Understanding the Role of a Certified Asbestos Consultant in Home Inspection​

Is an Asbestos Home Inspection Necessary?

Yes, the asbestos home inspection is really important for older homes. The presence of asbestos material in your home can make you change your renovation plans. Disturbing the asbestos materials in a home can release carcinogenic fibers into the air.

Health Issues Related to Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause different respiratory diseases, such as chronic lung ailments and mesothelioma. Being a carcinogen, asbestos can also cause lung cancer in people who inhale it. The severity of the illness depends on the duration and intensity of exposure to asbestos-containing materials. Each year, exposure to asbestos causes more than 200,000 deaths globally. To avoid serious illnesses, it is necessary to avoid asbestos exposure.

Do a Home Inspection Check for Asbestos?

A standard home inspector can’t do asbestos home inspections. For the inspection of asbestos, there are professionals who conduct a home inspection, take samples of the suspected material, and assess them. The professionals can grade whether the material has deteriorated with time, whether it has become hazardous. Asbestos inspection professionals can suggest further actions after testing the material.

What is The Process of Asbestos Inspection

The process of asbestos inspection consists of three steps:

1. Initial Assessment

In the initial assessment, the certified asbestos consultant identifies the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). According to the probability of asbestos in the house, the inspector can plan a detailed inspection.

2. Physical Inspection

In a physical inspection, the inspector proceeds with inspecting the building material. He checks for damages or any signs that can indicate the deterioration of asbestos-containing materials.

3. Sampling and Analysis

To assess the presence and condition of asbestos, the asbestos professional takes a sample of the asbestos-containing material, and the analysis is executed in the laboratory.

What is the Role of a Certified Asbestos Consultant?

A certified asbestos consultant performs his job in the following manner:

1. Identification of Asbestos-Containing Materials

A certified asbestos consultant is well-trained to identify asbestos-containing materials. These materials can be found in building materials used in roofs, floors, or ducts.

2. Risk Assessment

The asbestos consultant checks if the asbestos-containing materials are friable, which means if they are releasing fibers in the air, making the air hazardous. If the material is not damaged, it will not be friable, i.e., not releasing the fibers in air.

3. Sampling and Testing

At the time of the survey, the experts take samples from the suspected material which have signs of damage. Those samples are later tested in the laboratory and a report is documented.

4. Remedy to Mitigate Asbestos

Certified asbestos consultants develop plans for the mitigation of asbestos. The experts also provide a method for proper asbestos removal activity.

Do Certified Asbestos Consultants Need Special Training 

There are special training programs for asbestos consultants. It is neither easy nor safe to deal with asbestos contamination. Thus, the consultants receive proper training to do their job.

Furthermore, the asbestos consultants have to follow the abatement procedure in such a way that it can minimize the risk of asbestos exposure. They perform their duties with special techniques and equipment.

The asbestos consultants also comply with local regulations and guidelines to ensure the safety of the environment during the whole process.

Conclusion

Asbestos is a deadly substance that can cause severe illnesses. It is neither safe nor recommended for a standard home inspector to assess the presence of asbestos in a home. A home inspection does not include an inspection of asbestos. Only certified asbestos consultants can check the asbestos and collect the samples for testing. It requires proper training to execute this job. If you are also thinking of an asbestos home inspection, don’t delay it to avoid severe illnesses; contact GreenWorks Inspections today!