Identifying Asbestos in your property

When trying to establish if asbestos forms part of your building structure there are some questions you can ask:

• When was your building built? In New Zealand building materials were likely to contained asbestos from 1940 until the mid-1980s.

• Was there any refurbishment or additions made to the property prior to 2000?

Buildings built or altered after 2000 are less likely to comprise of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) but this cannot be guaranteed.

• Ask to see the building plans

In a factory or manufacturing facility look at the history of the building and speak to suppliers of plant to check for ACM components

• Get some expert help

Our experienced team at CSS can provide both a visual inspection and take samples from your site for IANZ laboratory analysis.

Types of Asbestos

Asbestos containing materials may be categorized in two groups Non-Friable Asbestos and Friable Asbestos:

Non-friable Asbestos – usually found in building linings is considered the safer of the two categories because the asbestos fibres has been bonded into the product. However, non-friable ACM is likely to release fibres if it is disturbed or manipulated.

All removal must be made by a licenced Removalist

Helpful link http://asbestosaware.co.nz/identify.php

Friable Asbestos – usually found in a condition that can be easily crumbled or can be reduced to powdered form by hand when dry. Friable Asbestos is considered the least safe of the two categories.

Things to Consider if Asbestos Forms Part of the Building

Things you should consider if asbestos is found to form part of your property:

• The condition of the Asbestos
• The amount of Asbestos present

Most asbestos containing building lining should not pose a health risk unless it is degraded and/or broken.

Domestic

Asbestos present in a domestic property which is well maintained and intact may be left if it poses no risk of being damaged. However, it will need to be routinely inspected, maintained and from April 2018 a register must be kept identifying the asbestos at the property and includes an Asbestos Management Plan.

Commercial

The treatment of asbestos in commercial properties presents a difference in scale with that of domestic sites. If it is well maintained and intact it may be left if it poses no risk of being damaged. Staff should be made aware of it’s location so that extra care and vigilance may be taken.
A register must be kept identifying and locating the asbestos and include an Asbestos Management Plan.

Sampling

CSS can help you in identifying the presence of asbestos containing material in your property by safely obtaining a sample from site and having the sample examined by a testing laboratory.

CSS are experienced, licenced and ready to carry out your removal work – from a broken soffit through to larger projects such as emergency work – fire or vehicular damage; cladding, roofs or ceilings in schools, factories, or warehouses and soil clean-ups.

Remember if you have any concerns or queries about getting started just give us a call