What Is Asbestos Abatement?

Asbestos abatement is a term that simply means the process of removing or containing asbestos. People who live in homes with asbestos products often have these materials removed because of the harmful effects that have been associated with asbestos.

Removing asbestos from your home can be a complicated process. Asbestos may be found in attic insulation, roofing tiles, popcorn ceilings and ductwork. It is most harmful when it has begun to crumble, fray, tear or become brittle.

According to the investigative book Fatal Deception by Michael Bowker,if asbestos has been found in your home, contact a certified asbestos inspector. The book, in fact, discourages hands-on investigation of the mineral by homeowners.  Why? Because "unless you are trained and have proper protective gear, you might expose yourself and perhaps your family by attempting to take your own samples," Bowker writes.

What Happens During the Abatement Process?

There are several steps in beginning the process of removing or repairing asbestos.

Test the suspected product. If you have identified a potential source of asbestos in your home, contact an asbestos professional to take a sample. The sample will be sent to an accredited laboratory and then processed. If the sample is found to contain more than 1 percent asbestos, it is considered by the EPA to be "asbestos-containing."

Hire an asbestos abatement company. To find professional contractors who have received the proper state-regulated training, you can contact your state health department for a list of certified abatement contractors.

Prepare the area. Your abatement contractor will remove all furniture, seal off all surfaces and utilize all necessary safety equipment to prepare an area for abatement. It is important to monitor the airflow within a room because released fibers can easily circulate in the air and float to other areas of a home.

Remove, repair, encapsulate or enclose asbestos product. Asbestos products should be soaked in water before they are handled in any way. This lessens the chance the asbestos products will be further damaged.

Only small pieces of asbestos products should be removed at a time. If repairing the product, apply a layer of sealant to the material and make sure the product is not broken, torn, frayed or otherwise disintegrating.

Dispose of the asbestos. Double bag the removed asbestos, exposed tools and protective gear. Then seal the bags with duct tape, label properly and drop off at an asbestos disposal site.

Should All Asbestos Be Removed?

Asbestos fibers are trapped within products until something disturbs it like renovating a room, drilling or breaking a product that contains asbestos. According to the EPA, asbestos products that have been disturbed should be removed, repaired, enclosed within new construction or encapsulated by applying a coating over the exposed asbestos product.

As Bowker notes, asbestos that is encapsulated or enclosed must be constantly maintained and inspected because the product will become worn down over time.

How to Decide if Asbestos Should be Removed

The process of removing asbestos from a home or building can cause further damage to the product that contains asbestos because the product can become broken, torn or frayed and may cause even more fibers to be released into the air.

What Does the EPA Say About Abatement?

Asbestos abatement has been found to increase the risk of exposure to asbestos fibers, and the EPA recommends that a trained abatement contractor should remove any and all asbestos-containing products.

Because of the high cost of having a home abated, some home or building owners want to remove asbestos products themselves. Proper training, licenses, health forms and notification are required for homeowners to perform abatement without the help of a certified abatement contractor.

Although performing asbestos abatement yourself may cut costs, the EPA does not recommend it because the risk of releasing more asbestos fibers into the air is significantly increased.

Support Asbestos Awareness

Help us get the word out about the dangers of asbestos. Get a free Awareness Wristband and show your support. Click on the wristband link near the top right of this page.