised in the building sector since the Industrial Revolution, when it was employed for steam engines, boilers, turbines, and pipe insulation.
- The product took off in the 20th century, especially following World War II when resource depletion, technological advancements, increased need for reconstruction, and a building solutions sector looking for low-cost and efficient solutions all came together.
- Asbestos production peaked in 1977 when 4,973,451 metric tonnes were produced and employed in more than 3,000 distinct product kinds worldwide.
- As the lethal consequences of asbestos became increasingly evident via medical studies, demand for the material progressively fell. During its boom, the mineral was viewed as an "honour to humanity" and termed the "magic mineral."
- Credible studies like "Asbestos as a Modern Urban Hazard," published in 1963, and other studies conducted in the same year by industry specialists Selikoff, Chung, and Hammond provided additional proof of the connection between asbestos exposure and the illnesses that are linked to it.
- The fact that it usually takes 20 to 50 years for symptoms of an asbestos-related disease to appear is perhaps the most concerning feature about the risks associated with asbestos (though it might take anywhere from 10 to 60 years).
- According to HSE research, because of the long latency period, it is anticipated that mortality rates from asbestos-related diseases will peak in 2016. This means that in addition to paying closer attention to the health conditioning of people who may have previously been exposed to asbestos products, we also need to make sure that any suspected asbestos removal or deterioration is handled correctly to lower the risk of exposure in the future.
Conclusion
There can be serious health hazards when asbestos is released into the air. Proper management is required to keep a check and spread awareness among the people. There is a need to get your roof assessed if you feel the presence of asbestos on your roof. The Asbestos professional Company can inspect your roof and offer you safer modern materials.