Asbestos Testing in Watford
Up until as recently as the year 2000, asbestos was still being used within the construction industry. Found in some commonly used building materials, it is still possible to find asbestos lurking in various parts of the structure of commercial premises and residential properties.
There were many areas such as Boundary Way (a 1970’s build) which were built with asbestos materials and therefore Asbestos testing in Watford is important to identify any materials that could be found in your property. These could include:
- Loose asbestos in ceiling or floor cavities
- Lagging
- Sprayed coatings on ceilings, walls and beams/columns
- Asbestos insulating board
- Floor tiles, textiles and composites
- Textured coatings
- Asbestos cement products
- Roofing felt
If your home, office or industrial unit has asbestos hidden within it, you may not necessarily be aware that it is there. When you come to renovate or extend, you will need to hire a professional, licensed contractor to safely remove and dispose of any of potentially harmful asbestos-containing materials.
Why Is Asbestos Testing Important?
The safest way to ascertain whether or not your home or building may contain traces of asbestos is to have a professional asbestos removal company undertake asbestos testing in Watford, prior to any materials being removed.
It is vital that you do not attempt to remove any asbestos on your own, as exposure to the chemical can have a detrimental effect on your health and the health of those around you. When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, the fibres are released into the air. If inhaled, these fibres can cause serious diseases including Mesothelioma (cancer of the lungs and the lower digestive tract), Asbestos-related lung cancer, Asbestosis (scarring of the lungs) and pleural thickening. Because of the risks associated with the removal of asbestos only fully licensed companies are now allowed to deal with the removal and disposal of any asbestos-containing materials.
How Do You Test For Asbestos?
Here at Avanti, we are able to provide HSE accredited third party consultants who will undertake a series of tests that will locate the presence and extent of any suspect asbestos-containing materials in your home or building. Any materials that could potentially contain the harmful fibre will be sent to their UKAS accredited laboratory for full asbestos sample testing in Watford.
We take our commitment to your safety very seriously and will not only test for the presence of asbestos within your home or business but will also safely remove and depose of the materials to keep you, your family, your staff and your visitors safe.
Asbestos Surveys in Watford
Our third party consultants may suggest an Asbestos management survey be undertaken to ascertain the best way to manage asbestos-containing materials while your house or business premises are still in use.
A Management Survey aims to ensure that:
- Nobody is harmed by the continuing presence of asbestos in the premises or equipment;
- That the asbestos remains in good condition and
- That nobody disturbs it accidentally
An asbestos survey is minimally intrusive and will identify any areas of concern. Once again, samples will be sent off to their UKAS accredited laboratory for full analysis.
What Is A Refurbishment/Demolition Survey?
If you are planning on upgrading, refurbishing, extending or demolishing any part of your home or premises that may contain asbestos you will need to obtain a refurbishment/demolition survey. This type of survey aims to ensure that:
- Nobody will be harmed by working with the asbestos on the premises and that
- Such work will be done by the right contractor in the correct way
The survey must locate and identify all asbestos-containing materials before any structural work begins. This type of survey does involve a destructive inspection and the asbestos will be disturbed. For that reason, the area surveyed must be vacated and certified ‘fit for reoccupation’ after the survey.
What Happens After Asbestos Testing And Surveys
Here at Avanti, we can safely identify and dispose of any potentially dangerous asbestos in your home or business premises. Our four-stage clearance process is carried out by UKAS accredited analytical consultants following the removal of asbestos. These independent surveyors will ensure all air monitoring complies with the ISO17025 standard in order to ensure that an area has been satisfactorily cleaned before the area is suitable for re-occupation.
As leading quality-approved asbestos specialists, all our asbestos surveyors and consultants are trained to the highest standards and hold all of the necessary accreditations.
Find out more about our asbestos testing in Watford by speaking to our helpful staff on 0333 3355974 today.
