Safety is the top priority in every workplace, which is why business owners take the necessary steps to ensure a healthy office environment.
But unbeknownst to some, several buildings are full of asbestos. If you are on this page, you are likely concerned about the presence of the mineral and are looking for clear asbestos identification signs.
Identifying asbestos in any property without a proper survey or audit is difficult. Fortunately, there are ways to tell when your property requires an asbestos building survey. Keep reading to find out.
- Your Building is Old
One of the easiest methods of determining whether your building needs an asbestos survey is its age.
Before the 31st of December 2003, numerous construction materials in Australia used asbestos. A ban was issued on the same date after the mineral’s harmful effects were found, making importing, selling, and using asbestos-containing materials illegal.
If your property has been constructed before the ban, consider it an indication to have the building surveyed for asbestos.
- Flooring Material
If your building’s flooring is rubber or vinyl, it may have been built with asbestos.
Besides the flooring material, the adhesive below may contain asbestos. After all, the mineral was a popular ingredient for many construction materials, with flooring being no exception.
If you plan to replace your existing flooring, ask for professional help to ensure there are no asbestos traces. Removing the flooring can release a dangerous number of fibres in the air, so have it surveyed and removed beforehand.
- Old Cement
Before the asbestos ban of 2003, asbestos cement was a favourable construction material for building all sorts of properties. These include walls, wood-burning stoves, and water tanks.
If your building’s walls are made of old cement or if you have a cement water tank, hire a professional immediately to have them tested, and if necessary removed. An asbestos cement water tank is dangerous as ingesting the mineral can cause serious health concerns.
You can’t remove asbestos cement by yourself due to the negative impacts it could present—partner with a dedicated asbestos audit and removal agency to safely eliminate the material from your property.
If you suspect your building may contain asbestos, contact Global Asbestos Audits to help you perform a reliable audit and formulate a removal plan.
