Contrary to popular belief, there is no outright ban on the use of asbestos in the United States because there are still many good uses for asbestos in many products. There were attempts to ban the use of asbestos outright, but when it came down to it, it was nearly impossible to do so because the alternatives are no safer or better.
We talk to many homeowners who are surprised to learn that their home may have asbestos when they hire contractors to perform major renovations at their house built in the 1990s. The contractor asks for an asbestos report from a certified asbestos contractor before replacing vinyl tile or removing walls. Asbestos will most likely be present in a home built in the ’60s and 70’s when it was most popular to use. However, many building materials today may still contain asbestos, especially building material manufactured in foreign countries and imported into the United States that does’ have the same manufacturing regulations on the use of asbestos.
What products still contain asbestos?
Asbestos continues to be in many vinyl-asbestos floor tile; roofing felt and coatings, asbestos-cement products—corrugated and flat sheets, shingles, pipe, asbestos clothing, pipeline wrap, millboards, gaskets, non-roofing coatings, and automotive products—automatic transmission components, clutch facings, friction materials, disk brake pads, drum brake linings, brake blocks.
Why is asbestos still being used?
Allowing asbestos in the products mentioned above is due to asbestos tensile strength, weather resistance, heat resistance, adhesive strength, insulation qualities, and fireproofing. And the fact that there are no better alternatives will make it very unlikely that asbestos will completely disappear from manufacturing.
Where can I send a sample to test for asbestos?
Before removing any asbestos-containing material from your home, regardless of the year it was built, take a sample to have tested by an asbestos testing lab to verify that it has asbestos. Suppose you feel confident that you can handle this take alone. In that case, you can take a piece of the suspected material and send a sample to test for asbestos to a lab near you that will examine the asbestos-containing material under polarized light microscopy and send you the results.
How much does it cost to test for asbestos?
It can cost between $25-$40 per sample to test for asbestos, and you will need at least two pieces in case one sample tests negative and the other positive for asbestos. Suppose you hire a licensed professional asbestos inspector. In that case, it can cost between $150 to $250 for a service call and $25 per sample, but in the latter scenario, the inspector is well trained, has all the tools to perform this task safely, and will do so in accordance to EPA guidelines. The inspector will also provide a report that will include the results and a certificate, unlike when you do the work yourself and send a sample to test for asbestos to an asbestos testing that will only send you the results. Your local building department or contractor may require a report with the asbestos inspector’s certificate to validate the information.
Asbestos Testing Lab
If you need any suspected asbestos-containing material examined, you can send a sample to test for asbestos to 5 Microns Inc for analysis. We can even give you same-day results from receipt. Please feel free to contact us anytime with questions or concerns. Our staff of professionals is glad to help you. I hope this article was helpful and hope to make your acquaintance soon.
